One Year Ago Today

It has been one year this day since my heart attack.....and I survived!  The doctors said I was "very lucky" to have survived.....had it not been for Mr. Seventies quick actions.....I might not have. I'm going to share my story....

We were having a lovely evening....entertaining our neighbours....enjoying quiet conversation & catching up....about to enjoy some snacks & dip I had prepared.  As I was chatting....I suddenly began having severe pain...right in the middle of my chest!

Not in the arm or jaw area & not a burning pain.....just a severe pain that took hold fast!  I remember looking at my neighbour & thinking, "does she know there is something wrong with me?"   (she didn't).

I turned to Mr, Seventies & told him..."I don't feel well" & explained the pain in my chest.  Our neighbours quickly left, thinking I was going to head off to bed.....as was my plan.  Since I have a history of heart disease (two coronary stents)....Mr. Seventies insisted he take my blood pressure.  That simple task....probably saved my life!  

He quickly was on the phone with a 911 operator....giving them my BP stats....BP & heart rate.....extremely high!  And within 4-5 minutes.....we had two EMT in our family room....one hooking me up to an ECG, while the other took info from Mr. Seventies.   By this time, still in severe pain....I was lying down on the sofa....hooked up to the ECG....when the EMT gently and calmly stated..."You are having a heart attack".   And popped two aspirin in my mouth.  Within minutes another ambulance & two additional EMT arrived....and I was given morphine for the pain (since I stupidly refused the nitro spray)........and was quickly transported by ambulance to the trauma department at our hospital. 

Before leaving....sometime in all the confusion....our daughter had arrived...I will never forget the worried faces she & her father displayed...

Once in trauma I was quickly assessed by the trauma room doctor.....and my sweet nurse, Blake...never left my side.  Mr. Seventies & daughter were right there as well.  I was still in severe pain & was given two additional pain medications.  There was great discussions with cardiologists about administering a "clot" buster.   My previous history of internal stomach bleeding caused great hesitation.....fear I may bleed profusely.  It was decided I could have blood infusions.....and the clot buster was administered.   The IV areas on my arms did bleed....quite a bit...but pressure bandages were applied....

I was quickly transported to New Brunswick to a hospital that has a cardiac care centre (PEI does not).  The cath lab team & cardiologist were waiting for me...and I was swiftly taken in for angioplasty. 

My previous stents - still intact....and no blockages found.  

I wasn't aware there are two types of heart attacks...STEMI and NSTEMI.   STEMI - is your typical heart attack...usually caused by blockages in the arteries.  NSTEMI happens when an artery is partially blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart...leading to damage to the heart muscle.  Both are very serious...and require immediate medical care.

They suspect, in my cause...plaque broke off in an artery and a clot formed.  This clot restricted blood flow to my heart.....causing the heart attack.  The clot buster did exactly what it was supposed to do - it broke up the clot allowing blood to flow freely again to my heart!

What I wasn't aware of at the time....the clot buster has...on occasion... caused brain aneurysm & death.  For me...it saved my life.  

There was damage to my heart.....but unlike STEMI heart events....NSTEMI hearts can heal.  Although not as much or as quick as the doctors would have liked....before my knee replacement in April....my ECG, Echocardiogram & ultrasound showed my heart is doing much better.

And with that....I am happy to say....I survived!  A few weeks after my attack, someone commented "you must have been so scared"......

My t-shirt says it all.....Heart Attack Survivor - Nothing Scares Me.