My 100% Blocked LAD May 12,  2016  7:03am EST

Unlike us guys, women do not get the classic symptoms all at once and it sounds like this is what happened to you. I hope you are on the mend, did not suffer any damage to the heart and that you can participate in a rehab program. I was 51 when I had a 100% blocked LAD 1.5 years ago. Quick recognition of symptoms and quick treatment saved my life. I did rehab and am now back to a normal healthy lifestyle. Best of luck moving forward. Joe Terranova

I had an mri done in January and found some damage to the brain then I had an ecocadiogram done in March and in April they found a hole because I lost the use of my left arm and hand

I AM HAPPY FOR YOU. YOU GOT OVER YOUR PROBLEM. I TOOK MY FIRST WALK SOLO WITHOUT A CANE ALONE ON A COUNTRY PATH SMELLING GOOD OF NATURE, AS IT WAS ALL AROUND ME. THE CANE WAS IN THE CAR, UPON RETURNING MY FRIEND WHO HAD TAKEN ME TO ER WAS FURIOUS, MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST, NEGATIVE, NOT PROUD OF ME, I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE I TRULY STAND IN MY RECOVERY, I WAS PROUD THEY, FRIENDS AND HELP, WERE HORRIFIED ,WHICH IS ONE OF US IS RIGHT.? HARD FOR ME TO LIVE WITH MY STROKE AND JUST CALMLY ACCEPT.

I'm 39 and only naw finding out they don't know where the hole in my heart was from giving birth to my daughter or when I had a stroke at 23 or when I was born it's hard because I get tired easy naw and I have asthma to

Hi Viola, In January, 2015 I began to have waves of fatigue wash over me, as well as some jaw discomfort, some pain between my shoulder blades and a lot of pain in my left breast and upper arm. My daughter, who is a PA, said, 'Mom, you need to see your primary! He'll have an EKG done and he'll send you to a cardiologist or decide if you need to go in the hospital. That was on a Saturday...last weekend in January, first of February, 2015. Monday, Feb 2nd, I called the primary. Got an appt. for the next morning, Tuesday the 3rd. Early on February 3, I called my friend and told her that I wouldn't be at prayer group that morning. "Just feel horrible" I said. So my husband took me to my primary appointment. I had an EKG done, long story short, he told me I needed to be admitted immediately to the cardiac care area. The next day, I had my heart cath...they had already put me on cardiac medication because my EKG was "all over the place, and really funky looking." The doctor who did the heart cath told me I hadn't had a heart attack yet, but I had five blockages...3 100% blocked (including the LAD), a 90% blockage, and a 70% blockage. Two of the 100% blockages were totally occluded - and too small for stents or bypasses. The other 100% and the 90% were small also, but the doctor didn't want to do stents or bypasses until he checked with his colleagues on the surgical team. And I was told the following morning that I shouldn't even be alive..was probably walking around waiting to die of a fatal heart attack within days. Today, I am walking around with two stents, and probably going to have a third stent put in the one that was 70% blocked once it gets to 80% blocked. I did my 33 classes of cardiac rehab, and now continue at home 5 or 6 days a week on the treadmill Santa brought me this past Christmas. And I understand what it means to walk in the light of God's grace. May He bless you Viola...and give you renewed strength and understanding of what heart health is all about. Thankfully for you, and I, and for countless others who see and reply to your post, we have been given extra time.

I'm curious to know what type of blood thinner you are on? As a nurse I know you should have some good insight. Also glad to know that they were able to catch it without a lot of damage to your heart. I'm so thankful I only live 10 minutes away and had enough awareness to call 911. Speed was on my side. Women need to call sooner than they do.

Wow. Glad your ok now

So glad you were able to get to the hospital in time and glad you feel so much better! Best, Jan

I am on Effient 10mg daily with a baby asaprin

An amazing story! I'm so glad you are okay! I hope you remain healthy! Best wishes!