I didn’t think it could happen to me… But it did

There’s nothing I love more than a family dinner. It was a Tuesday night and we had spontaneously gotten all of the grandies and our kids over for dinner – it was great. We cooked an impromptu roast, had a dinner table discussion about whether technology is helping or hindering education (the iPad-toting kids loved it!) and indulged in a couple of glasses of a good cab sav. There’s nothing like a red with a bit of bite!

The wife and I had tidied up the kitchen but decided we were too tired to actually wash up, and went to bed. I was happy and I felt healthy as a horse.

It was about 2am when I woke up. I could feel almost a slight burning sensation in my chest that I hadn’t felt before. It was only dull and I was sure it was just a golf injury from the morning prior… I like to think I’m that good anyway!

I tossed and turned for a while and tried to get back to sleep but the slightly painful feeling became a nuisance. So much so that it woke up the wife! Something that, after 50 odd years of marriage, I have learnt I don’t want to do!

“What on earth is going on?”, she asked in a voice that made me think a two bedroom sleeping arrangement wasn’t far from her mind. I explained that the pain had gone from being a dull burning to almost like a clenching as if my “chest muscles” were having a cramp.

This was the moment when I thought the woman had gone bonkers: she looked at me and said, “I think you could be having a heart attack”.

Me? No way. I have the cleanest health record of any man my age! I only take one pill a day and that’s the vitamin C tablet…if the wife reminds me. We sat up in bed for a few seconds and discussed just how long I had the pain and exactly what it felt like.

The wife made a comment about calling an ambulance and I thought no way, it can’t be that bad! But the quick thinker had already pressed the emergency call button that is installed in the corner of each apartment of the retirement village we live in.

In hindsight, it was having that little red button that probably saved me.

It took less than five minutes and the paramedics were already standing outside our level four apartment. While I was lying in bed under strict instruction trying not to move too much, my wife who loves to entertain was doing the previous night’s washing up because, obviously, we can’t have the paramedics seeing the kitchen in disgrace! Female priorities… I’ll never understand them.

I was whizzed off to the hospital with the wife in tow and before I knew it, I had my own cardiologist and nurse on call. I felt like a superstar until I was told I needed to have quadruple bypass surgery.

In truth, I put on a brave exterior but it was such a shock. I had friends who had been through similar things but I hardly ever stopped to think, what if it happened to me?

The following day I had the surgery and a big thank god for private health insurance because I wasn’t out of pocket a cent.

And, after eleven months of rehabilitation, annoying the wife who was saintly in her patience, not being allowed to play golf for six of them, drinking far too much water and not being able to substitute it for wine, I am here, sharing my story.

The only things that could hint to the fact I have been through a heart attack and critical bypass surgery is a six-monthly appointment to see the cardiologist and a now faded scar down through the middle of my chest.

I have been lucky and so blessed to survive what I did. I don’t smoke and I don’t overindulge in alcohol (although the doctor and I have different definitions for overindulge) so I guess I have helped that luck along. And never in a million years did I think this could have happened.

But it did, and it could happen to you to, so know the signs (I know I didn’t!), have a plan in place and enjoy every moment of your life because every second is a blessing and you never know how many more you will have.

The big signs of a heart attack no matter how healthy you are include:

1. Chest pain or tightness
2. Pain in the neck or jaw
3. Extreme weakness
4. Nausea or feeling faint and dizziness
5. Breaking out in a cold sweat
6. Trouble breathing

 It is important for all people to have an action plan in place. The Australian Heart Foundation has an action plan template that you can download from their website by clicking here. 

Have you or a loved one had a heart attack? Did you have a plan in place in case of emergency? Do you have one now?