This is not the typical quilt post. There was almost no way a word would have been written. I am writing this as a warning for women, gratitude for certain people, and profound thankfulness.
On Wednesday, I mailed my Valentine cards, took the grandkids to school and went to a meeting. After the meeting, I was going for coffee with my friends from the art show meeting and had a generally unwell feeling wash over me. I excused myself and drove home thinking I had caught my grandkids respiratory issues I had nursed them through. At the top of my street, I got sharp, sharp pain at the top of my chest and under my chin.
I got home, googled chest pains, and they did not resemble what I saw for heart attacks. I called my primary, waited on hold for 20 min for a nurse to have her tell me to call 911. Our town has paramedics on staff and I called them. In less than 10 minutes they arrived, did an EKG at my dining room table, got me on an ambulance (sirens and all), called ahead to the hospital where 8 people were set to go. I waited 5 minutes for the Cath Lab, got in and got a stent to a 100% blocked main artery, dealt with some complications to the heart stopping and overbeating, and have been in the ICU until today, now in a regular room until Monday for another stent.
When I entered the ICU I was handed a prayer shawl that has been with me ever since. I can't get the picture in with blogger on my iPad. Kind of ironic, all the comfort quilts I make. Also ironic there is a shortage of blankets in this cold place.
My heart attack was due to the wall of the artery bulging and letting in fatty tissue, it was a fast process, not cholesterol related. I had no other symptoms, just the unwell wash, pain at the top of my chest and jaw. When I looked at websites to recommend, they did not match my symptoms. If I had known, I would have immediately contacted 911. I was blessed to have super paramedics, an excellent trauma staff (Gates Vascular in Buffalo, NY,), the doctor and lab were available, a short ride, and excellent nurses.
On Monday, round 2. The other artery is just bulging.
Thank you to my family, my devoted husband. My daughter is expecting in June, and I want to hold the baby. I have a ton more quilts to make.
I was close to death, and I was blessed with another day. I am going to try to find out better warning sites and post them. Wish I had a quilt now!
14 comments:
Holy cow!! Thank goodness you had the wherewithal to call the doctor. SEW glad that all the pieces fell into place for you to be taken care of immediately!! Wishing you much success for your upcoming surgery. Speeding recovery!
Thank you for such good information, I have Atrial Fibrillation, that can be a bit scary, and was a blue light job for me also. I had cardioversion to sort it out. Paramedics and hospital staff are so wonderful at these times, so glad you also have another day - may you have many more of them. Take time to recover, learn to take things at a steady pace for a while, and look forward to holding that baby! Best wishes, Elaine (in England)
You are so lucky the paramedics recognized the emergency situation and got you to the hospital immediately.
God Bless YOU! So glad you called for help. Feel better soon.
Linda I'm so happy you did what you did. It's so important not to second guess what's wrong with us at times. My best to you in the upcoming round 2 Monday. Bless you girl Bless you!
You were given Divine intervention. Glad you are doing well and recovering for the second round.
Excellent post.....two things stand out. It shows why we make so many donation quilts, and that you are on the right track to spread and share the warning/symptoms signs. Remember, Warriors fight on. Hugs and prayers.
Oh my! Sew glad you got help. I wish I had a quilt to send to you, to keep you warm. Know that prayers are going up for you. Get well soon, and keep us informed (when you feel up to it).
I'm so happy that you are attuned to your body and knew that something was wrong! Enjoy every day and I hope you are home and sewing again soon!
Linda - what a shock! Thankful to hear you were into the Cath Lab so quickly. If I could get a quilt from New Zealand to Buffalo before Monday then I would!! You are in my thoughts, God Bless.
SO thankful you called 911 and have had wonderful care. Any time I am in the hospital DH supplies me with the quilt of the day, bringing one from home to replace the one from the day before. Perhaps you have a few at home your family could bring to you?? Wish I were closer so I could bring you one myself. Hugs and all manner of good wishes as you go through round 2 and recovery.
Thank God you were of sound mind to call your physician and 911! Wow.....we NEVER know what each day holds, and we are never promised another tomorrow. Prayers for your quick recovery and that someone will bring you a quilt!
Yes, there are many more quilts to make and I am glad you hear you will be around to make them.
God bless you! I am glad you realized something really wrong and called for help. Take care and feel better and congratulations on the new baby. Life happens while we are making plans.
Oh my how scary for you!
I'm so glad that got fast effective treatment!
take care
xo
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