Happy Birthday to My Heart!

In particular, Happy Birthday to my stents, one in my Left Anterior Descending Artery (also known as the "Widowmaker") and one in my Right Coronary Artery. I was stupid, in denial, and incredibly lucky.

I didn't think I had risk factors for heart disease or a heart attack. I was 65, exercised somewhat regularly, ate a decent diet, had great cholesterol readings (a very high HDL and low LDL), was a good weight, and had normal blood pressure. Was I stressed? Yes, we all are. I was trying to start my business as a Patient Advocate, but otherwise, life was great. We had two trips planned, one to Alaska and one to Ireland (to see Van Morrison) and Iceland. And we were awaiting the birth of our first grandchild!

I was at the beach with our dear friends, when I awoke with severe pain between my scapula.I got out of bed, made a cup of coffee (I thought that would help), and then started to perspire. I took an ice pack from the freezer, put it on my chest, and sat still, trying to determine if I was having chest pain (which is not always the case for a woman), and then I proceeded to vomit. But I still did not have pain in my chest or down my arm. I got back in bed, asked my husband to rub my back, and fell back asleep.

When I awoke, three pairs of eyes stared at me, telling me I had to go to the hospital. But I felt “okay”, although tired, and insisted on going home. My symptoms didn't recur, but I decided to go to the doctor in the morning to get an EKG (since we were leaving for Alaska in 2 weeks). While doing the EKG, the doctor stopped, asked if I had a cardiologist, and left the room. He returned 5 minutes later to tell me that the catheterization (aka cath lab, as we in medicine call it) was waiting for me and that I was having a heart attack! I couldn't believe it; the next 2 hours were surreal. Within 2 hours from that moment, I was in the cath lab (I never did fall asleep and heard everything), and when all was over, I was the proud owner of two stents, put on many new medications, including Plavix and told to cancel our trip to Alaska.

What would have happened if I ignored it again? I shudder to think but I feel I have been given a new chance at life. Why did I not take it seriously? Because I was at the beach and not at my familiar hospital? Or because I was never supposed to have a heart attack?

It can happen to any of us, and we need to be aware. We have all heard that women's symptoms differ from men's, but it is very difficult to fathom and act upon it. And denial is very real.  It wasn’t a convenient time to have a heart attack (when is it ever?)  My symptoms entirely resolved within 60 minutes, but it was enough to do mild permanent damage, which probably wouldn't have been the case if I had gone right to the hospital. But, like many women, and probably some men, I didn't.

Take care of yourself, and if you feel something, don't pretend all is well. Get checked out. I delayed, but I am still alive. We did get to Iceland and Ireland but delayed Alaska by a year. And now we have two grandchildren who are the light of our lives. I don't want to think how much I would have missed. I hope everyone takes this seriously.