January 10, 2013
Around 2004, at the age of 52, I experienced heaviness in the chest and stinging in my jaw. Both were so strange my husband took me to the emergency and I was admitted and stayed for 3 days after an angiogram which showed a completely healthy heart but enzymes that indicated a heart attack. After staying off work for 30 days I returned to the cardioligist assigned to me who ruled out a heart attack based on my completely healthy heart, no family heart history and low cholesterol and low BP. He felt that I had a spasm of the artery and informed me that 90% of people who experience these never have them again. Three years later in 2009 I experienced the very same feelings (chest & jaw) while attending a large evening baby shower. Not wanting to draw attention to myself I took a walk and felt better so continued with the party. Feeling fine we went home that evening and shopping the next day. When I came home midday and ate some lunch at home the jaw pain returned and I knew something was wrong. Off we went to the hospital again but this time two arteries had separated and I ended up with a 4-way by-pass. I have never heard of SCAD. It is so interesting to put a name to it. I would love to be part of the study if I qualify. Since the by-pass I have been prescribed blood pressure medication and a Statin drug for cholestrol for prevention .