My Story...

I realized in reflecting on last year and looking forward to the next that I haven't shared my story. I haven't even written it down for myself. My family knows it, but I'd like to see it in writing as I don't think I've ever really grasped the magnitude of what I've gone through in the last 15 months. Actually the story starts way before then...

After high school and 6 years of cocaine addiction I found myself pregnant & alone. I was excited to be a mother so I moved back with my parents, quit the crack & went to community college for graphic design. I met a great guy in Cocaine Anonymous and we got married after 3 years of dating. I got a job at an awards company. It was high-stress and long hours at times of the year, others there were days off without pay. I was laid off after 5 years and 2 more children. I found another job at a smaller company, but it still had the stress I ignored. I was young and could handle it (ha). After 4 years there, I was laid off again. This time I got a job at a print shop. I thought there would be more variety. Little did I know, I would become responsible for everything from ordering supplies to others' mistakes. The boss expected it all and I tried to give it.

When I was growing up, my family had a lake home (cabin) on a popular chain of lakes in northern Minnesota about 3 hours north of Minneapolis. 3 of my brothers still own homes there. I sold my share of the property when I got married to get a house. 1 of my brothers also bought another property for investment (I know, he's got it rough!). He offered it to me & my family anytime we'd like to stay and we'd do yardwork and general maintenance.

My husband was working for a marine dealership at the time. He was able to borrow boats given as trade-ins for the weekend. We had many great times in our favorite pontoon.

So we're looking forward to a long weekend over Labor Day in 2007. We packed up & left on Thursday night, missing much traffic. My boss wasn't happy, but I took the day anyway. Friday morning we brought the pontoon over to the acess and I drove the Jeep & trailer back to the cabin. I stopped at the store for wine coolers, beer, ice and some deli salads. We met back at the cabin and had lunch. Sandwiches, chips and the salads. We packed the cooler with the leftovers and took off for an afternoon an evening of swimming, fishing and sunset.

It was about 3 p.m. when we left. Me (39) my husband (53), daughter Briana (16), daughter Carly (10), son Nathan (8) and our dog Milo sprawled in the pontoon, snacking and waving to the other boaters. It was a busy holiday weekend, lots of boats partying by this time. I'd had a cigarette while going through the channel and started to feel dizzy. We slowed some. I said I didn't feel right and had a hard time catching my breath. I felt as though someone was sitting on my chest. I was nauseated & said we should stop. I thought it was the waves. As my husband turned the boat towards an island, I went to the side to throw up. I didn't. I wanted to go back to the cabin. I thought it was an asthma attack or an allergic reaction, maybe those salads?

He turned to take me back. I wanted to take a benadryl and lay down for awhile. I said he could take the kids back out & I'd rest. As we came back to the channel, he had his phone out and said "should I call 911?" all I could do was nod yes.

We pulled into a restaurant with docks and called. People were eating on a deck overlooking us. The paramedics came and we told the story. I really just wanted some benadryl and to go. It started at 4:01 p.m. according to our last phone call. There was no available ambulance. We had to wait. I was getting oxygen from the para and looked down at my hands, they were blue. He held my hands. He said a helicopter was on the way. My son was goofing around on the shore, middle child was wiping my head, hubby was shocked & quiet. The people on the deck started to take notice. I apologized. The police closed down the road and the helicopter came. There was a drowning on a nearby lake and the ambulances were busy. I kept saying this wasn't neccessary! For cripes sake I'm not going in a helicopter!

Thank goodness an ambulance came. It was 45 min later. They walked me to the vehicle, I was falling, my knees weren't working. My husband said he'd meet me at the hospital in Brainerd, about 30 mins away. Thank goodness my brother was at his place and could take the kids & dog while I was checked out.

As they closed the ambulance doors, they started an IV & ekg. The sweet tech then told me I was having a heart attack.

WHAT?

My mind was racing, I didn't say goodbye to the kids, they're gonna be scared, I'm scared, my husband thinks I'm having a freakin allergic reaction to the damn salads!!@!! Stop it!

She gave me nitro, all my symptoms stopped. She gave me her cell phone, bless her heart, I had to tell my husband I loved him even though she said I wasn't going to die. We made it to the hospital, my husband right behind me, white as a ghost.

They did some blood tests, I had an elevated troponin (of course) and sent me to a hospital another 45 min away from my kids for the night. My husband stayed, I went to cath lab in the morning and had minor blockages, no stents.

I've since learned that I had a spasm, probably brought on by smoking. I have an EF of 70 now and no blockages. I don't feel as normal as those numbers represent. I feel like a woman that could have taken a benadryl and a very long nap 15 months ago, as my heart didn't come out of that "fib" on it's own.

I'm not fishing for replies, responses or support. I just wanted to tell my story, lay it out for all of us to see what one woman goes through. I'm glad I now have this to look at. I have a tangible memior of what happened the day that changed my life forever.

- Peg

By heart39
Posted January 5, 2009 at 1:52 pm
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Kennarina,
Thank you for reading it. It feels good to look back & to have my story here.

I'll have to get to what has happened since someday...

- Peg

By heart39
Posted January 5, 2009 at 1:54 pm
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Thanks, Nancy.

