Florence, 52 ans

Around April 20, mild chest pains and radiation in my right arm prompted me to consult my GP, who diagnosed cervical osteoarthritis. Confirmed by an MRI scan, I was given a course of anti-inflammatories, along with stomach medication. Nothing strange so far.
The radiation in the arm disappears when the thoracic pain becomes stronger and spreads to both forearms: any time, a few minutes...
I talk to my GP again, who doesn't think there's anything wrong and reiterates his diagnosis of digestive pain: "the treatment hasn't taken effect yet".
Life goes on: work, sport, walking, eating out, cigarettes (about ten a day). Life !!!!!
The attacks come closer together and become more intense, always reverberating in the forearms, mostly in the morning and at bedtime. I practice breathing, and the pain disappears as it came.
May 4. 2 attacks in 2 hours (what I actually call an "attack"): shopping, I'm not in a hurry or under stress, but it's still very painful. My doctor, whom I contact by phone, sends me to emergency to rule out a heart problem.
The hospital's emergency department performs a 15-second electrocardiogram, specifying that they won't see much, as well as a blood test.
According to their diagnosis, everything looks fine, so I go home.
I report the results to my GP, who prescribes Tramadol.
In the meantime, I decide to make an appointment with my cardiologist: 52 years old, smoker, a few check-ups may be in order. Fortunately, I get an appointment quite quickly, on May 13.
During the night of May 12 to 13, I was struck down by chest pains for 2 hours. Not knowing how to deal with the pain, alone and panicking, I swallow what I've got: codeine paracetamol and Tramadol.
Far be it from me to go to the emergency room, since for the past 3 weeks I've been treated for digestive problems. I'm also thinking of anxiety attacks.
The night lasts an eternity, between pain and vomiting.
May 13
At a cardiologist's appointment, an electrocardiogram confirms a recent myocardial infarction, and an ultrasound scan confirms necrosis. The cardiologist immediately contacts the emergency services and the clinic for immediate treatment in the operating theatre. A coronary angiogram carried out on my arrival revealed a blockage in the main artery, requiring the placement of a stent. 3 hours passed between my arrival at the cardiologist's at 8:30am and my installation in intensive care at 11:30am. I'll be staying there for a week, while my medication stabilizes.
This episode was very difficult to accept and to manage:
- realizing the seriousness of the situation, following the various comments made by the nursing staff
- Repeating to myself: "Why me? The collateral effects of Covid: confinement, stress, sedentary lifestyle, smoking...? Yes, I was a smoker: up to a pack a day during those 2 years of confinement and telecommuting, then down to 10 cigarettes.
- Realize that I was saved by the skin of my teeth
- Learning the vocabulary of pathology
- The suddenness of the accident, unexpected and incomprehensible to me and my loved ones.
- Facing it alone
- Hearing the diagnosis of heart failure without knowing its effects
- Understanding that life goes on, but not quite in the same way
- Losing my bearings
- Keeping a cool head with the people around me, who don't necessarily appreciate the seriousness of the accident, who don't understand its consequences, or who are worried.
- Not knowing what I can or cannot do. Being cut off from social life
- Re-learning how to move around and eat properly.
- Weaning myself off tobacco, my demon
- Getting to grips with the drugs that are now part of my life
- Accept that I am diminished, at least temporarily.
- Accept that I am sometimes dependent.
- Accepting to reduce my activity until I regain my energy...
- Not showing the fear of dying that haunted me for several weeks
- Having that spray in my pocket all the time, reminding me that the threat is always there...
The presence of loved ones in these moments of doubt and weakness is precious and indispensable.
July 4th. Today, I'm lucky enough to benefit from 3 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation in a clinic (physical activities, psychosocial and dietary follow-up, supervised by exceptional health professionals): I'm freeing myself, regaining my confidence and starting again.
Meeting and exchanging with people suffering from heart disease is essential for recovery, and helps me to put the seriousness of a cardio-vascular "accident" into perspective. I no longer see myself as having a serious illness, but as having had a warning.
Now that the work of acceptance has been completed, all I have to do is let myself be guided by the carers at the rehabilitation center to live "normally" again.
I've come to realize that: "Health is the most precious treasure, and the easiest to lose.
I cannot remain a silent witness to this accident. My testimony is intended to keep hope alive and help others who may find themselves in my situation, while reminding everyone of the essential: listen to your body and consult your doctor as much as necessary to avoid ACCIDENT!