Well I had some real reservations of writing this and then someone walked up to my on Saturday and was asking what kind of pain does a heart attack feel like. I decided that maybe the following info can help some of you out there.
1st I did have a heart attack actually I think 3 and an stent put in from Beaumont hospital. But lets back up and let me tell you how stupid I was and how lucky I am.
1st let me say I"m a high risk candidate for heart issues
Mother and Father both had heart problems in their 60's
I have border high cholesterol levels
I'm over weight
I have/had poor eating habitats
I do not exercise on a regular basis, but I very active (busy)
p.s. this is a bad thing busy=stress
I didn't listen to my body or the doctors
Ok so 3 weeks ago I started getting heart burn( I thought). It started mild and developed to be acute at times. It felt just like when you swallow a piece of bread too fast and it gets stuck down your throat. Low in the throat behind the the sternum. When it did really act up it did migrate to the neck/jaw but not terrible. It also would migrate down my arm(left) but I was confused on that because of pulling a muscle earlier carrying my dog. It usually happened after I ate. I really swore it was just heart burn or upset stomach. Only a few times did I really hurt, but the pain was constant just seemed mild. The pain wasn't a this massive pain. It never was so bad I couldn't take it.
I had to travel to Florida on business and my doctor was busy so I blew it off. Once in Florida my pain seemed to intensify a little so I just took it easy. After one evening at a great Steak house(Brazilian style) I had another acute pain(same as before in the lower throat/upper chest). I waited a day then went to a Care One walk in clinic. They did a EKG and it looked OK. They advised me on going to hospital to follow up with blood and echo( I didn't). I came home went to my regular doctor and he also ran EKG it also looked OK. He then advised me to go to hospital to make sure(didn't go). I talked him into heart burn meds and set up a stress test. Two days later I took the stress test. It seemed to go fine, but the pics showed a problem. The results were turned over to Cardio Doctor and he told me I need to get to hospital. He advised by ambulance( I drove myself). I was admitted Friday afternoon and they did a cath on Saturday. I had a 99 percent blockage in the LAD.(they call this the widow maker). They cleared out the blockage and put a stent in.
I feel fine now, but trying to take it easy. Not sure what that means? It's hard to change a life style. I'm not sure how to lay around. I am taking the diet serous. I am taking the test(to come) serous and I'm signed up for cardio rehab(exerciser program).
I did a lot of wrong things-eating, lack of exercise, stress,not listen to my body and doctors. My cousin said maybe GOD was just letting me know who is really in charge. I like to think he has more for me to do. Either way I'm good with it. I do feel pretty blessed and I thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and the accountability to come.
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