May 9, 2015
Sorry this is so long. I tried to post this on March 28th on my one year SCADiversary.
One year ago today, I suffered a horrible event in my life. I had a heart attack due to SCAD, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, at the age of 48 with “NO” warning signs.
Mark and I had finished eating our dinner and I ran up the stairs to put our dishes in the dishwasher. I got to the dishwasher and started feeling very out of breath and hot and cold. I sat on the couch thinking maybe it was indigestion. Then the “elephant sitting” on my chest pressure started. Out of instinct, I got up and went to take “2” baby aspirin Still not believing I was having a heart attack, I was sitting on the couch moving around thinking it has to be indigestion. The last symptom of the numbing of the left arm, hot and cold sweats. After two hours, I finally called down to Mark and told him that I think I needed to go to the hospital. Boy he got me to the ER fast. While in the emergency room from 9:30 to 11 pm, they decided that they were going to send me home with an endocet to take that night and na endocet prescription. They said that there was no way I was having a heart attack. They thought I had bruised or pulled the cartilage in my chest, from a fall on ice the day before. “Thank God” there was a shift change and the new doctor said there was “NO” way he was sending me home with the chest pains I was experiencing with “two” endocets in me. After three blood tests and at 2:30 am, it turns out I was having a heart attack. The cardiologist saved my life. He actually was a cardiologist that knew what SCAD is. He did a heart cath and found that the lining in my artery came apart and created a 100% blockage of my LAD. In which he put in two stints.
The only thing that I ask is that “everyone” gets educated on what SCAD is. Which is why I am “asking” to “PLEASE, PLEASE” share this website with family and friends.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this on this very special day. One year and still being able to write this thru my tears is why I try to let everyone know what SCAD is.