February 18, 2018
Hi my first experience with SCAD was at the age of 32. I was at church leading the choir I noticed I was having a dull aching pain in my left arm then I started sweating bad and then my chest was hurting bad. But I thought to myself, no it couldn’t be. “I’m Too Young”. I was still in denial so I went in the basement of my church and laid down on the couch. Felt a little better so I went up in the nursery and sat in a rocking chair and felt a little better. Several people offered to take me to the ER but I told them I was fine.
Was heading home and I felt it again so I turned around and headed for the hospital. Found out I had two heart attacks. Tests were done and I was told I had a four inch tear in my left descending artery. Was immediately rushed to a hospital more qualified to do heart surgery with this difficult situation. Artery split another four inches so I was prepped for emergency surgery the next morning. Surgery was a success.
Next blow several years ago was another dissected artery leading to my lower intestines. About a year later another dissection to the artery leading to my right thigh. My last one was on the right side of my heart which was the right descending artery. So every one of these tears lead to five heart attacks. I am on so many meds to keep this from happening again. Blood thinner, blood pressure meds cholesterol meds baby aspirin daily and fluid pill. So, I am limited on picking up heavy things so not to strain and get another tear.
So this is my story on SCAD. My best advice is if you have the warning signs please don’t put it off. The doctors told me if I had gone home and laid down I wouldn’t be here today. So when in doubt . . . Get it checked out!! Life is too precious.