Hello everyone, my name is Misty. I'm a 27 year old woman with 2 children, DJ is 8 and Haley is 10 and a half months old. On Aug 16th of last year I woke up with a heart attack and my fiancee(at the time, he is now my husband) rushed me to the ER at University here in Cincinnati. We figured it was just heartburn cuz I have really bad indigestion sometimes. They did tests at the hospital and found out I had a heart attack, I was 26 and 35weeks PREGNANT. It was the scariest day of my life. The drs came in and told me they literally had no clue what to do with me. Only 5 days later, they had to rush me into the OR for an emergency c-section and Triple bypass surgery right afterwards. They took me in about 645pm and didn't get done until about 430am. I had the best drs I swear because I should have died. I should not be here today, but I am. My valve was not clogged the way a normal heartattack would be...it was blocked with blood. Some how there was a tear in the valve and it allowed blood to flow thru and luckily for the outside layer being a little harder it stopped the blood from becoming internal bleeding and death. I didnt know how close I was to dying until after I got out of the hospital. I spent 13 days in and on 3 different floors. My daughter spent 9 days in the NICU. The first couple days she had a small amount of oxygen going in her nose and a feeding tube for a few days also. But she gained strength real quick. She was a month early weighing 7 pounds...lol. and now weighs 25lbs at 10 and a half months. She is doing great. On dec 18th they put a defibrillator in just in case my heart would go into cardiac arrest. They tested it twice after it was all hooked up and that was a little scary knowing they would test it, but I fell asleep so I had no clue. The hospitals PR team asked me to be in their paper and be part of this program called LIVING PROOF. I was up on a billboard for a while and everyone knows me at the hospital too. I have talked to a few groups of people. The drs say it was my strength and courage that got me thru but I say it was them and my kids that brought me to where I am today. The drs and nurses became part of my family. They are the reason why I'm going to school starting in sept to become an RN. I just hope I'm smart enough..lol. I just wanted to let everyone know miracles do happen and if you just believe you can make it.
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My heart attack at 26
- By Misty1482
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 10:23 am · 12 replies
- In Younger women with heart disease
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Heart disease Dizziness Surgery Bypass surgery Pregnancy Pain Heart attack Heartburn Stress
12 replies
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- Newest first
- By Kennarina
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 10:40 am
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Hello Misty and welcome!
Holey moley, your story is incredible! You are indeed a 'poster child' for all young women with heart disease. And you have not only survived this trauma (not to mention having a baby in the middle of all this!) but now you are going to nursing school soon. Wow!!
You are indeed an inspiration - and a very important cautionary tale to those who still believe heart disease is only a man's problem.
Good luck to you!
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
- By martzj
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 11:10 am
- Report post
Hi Misty and Welcome here!
There are other women your age here with similar stories, although you are part of a smaller group of C-Section & Bypass on same day club! My, you have lived through some enormous challenges and will have so much to share with other women. You have no idea how much help and reassurance you can offer just because you have be there already (smile).
Wonderful that your hospital staff is featuring you! Your story is definitely inspirational while at the same time educating the public that women's hearts are just as vulnerable at every phase of life.
You'll hear from many women very soon.
Terrific you have chosen nursing! Talk about 'a calling' : ) !!!
Best of luck to you luv and hugs to both your precious children,
Jaynie
- By Misty1482
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 1:50 pm
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Thank you both for the wonderful responses. I used to ask myself all the time why this happened to me and after a while I realized that MAYBE I could help someone else thru some rough times. So I just try to get my story out as much as possibe to let woman know its possible to make it thru anything, especially heart diesase. I hope no one has to go thru what I did, but I know that if there is ever another case just like mine, their dr will have hopefully heard about me and know he can bring them thru it. They called my case a "Once in a lifetime procedure" and put my case in the medical books. But like I said if this would ever happen to another woman who is pregnant, I pray they know they can make it thru. There are so many cases that have been really bad and everything turns out just fine. But at the same time it saddens me knowing that there are these problems out there. I never had one problem with my heart up until that day I woke up from a heart attack. And once they figured out that I did indeed have one, it all clicked. I realized that the chest pain, the bad sweats, the chills, the tingling in my arms (I had both arms tingling) and the dizziness was all part of the heart attack. I wouldn't have guessed I was having one at that time. Thank you for your support, love and thoughtfullness.
- By NewAllie
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 3:59 pm
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Welcome Misty, What an amazing and miraculous story and life you are living. Thank you for your sharing with all of us. I was having a bit of a low day, feeling a bit on the sorry for myself side...your post put life back in perspective for me. We are alive and that's a really good thing! Welcome and thanks again, Allie
- By Misty1482
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 4:58 pm
- Report post
Allie I'm glad that helped you. I have my days when I get real down and cant believe it happened to me and wished it didn't. Trust me I really do have those days, even though I have a lot to be thankful for. I try to stay as positive as I can. And I dont know if you have any kids but my two definitly keep me busy and my head up. Maybe cuz they are soooo young. Best of wishes to you sweetie. I'm always here to talk if you need a smile. Thank you all for your kind words they help me out too.
