Last Weds ( Oct 19th) I was watching TV and around 8.00pm I became aware of an ache in the region of my ribs on the left side. It went off about 10.00pm. I put it down to either straining my ribs or indigestion.
I knew a heart attack can seem deceptively mild in a woman so I did have a little niggle about it.
I went off to sleep & was woken at 4.00 am by pain in my ribs again – the same ache as before but it had also gone round to my back. I got out of bed & prowled around the house, still not sure what it was.
It lasted two hours & I think then I realized it was a heart attack but as the pain went at 6.00am I lay quietly making my mind up to ring 111 for advice.
I rang 111 about 8.00am & after questioning me the lady said she was sending an ambulance. I told her the pain had gone and I just wanted to go to the local hospital for an ECG but she insisted on the ambulance.
I went in a bit of a panic then – threw a few things in a bag – woke Tony up & phoned my son. I said to Ady ‘Look after your dad. I think I’ve had a heart attack & an ambulance is coming for me.’ He and Paula were over within 15 minutes just as the ambulance arrived.
After examining me in the house the paramedics then took me into the Ambulance to have an ECG & a stent put in my wrist. They then poured an anti sickness liquid down the stent as by then I was being sick. I think they also poured blood thinners & other drugs as needed.
All this time Tony, Ady & Paula stood on the doorstep waiting.
‘Ok we’re away to hospital now’ the ambulance man said. Ady agreed to look after Tony and Paula insisted on coming to hospital with me. I tried to discourage her as I thought I would be fine on my own. However I’m so pleased she came with me. All the time I was in A&E she was there by my side…
More later.