It was a Heart Attack and I didn't know it
My Heart Attack Story
It began on Friday, November 7th. My husband just arrived home from work and we decided to go out to dinner. Fajitas for two at a local restaurant that we have been to before. Then off to Walmart to get a few things.
As we were walking through Walmart, I started not feeling well. I was weak and felt I was running out of energy quickly. It was those fajitas, so I thought. So, we started home and thank goodness we did. I got horribly sick. I just felt exhausted and weak. After that it was bath, bed and my Friday was done.
On Saturday morning, I woke up feeling pretty good. I thought I felt much better until I ate lunch. I began to feel nauseated and weak. Although I didn't feel my best, I sucked it up and made it through the day. We attended Brazoria County Mud Drags from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm. This is when my arms were starting to bother me. They felt like I'd been lifting weights for hours, they ached from my underarm down to my wrists. I thought maybe it was because I had been taking pictures and video from the top of the bleachers (raising my arms up and down). Again my energy was fading fast and my arms aching. I was pretty wiped out by 7:00 pm and we had to leave before the event was over. Not to mention it was a 2.5 hour trip home. We finally made it home by 9:30 pm and again it was bath, bed and I was done for the day.
By Sunday, I was still in not feeling well, just felt drained and tired. Now there is a pain in the middle of my chest that feels like heartburn. Since I couldn't go to the doctor until Monday, Dustin and I went to a monthly flea market in Winnie, TX (not the best idea). As we started walking around, within 20 minutes I had to sit down and rest. I was tired. It felt like I'd run a marathon. We continued walking through the flea market with several sit down breaks. Then I began to feel pain radiating down both arms and up my neck into my face. We went home immediately! I toughed it out all day Sunday and went to the doctor first thing Monday morning. Something was just not right, I just didn't know what. I knew for sure I just couldn't stand it anymore.
First thing Monday morning the doctor performed an EKG and blood work was drawn. Within a few hours the doctor called me and requested I go to the emergency room immediately.
The pain in my chest, arms and face are just too much at this point. So, I had a friend drive me to the Liberty County Emergency room close to my home (worst idea ever). While in the ER, I had what felt like a vacuum sucking the life out of my chest. The pain was intense and scary. Well, after 3 Nitro pills and a shot of Morphine, I was ok and feeling better for the 3 to 4 hours I was at the Liberty County hospital. The emergency room doctor said the chest pain was because I had untreated high blood pressure. She sent me home with one blood pressure prescription.
That night didn't go well, I felt weak and uneasy after I got home from the ER. I didn't get much sleep that night. I called my doctor first thing the next morning.
My doctor couldn't believe that Liberty County Hospital just sent me home and said it was high blood pressure. She then instructed me to go to another emergency room immediately. I did. Turns out I had a 100% blockage in one of my arteries and needed a stent ASAP.
It's been a month since my heart attack and I'm still recovering. Glad my guardian angel was with me. :)
Have YOU experienced a Heart Attack?
Do you know the Warning Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest?
Heart Attack Symptoms:
Most Heart Attacks involve pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. Many times the pain will come and go away. You may feel uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest.
See a doctor if you experience the following:
- Chest Pain or Pressure in Chest
- Cold Sweats, Nausea or Lightheaded
- Shortness of Breath (with or without discomfort)
- Pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
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Stroke Symptoms (TIA or transient ischemic attack):
A TIA is also known as a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke". Stroke symptoms usually only last a few minutes, but need treatment immediately.
See a doctor if the following occur:
- Numbness or weakness in the legs or arms
- Slurred speech or sudden confusion, trouble understanding
- Blurred vision in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- One side of the Face seems to be drooping or numb.
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Cardiac Arrest Symptoms (cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest):
This occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating. Cardiac Arrests can strike immediately and without warning. Don't wait! Call 911 immediately!
- Sudden Loss of Responsiveness
- Breathing not normal
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I hope this helps someone out there and this is shared with others. It's important to know the signs and what to do.
