4mylife

Decided to tell the rest of my story in this post.  Sorry for the length.  I appreciate any and all who take the time out of their busy day to read this.  I hope it makes a difference for someone.

Before I continue my story, I want to clarify something.  I realize that this blog seems more medical story than weight related.  I feel like what I have gone through with my heart disease is a story that needs to be told.  When I get to the end, you will see why.  I have had doctors tell me my age and being female made it less likely that I had heart problems, even after I was diagnosed with heart disease.  I was told that while I was overweight, I wasn’t as overweight as most people who develop heart problems.  I admit that I thought that myself.  My heaviest was 212.  At 5’4”, that is 62 – 92 lbs. overweight depending on which chart you look at.  However, my story is one that warns no matter your shape or size, you have to take control over your own health care.  You have to demand the care you and treatment you deserve no matter what condition you are in.

The story continues….. After my stent in August, 2005 I was determined to lose weight and get healthy.  That lasted through Hurricane Rita, which hit SE Texas in late September, 2005.  We were forced to evacuate for 3 weeks and I did not have access to healthy food on a regular basis.  It was hard to get back into my routine when life returned to normal.  In February, 2006 I started experiencing symptoms again.  I went to my cardiologist and was told it was probably nerves.  I was the mother of 2 teenage daughters.  They offered me anti-anxiety medication.  I insisted I felt similar to before my stent.  They reluctantly ordered a heat cath.  Was told there was a blockage – surprise! But it was minimal and I was scheduled to come back the next week for a stent.  Returned – back in the cath. lab.  The blockage was not there.  Diagnosed with coronary artery spasms, a condition where heart arteries spasm close for a variety of reason.  Can cause excruciating pain and occasionally lead to a heart attack.  Placed on calcium channel blockers.  Symptoms continued and progressed.  Back to cardiologist in June.  Was told if I would just calm down my problems would go away.  Offered anti-depressants.  The only thing stressing me out was my health and they weren’t listening to me.

August, 2006 -  went to Houston to another cardiologist for a second opinion.  This doctor seemed to take my concerns and symptoms seriously.  Did a nuclear stress test on the spot.  Blockage seen and scheduled for stent procedure the next morning.  Blockage was in the exact location where the other doctor had seen one in February that had mysteriously disappeared.  Coincidence?  Still not sure.  So, one year and one week to the day after my first, I received my second stent.  This time I had 80% blockage behind first and was told I had again been a walking time bomb and could have had a heart attack at any time.

Oh that this was the end of my story – not!  Symptoms returned in May, 2007.  Went back to doctor in Houston thinking he would listen and take me as seriously as last time.  Surprise – he told me it was too soon for another problem and told me to come back in August if I wasn’t better.  My daughter was pregnant with my first grandchild and due in August.  How could I wait?  Went to my family doctor and got a referral to a new local cardiologist.  He agreed to do another cath.  I had an artery spasm so severe during procedure nitro had to be injected into my heart to prevent cardiac arrest.  Told I had no blockages.  Diagnosis – SEVERE coronary artery spasms.  August, 2007 symptoms continued to worsen.   Cardiolite stress test performed – negative.  I was told I had no blockages and my arteries were clear.  I reminded them I had had false negative stress tests before.  They wouldn’t listen and refused to do anything further.  So, I went home and I pushed.  And I pushed and I pushed and I pushed.  I lived like a person without heart disease since they were treating me like one. 

My husband left to work out of state in early September, which put an enormous load of stress on me.  He was going to return when he could get a better job here.  That happened, thank God, in late December.  He had been home 1 week when I could no longer tolerate my symptoms anymore.  Decided after much thought to go to a new hospital, on a Saturday through the ER and request all new doctors.  Nurse practitioner for new cardiologist came in and discounted my symptoms.  Said after a negative stress test in August there was no way I had any sort of blockage.  So, I lied.  I lied big time and told him I had been off of my Plavix for months- a big no no with 2 drug eluding stents.  He then agreed to do a heart cath. but said if there was a problem I caused it myself and I should be prepared.

I knew in my heart of hearts I was really ill by this time.  I was prepared for anything – almost.  Heart cath. performed Sunday December 30^th,2007.  Went into the cath. lab and it got quieter than I had ever heard it before.  I heard people whispering and was told not to worry – a surgeon was on his way to talk to me.  What?  I expected a couple of more stents, why was a surgeon coming in?  Within 20 minutes of entering the cath. lab I was in the hallway awaiting surgery for triple bypass surgery at the age of 41.  So, the cath. I had to lie, kick and scream to get, saved my life, as had the previous ones I had to fight for. 

I am now recovering from open heart surgery.  I am 2 weeks and 4 days post op as I type this.  I can do little more right now than sit at a computer so I am using my recovery to tell my story.  It doesn’t matter if you are overweight.  It doesn’t matter if you are male or female.  It doesn’t matter if you have a family history.  If something is wrong with you and you know it down deep and doctors refuse to listen, find a way to make them.  Do whatever you have to.  I would not be alive today if I hadn’t. 

I am having a lot of trouble knowing that I could have done things differently.  If I had exercised more and eaten better, maybe I wouldn’t have reached this point.  But I did and I shouldn’t have had to fight so hard to be heard and to live.  A gun shot victim going into the ER does not have to convince doctor there is a hole in their chest.  I should not have had to struggle so much and go through so much for treatment and care I needed and deserved.    But, I am alive and I have another chance.  I have lost 10 lbs. since I left the hospital and I hope that will continue when I start cardiac rehab and can actually exercise.

I am in a lot of pain right now and I know my recovery will take time.  I have done something lately I never thought possible.  I have slowed down. I have also let others take care of me and things around me for a change.  I will never be the person I was before my bypass surgery.  I have to adapt to a new normal because my old ways were not working for me.  I used to think that people need to be better educated about their own health.  I have learned that it is the doctors who need more education on how to treat their patients.  Listen to your body and demand the care and treatment you deserve.  Your life could depend on making them listen and making them hear you.  

I also believe that I was sent a message, which I finally heard loud and clear.  I will no longer make excuses for not taking care of myself.  I will no longer live to eat – I will eat to live.   I will make time to take care of myself and to get healthy.  I have been blessed with three miracles and three chances to get it right.  Third times’ the charm, three strikes and you’re out – however you look at it, I am lucky to be alive.  I am going to do everything in my power to stay that way.

Good health to us all – I am looking forward to my new life!

Dianna