FIBROMYALGIA-MAN TAKES A HIT

( OR WAS IT TWO? )

IN THE HEART

A story from real life that might save yours

If this were a book, this would be called the Preface. I am not a writer or cartoonist, but I am going to try to do both here.

Friday, the 23rd of November, 2001, brought a new experience into my life, one I had hoped would not happen, but it did. Having been diagnosed with a combination of fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis a number of years ago, it had at last put a face on the pain I have had for years. What had bothered me, was with all that pain, would I know it if someday that pain wasn't from those conditions, but was in reality, a heart attack. Now I know, it can be very hard to distinguish from the above mentioned conditions.

I am going to try and do a cartoon -type strip to chronicle as best I can remember the events as they unfolded, hoping my attempt at humour will help you to remember some of the signs to be aware of , of a possible heart attack, and also something I have had at home for a number of years, that told me I was in trouble, after finding all the usual tricks I have developed over the years for relieving pain, to some degree, from the other two conditions, were not working.

I would like to first dedicate this article to my late father, who died of a heart attack April 1, 1989. It was no April fool's joke.

I would also like to thank the many people who became involved in my situation, starting with my uncle, who drove me to the hospital that day. Then there are many others including doctors, nurses, technicians, air ambulance helicopter pilots and paramedics, land ambulance paramedics, other hospital workers providing food, laundry, cleaning, and other maintenance services.

I knew early on in this situation that I wanted to do something on this website to forewarn others, but wasn't having any luck in coming up with a suitable concept, until one night nurse came in with my medication for the night, and something she said triggered this idea. Things started coming fast and furious.... I just hope I can remember it all. More about this later in the strip.

What I am about to say here now has me shaking in my boots as the saying goes. I've been single all my life, but on my journey through three hospitals over a two week period, one of my nurses touched my heart in a way no-one has ever done in the past. I got the feeling I had finally met my soul-mate, but I'm not so sure she knows that. I'm likely the last person she would even think of in that position. For the short time that she was my nurse, it felt like I had known her much longer, but not nearly long enough. I tried to 'make some memories' of her, but all I could see was my angel of TLC when she came to care for me. I did find out what her first name was, but little else.

I am a caring person myself, have gone the extra mile(s) many times for others. This time I was on the receiving end. Caring about others is why I started this site last August 2000. If you have any comments , suggestions, or know of other sites that would be of help to others ( to be included on the 'More Info' page ) , please let me know. Click on the 'Webmaster' button at the bottom of the page, and use 'F-M-man' or something similar in the 'subject' line ( so I can find it first ) before all the other less important mail. Help me get the word out there folks.

Continued>>>