This is a really difficult article to write, as the feelings that keep pushing at me are shame, embarrassment and a load of guilt. But I know it is very important to share what I have experienced, and perhaps help someone with similar symptoms. For the last 4-5 weeks I have been having a tightening around my midriff. There really wasn’t much pain with it, and I kept thinking it was anxiety.

On Wednesday, I had a doctor’s appointment with a new doctor – an Internist. I did tell her about the pressure in my chest, but looking back I have to admit that I sort of played it down. I really did not believe it was anything serious. She sent me to have blood drawn, and she wanted to see a complete lipid study, an A1C (blood glucose test), as well as all the regular tests since I am on blood thinners. BTW, my cholesterol numbers are great. In fact, I have never seen a high number on any of my cholesterol blood tests. So, I didn’t think I’d had anything to worry about with my cholesterol.

Ever since my previous heart attack, I have also been on meds for high blood pressure. But the meds work really well, and my blood pressure is always wonderful. I really didn’t have much to worry about, as far as the numbers were concerned, with the exception of my weight. I keep saying that I have to lose some of this excess weight, and it never seems to happen.

And then comes Sunday…a fairly normal day, but I had this pressure in my chest that I just couldn’t get rid of. My son Mike had been doing some work in the garage and he called me out there to explain his plans for expanding the kitchen. Only problem was that I was having trouble paying attention. The pressure in my chest was non-stop. As I turned to go back inside, I casually asked Mike if he was planning on being around that day. He immediately picked up on it, and asked me what was going on: “Are you having pain?” I tried to shrug it off, but he wouldn’t let it go. He took me inside and went for the blood pressure gauge. My blood pressure was high. He took it again, about 5 times, but he still was getting high readings. Obviously, my great blood pressure readings were now a thing of the past. He insisted that we go to the hospital. Would I be writing this article if he had listened to me? And you must understand, that I was feeling so foolish. The closest hospital is 40 miles away, and I was so sure that this tightness would pass. It seemed like such an inconvenience to have him drive me all that way.

When I got to the hospital, they took me in immediately. I kept thinking how dumb I was going to feel when they said there was nothing wrong. But, they were treating me as though it was serious. They took 3 more vials of blood, even when I told them that I just had all these tests done 3-4 days prior. And the really hard part: “How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?” I think I answered 6 or 7, wondering if I was lying, as it really wasn’t that bad. I could stand it. They gave me Nitroquick pills to put under my tongue, and when that didn’t stop the pressure, they put a Nitroquick patch on my back. That evening the cardiologist came to my room, and explained the options. I agreed to have an angioplasty the next day, even though I wasn’t sure I trusted it. But, as the doctor pointed out, it would be the most accurate, and any blockage could be taken care of immediately.

Basically, that’s exactly what happened. My 1st heart attack (2 years ago) had blocked the artery on the left side of my heart, aka “The Widow Maker.” How ominous is that? This time it was the right side of my heart, and again, I had a very serious blockage. They added a stent to the right side, and now that side is working fine.

So, why did I decide to write this? I want everyone to understand how varied and non-descript the symptoms of a heart attack can be. Do not take any of the symptoms I described for granted. I could just as easily be dead right now. Fortunately, I have a stubborn son, who was smart enough to see through my denial.

Woman most often do not have the same heart attack symptoms as a man will have. And my symptoms for my 2nd heart attack were very different from the symptoms for my 1st heart attack. My 1st heart attack I had no pain – I just kept throwing up for 4 days – I thought I might have the flu or something. That time I had my daughter-in-law to thank for saving my life by coming over to the house, and persuading me to go to the emergency room.

The 2nd heart attack, again I had no pain. It just felt like someone was standing on my chest. Except for some very fleeting moments, I never really had much pain. There was not the pain running up my arm, no jaw pain, none of the symptoms you usually hear about. At one point I remember saying that my teeth hurt, but even that did not last for very long.

I have to take it pretty easy for the next few weeks, but I can’t deny any of this anymore. As soon as possible, I am starting an exercise program, and I am now reviewing diet programs. I am learning about low glycemic diets, as that seems the most logical for me. I’ve been pretty careful the last couple of years, but now it’s time to be extremely careful! Pretty careful doesn’t cut it anymore.

In closing, I just want to emphasize how important your health is. We woman tend to ignore most symptoms, unless they hit us over the head. We are so dedicated to the people in our lives, and we are such good care-takers. But we’re generally lousy about caring for ourselves. We need to pay more attention, so we can be there for our families, and not short-change ourselves. Remember to be good to yourself. Life is very short, and time speeds up after you reach 60.

