How It Started Part One
As I sit here and evaluate all that has happened to me in the past 12 months the very question comes to mind Who Ever Knew? What do I mean by this question? Like who ever knew that my routine doctors visit on Tuesday May 16, 2023 at the end of my visit as normal Dr. Valeria Fomitcheva would listen to my heart beat as she normally does and typically she would listen to me breathing in and out and then say, “Everything sounds great, I’ll see you in 3 months”. But not this time… she listens and then listens again and says to me your heart beat sounds a little irregular let’s do your EKG (Electro Cardiogram), it’s about time for that test anyway and I said ok let’s get it done. So, she left the exam room to get the EKG equipment and we proceeded… all the electro patches were placed on my chest in several areas and I was laid back chilling on the exam table wanting desperately to take a nap, but of course that didn’t happen the test only takes about 5 minutes. Once the test was complete she read the results and says to me, “Errica this test shows that you’ve had a heart attack”. So, I look at her and say really… ok. She says I need you to come back to the office tomorrow morning the cardiologist will be here she can examine you and check the test results again. I agreed and the very next day Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 9 a.m. I saw Dr. Sirisha Donekal the cardiologist from Maiden Choice Cardiology, and she confirmed that I have indeed had a heart attack. Now I can tell you guys in my mind I’m wondering how have I had a heart attack? I never had any of that left arm pain or numbness, you know how we see people on T.V. shows have heart attacks or even maybe someone we know whose had a heart attack… I had none of these symptoms at all. But they say the test shows I’ve had a heart attack, I never freaked out I just calmly followed the instructions given to me. Dr. Donekal told me that she needed to see me in her office tomorrow to receive a echocardiogram and a heart monitor so that she can gain more data on my heart. I was assigned to wear the heart monitor for 1 week from May 18 – 22, 2023. During this time, I went on vacation to Punta Cana in the DR and let me tell you I had a ball, my doctor was extremely happy that I was going on vacation and she encouraged me to relax as much as possible so you guys know what I did right? Relax, Relate, Release!!! That’s exactly what I did without hesitation! We are going to have to have a whole separate talk about the Punta Cana Girls Trip! But back to the matter at hand… When I returned from the DR on Saturday May 27, 2023 (the day before my birthday I might add) I returned the heart monitor so my cardiologist could obtain all the data for more testing. I was scheduled for a stress test on Thursday June 1, 2023, the doctor needed the stress test to obtain pictures of my heart and to obtain a correct ejection fraction results of my heart rate at different levels of exercise and rest.
Well when the test was over Dr. Donekal told me that it may be at least a week prior to getting the test results back, but she wanted to put a rush on them with a major look of concern on her face. So of course, I smiled at her, I told her ok thanks, and I will wait to hear from you. The very next day while driving home from work on Friday June 2, 2023 I received a call from the doctor’s office and she said to me” Hello Ms. Mitchener I have your test results back! I said wow Doc that was quick! She said “Well Ms. Mitchener I don’t want to scare you but are you sitting down?” Yes, but I’m driving, and trust me Doc you cannot scare me ok just tell me what the results are and let’s move forward. So, I pulled over and told her ok tell me what the results are. She said well what we thought was just a heart attack turned out to be a massive heart attack! She sounded terrified, and All I said was okkkk… so she said let me give you a little more info to help you understand. When you have a heart attack the area that’s been affected changes color and it looks grey… I said alright, and she continued your entire heart is grey… So again, I sat there and I listened and I really honestly had no words guys so I just said ok. So, what do we do next. She stated again I’m not trying to scare you and right at that point I said to her listen Dr. Donekal I said it once and I will say it again you cannot scare me I am not afraid of any of what you are saying to me! Let’s just get the facts and establish a plan so we can take care of this problem. So, she said I need you to make a choice of which Hospital you want to have this procedure you can do St. Agnes Hospital or John’s Hopkins Hospital you need to have a Cardiac Angiogram (Cardiac Catherization) done. This test will show us if there are any blockages in your heart. You guys know I choose Johns Hopkins for sure right! Don’t get it twisted y’all I’m going to the Best of the Best!
So, in a matter of weeks I go from having my normal quarterly doctors visit to finding out that I had a massive heart attack and I’m now being schedule for a cardiac procedure to find out why all of this has happened. Now let me tell you there is so much more to this story that began to unfold in the next few weeks… I’m still amazed that I am alive by the Grace and Power of God to be able to sit here and give you the full story. So, hang in there with me guys from the written blog to the video blogs you will hear, see, learn and grow with me!
As always, I love you guys to Life!
Now put your hands over your chest and tell me How’s Your Heart?
Errica L. Mitchener