The Widowmaker.

[Cattledog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/she-thought-it-was-only-a-24-hour-bug-what-she-really-had-almost-killed-her/2016/03/07/32e6cbfa-c5f5-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html?utm_term=.1a1445488576

She thought it was only a 24-hour bug. What she really had almost killed her.

In my years as a prosecutor, I saw plenty of violence, including many deaths. Some were accidental, but some were the work of killers, even serial killers. I have always been fascinated by serial killers. How do they choose their victims? How is it that they can take a life so easily? I studied them, tried to understand their behavior. None of that prepared me for the day I met a serial killer of a different sort — a medical one with the ominous name “the widowmaker” — that had come for me.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, I suddenly became wide awake at 5 a.m. I lay in bed with my eyes open for maybe a minute, thinking, “Hmm, this is weird,” and then, “I feel kind of funny.” Within about 30 seconds I rushed to the bathroom and threw up. I felt very cold and climbed back into bed with my husband and snuggled back under the covers. A minute later, though, I knew I was going to be sick again. I figured I was coming down with a virus, but it was strange how suddenly it had come on.

My husband, Tim, was concerned. He sat beside me, felt my cold, clammy forehead and said I just looked so pale. Then he whispered, “Let’s go to the emergency room.” I laughed. “Why?” I asked. He replied, “You could be having a heart attack.”

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Jesus...

How frightening that you could have a heart attack and not really know it.

[smirkymonkey]

2. K&R

[madaboutharry]

3. The same thing happened to my mom.

We were in a restaurant having lunch. She was arguing with me when I decided to call 911. 20 minutes later she was in a cath lab and right after that in a helicopter going to a downtown hospital for bypass surgery. If she had been alone she would have died. She is happily still here.

[Demsrule86]

4. Thanks for this...

Last fall I had terrible stomach cramps and vomited...I thought I had the flu...hubs was worried and forced me to the ER where I found out I had a intestinal blockage...which must be treated fairly quickly...very lucky. I got there pretty much just in time...they have no idea what caused it...I don't have any stomach disorders and have never had surgery except after miscarriage. Hubs had an appendectomy which went bad when Doc left a towel in him...so he has experienced a blockage a couple of times...and thought my symptoms were the same...he saved my life twice now...once after the miscarriage and now last fall...I am terrible about going to the doctor...and we have high deductible insurance which makes me not want to go...but I realize that is stupid.

[Granny M]

5. Just passed this on to my friend.

Women need to be aware of this. And we need to look after ourselves and each other.

Thanks for posting.

[Renew Deal]

6. I'm pretty sure a friends wife died from this exact thing

And I think she was in her 40's. She didn't feel right for a couple days. She stayed on the couch watching TV and he found her there in the morning.

[yardwork]

7. The same thing happened to me.

My symptoms were a little different from hers. I didn't feel right and went to the ED. I was having a heart attack. Because of quick action, I have no damage to my heart.

They don't know what caused it. I had no risk factors.

From the article:

Many women have no chest pain, no tightness, no pain in the arm or jaw until it is much too late. Many women suffering a heart attack simply “don’t feel right,” just as I did. So if that happens, don’t ignore the feeling and don’t worry about someone thinking you’re crazy. Get yourself checked out. The worst thing that happens is they send you home and tell you you’re fine. You can live with that.

[woundedkarma]

8. bleh

My grandpa died of a heart attack when he was only 60. When I was born, I had a heart defect and they told my mom I'd need a pace maker by 30. I'm 40 now.

I had really bad chest pain at work last year, it was the second time in maybe a month. It wouldn't go away.. lasted several minutes at least. So I left and drove the short distance to the hospital. Turned out to be nothing, while my blood pressure was through the roof there was no sign of a heart attack. Great... well that made me feel like an idiot and next time I have any kind of chest pain I won't be going to the hospital.

[AwakeAtLast]

9. With the history you just cited

never apologize for taking care of yourself.

[Wounded Bear]

10. It's been known for a while now...

that heart problems often manifest in women in different ways than in men.

I hope this kind of story gets out so that more people are aware of it.

Nice to see a happy ending.

[mopinko]

11. happened to my mom. those who have had a mastectomy or radiation in that area are doubly at risk.

it can cause nerve damage that makes it hard to feel the chest pains.

tho my mom was hospitalized for several days, they didnt figure it out. it wasnt until a year later when she had another that they figured it out. need a major resection, and had a blood clot "the size of a lemon" in the lower chamber.

it was really emotionally hard for her that they missed it. she had worked in that hospital for decades. she knew all there people, and still they blew it.

it was a long time ago, tho, when this stuff was just starting to be figured out.