I Had a Heart Attack at Age 39

As instructed to Jacquelyne Froeber

February is American Heart Month.

It was Friday night time in Waikiki and I used to be late. I rushed backstage and apologized to the crew. “I went to the M.A.C. counter to get my make-up performed and it took longer than deliberate,” I stated.

That wasn’t precisely true. I didn’t plan to go to M.A.C. — I’d forgotten my make-up at house. And it wasn’t the primary time. Embarrassed, I averted eye contact with the opposite singers.

The reality was I didn’t know what was occurring with me. I used to be drained on a regular basis — drained — even strolling up a flight of stairs took my breath away. And the forgetfulness wasn’t like me. I chalked it as much as working a full-time job and singing a number of nights every week, however I knew one thing was off.

Simply earlier than I went on stage, I bent all the way down to put water in my cup and felt ache in my again. I gasped and stood up shortly. I’d felt that ache earlier than.

A couple of 12 months earlier, I used to be visiting buddies in Las Vegas after I began having heartburn and again ache and nausea that didn’t go away. I knew one thing wasn’t proper so I known as 911. On the hospital, I used to be recognized with myocarditis — irritation of the guts muscle. However they couldn’t inform me why it was taking place. I hadn’t been sick and there was no identified an infection. I attempted to ask questions — why was I in such extreme ache? — however they principally blew me off, gave me morphine that actually made me sick and stated the signs would go away on their very own. I had a follow-up appointment again at house, and the physician stated the identical factor. I had myocarditis and I’d be high quality, however I shouldn’t push myself or train for a few month.

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Now, that very same feeling was again however a thousand instances extra intense. I did what many ladies do when experiencing coronary heart issues — I attempted to work by way of it. I bartered with myself: If I might get by way of the set, I’d drive myself straight to pressing care.

However I couldn’t do it. By then, I might barely rise up. One of many singers known as 911, and responders took me out on a stretcher by way of the packed venue of holiday makers and locals ready to see the present.

On the hospital, the physician got here into the room and went over my signs with me. He stated I used to be having a coronary heart assault and so they wished to do surgical procedure.

I chuckled. “That’s not taking place,” I stated.

I used to be solely 39. I exercised most days of the week. I knew I might most likely eat higher, but it surely wasn’t like I used to be having a burger and fries day by day. Additionally, it wasn’t even potential for somebody my age to have a coronary heart assault … was it?

I known as my household. They agreed that it appeared odd that somebody so younger might have a coronary heart assault however that I ought to have the process as a result of one thing was flawed. I couldn’t disagree.

After I awakened from surgical procedure, the physician confirmed that I did have a coronary heart assault and so they needed to do an angioplasty. He confirmed me on the X-ray the place the balloon had been implanted in my coronary heart. He additionally stated that I used to be anemic — apparently low iron ranges generally is a contributing issue to a coronary heart assault — and I wanted to take ldl cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering medicine.

I nodded alongside as he handed me prescriptions and I used to be cleared to go house. After he left, I sat there shocked and tried to wrap my mind round what had simply occurred. I used to be nonetheless in shock when a nurse commented on how lovely I appeared. I noticed I used to be nonetheless in full make-up — lashes and all — from the night time earlier than.

Within the weeks following the surgical procedure, I used to be amazed by how significantly better I felt bodily. I didn’t have the labored respiration. I wasn’t drained. However mentally, I struggled. I used to be scared that I used to be going to have one other coronary heart assault. I tiptoed round my life in a state of hysteria ready for the opposite shoe to drop.

I used to be additionally depressed. I believed I used to be doing all the pieces proper earlier than the guts assault and but it nonetheless occurred. I felt broken in a means — prefer it was my fault. It took a while, however I began to see a therapist and shortly discovered that being conscious of your psychological well being after a traumatic well being occasion is simply as necessary as taking good care of your bodily well being.

After I talked to household and buddies about what occurred, everybody stated the identical factor: You’re too younger to have a coronary heart assault. Most individuals, like myself, thought you needed to be older and expertise chest ache — but it surely’s not like the films. Girls can have totally different signs than males, together with extreme heartburn, again ache and nausea similar to I did. And the forgetfulness was additionally an indication because of the diminished blood move to my mind.

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I wished to unfold the phrase, so I contacted my native chapter of the American Coronary heart Affiliation. I began talking at occasions for coronary heart assault survivors and sharing my expertise with myocarditis, which was on the rise in younger folks throughout Covid. In 2002, I used to be honored to be an envoy for the American Coronary heart Affiliation’s Go Pink for Girls motion to assist increase consciousness about coronary heart well being.

I’ve discovered {that a} coronary heart assault can influence a lady’s life in methods you most likely wouldn’t consider. For instance, I couldn’t proceed taking birth control pills and I’m not a candidate for hormone therapy as a result of hormones improve the danger for a cardiovascular occasion. Additionally, I used to be devastated to be taught that I couldn’t be a bone marrow donor regardless of being a match for somebody who actually wanted it.

Trying again, I want I’d advocated for myself extra throughout visits with healthcare suppliers. I might’ve requested extra questions when instructed we’d “monitor” my levels of cholesterol however that didn’t embody a timeline or the truth that excessive ldl cholesterol might result in a coronary heart assault. I might’ve educated myself about blood work and the numbers and the indicators and symptoms of heart attacks in women.

Going by way of such a terrifying well being scare modified my perspective on life. Not lengthy after the guts assault, I stop my company full-time job to give attention to singing and entertaining — primarily on cruise ships all over the world.

To this point, I’ve been to 37 nations and I get up excited to do what I like day by day as a result of I do know all of it may be gone immediately — so why not stay the life you wish to stay? Simply ensure you’re taking good care of your coronary heart alongside the best way.

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Our Actual Girls, Actual Tales are the genuine experiences of real-life girls. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these tales usually are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of HealthyWomen.