We go through so much with heart disease. Sometimes we minimize what has actually happened rather than to feel it. I didn't want my memory of that day to fade. I have to remember where I was to move forward.

- Peg

By arizona1
Posted January 5, 2009 at 6:55 pm
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I felt like I was right there with you while you were telling your story. You are very good at writing and putting your reader right there with you. Perhaps this is something you could pursue. I am curious how high you troponin level went.

Kathi

By heart39
Posted January 5, 2009 at 8:13 pm
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Hi Kathi!

I happen to have my records out. My symptoms started at 4 p.m. Nausea, sweating, sob, tightening in my neck. They worsened when I walked to the ambulance at 4:45. That's when I began to feel chest pain. After my ekg I was given lidocaine for the ventricular tachycardia and nitro for the chest pain.

30 min later in Brainerd the er doc said I had signs of a heart attack in my blood tests. I didn't know what that meant but he suggested I take the ambulance ride another 45 min to St. Cloud hospital. I didn't want to, but he said he would if it were him so I agreed. I had no insurance at the time and was very concerned about the bills. My joke for a long time was "Ambulance ride to Brainerd: 1800 dollars. Ambulance ride to St. Cloud: 3000 dollars. Lidocaine and Nitro: Priceless."

In St. Cloud my troponin was 13.02 at 10:45 p.m. with a normal range of 0.00-0.39. It was still elevated to 11.13 at 6:10 a.m.

I was given heparin, lopressor, amiodarone, potassium as that was low and plavix. I had a cath the next morning. They found only a small blockage and blockages in areas of bridging.

My recent CT showed no blockage in my LAD.

- Peg

By martzj
Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:35 am
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Hey Peg,

It always fascinates me to read other women's stories. None are the same. I hope it felt darn good to put your life story out there like that.....What a solid way to measure your progress since then too.

Your story reinforces for me how little is truly known about the mechanisms of female heart attack. Without any addiction history, I still had HAs.....So who really knows?

So wonderful that you had your babies safely Peg and that they were old enough to fend for themselves while you recovered from HA.

Jaynie

By Joy3032
Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:44 am
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After being ignored with my health issues, I finally had "the big one" and there was no doubt it wasn't allergies (of which I have many including sulphites put on the salad bars) it was a real heart attack.

Go to my "story" and read. I just had another incident this weekend and go to the PA today to discuss what happened when I collapsed and went to the heart center for the weekend.

It is hard to get attention when you can't believe yourself that you have a heart problem. My first heart attack in 1976 wasn't diagnosed as that until I had open heart quad by pass in 2002 and they saw signs of old infarct.

The cardiac medical community needs to go to the Woman's heart journals and READ. They would get some post grad classes.

I am sure that you are more aware of your body signals now, but they aren't always the classic signs and then add into the mix "allergies, asthma, etc." it is hard to separate them.

Glad your story turned out okay. I am still working on mine and hope that a new "eye" will see something today. Cheers JOY

By Rose
Posted January 6, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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Peg,

What a story. It could be a lifetime movie. It has all the elements. You are lucky you husband turned back
and you got medical help. Your paramedic was sweet to lend you her phone.

You are a strong worman and you have a wonderful, supportive family to help you. You are lucky in many ways.

The night I had my heart attack I had woke up to go to the bathroom. I was a very addicted smoker so I took one with me. My heart attack was from a 99% blocked RCA not a spasm. I quit smoking that night. Have you been able to quit?

Warm Regards,

Rose

By Rose
Posted January 6, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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I see from your profile that you did quite smoking that day. Congratulations! I had promised God that day if He would let me live I would never smoke again. I am sure I was successful because I could no longer say I would do it next week, month, year, after vacation ect.
I don't break promises to God.

Warm Regards,

Rose

By heart39
Posted January 6, 2009 at 4:31 pm
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Yes, Jaynie, it does feel differently to read it laid all out here, and in a good way. I recommend it for all.

My cardio doesn't think my past addiction had anything to do with my recent HA. I can't help but think back how lucky I was to survive my drug use, many friends didn't. 2 had overdoses, 1 was shot during a sale and 3 more died from AIDS. I haven't heard from my daughter's father since right after she was born. I haven't pursued him, either. I figure I'll leave it up to my daughter if she becomes interested. My boyfriend at the time (not baby's daddy) is still in jail for intent to sell. Sad...

Once again I'm very lucky and blessed with the "guts and fortitude" to know when it's time to change. I don't always like it; quitting drugs, single parenting, new jobs, new normals, life-changing events, moving in with mom - but I always manage to come through as I will again.

- Peg

By heart39
Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:16 pm
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Joy,

So sorry your story had to come to "the big one" to get an answer, like so many others.

You're right, we need to do all we can to spread awareness. Knowledge is power, and life-saving!

- Peg

By Joy3032
Posted January 6, 2009 at 11:19 pm
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Thanks Peg,

Had a great 45 minute appointment with the cardio's PA and have a chemical stress test coming next Tuesday. He was very thorough and is investigating the stay in the Heart Center which was awful. He said he used to work there and switched for that very reason. He is going to check their records and see what he can learn to help. Has already dc'd a few of the medications I am on until the results of the test are in and he can evaluate. Hope all this comes to some good conclusion for treatment.

Cheers....JOYful

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