LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
Patty was diagnosed with heart disease on August 24, 2018. A nuclear stress test taken that very morning revealed she had suffered a heart attack three days earlier, unbeknownst to her. And it was only because Patty advocated for herself and pushed in to see her GP on August 23 that her doctor ordered a stress test for the next morning with Patty’s cardiologist. When the doctors discovered the heart attack via the nuclear test results, Patty was rushed into emergency surgery to have two stents put in her heart. The surgeon related she had been at extreme risk of her heart stopping during the three days that passed after the heart attack. After the surgery, the cardiologist confirmed heart disease, not heart failure, which is hereditary in Patty’s family.
I asked Patty what made her go in for the nuclear stress test initially and learned that she was actively listening to her body. Earlier that month, Patty visited the emergency room, as something did not feel right. During triage, the ER doctor assured Patty that she was not having a heart attack. To back the story up just a bit, it turned out the ER doctor had been the attending physician who treated Patty for Lyme disease only a few weeks prior. While the ER doctor wanted Patty to stay overnight in the hospital, she declined, and the ER doctor advised her to see a cardiologist the next day to check her heart with more tests. During the initial visit, Patty related that she’d just been in the hospital weeks earlier with the Lyme Disease and learned from the doctor that it is possible the Lyme Disease was a catalyst for the heart issues, and it is called myocarditis.
The cardiologist scheduled a stress test for Patty, which she was physically unable to complete. The attending physician then called for her to take a nuclear stress test, but when Patty said “Please, no more tests unless it’s urgent”, the physician said there was no urgency. She opted to forego scheduling a nuclear stress test. Subsequently, the burning sensation Patty had felt earlier in her chest returned. Having had EKGs three times now, and having two doctors tell her she did NOT have a heart attack, Patty attributed the chest pain to having recently quit smoking and her lungs were just clearing. In truth, however, the burning in the chest was leading up to a heart attack! The cardiologist dismissed the burning feeling, which Patty felt on and off for three weeks.
REACH OUT FOR HELP
Knowing that her doctor dismissed the burning as nothing to worry about, Patty then reached out to her friends for help. They proposed that it could just be heartburn or acid reflux, and suggested that she purchase some OTC medicine. On the day of the attack, the burning feeling was so intense that Patty was scared to go to sleep. She woke up the next morning feeling perfectly fine but still made a call to her cardiologist. They too recommended OTC medicine and did not advise her to come in or to head to the ER.
Later that day, her throat felt sore, which was a new symptom. She contacted her primary care doctor to see him the next day, and he said to her, “I think this is your heart.” He pushed for her to have the nuclear stress test the next morning. The following day, after the nuclear stress test in the doctor's office, they discovered the attack and they were able to pinpoint it occurred three days prior. Patty initially would not believe she’d had a heart attack; as her situation was nothing you see in the movies where people who suffer heart attacks grasp their hearts and fall to the ground. Heart attack in “real life”, and especially for women, is more subtle. The surgeon had to convince Patty that she had had a heart attack and required immediate surgery.
Patty’s surgery was done in twilight, which means she was aware of everything happening. As someone who is profoundly deaf, she had to work out a way to communicate with her surgeon during the procedure since she’d be able to see but not hear. Through different taps on her leg, the surgeon communicated each phase of the procedure, giving Patty peace of mind.
MAKING BETTER FOOD AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Today, Patty is a dedicated health advocate for both herself and others. Immediately following her surgery, she sought out a nutritionist to learn how to read food labels, eat clean, and understand what types of foods were best for heart health. She was honest with herself and was able to make realistic lifestyle changes regarding diet and exercise.
Patty began cardiac rehab, which was 3 times a week for 3 months. Since she’d be hooked up to heart monitors while exercising, she thought to herself “I might as well push myself!” The rehab helped her develop positive fitness habits, and post-rehab, Patty continued with the exercise and engaged in working with a personal trainer. She has taken control of her life with good nutrition, alleviating stress, and being mindful of getting good sleep. Some of the things that she emphasizes are cardio, weight training, eating clean, and walking! (She aims for 20-40 minutes of walking on the treadmill 4 times a week and a 1.5-hour walk in the park every weekend). She diligently keeps a daily log to track food intake, exercise, and steps through the user-friendly app Lose It. The app also tracks the carbs, protein, calories, and fats she is eating in a chart, in case she ever needs to share with a doctor or a trainer.
PAYING IT FORWARD
Patty recently joined the American Heart Association New Jersey North board of directors and represents cardiac survivors. In her work on the board, Patty passionately advocates for access to produce and healthy food. In 2021, Patty received the highly esteemed AHA Woman of Impact Award for the entire state of NJ. I asked if Patty could share a few of her trusted resources and recommendations, which I’ve detailed below:
