Simply Irene

Hey guys, it’s Irene.

I was editing a post, but I stopped mid-edit because I realized I didn’t want to share that right now. Something has been weighing on me, and we need to talk about it.

I don’t always feel like I share enough about myself—what’s really happening behind the scenes. But I’m feeling a kind of way, and I’m hoping that by talking about this, someone out there who’s going through something similar might feel less alone.

This is about my health.

Being 50 Changes the Way You Hear Your Body

I’m Gen X. I’m 50 years old. And at this age, every little health issue feels louder.

In your 20s and 30s, you can feel invincible. In your 40s, things start acting up—stiff knees, back pain, the “oh wow, I slept wrong” kind of problems.

Some people stay consistent with fitness and health their whole lives. That hasn’t been my story.

I was doing really well into my late 30s and early 40s, but in 2018 I injured my back and had to stop the routine that kept me strong. That’s a big reason why my health and fitness changed so much over the years.

I accept that aging comes with changes. What’s harder is when something feels scary—fast.

The Night the Palpitations Hit Hard

On a Thursday (December 4th, give or take), I was at home after working remotely all day. I had eaten, I was washing dishes, and out of nowhere I had the strongest heart palpitations I’ve ever felt.

I’ve had palpitations before—here and there. Most people have at least one experience like that in their life. Stress, sickness, fatigue, caffeine… it happens.

But this felt different.

It was intense—like someone was hitting my chest with a hammer. It felt like my heart was trying to jump out of my body.

I had to stop what I was doing, sit down, and breathe through it.

And the scary part? It didn’t last a few seconds. It lasted minutes.

I sat on my bed for about ten minutes before it settled.

The Next Morning: Something Still Felt Off

Friday morning, I woke up and didn’t feel right.

The palpitations were still happening on and off. Not as strong as the night before, but frequent enough to notice. My chest felt uncomfortable—but I need to be clear:

• No chest pain
• No chest pressure

If I had either of those symptoms along with the palpitations, I would have gone straight to the hospital.

But what I did have was discomfort, a weird chest sensation, and I was burping a lot. Later that night I had significant heartburn.

A Pattern I Couldn’t Ignore

Saturday, I visited my daughter. Overall it was a great day.

At one point, I was literally running—and I didn’t feel palpitations. That made me think it wasn’t purely physical-stress related, because the palpitations originally started when I was doing normal home activities after sitting at a desk all day.

Sunday and Monday, I felt great.

Then Tuesday morning: palpitations again. Weird chest feeling again.
Wednesday: same thing.

At that point I knew this had gone on too long to ignore.

The Doctor Visit That Changed Everything

I had just started new insurance on December 1st—limited, not great, but I needed to use it.

I found a doctor, and honestly, she was incredible. A Black woman doctor who’s been practicing for 24 years, and this was my first time seeing her. She listened. She was thorough. She took me seriously.

I told her about the palpitations and asked for referrals for other health concerns too. Since it was my first appointment, she started a complete workup—family history, blood work, physical exam.

Then she listened to my heart.

And said something that made my stomach drop.

She noticed something “interesting.”

That word—interesting—is not what you want to hear while someone is listening to your heart.

My EKG Came Back “Abnormal”

She ordered an EKG (electrocardiogram) right there.

While the tech was running it, I could see words on the screen that I did not want to see.

Abnormal.

The doctor explained that my EKG showed irregularities—an extra beat—and while that can be harmless, it can also sometimes indicate prior heart damage.

At one point she mentioned it could even suggest a possible previous minor heart event.

Which is a terrifying sentence to hear.

She didn’t send me to the ER immediately, but she did get me a cardiologist appointment quickly—because someone canceled. My cardiology appointment is Thursday, and they’re doing an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) to check the structure and how it’s functioning.

The Part That Made Me Angry

Here’s where things got worse mentally.

I remembered I had gone to the hospital a few weeks earlier (mid-November) because I had symptoms that looked like a stroke. They did tests—including an EKG—and told me everything was fine.

But after this new “abnormal” EKG, I went back to get the hospital results for comparison.

And the EKG from the hospital was the same.

Same abnormalities. Same wording.

And no one told me.

That’s what upset me the most. If something has been abnormal for weeks, I should have been informed. I also know I had normal EKGs earlier in the year—so something changed between spring and fall.

Now I’m left wondering what happened… and when.

Could It Be Something Else?

As scary as it is, there are possibilities where my heart isn’t “failing”—it’s being affected by something outside the heart.

I’ve had gastrointestinal issues for a couple of years. Recently I’ve had more heartburn, burping, and digestive discomfort.

There’s something called gastrocardiac syndrome where GI issues can trigger heart palpitations and chest sensations. And honestly, many of my symptoms fit that explanation.

So yes, it’s possible there’s nothing structurally wrong with my heart.

But right now I don’t know.

And not knowing is the hardest part.

The Anxiety of Living Alone During a Health Scare

I live alone, and I can’t lie—this has made me afraid to sleep.

Every sensation feels like a question mark.

I went for a walk today in the snow and felt like my heart was struggling even though I wasn’t out of breath. Climbing two flights of stairs felt different than it normally does.

My brain keeps trying to jump to worst-case scenarios, and I’m working hard not to let it live there.

But it’s difficult.

When your heart health feels uncertain, it messes with your sense of safety in your own home.

What I’m Doing While I Wait for Answers

Right now, I’m trying to live as normally as I can while I wait for Thursday:

• Watching movies and YouTube
• Keeping my home comfortable
• Getting my space in order
• Distracting my mind when it spirals

I wanted to go swimming this week—I even got a membership at the Y—but I’m hesitant to push my body until I know what’s happening.

The waiting is heavy.

And there’s also the added stress of my insurance not covering a lot of specialist care, which makes the “next steps” feel complicated before I even get answers.

If You’ve Been Here Before, I’d Love to Hear From You

I’m sharing this partly as a diary entry, but also because I know I’m not the only one who’s been through this.

If you’ve dealt with palpitations, abnormal EKG results, heartburn-related chest symptoms, or anxiety around health scares—especially in midlife—tell me in the comments.

Not medical advice. Just your experience.

I’m crossing my fingers that Thursday brings good news and clarity. I’ll update you after the appointment.

Until then, I’m doing my best to breathe, stay present, and not let fear write the ending before I have the facts.

Thanks for listening.
I’ll catch you Wednesday or Thursday. Peace out. 💛

-Irene