October 21, 2012
I am thrilled to be a SCAD survivor as a 34-year old mother of 3-year old twins and a 4-year old. I suffered SCAD of my LAD on 2/5/12 on the second day of my menstrual cycle. I was hospitalized for 3 days, placed on Metropolol, Plavix and baby aspirin – the hope was that the tear would heal on it’s own. Four hours after my discharge on day 3, I once again experienced what I thought was a heart attack with chest pain, weakness and pain in both upper arms that continued to radiate to my elbows, wrists and then my hands, nausea and, this time, numbness in both feet. This time, the chest pain was so excruciating, I didn’t believe I would live past my ambulance ride and fought for which words I should ask the ENT to give to my husband and family as my last. I survived and four stents were placed in my LAD. I now take Brilinta, Metropolol and baby aspirin. Thank you for all of you who have shared your personal stories, this is all very new to me and it is encouraging to read that this is not, in fact a “fluke,” or as “rare” as I have been told it is.