Thanks for your response. WOW You have lost a lot of weight! Congratulations! I will have to read the book.

Hi Missy! I've just noticed your post here. I'm surprised you're not on any meds apart from the red rice yeast. Don't you even have an anti-platelet medication? Just wondering because I seem to be on bucketloads!

It sounds like you're making lots of changes. Well done on quitting smoking! Best of luck with your efforts. It's hard work, but I think it's good to know you're doing something to help your health.

:flowerforyou:

I was dropping my BF off at his fathers (in a little town in south Florida I was unfamiliar with) after taking his car to the shop. His elderly dad asked him to get in the ladder a replace some shop lights. I was standing there sporting him and suddenly began to sweat. Although the it was Florida, January is still flip flop weather maybe 60• that day. Then a little nausea. No pain at all. My heart was a bit rapid. But I somehow knew instinctively something was seriously wrong. I asked his dad for aspirin and he said he didn't have one. I don't know why I didn't say anything I just said I really have to go and practically ran out the door. I got on my phone and asked Siri where the closest ER was. 24 minutes. I was sweating like crazy, cold clammy sweat. My heart racing, and an odd fear of impending doom. Panic was trying to get me as I drove and I just tried to stay as calm as I could. Nausea came in waves and I kept driving. Once I got there I really panicked because it hasn't passed and I knew it was a heart attack even though I had no pain yet. The intake nurse seemed casual and I was telling her I need a cardiologist right away. She said ok. 5 minutes still nothing and I said I need one now as I began to feel pressure in my chest. She still motioned me to hold while she was writing something and I just walked through the ER door to the actual nurses and doctors. I grabbed the 1st nurse and said I think in having a heart attack. I need help. She said oh really!? I said yes. Please get a doctor. She said well let's check you out but more than likely this is a panic attack. We see it all the time. I said j know what a panic attack is and feels like and his isn't it. She said well you're young and appear very fit and no previous history. I'm sure that's what it is. She took her time asking questions and became more frustrated. My chest was hurting more and then as I began panic mode she stopped and asked if I used street drugs sternly. I said no. Not even a Tylenol in 10 years. She said if you're lying we'll know right away because we're about to draw blood. Then I was scared and now also mad. I said stop wasting time with this nonsense and get a doctor please. Crying at this point. I said I ran 15 miles yesterday. Worked out at the gym. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. Clean eating and something is very wrong. She said all the more reason it's probably a panic attack not your heart. About 23 minutes had gone by. Sweat had drenched me and suddenly it felt like a canon ball was sitting on my rib cage. I knew I had limited talking time and I felt I couldn't get any air. I started to scream for a doctor. She told me to calm down. I kept screaming. A dr came in and immediately said grab the wig. Get labs. And I looked at his coat and he was a cardiologist. I said thank you a bunch. Grabbed his arm and said please don't leave. He was asking the nurse questions about my care and she must have told him what she thought. Drugs or panic attack, he sent her away and the room was a flurry with new people. A lot of them. Within a minute of the elf he was moving things and asking for my next of kin. I said why? He said because you were right. Your having a heart attack. I said well don't let me. He said too late your having it now and I need a next of kin. I gave him my best friends number because I didn't want to worry my family. Weird I know I wasn't thinking right. It went fast and I was in a dark room with big screens covering the wall, tons of people and he was putting in 4 stents. On the 4th one the artery tore and then he noticed my widow alert was separating. He said I'm putting a ballon pacemaker up thru your groin to help rest and regulate your heart while we transfer you to Jacksonville. I became a bit manic I guess. They medicated me. My daughter was standing there, a nurse in Jax and I could see the fear in her face. He gave her the cd and said make sure they look at this asap. Her widow maker is separating. She sat down and I was off to Jax. They couldn't do the open heart right away due to my weakened heart so I was medicated for about 8 hours until they felt I was strong enough. I was on bypass for 6 hours. They replaced to stents with bypass X 2 and then repaired the widow maker by wrapping a tendon from my leg around it.

Im thankful for the doctor who heard me screaming. Apparently I've found that 98% of women die from heart attacks under the age of 50 in the ER because they aren't taken seriously. I would say ladies, find your voice, that loud one we use all the time any other time. ❤️

Kimberly, holy crow! I simply can not believe that upon presenting with chest pain they didn't automatically fast track you as a cardiac patient. Hopefully the worst is past and I hope you are doing well. Hang in there.

Hi Rosco - I hadn't noticed that this thread was still active! Well done on knowing that you were having a heart attack and asking for help! Sounds like you had very quick treatment, thank goodness. Congratulations on stopping smoking, too.