On Matters of the Heart
On Matters of the Heart...
Our family has been on an emotional rollercoaster the past few days.
My Beautiful Mom has been in Medical ICU for a few days.
On Monday morning, after a visit to Home Affairs to collect her ID Book and Passport (never a fun outing) and the stress of a funeral looming that afternoon of one of my Dad's best friends, my Mom suddenly felt as if she was having a heart attack.
Symptoms of Heart Attack or Angina
She was experiencing...
- Excruciating Pain in her chest referring to her jaw
- Feeling Lightheaded, as if she was about to faint
- Sweating Profusely
My sister-in-law took her to ER and I met them there as soon as I had fetched my son from School and handed him over to his Dad.
After initial blood tests and X-Rays, the Doctors suspected she had Angina and my Mom was admitted to Hospital that evening and underwent many more blood tests, as well as a
- a Stress ECG Test
- and an Angiogram
Results of the Angiogram
To our great relief, we found out yesterday evening, after the Angiogram, that her Cardiovascular system is in great shape, they could find NO:
- damage to the heart
- narrowing of the arteries, or
- blocked arteries.
Hip, hip, hooray!
So this morning my Mom went in for a Gastroscopy and they discovered the real culprit:
- a large Hiatus Hernia in her Oesophagus.
As my Mom would say...
Who would have thunk it?
Did you know that a hernia can present with the same symptoms as a heart attack?
I did not know that until today.
We've had friends and family confirm today that they've landed up in hospital, thinking they were having a heart attack, only to find that it was a hernia playing up.
The great news is... my Mom is now home, safe and sound, though exhausted after her ordeal. She starts her treatment programme tomorrow and we'll be focusing at dietary changes as well.
If you have any tips and suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments below so we can all benefit from your knowledge and experience.
Would you like to join me in wishing my Mom a speedy recovery?
You can pop her a message here:
Jill Alexa
Thank You so much to this very special community for your care and concern, always.
All the best
P.S. THANK YOU so much to all the friends and family who have supported us through this tumultous time.
Recent Comments
54
Just sent her a message. We know what it is like to stress out worrying about your mom. She is the most precious person in your life and there will never be another one.
So glad you let us know about her.
Hugs to you, too.
Colette and Philip
I am sure your mom is proud of you. I am glad she is at home and did not have a heart attack. Wishes to your mum: Feel Better Soon and best wishes.
Michael
So good to read all turned out well for all of you.
Must be a big relieve for you too.
Ps
You seem to have great doctors there!
Thanks Fleeky. Yes, the Doctors were brilliant and the Medical Care was superb. Lovely caring nurses too.
Lauren, I´m so happy to hear that your mother is safe and sound. It must have been so terrifying. My dear mother suffers from heart disturbances and I´m so worried about it, so I can absolutely understand how worried you felt.
:-)
Thanks so much for your concern Pernilla. So sorry to hear your Mom is suffering and it's causing you so much worry. Hope she finds a way to heal her heart and live a long and happy life.
Glad your mom is doing well. I thought you had to have normal symptoms also. I had no idea of 95% blockage in my mid left artery. Good EKG. BP normal. Just tired a little light flutter. Went for blood tests and they said my blood heart enzyme traponin was 11. I guess 50’s I would be having a major Heart Attack.
Just five days previous I was walking on the Appalachian trail. Crazy right? Through a catherization they saw the blockage and inserted a stent. Then started cardio rehab. So now 14 months later I do exercise watch my diet better and take medication. Very thankful I knew something was not just right.
Prayers fo. your mom.
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Bill. Thank goodness they caught the blockage in time and you received medical attention fast. When you're so fit and strong you don't think for one second that you're going to get heart problems. I'm reminded again how important nutrition and exercise are in maintaining health.
Good evening Lauren,
I quickly went over to wish your Mother all the best. Do not eat men made foods for awhile that is much better and neither foods that convert into acid.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Dear Taetske
Thank You so much for taking the time to leave a loving message for my Mom and share some excellent advice.
All the best
Lauren
Good Morning Lauren
To have a Mom and also a Dad is so precious. Papa died in 1986 and my Mother in 2067 and I still miss them, every day. I hope your Mother will get better soon, all the best.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
It is a scary thing to know that your Mother has to go through that. I am very happy that she is doing good and at home again. Prayers. I almost lost my Mom back in 2000 from a massive heat attack and I did loose her in 2013 from a massive stroke. I have had at least 15 mild heart attacks this year. I do not really worry about it unless it gets too bad, but I live a very stressful life right now so I know why it keeps happening.
Hi Mary, Thank you for prayers. So very sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom and about your own heart attacks. Prayers for you too. Hope you can find a way to reduce your stress.
I am so glad to hear that your mom is doing okay. I can only imagine how scared you all must have been. Thanks for sharing this information. Best wishes to her.
A hernia is much better than a heart attack, but still not pleasant! I hope she recovers quickly!
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Hey, Lauren, I wish your mother a quick recovery. I hope you wish me a recovery because I'm in rehab for my foot.
Thanks so much Roger. Wishing you a speedy recovery for your foot. So sorry to hear you're injured.
My foot injury was caused by diabetes. I have to take better care of my foot so they won't amputate anymore.