Surviving heart disease

What made you think something was wrong?

For a period of 1 ˝ to two years, I was experiencing progressively severe fatigue, bouts of indigestion, and anxiety, usually in the late evening. I chalked everything up to menopause.

In late 1998, I was visiting with my daughter in Vancouver. When I arrived, I stopped three times to catch my breath and had some chest discomfort. Three days after my arrival, while out walking, my left hand went numb and I had enormous difficulty breathing. I sat down, rested and went to a walk-in clinic. They told me my blood pressure was quite elevated.

Without prompting, I cut my time in Vancouver short and returned to Toronto and went directly to my regular doctor. She listened to me attentively, and acted immediately. Within 10 days I was going through a battery of heart tests at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. I failed them all.

What health care did you require?

Again, I had enormous good luck with the medical profession. I was directed to another physician at St. Michael's Hospital. She too listened to me carefully and diagnosed me quickly - cardiovascular disease. She immediately took steps to curtail my lifestyle, prescribed medication as a protection until my surgical date.

I was diagnosed with narrowing in three arteries: 90 per cent, 70 per cent and 50 per cent. That would certainly account for the difficulty in breathing.

My anxiety during the testing procedures was high. I knew I was in serious trouble. Heart disease is rampant on the paternal side of my family: my father was 34 years old and my brother was 30 years old when they had heart attacks. Numerous cousins, uncles, aunts and both grandparents also had heart problems.

The prospect of heart surgery carried with it an enormous fear. My brother John had a damaging heart attack at age 30 and, five months later, a triple bypass. The surgery was unsuccessful. After three further heart attacks, a severely incapacitated lifestyle, he died. John and I made a pact: I would never consider heart surgery. He felt it was too traumatic and certainly no improvement for him. Medications were the way to go.

I asked my surgeon if I had any other options than surgery. I am sure he was mentally questioning my sanity - as if I had a choice! He advised me that I had a 30 per cent chance of an “event” within the year, 60 per cent chance of an “event” in the year 2000 and a 90 per cent change of an “event” in the year 2001.

I signed the consent form for surgery instantly.

On March 12, 1999, I had a quadruple bypass.

After taking baby steps for a few months, I graduated to a sense of well-being I hadn't known in 20 years. I was back, better than ever, thanks to the care and expertise of my GP, my cardiologist, my surgeon and a team of medical professionals who gave me back a wonderful life.

How has your life changed?

Within four months, I was back working as a real estate sales person (19th anniversary this year). I’m a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation for women and heart disease, and a volunteer at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, working with the families of surgical patients. I try to offer hope instead of a feeling of hopelessness.

I do exhibit my emotions more easily now, I’m not quite so stoic anymore. My gratitude to all of the medical professionals who took me by the hand and guided me back to a healthy and happy life is without measure.

How can your family and friends offer support?

Through their well-hidden fears, my husband Sam, my daughter Cybelle and my son Levent were pillars of constant love, support, encouragement and strength. I know that I would not be in this time and place without them holding me so dearly and so close.

Family and friends are enormously important, combined with the expertise and knowledge of all medical professionals.