Heart Attack

Not a subject I ever thought I would talk about, until now.


I had a heart attack, actually a couple of them. I didn't know I was having one, and that's what I want to talk about. During our friend Jeff's visit, we did a little mountain biking. After that day I felt something in the middle of my chest that felt like I had inhaled air too quickly, maybe made my windpipe a little raw. I would wait it out try not to irritate it and I'm sure it will go away. It did while resting. I noticed it on rides after that ....at least a little bit and then a strange pain where I had a tooth removed on the LEFT side of my mouth. I wondered what that was about. Finally the last time I rode my bike , I was on a road, I felt the presence in my chest , the phantom tooth ache started, and both heels of my hands up to the wrist felt uncomfortable. I got the sensation that these things were related. Quit the ride, got home and described the symptoms to Lori (head Mommy at NPR) we decided some sort of a checkup was in order.
I wasn't quite sure what to do the next day, so after work I called dear friend Dr.Jen who insisted I get checked out ( when Dr. Jen insists, I comply). As luck would have it,
I pass the Heart Center of the Rockies on my way home. I stopped in to get a check up. They kept me there.
I described my symptoms to a doctor in the ER, he called in a cardiologist who explained to me his suspicions about my heart. He wanted me to stay over night to do a stress test in the morning....I offered to come back the next day, he countered with"Let's take some tests", we did , blood work and a 12 point EKG, the results came back and I was staying. Both tests indicated that there was something wrong.
The next day, I went in for an angiogram, where they injected dye into my heart and took pictures, they found a blockage, placed a stent and injected more dye. The results were that the blood being blocked was now able to flow. The damage to the heart has not yet been assessed, I'm hoping for none.
The hospital, one of the Poudre Valley Hopitals ,was wonderful. My room was like a high end hotel room, flat screen TV, with internet, and links to my care, a bed that did all kinds of things like inflating and deflating itself. The staff was great, they all listened to me, the nurses were so attentive I though maybe they weren't very busy....it turns out they were busy and really good at what they do. Each time they entered my room they knocked, each time they left they asked if there was anything I needed. This is SO different than any other hospital stay, where you're left to feel as if you were imposing on the nurses. The doctor came in every morning to explain the treatment and what to expect, they asked great questions and encouraged me to do the same. As a result I understand that this was and is very serious business.
To give you some backround.....I'm a vegetarian, I try to eat healthy, I take no drugs, no alcohol, I don't smoke, I excercise regularly, and am considered quite fit, I hike and ride bicycles,road , mountain and cross. Sometimes it doesn't make a difference. There are genetic things that I hadn't counted on, there are other markers that, combined make a difference.
The reason I'm telling you all of this isn't because I think you need to know my medical history, but because this could happen, did happen, to a perfectly healthy person. I recommend a stress test....takes about 45 minutes, ten minutes on a treadmill where they record your heart rate ,EKG, pulse and can get an indication of any abnormalities, a few more minutes looking at your heart with a camera., and you're done.
The idea of losing my life to a heart attack is totally chilling. The fact that I had no idea that that was what was happening makes it more chilling....its not like on TV "OH , my heart" and down you go....this sort of just started adding up.
Please get your hearts checked, I'll be resting for the next week or so, I got out of the hospital yesterday, and I'm back home in the mountains. I'm so glad to be here!