- By ally1985
- Posted July 8, 2009 at 6:20 pm
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hi misty
wow you are an incredible woman. thank you for sharing your story. i have had bad problems with my heart after my first and only pregnancy, 4 days after my son was born i started to have problems.
its been really difficult for me. my son is now 3 and a half and i only just found out whats been happening to me. i live in the uk but i made a trip to the clevelnad clinic in may 09. they did a cath test and saw i had a bicusoid aortic valve. i suffer with alot of chest pain and still do, but i guess i just have to deal with it.
i just wondered if the drs told you what caused the valve to tear? and is it the aortic valve? did they say it was a dissection? the drs have told me that i can have children again but im very afraid to even try. they said i will have to take my medication throughout pregnancy, pregnancy can sometimes cause anyurysms and im at higher risk becaus eof my valve. and also dissection. do you have any advice for me? the drs in clevelnad clinic said that the valve doesnt need repairing yet and its a dangerouse operation so they are just monitoring me here in the uk.
did they have to repair your valve?
sorry for all the questions, i just need as much information as i can get. my family always tells me everyones case is different. but im very afraid as i have one little boy to look after, he is my pride and joy. i would love to have more children but just need to make the best decision.
ally
- By goingstrong
- Posted July 9, 2009 at 7:32 am
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Wow! Poster child indeed! You are a living, walking, miracle!
Glad it motivated you to be a nurse! I'm also a nurse and since we are always short of nurses, you will be a blessing.
Your story is indeed, a miracle story, and glad to see you here on the boards! Stay with us. We want to keep in touch.
Lynn
- By MMaslek
- Posted July 9, 2009 at 7:34 am
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What an inspiration you are! I had my 1st MI @ 29, 2nd & 1st surgery @ 30. It was hell. I can't imagine having a c-sect & a preemie baby in the mix. It was definitely "ME TIME". And you deciding to go to nursing school because of it is wonderful. You'll make an excellent cardiac nurse because your reasons are so right!! Good for you!!!
- By Dee81
- Posted July 9, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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You know, I always wonder why I had to have a heart attack so young, then I see others. I am sorry for your experience. For awhile I thought I was the only one, then I came here.
I am glad your little one is healthy and that you are doing so well!!
Cheers,
Deidra
- By Misty1482
- Posted July 9, 2009 at 2:03 pm
- Report post
Ally,
yeah every case is different...see i'm not allowed to have more children. We planned on only having our son and then I found out I was pregnant with a second one..they are 8 years apart..lol. So I signed papers before the heart attack to get "fixed" and then everything happened and they said because of my medicines I would be on, they could cause defects in the baby and it would put too much strain on my body. So I'm not allowed to have anymore. They said I was born with an anyursym and the stress of the pregnancy caused it to burst and it was in my heart. It was my main valve that tore and I guess along the line they had to replace 3 of them. I never asked why it was 3 and not just the one. I see my dr on Monday, guess thats something I should ask..lol. I can understand you being scared. I still am. I do what I can to keep myself healthy. But I have my days where I'm scared something else will go wrong. But I try to keep myself focused on I'm here and there is no need to freak out cuz I'll miss something with my kids. Just try to take it one day at a time sweetie. My heart attack was unusual they say cuz it didnt have anything to do with plaque build up, it was the tear and blood blockage. And it was a dissection they did, but like I said they had to cut 3 valves out and replace them with my vein from my leg. I really hope this helps you out. Hopefully everything will turn out just fine. Just keep positive as much as you can. Write me anytime you need a smile or advice.
- By minnowqueen
- Posted July 9, 2009 at 8:47 pm
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Dear Misty,
What an incredible story!! I am totally amazed by your enthusiasm and positive energy. You are definitely a person who looks to the positive in any given situation.
I am glad to hear that you are planning on becoming an RN--we all need good nurses. However, I do want to caution you to the added stress that college can give a person. You have a husband and two young children, which add up to lots of activity. Stress can be very harmful to the whole body, especially the heart.
I learned this the hard way, so please remember to try to limit your stress.
Take care and I wish you much success on your journey.
Lori
- By Braveheart
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 12:36 pm
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Hello Misty
I flick on an off this support page, sometimes afraid that I will read something I dont want to !! When I read through your story it brings back memories to me also, I had my heart attack 10 days after my 3rd baby was born, with no symptoms to I was in the middle of a full blown heart attack and arresting with it. When I read your causes they ruled all those out with me, and put it down to clots (you can read my story). As for more babies even though I always said I was finished with number 3, i have been advised absolutely not for the same reasons as yourself. I think you remind me of myself, you have to stay positive for yourself, for your family and if you sit and dwell on it your head would probably go !! Just this week I am all over our press as a survivor against all odds. Possibly also spurred on by the fact that we are organising a fund raising night for the 2 hospitals cardiac funds that saved my life here in Northern Ireland, its on tonight. So why am I sitting here chilling out ?? when I am heading out in just under 2 hours, because everybody else is doing the hard work, my tan is done my nails are done just have to hit the shower !! Anyway all this I appreciate but it can be frustrating when you want to get stuck in the middle of things, now I am rambling........................so must go, take care and take it easy.
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