I am very happy to find this group because I feel alone.
I had a surprise heart attack back in February. I knew I had high blood pressure, and took medicine for it, but didn't know I had high cholesterol. I know it was my fault, I wasn't taking care of myself, but it was still a big surprise. That morning I was getting ready for work and I had just finished making my son's lunch for school when I had a crushing pain in my chest. I knew immediately that I was having a heart attack. My husband didn't exactly believe it but humored me since I am not prone to dramatics. At the ER, they hooked me up and confirmed I was having not just a heart attack but a major one (right coronary artery). We learned a new EKG term, Tombstoning. They couldn't take me to the hospital in an ambulance because "every minute counts" they said, I had to go in a helicopter. My town only has a satellite ER, not hospital. I was given baby asprin, nitroglyserin and morphine and shipped off leaving hubby behind with a devistated look on his face.
At the hospital, I received a stent. I was awake from the beginning of the heart attack through getting the stent. While in recovery, my husband and son arrived. They found me wide awake, not in pain anymore and truly thankful and happy to still be alive.
It was later explained to me how truly close I came to dying. But, I was also told it only affected one artery and the others were all clear. They also told me that I had no residual damage and that my heart was healthy. This is all good news but I just couldn't wrap my head around it. How can I almost have died but my heart is healthy?
I was told that I now had to attend Cardiac Rehab and it sounded great, just what I needed. It included exercise where I could learn how much I can do, meetings with a dietician to learn about correct eating
and group meetings to discuss heart health and dealing with the emotional aspects of having had a heart attack. Unfortunately, this was not what I got. I only got the exercise part. I asked about the other parts but was told that my heart was still healthy and I didn't qualify for that.
Long story a little shorter, I am doing well, my cholesterol is down to 103, I have lost 27 lbs and my blood pressure is good. I just look everything up on the internet and hope I am doing right. My problem is emotionally. If I have a slight pain or pressure in my chest, I freeze, I get nervous. I am scared of having another heart attack. I am scared of leaving my son without a Mother. I don't want to die. I know I am acting like a newbie to all this and in time I will calm down.
I just recently found Mended Hearts and they have a group in the next town over. Their meetings are the last Friday of the month so I plan to go this month. I'm not sure what they do at meetings but I am looking forward to it.
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Karynne Muncy
North Port FL
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