Best Regards,

Sandie Sudberry

Sandie @FYI4Health.com

 

Have you been thinking about getting started with an online business?  With the internet being the biggest marketplace in the world, it certainly warrants some serious consideration.  The options available with an online business are unlimited.  Whether you are looking to supplement an existing income, or totally replace your day job, there are a myriad of choices out there.

 The great thing about the internet is that it does not discriminate.  It doesn’t care if you are young or old, fat or thin, black or white.  The opportunity is there for everyone.  And it covers all levels of expertise.  We’ll assume that if you are reading and comprehending this article, you have an average or above average intelligence, and can follow simple directions.  If you are reading this article online, you probably have a little internet savvy. 

Remember, you don’t have to be a computer geek to benefit and earn an income from the internet.   There are many different programs available that can bring you a real income, whether or not you have a computer background, whether you know how to set up a website, or know HTML.  The choice is yours.

 
So what do you need to get started building an online business?  A couple years ago, Geoff Collins wrote a book titled Talent is Over-rated.  (What Really Separates World-class Performers from Everybody Else.) The essence of the book was to enlighten people on how dedication and perseverance will carry you a long ways in whichever direction you choose to go.  The secret is passion.  What do you love doing in your spare time?  What type of hobbies do you have?  Do you spend your free time reading books on photography or antiques?  Do you love meeting with friends to talk about your car collection, or the latest improvements in sporting equipment? 
 
It will be so much easier to get started if you choose a subject that you are knowledgeable about, and one that you will enjoy writing about.  Do some research using one of the search engines,  just to confirm that there are people out there that share your interests.  Also, check out the paid ads, the “sponsored links”, as people only bid on keywords and pay top dollar for areas that they know have value.  
 
If there are only a few people who share your interest, your website will be lacking visitors.  That would crush most hopes of it being a source of income.   Consider a website that follows along the same lines as your interest, but differs enough to offer other choices. Offering your visitors something that they can buy, will enable you earn an income from the site.  Another option if you have a steady stream of visitors, but no product to sell, might be to sell space to other advertisers in an unrelated area.  Maybe your site is a discussion of politics or social issues that just doesn’t lend itself to a sales-related product.  But someone who sells products for the home might like the exposure to your participants, and be willing to pay you for some ad space.

Let’s say you decide to set up a blog or a website on gardening, and you have created the perfect  formula for growing organic  vegetables. Maybe your tomatoes are the talk of the neighborhood. How about writing a report sharing that information?  With all the interest in organics nowadays, sharing your knowledge on any aspect of growing organic vegetables is bound to attract attention.  You might share some general information on growing strawberries, or you might decide to sell the formula for an easy  fertilizer you developed.  You might offer a free report on starting and maintaining a compost pile as an incentive to get people to sign up for a newsletter, thus building your list. You could also offer information on the types of seeds you buy – varieties that you prefer, and the reasons for your choices. (i.e., tastier, hardier, easier to grow, or whatever affects your selections.)

Another idea would be to form a membership club where people could share their knowledge on organic gardening, or maybe even exchange recipes for ratatouille or some other wonderful vegetarian creation. Can you see what an easy transition it would be to go from growing vegetables to a section on how to cook them?  If you collect seeds from the vegetables you grow, you might want to start a seed-sharing co-op.  Whatever gets people involved, will bring them back to your website, and that gives you the opportunity for sales. 
You will be amazed at how many niches there are that could generate an online income.  But be assured, that money is not going to fall from the sky and land in your lap.  This is the part where your passion MUST kick-in.  No kidding, your love of whichever topic you choose is what will make the difference between success and failure.  (This might be a good time to read Geoff Collin’s book.)

Now you’re telling me you can’t write.  Guess what?  You can always learn, or if you just hate it, hire a copywriter.  You don’t know how to build a website?  There are a lot of programs that can practically do it for you.  (And at a reasonable price.)

 With unemployment still on the rise, and the stock market gyrating in every direction, an online business can give you a lot of options, as well as hope for a brighter future. Earning a living online, or even just supplementing an income you already have, could make a huge difference in your life.  Just remember to hang on to your dreams and your passion, and don’t give up.

The Harder You Work The Luckier You Get

This is the original article I wrote that I did not check out if the title was already in use.  See the previous blog post for pertinent information.

