Wednesday, April 25th was like any other day. I had worked the night before and got home around 6:30a.m. I would normally go straight to bed, but I had an interview at 10:00 a.m. that morning, so I stayed up. Sean had an appointment that morning, so he left early and I got Regan ready for school so that when he got home she would already be ready to go. He got back home, got Regan and they left around 9a.m. I was finishing the final details of getting ready as I had to leave by 9:15a.m. I left moments after they did. I arrived to my interview a little early, sat in my truck and went over my resume' and all the questions I figured they would ask.
At 10 minutes til 10, I went to check in for my interview. I was called back around 10:10a.m. The interview was quick and pretty pointless as they informed me that between the time I applied and the interview, they changed the job description, and I was under-qualified. I was annoyed and disappointed, but was more angry that I was missing sleep to come to this pointless meeting.
I left the interview by 11:00a.m. and was home by noon. By this time, I wasn't feeling well but attributed it to high blood sugar and my cracked ribs. By 12:30p.m., I was restless, hot, and in pain. I thought a few times about going to Urgent Care but then dismissed it briefly thinking I'd just have an ER doc take a look at me when I went to work that night at 9:30p.m.
I couldn't sleep, couldn't get comfortable and quickly realized that something was wrong. I was having a hard time breathing, my arm hurt and was just so weak I could barely stand up. So, I grabbed my phone and called the first person in my message list which was Sean, not even realizing how long it would take him to get home to get me to the doctor. I then quickly followed that call with one to my Mom. I told her that "I think I need you to take me to ER", she said "ok, on my way" and she was here in a matter of minutes.
I got in Mom's car and not far down the road, she suggested we not try driving to ER but stopping at the Ambulance shed just down the road from my house. I agreed.
When we arrived at EMS, they immediately put me in the ambulance and asked a million questions, most of which I am not sure I even answered as I was so in and out of it. They ran the first EKG on the way just moments after I got in the ambulance and Justin, the EMT, informed me that he didn't see anything of concern, but gave me nitro just in case, the nitro did NOTHING! They checked my blood pressure, it too was in the okay range, so they checked my blood sugar and it was a little high, but nothing that would cause this pain. They started me on IV fluids and continued to give me two more nitro sprays that once again did NOTHING.
I don't remember a lot from that ride, but I do remember, they were awesome to me and so kind and compassionate!
As we arrived at the ER ambulance bay they had just completed a second EKG. Justin says to the nurse, she's in cardiac arrest, get the ER doctor STAT! What? Seriously? Well, at that point not only was I having a heart attack but I was in panic mode. I was dumb founded at what they were saying. I couldn't believe I was actually having a heart attack, but I was obviously in the right place at the right time for it to happen.
They rushed me to an ER room and immediately administered more nitro, hooked me up on machines and started more IV fluids. They informed me that I was going straight to the cath lab.
I was taken to the cath lab and what seemed like hours was mere minutes, I had blockages. My right coronary artery was 100% blocked and they placed a stint. I also have two other blockages in secondary arteries, one is 30% and the other is 80% but it was too dangerous to try to repair those. My heart suffered damage and the cardiologist said it was too risky to do more until I healed.
After they placed the stint, I was in CCU overnight. My blood pressure was high but finally down to a normal range by nights end. My blood sugar continued to be high, but they kept me pumped with insulin every few hours.
I was moved to the cardiac floor on Thursday. My blood pressure was good but still struggling with my blood sugar. I was informed that they also found a thyroid issue via my blood work the night before, so I see an Endocrinologist in June that will address my insulin and thyroid.
I have an appointment with the cardiologist on May 15th to see how I'm healing and what the plan of action will be on the other two blockages.
I can't drive or do any labor or lifting for two weeks and can't return to work for four weeks, he wanted me to be off for six weeks, but we compromised on four!
This week has been a whirlwind of emotions. As I laid on that stretcher in ER having a heart attack, my whole life flashed before me and I felt like I was in a cloud looking down on myself. I honest to goodness thought I was going to die. And the one thing I thought of most...my baby girl. I prayed to GOD for him to NOT take me away from her, that she needed me in her life, that I needed her too! I then thought of my Dad, how he suffered a heart attack and was already dead by the age I am now, and did he hurt like this, and if so, for how long? Crazy the things you think of in a moment of crisis. But one thing is for sure, my Dad and God were sitting on my shoulders that day!
My life is forever changed in many ways from what I experienced. I've always known and said how short life is, but WOW, nothing like getting slapped in the face with that fact!
I want to thank all my family and friends, old and new that have texted, called, emailed, facebooked, and/or visited me. It means a lot to me and I love each and every one of you.
Take care of you! Enjoy life! And ALWAYS make sure those around you know how much you love them!
