Go Red for Women
I spent the day helping our local tv show, Style, with a story on women and heart disease. If you would like to see the video of the show that tells what happened during my heart attack and to learn more about women's symptoms of a heart attack, see the story here at WBIR.
posted by Helen at 6:57 PM
16 Comments:
Great piece. It should be everywhere.
Um, sorry for the lame question, but how do you get it to play?
It should come on automatically now when you click through to the video--if not click on the middle triangle to play.
!
It doesn't even show the usual video taskbar (with the triangle play button). Very strange...
Problem solved, don't use Firefox :(
I hate Internet Explorer! :x
Did your doctors ever find out the root cause of your heart problems?
Wonderful interview Helen! You looked great. I hope a lot of women see it and remember it.
BTW - I use Firefox - no problem - maybe it's a compatibility problem with your computer anonymous. Everyone has their own set of problems when it comes to this stuff interacting.
anonymous 10:11:
No, the doctors have just speculated as to why I had a heart attack but were never sure. They thought I had a coronary spasm in an artery and got a blood clot caught in it which caused the heart attack.
Hello Dr. Helen;
I am an interventional cardiologist who reads your husband's blog probably too much (!) and yours occasionally. I really enjoyed your video about your heart experiences and have recommended it to patients and staff.
About the etiology of your problem; I am assuming your cardiologists told you that you had coronary spasm. You may want to check out the link here on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: I have seen numerouse women pts with this entity and it may explain what happened. Thank you for your help in educating the public and women.
Sincerely...
GTB,
I looked at the info on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but as I understand it, the problem resolves itself over time--it is precipitated by stress and the heart returns to normal? My heart remains damaged with a moderate amount of scarring although my ejection fraction is back up to 45--it was 38 when I had the heart attack. Thanks for the information.
Helen, I watched your video and wanted to thank you for "exposing" yourself in this way; many, many people will be helped by it. You've been generous to share your story.
What I found most troubling about your story was not so much that a young, healthy woman can have a heart attack, but rather the thick-headedness of the many medical personnel that you dealt with.
This hit close to home for me because my brother died because of similar medical ineptitude. Mark was admitted to the hospital with acute constipation, and we're talking ACUTE. He had had no BM for over a week, even though the family doctor had put him on a strong prescription laxative that "could melt cement." The doctors finally admitted him, but said "we'll monitor him tonight and do something in the morning." All this despite the fact that he was in agony, his midsection was grossly bloated, and he was cold and clammy. Oh, by the way, he was also mentally handicapped, a fact that I believe played a big part in the staff's cavalier attitude.
Despite my mother's protestations (she was utterly beside herself by the time they finally decided to admit him), they did nothing for him except sign the paperwork to have him admitted. Within the next hour he was dead. My cousin walked in to find him blue and not breathing. They coded him but he was gone.
The autopsy revealed that he died from sepsis. The impaction had ultimately burst.
How could they possibly have missed such blatant signals, with your case as well as my brother's?
Sadly, what I learned from my brother's case, which was reaffirmed by your case, was that we have to be STRONG advocates for ourselves and our loved ones.
Thanks again for sharing your story!
Jabber,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother... I can understand the pain you and your family must feel after losing a loved one who could have gotten help if only someone had paid attention. It is scary--but the best thing to do as you say is to advocate for ourselves and to bring someone with us to the hospital to help. I once had an ectopic pregnancy (what haven't I had!) and my husband took me to the emergency room where they initially told me to "have a seat." But he knew what was going on and just yelled, "She's got an ectopic pregnancy and I'm a lawyer!" I was in the operating room in a flash.
Ha! That "...and I'm a lawyer" bit gets 'em every time! Neither my wife or I are lawyers, but I suppose we could pretend, in a pinch! Thanks for the chuckle!
I went to the doctor with what I thought was a simple complaint. I felt as if I couldn't catch my breath. Thankfully, my internist didn't turn me away with - "You're a middle aged woman who needs to lose some weight. What do you expect on the golf course in August humidity....Of course you're out of breath." Didn't happen and it sure could have. I was sent from test to test ... failing every one and next thing you know I'm having a triple bypass. Thank God for doctors who listen.
gemma,
So glad your doctors listened; I think more and more are--hope you are doing okay now.
ronin1516: You blame the doctors in your story. But if you didn't have health insurance, who was supposed to pay for your surgery? (I don't mean the question in a cruel way. I have my answer, and I'm just wondering what yours is.)
Post a Comment
<< Home