So, you’ve decided to be an internet marketing star. Must be easier than being a rock star, right? Or is it? Getting started to earn money online does not have to be an impossible challenge, but we do need to be realistic about it. First, let’s put to rest a few myths: there are no instant riches on the internet. No one becomes a millionaire overnight. You won’t rake in tons of money without any work. It those were true statements, there would be more websites than visitors. There are a lot of opportunities on the internet. But you have to be willing to do some work, and become informed on the area you choose. There’s no pot of gold going to fall from the sky, but there definitely are numerous ways to earn a living online. Let’s look at how you might get started with an online business. First you have to make a decision on what type of business you’re interested in. Do you have a passion for a particular hobby or pastime? What do you love doing in your spare time? Can you talk for hours about gardening, or fly fishing, or whatever? It’s definitely going to be easier if you go into an area you love and are knowledgeable about. The first thing you’ll want to do is a little research, to find out if there are other people who share your interests. To find out what type of market you’re looking at, think how you would find that information if you were a novice. You would probably go to a search engine and type in a few words that would direct you to some different websites. You could also use a keyword research tool, and see how many people have typed in that keyword (or keyword phrase.) And check out how many sponsored ads there are. People pay money for ads that are profitable. If there are not a lot of people with a common interest, your website will be lacking visitors. No visitors means no sales, so you must look for something else. Optimally, you might consider a website that follows along the same lines as your interest, but differs enough to offer other choices. You do want to offer your visitors something they would buy, if you’re hoping to earn an income from the site. For example, let’s say you decide to set up a website on gardening, and you know the perfect organic formula for growing the biggest and best vegetables. Maybe your tomatoes are the talk of the neighborhood. How about writing a report sharing that information. You might give some general information on growing tomatoes, or you might decide to sell the formula for your secret fertilizer. You might offer a free report on starting and maintaining a compost pile as an incentive to get people to visit your website. Another idea would be to form a membership club that the members would share ideas on organic gardening, or maybe even exchange recipes for ratatouille or some other wonderful vegetarian creation. Whatever gets people involved, will bring them back to your website, and that gives you the opportunity for sales. In contrast, setting up a website that debates the political ideas you are passionate about, might draw a lot of visitors, but would be difficult to monetize. (An alternate option might be to sell ad space to other websites if you have enough visitors.) Most importantly, watch out for all the misconceptions about internet marketing. Beware of anyone that tells you that you can put together a couple products and a website and make a fortune in nothing flat. With the job market still crashing, and the stock market reverberating the latest bankruptcy announcement, internet marketing does give you more options, and an action you can take that offers hope for a brighter future. Earning a living online, or even just supplementing an income you already have, might make a big difference in your life. Just remember, the hardier you work, the luckier you get.

Okay, I admit I am just learning about submitting articles on the web.  So I’ve submitted a few, no big responses, but I wrote an article I really liked.  I felt it was honest, and would  give a realistic view of earning money online.  

 I wanted to share how many out and out misconceptions there are about internet marketing, and then gave some information on getting started as a newbie.   There are so many people trying to get an online business going, and buy into all the razz-a-ma-tazz about the money and overnight success that is just around the corner. 

 I wanted people to know that there are no instant riches or overnight millionaires, and that you do have to put in some effort (aka work) to succeed.   I see so many advertisements for programs that promise huge amounts of money in nothing flat.  (Sorry Dire Straits, but money for nothing doesn’t exist – as for the chicks for free, I’m not even going to go there.) 

 Most of these programs really do offer excellent training, but few if any of the starry-eyed buyers are going to join the wealthy overnight.  I do want to emphasize, that with all of the many programs I have personally purchased, I felt that each of them gave me valid information.  I know I hear about a lot of scams, but most of the marketeers I have dealt with have been extremely honest, and given me a lot for my money.  Do you homework,  and check out the program before you purchase it.

  In fact, the only time I have felt scammed was when I attempted to make money taking surveys.  I devoted a lot of time to it, and made a mere pittance in return.  Nor, have I heard much positive feedback about data entry.  Those two areas I personally stay away from.

 So, about the HUGE mistake I made – I titled my article “The Harder You Work, The Luckier You Get.”  The next step should have been for me to do a search on one of the major search engines, and see if there were any other articles with that same name.  Somehow, I missed that part. 

 I submitted the article to an article submission service, and the next day, I did a check to see how it was doing.  I checked on 4-5 of the major search engines, and it was nowhere to be found.  What I did find was a zillion or so other articles with the same name.  I knew immediately my hard work would be lost in cyberspace forever.  If anyone ever saw it, it would be an accident or a miracle.

 Hopefully, you will learn from my mistake.  Check out the title first, so you don’t sandbag yourself before you get started.