u/SingerGal44

I wanted to give some vibes of hope & success by sharing my story. I’m 44F. Went in to the ER on March 22 with what I truly thought was heartburn and a panic attack of some sort and it ended up being a full on STEMI with 100% blockage in one artery and 90% in 2 others. Got 3 stents placed. I have struggled with a ton of stress the last 18 or so years. A lot of grief and stress and worry. Constantly. I used food as a comfort, especially baked goods, chocolate, ice cream. Gained a fair bit of weight. The heart attack honestly gave me a new lease on life. It took weeks & weeks of pushing myself to take longer and longer walks. I worried I’d never feel normal. I have cut out processed sugar completely and eating 95% whole foods. And I wasn’t losing any weight (body was still healing I think plus less movement overall). My weight is finally starting to move down now that I got the go ahead a week and a half ago to start pushing myself to sweat and get out of breath working out, plus lift weights.

The entire process can be scary. But MINDSET I think is one of the most powerful things we have. I did not ever allow myself to wallow. I wanted to sometimes. I cried a few times like how could this happen? But then I would stop my mind in its tracks and talk to a friend or even sometimes get ChatGPT to encourage me lol. I’d listen to positive podcasts (and I’m also a christian so I listened to sermons as well), I’ve pushed myself past my comfort zone many times while still being safe. I chatted on the phone a LOT the first few weeks to people who made me laugh really hard. I have let go (and this is the hardest part) of pretty much ALL the stress I was holding on to before and I’m moving forward living in (mostly) peace. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I pray about the things I can’t control but need resolution in the future. I have a full on AI photo of me in the gym at my goal weight, with a loving husband working out beside me. (I haven’t met him yet). It motivates me HUGE. I’m starting a workout plan with the cardiac rehab team at the YMCA next week & and so excited.

I am so thankful. One of the biggest things I have said out loud every day is I’m so grateful to be alive. Reading Reddit posts about people who lost loved ones with the same heart attack scenario as me makes me that much more thankful that I’m here. I am doing every single thing I can to create a healthy life moving forward. Gratitude and a positive mindset (which some days takes serious effort and commitment to not going down dark thought paths, or getting up and going for a walk to stop the thought patterns), are the most valuable things I can share from my journey so far.

I’d love to hear your story and how you’re doing.

Dana Sue’s (on Sweet Magnolia) attitude, disrespect and snide remarks to her husband in public, constantly rolling her eyes at him and his business (when she has spent countless hours - yes, and nights and weekends - building her own businesses) is seriously so disgusting to me. I look at her and I want to be the literal opposite kind of wife & person she is. It’s so horrifying and uncomfortable to watch!!

I’m a 44 female, and 4 weeks ago I had a heart attack with 100% blockage that got emergency stented right away and then 2 more the next day (85% and 89%). I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life, up and down. I was LOSING weight (around 40 lbs) when I had my HA. I do SO many healthy things, my meals were healthy (but I admit I was still indulging in sweets since Christmas when sugar got into my system again), but I have now gone 99.99999% whole foods. I was walking daily around 7-8km.

They kind of just threw me out the doors of the hospital saying all my bloodwork, oxygen, heart rate, and heart function were excellent. I don’t have a cardiologist appointment until week 7 after my HA. I’ve called the office and asked about cardiac rehab and they said I’ve been referred but they cannot seem to figure out WHEN. When did you get into cardiac rehab and am I behind?

I am definitely getting better every day but I feel like some people talk about jogging at 4-5 weeks after their HA or feeling totally normal and healthy…and although I try and walk daily I’m still quite winded. Should I feel more normal by now? When do the chest twinges stop (they come and go and never come with any other symptoms)? Am I behind in healing?