It's been awhile. I'd been having a lot of health issues for the past year, nothing that we thought was too serious (well, there was a diagnosis of mild congestive heart failure last spring) so I haven't been on here much at all. But, over the summer, and this fall, I just wasn't feeling well, I just knew something was wrong, but my doctor couldn't seem to figure it out either. I was so fatigued, I was cold a lot (very odd for me, I am never ever cold), and at night I would be unable to sleep because I was unusually warm and sort of clammy (like hot flashes), that would go away and I would then be cold again. It drove me crazy.
So, along comes October and then Halloween, I was about to learn what was wrong. I didn't feel too bad, just the usual fatigue and being cold... I was here at home, had been talking to my neighbors when I decided to go back to my apartment and take a couple of Tums for what felt like the start of some heartburn. Long story short, within 5 minutes I knew what was going on... I was having a heart attack. I couldn't believe it (I still can't believe it). I grabbed my phone, laid down on the bed, and dialed 911 and chugged down an aspirin. Then quickly dialed my neighbor across the hallway to let her know (and to also have her come over here and take care of my dog for me). The paramedics arrived really quickly, I didn't pass out but felt like it for a short time. Anyway, after a short stop in the ER, they whisked me away to the cath lab, I had a blocked artery (100%) they did angioplasty and placed a stent. I felt better right away. I stayed overnight in CCU, and most of the next day spent time on the telemetry floor, all tests came back good the next day, and the echocardiogram showed that there had been no damage done to my heart (whew), then I was home that next night.
I had always read, and heard, that heart attacks can feel like regular heartburn, but when it didn't go away and felt a little worse, and I got very sweaty and started to have fuzzy vision, well, I just knew right away what it was. I think my dog, Maddie, knew too, she acted really concerned and stayed right next to me while I was waiting for the paramedics. I was relieved my neighbor was home to be here for Maddie, and feed and water her, and come over to talk to her. Not the way I planned to enjoy Halloween. So far I'm doing OK, tired of course, but doing better, and am following up with cardiology tomorrow, and will be starting cardiac rehab next week. Life sure can throw you some wake-up calls, I'm so thankful I came thru this alright. I've had heart issues before, most of my life, with cardiac arrhythmias, I always thought that would be what would give me trouble, never did I think for one moment that it would be a heart attack. In the past my cholesterol had always been really good, that sure changed quickly. And, yes, I am now going to eat much better -- no more mayo and heavy sauces, ha. I'm not sure I can stop eating Mexican food though, but I can cut back on it, I actually don't eat it real often anyway. Going to buy a bike soon as a I can, I had sold mine 2 years ago when I needed some extra money... that was a big mistake. Nothing like a heart attack to motivate ya.
So, along comes October and then Halloween, I was about to learn what was wrong. I didn't feel too bad, just the usual fatigue and being cold... I was here at home, had been talking to my neighbors when I decided to go back to my apartment and take a couple of Tums for what felt like the start of some heartburn. Long story short, within 5 minutes I knew what was going on... I was having a heart attack. I couldn't believe it (I still can't believe it). I grabbed my phone, laid down on the bed, and dialed 911 and chugged down an aspirin. Then quickly dialed my neighbor across the hallway to let her know (and to also have her come over here and take care of my dog for me). The paramedics arrived really quickly, I didn't pass out but felt like it for a short time. Anyway, after a short stop in the ER, they whisked me away to the cath lab, I had a blocked artery (100%) they did angioplasty and placed a stent. I felt better right away. I stayed overnight in CCU, and most of the next day spent time on the telemetry floor, all tests came back good the next day, and the echocardiogram showed that there had been no damage done to my heart (whew), then I was home that next night.
I had always read, and heard, that heart attacks can feel like regular heartburn, but when it didn't go away and felt a little worse, and I got very sweaty and started to have fuzzy vision, well, I just knew right away what it was. I think my dog, Maddie, knew too, she acted really concerned and stayed right next to me while I was waiting for the paramedics. I was relieved my neighbor was home to be here for Maddie, and feed and water her, and come over to talk to her. Not the way I planned to enjoy Halloween. So far I'm doing OK, tired of course, but doing better, and am following up with cardiology tomorrow, and will be starting cardiac rehab next week. Life sure can throw you some wake-up calls, I'm so thankful I came thru this alright. I've had heart issues before, most of my life, with cardiac arrhythmias, I always thought that would be what would give me trouble, never did I think for one moment that it would be a heart attack. In the past my cholesterol had always been really good, that sure changed quickly. And, yes, I am now going to eat much better -- no more mayo and heavy sauces, ha. I'm not sure I can stop eating Mexican food though, but I can cut back on it, I actually don't eat it real often anyway. Going to buy a bike soon as a I can, I had sold mine 2 years ago when I needed some extra money... that was a big mistake. Nothing like a heart attack to motivate ya.