A 46 year old patient came to me for the evaluation of chest pain. As a cardiologist this is my typical patient’s chief complaint. As doctors we are duty bound to investigate the symptoms and signs, yet as a holistic healer I also chose to expand on her issue till I found the origin of her problem. This is the best part of my doctoring that I love to do, detective work at its best.
I understood her history well, yet even though I knew there was more to the story than a physical ailment I spend the time over the next few weeks to perform various cardiac tests. Stress tests for the plumbing, echocardiogram to evaluate the engine AKA the heart for valvular disease, chamber sizes and function. We checked out her cardiac electrical system with monitoring devices. Among other subsequent tests I also suggested to looking at “outside the box” sources such as the GI tract with endoscopy.
She and I were both at an impasse. All tests from a cardiac perspective were negative. I decided to go back to the history. I remember in medical school we were taught that all answers lie in the history taking. That is when I hit the jackpot.
“ When do you get the chest pain? I know the character of it and where you are describing it but I want to know WHEN?” I asked
I get it every sunday afternoon“ she replied.
“ Are you eating anything in particular at that time prior to the pain?”
“No. I don’t believe so.”
“ Are you exercising or straining at that time?”
“ No. I am just sitting in my chair.”
“ What are you thinking about sitting in the chair?” I asked as the answer was dawning on me.
“ Probably work.”
“ What do you do again?”
“ I am 6th through 9th grade teacher”
I stopped asking anything. I looked at her with a gentle smile.
She looked embarrassed. “ Do you think it’s all anxiety about going to work on monday?”
I said nothing, just smiling.
Her mind flooded with all those sunday afternoon thoughts about Monday morning school days.
“ I think you hit the nail on the head” she said. “ I am terrified of what I am going to face on monday at the school and I put myself into a tizzy with anxiety.”
Her responses flooded with a cathartic release for the next few minutes as her mind kept trying to explain all her symptoms and her fears. She was self soothing as she let it all out.
She was almost in tears of relief.
“ The mind can play all sorts of tricks and when our psychology is out of balance our physiology reminds us where we are not in harmony by giving us physical symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations, pretty much what you were experiencing.” I added.
“ I recommend you to take a few breaths when you feel the anxiety coming on when you start looping your thoughts about monday and school. Drink some water. Get your self centered and see if the chest pain manifests. I think the source of the problem has been found.”
“ Thank you, I think you are right, this is my anxiety at play every weekend.”
“ If you learn to love what you do, you won’t have the anxiety about your job as a teacher. “
“ You are right.” She replied with her eyes to the ground.
“ Live each day like you love what you are doing, and doing what you love. The why of dears is something you are going to have to journal and figure out. What is it about going to school that you are afraid of? The students? They’re questioning you? Your feelings if you do not know enough to answer them? What happens if you fail as a teacher? Here are some questions to contemplate on and springboard you off to a great sense of well being by exploring what is keeping you stuck.”
“ thank you for these insights. Who knew that it was not my heart but my mind that was the issue.”
“ Your heart was just keeping the score and holding you to accountably authentic. “
“ At the next visit I bet my symptoms would have all gone.” She laughed as she left the room.
The mind and body are one. The heart reminds us when we are out of balance. Listen to your heart always, it knows the way and the path to enlightenment.
………………..
I love you
