Advice from an old fart of 49: Never, ever EVER say the words, "chest" and "pain" in the same sentence, or you're risking a minimum of four days in the hospital if you use them in the same paragraph. (grumble) In these days of CYA, doctors will automatically consider you a pincushion and a guinea pig for every test known to God and man, just to make sure they don't get sued. And this was an efficient military hospital.

I'm quite literally black and blue on both arms, both sides of my neck, both legs, and my belly. I'm not kidding. I look like a hideous science experiment. Because of all the tests they wanted to run I literally never got a breakfast, and sometimes didn't get lunch. I've lost five pounds, have sores from an allergic reaction to the adhesives in the EKG pads all over my torso, and until last night I hadn't had more than three hours of sleep at a stretch.

If I hadn't been in the habit of exercising three times a week, I doubt I would have survived that damned nuclear stress tess and I'd still be tethered to an ICU bed by a Mongolian cluster f*ck of wires.

Thank all the gods for nurses and Navy corpsmen. They are angels of mercy, kind when they can be, and quick when they can't be. Two, Greg and Naomi, will be characters in my books because they earned immortality in a positive way. Both Greg and Naomi went out of their way to be as kind as possible, even bending a few rules for my comfort.

Diagnosis: erratic angina.

Translation: We have no idea why her chest hurt.

The good news came yesterday. My DH and I both got interview phone calls. DH went to his almost immediately, and was called back for a second interview on Monday! Whoopee!

My interview is tomorrow. If I'm very, very lucky, I might be the Trend Teacher at my local JoAnn Fabrics store! (Yes, BG! I get to show off all my craft skills. LOL!)

Good thing I lost those extra five pounds. I'm proud of the way I look, now!

You poor thing!!! I was wondering where you went. Sure NOW you tell me about the whole 'chest pain' code words LOL! We'll have to compare bruises, but you win (OK not) on the 4 days!!! Holy cow that's a whole lot of testing!!! I thought they woke you up a lot on the bariatric floor...cardiac was an endless stream of people and 'bleeping' sounds everywhere! How are you feeling now?? Do you think it was all the stress you've been under? I hope you're catching up on your sleep now!

What great news!! Both of you have interviews!!! Sounds like things are finally turning back around! And 'Trend Teacher' you've got that hands down! Have a great weekend and celebrate all the good news; heart's OK, both have interviews, you lost five pounds! Life is good again!

Oh, and I highly recommend the long sleeve shirt (yes, I know it's FL, but maybe something gauzy-with embroidery?), and some foundation and small bandaids where needed, or they'll think you're a junkie. Well, that's my plan for tomorrow anyway...I'll let you know if it works. If I can fool 2 nurses and a Dr. (parents) then you'll be golden!

Feel better! -BG