November 30, 2013
On the afternoon of June 6,2006 I was sitting on the couch watching TV when all of a sudden I suffered chest pain that radiated down both arms and up my neck. I could hardly believe it but I felt I was having a heart attack. I have no risk factors and have low cholesterol, low blood pressure, normal weight, and exercise regularly. I waited 15 minutes but the pain didn’t subside and I called 911. I was given nitroglycerin and rushed to the hospital.
In the ER my EKG was normal and the doctor didn’t think it was a heart attack but admitted me for observation. About 6 hours later I was rushed to the ICU after my blood work came back with elevated heart enzymes.
The next day I had an angiogram and was misdiagnosed as having a vaso spasm. The blocked artery could not be opened so I have permanent heart damage with a 40% ejection fraction. I have not suffered any real side effects and continue to live a normal life with no medications.
Recently I went to my cardiologist (Nov. 2013) for a check up and she asked if she could send my angiogram to the Mayo Clinic for research. Sure enough it came back as SCAD. It’s now been 7 years since my first heart attack and have had no recurrance. I’m happy that I now have a diagnosis and can connect with other SCAD survivors like myself.