Last night at work, I was walking down the hall from a resident room to the nurses station and started having throbbing, stabbing substernal chest pain, I doubled over in the hall way. Well after several minutes of severe discomfort it became just a dull ache. I thought maybe it was a bad gas cramp or something. Well, I kept working and tried to ignore it. I got very sweaty, my head hurt, my right hand was trembling, I saw a few spots, and thought I was going to pass out. Finally someone made me sit down and they checked my blood pressure. 170/120 at that time (8:00pm yesterday) My heart rate was 148. My blood sugar was only 87 after eating early halloween candy and a full meal. Over the course of my 16 hour double I kept close eye on it. It has stayed about the same for going on 14 hours now and I am starting to get freaked out. I went back to work and made my best friend an RN check it again at 9:00am and it was 160/120. It could be just tons and tons of stress all spilling out this way or it could be a medical problem, either way I need to get a handle on my blood pressure. So do I go to the ER?
Chad, glad you went to ER, hope everything works out o.k., and you are right, KY nurses are some of the best in the world and we all hope that you TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF so you can graduate and be one of the best!!!!! Good luck to you!! Thanks for letting us know how you are doing.
Hey Chad, we kinda like you, we'd miss you if you weren't here. Take a day off tomorrow (if you're scheduled) and REST. Monday, call in sick, too, instead call your primary, and get your pressure checked again. (Maybe someone else can go to a drugstore tomorrow and buy a BP cuff, too, but still go to your primary provider.)
You have some awesome ambitions and we'd like to see you get them. Imagine how your folks would feel if something happened to you. (I know how I'd feel if something happened to my 21 y/o baby) So, that means you need to take care of yourself.
Hi Chad! I'm glad to hear you went and got checked out. Sounds like you have a lot of life changes going on and I hope you find some relief there.
I also encourage a little more dieting and exercises. While you said "5'11" weigh 250 pounds, I lost 40 pounds this summer through diet, not really fat any more just a big muscular guy.", my guess is there might be a little more weight to loose. I say this with kindness because you're 20 years old and sounds like you really need to make some lifestyle changes/stress management if you want to see your grandchildren.:chair:
Sorry your coworkers didn't offer to help you out. That lets you know if it happens again you have to be more proactive for yourself. Ask to be relieved and have someone take you to the doctor or call an ambulance, don't suffer through a shift and complalin "no one offered to help me". It's up to you to take charge. :chair:
chad glad you're okay. it doesn't matter how old you are. i'm 21 and was recently admitted to my cardiovascular unit i work on after an episode of crushing chest pain. turned out my mag. level was low, which caused a bundle branch block, first degree av block, elevated st segment, and peak t wave on my ekg. once i got some mag po everything was okay. be very careful and sounds like you need some lifestyle changes. take care.
You guys mind if I hijack this thread for a sec? I'm 5' 7", 25 pounds overweight, and 22. My bp is never higher than 120/80, and I occasionally feel faint. I've asked the Dr. For help, she did a blood test and told me everything is fine, that my cholesterol is a little high, but other than that I'm ok. I asked her to check my thyroid and she said it's in the normal range. Other people, and drs!, tell me it's all in my head- and as a prenursing student I'm going to think I have everything..
Are there just some normally healthy people that have abnormally low blood pressure. I hate that I drink caffeine and candy now and then to keep the BP up and sugar level up.
HELP!
Oh- Even though I'm technically overwieght, and I'm not in denial.. I exercise normally and can do a 12 minute mile, and a size 14.
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Katnip, RN
2,904 Posts
I saw the original post while I was at work and couldn't reply.
Chad, I'm glad everything is ok.
But PROMISE if anything like this every happens again you will call 911 and get yourself seen right away. You had us all worried.