Surviving A Massive Heart Attack

I had a massive heart attack and survived. On Tuesday November 19, 2024, I had a life changing event. The day started pretty normally.

I woke up at my usual time and drove to work. I usually arrive between 7:00 to 7:15am every morning. I like to get my day in order before I see my first patient.

I had a pretty uneventful day at work, business as usual.

I drove home and Finn was leaving the house with the babysitter to basketball practice. He asked me if I could watch him practice and I told him that once I finished eating dinner, I would drive over to his practice.

My dinner was a pretty healthy meal. It was grilled salmon and a salad. It wasn’t greasy at all and not a typical meal that would cause reflux.

Finn’s practice was from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. I got there around 7:15pm and at about 7:30pm I had this pretty intense right pectoral chest pain. The pain was not constant. It would come and go.

I began to think, well maybe it’s acid reflux but it was the most intense pain that I had ever had. But in my head, I’m thinking, “I’m a healthy guy. I just went to the doctor and all my lab work was normal.” In my head, I was calming myself down to justify how it couldn’t be a heart attack.

I called my wife, Sarah, and asked her if she could pick up Finn. I told her that I was having chest pain, and I was thinking of going to the hospital. She told me she’d be right over. Then while we were on the call the pain went away.

I told her don’t worry the pain is gone. She kept telling me to go to the hospital anyways and I told her not to worry, I was feeling better.

When I got home it was a little after 8:00 pm and the pain returned. I immediately went upstairs and took 2 Prilosec (Heartburn Medication) and some Tums.

I allowed the medication to take effect and gave it an hour to kick in. After an hour, the medication gave me no relief.
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I told Sarah that I was still having pain and that I’m going to the hospital. I was thinking if this was reflux, the medication should have given me some relief by now. It must be something else.

We all got dressed and were walking out the door to go to the hospital. Then the pain stopped. I told Sarah, “Wait, the pain went away. Let’s go to sleep. I think I’m good.”

We all went to bed and while I laid down, the pain returned. I got myself up and drove myself to the hospital. I did not wake up Sarah or Finn because I didn’t want to disrupt their sleep.

I arrived at the hospital and walked up to the front desk. I told the man that I was experiencing chest pain. They had me on an EKG immediately. The tech told me that he was going to show the EKG to his Dr.

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Within seconds the tech returned and said, “We have a room for you.” I then responded, “Is everything ok?” The tech did not respond and quickly wheeled me 3 rooms down from where we were.

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When I got in the room, there were quite a few people waiting for me. When I saw all the people, I knew my condition was serious. I asked, “Am I having a heart attack?”

The head nurse responded, “Don’t worry sir, we are going to take good care of you. Then, with a stronger voice, I asked, “AM I HAVING A HEART ATTACK?!?!” Then the head nurse responded, “We think you’re having a heart attack.”

The head ER doctor came in and said, “My name is Dr. Patel. Your EKG shows that you’re having a heart attack. We called the cardiologist and he’ll be here in 30 minutes.”

The IV’s and medications that they were putting into my body were beginning to work and the pain was going away. The cardiologist arrived and told me that he was going to find the blockage, put in a stent and I’ll be good.

I called Sarah once they moved me to the main room. Her, Finn and my sister were there in minutes.

I always imagined myself panicking in that type of situation but in fact, I was completely calm. I was at peace and felt very protected. I knew this was not my day. I just had this confidence it was going to be OK. I can’t tell you why but that’s the feeling that I had.

My LAD artery, also known as the Widowmaker, was 100% blocked. I had multiple doctors come into my room the following day and tell me that I was so lucky to be alive. They told me that that artery supplies 50% of the blood supply to the heart. They said that most people die from that type of blockage. They told me that someone was looking out for me that day.

Tomorrow I will describe the exact feeling that I had when I was having the heart attack and why I waited so long to get to the hospital.

See you tomorrow!

Floss Like a Madman!

Emilio “Heart Healthy and Happy” Couret

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