Baby Boomers Create Vitality: Be Pro-Active and Get a Physical Checkup

Filed Under: Baby Boomer · Black Men’s Health · Black Women’s Health · Sarcoidosis

by CK Dillon

Hey everybody. Thanks for dropping by.

As you all know, I tend to be open minded and will share my points of view freely. Today’s article will be about one of those opinionated subjects that I am a bit more adamant about and somewhat inflexible.

This time, “It’s Personal.”

It has been a few months since my last publication appeared here on CreateVitality.Com and I have many reasons, but no excuses. During that time my life took some turns that were unforeseen. Those turns needless to say, got my attention.

My closest friends already know the intimate details so I won’t belabor them.

In that time, while still being very good to me, life taught me a few lessons. I discovered some things about myself that I am especially proud of. Like the fact that I walk the talk.

By that I mean, I don’t promote ‘do as I say, not as I do’. If I promote something in an article, you can bet I have tried it myself or know someone who has.

That being said, I had the opportunity last fall to follow my own advice. I had written an article last summer about it so, long story short, I went to my doctor’s office and had a complete physical.

I have always been a proponent of pro-activity, i.e., catch something early and you can do something about it, but like most men in my community, I put it off. I felt like I was o.k.

Well my wife, who is not one to let something slide said, over and over, until I got tired of hearing it, ”you write about health, you need to follow your own advice.”

Studies have shown that when it comes to our health, we Black men are inclined to put off testing etc., until some minor condition, suddenly culminates with us going to emergency. “Ignore it and it will go away”, is a common way of thinking.

Well, I got the physical and went home to await the results that would come in a few days. Surprisingly my doctor called that same afternoon and had already scheduled me for more tests at Sanger Heart and Vascular Clinic. He told me to back off my exercise routine until after the tests.

Sanger Clinic

The Prognosis

Turns out I had (have) an irregular heartbeat, which explains why I was having shortness of breath at times. At the beginning of my workouts I would be short-winded, then it would level out and I could continue. Since I had not exercised as often as usual that month, I just ass-u-me-d I was out of shape.

During all of the stress tests at the clinic, the nurse kept asking me if I was ok. My heartbeat was all over the place. I was so used to working out that I worked through the discomfort and kept it moving. At one point the nurse asked how I got to the clinic and was there someone who could pick up my car. My heartbeat was so erratic she planned to have me admitted to the hospital, right then!

After conferring with my doctor she learned I have Sarcoidosis and it may be causing the problem. They decided it was alright for me to drive and not be admitted that day. Mind you, in all this time I never had any discomfort. Nothing I would consider a ’symptom’ of anything more serious.

Fast-Forward to Now

Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to be admitted to a hospital (Sanger Heart and Vascular) for the first time in my life.

I say opportunity because due to that decision, and three-day stay, I am in better health than I was last fall, even though I had no knowledge that I had a health problem. My health problem was serious enough that I could not be here now. And I had no clue.