I knew something wasn’t right.
Jaw pain. Unusual fatigue. Getting breathless after just five minutes of easy exercise. My body was telling me something was wrong.
The blood test I had at 8 am confirmed it. My troponin level was elevated – a sign the heart is under stress and potentially being damaged.
At 1.15 pm, while I was teaching a class, a nurse called.
“You need to go to ED as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go when I finish this class.”
“No,” she replied firmly. “Go now.”
Fortunately, Tim answered his phone and drove me in. Otherwise, I had been instructed to call an ambulance.
Forty-eight hours later, I was discharged with two overlapping 5 mm stents and a much healthier blood supply to my heart.
A month on, I’m functioning at about 80% capacity instead of the 30% or less I suspect I’d been operating at for the previous two or three months.
What Did I Learn?
As someone who works with older adults and people living with long-term health conditions, I understood the theory behind cardiac events. My mother and brother had both joined the stent club years earlier.
But being the person in the hospital bed provides a completely different perspective. I now have a much greater appreciation for how the Christchurch health system works when someone presents with a serious heart problem.
The medical and nursing care I received was outstanding. I know waiting times for non-urgent care can be frustrating, but if you need urgent treatment, our health professionals are exactly the people you want in your corner.
Three Tips for Anyone in a Similar Situation
1. Write down your questions.
Questions and concerns pop into your head at random times. Write them down. Never worry about asking a “dumb” question. You’re in unfamiliar territory and understanding what’s happening matters.
2. Have someone with you when information is being given.
Doctors and nurses provide a huge amount of information in a short space of time. When you’re tired, anxious or unwell, it’s remarkable how little you retain. Having another person there helps enormously. Ask for written information and take photos of anything important.
3. Be specific when visitors ask what you need.
Don’t be afraid to ask visitors/family for what they could bring you in the food department. My list would now include fresh fruit salad, protein smoothie, salad with protein of some sort, soup (if the ward has a microwave), nuts. A flat white.
The Lesson I Didn’t Expect
What surprised me most was how quickly it is to fall out of an exercise routine. When you’ve been unwell, getting back into regular exercise requires rebuilding habits, routines and confidence.
I’ve also gained a much deeper empathy for people living with chronic fatigue. You gradually adapt to feeling below par. You push through the bad days and make the most of the better ones. It becomes your normal.
Only now, with my heart working properly again, do I realise how much I had been functioning on reduced cylinders.
My Biggest Takeaway
If there’s even the slightest chance you’re having a heart event, don’t muck around.
Go to ED.
