Living with Aortic Stenosis

Three weeks ago when I was at work I experienced severe chest pain and also down the left arm, an ambulence was called and they arrived within 5 mins. I was given GTN and asprin and was put on an ecg machine. I had never experienced anything like his before and I was terrified. I was 51 and 6 months before I had undergone a gastric bypass as I was so scared of having a heart attack due to my weight and having diabetes. With in 6 weeks my diabetes had gone and by March My weight had plummeted to 9 stone 5 lbs and I stupidly started to smoke again, yes I know how crazy that was.

I was taken to my local hospital (where I worked) and was taken to A&E, where I was put on an ECG machine. It was 3 days before my consultant could arrange an angiogram. It showed that my main artery was blocked in 3 places with 70 to 80% of blood been cut off, within 2 days I was back in theatre for an angioplasty which was not a pleasant experience, however it saved my life and I have a second chance now.

I have not smoked for 18 days and it is hard,but I will never return to smoking, it would be a slap in the face to all the people who helped save my life. I am home now and making a good recovery although slow. Life will probably never be quite the same after this, I will not take things for granted. If you work very hard, take some time out and think is it really worth it, over working, working 2 jobs and smoking nearly ended my life at age 51, I have 2 wonderful little grandchildren and I WILL be around to see them grow up. Working yourself into the ground is just not worth it.

Please take my experience as a warning…..SLOW DOWN.