It doesn't happen to women your age........

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I was a 44 year old woman.

 

Four years ago I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a peri carditis or so they thought. I was given an ecg and they noticed I had a regurgitation but decided it was nothing to worry about, I was discharged.

 

One week later I collapsed my blood pressure was in my boots when I arrived at hospital. They had no idea why, only when I was given a cat scan did they see it. Aortic dissection. " We didn't spot it because it doesn't happen to young women." This is what they told my family. My family was told to prepare for the worst.  After a long Operation where they repaired, bypassed and added new arteries I was left in a coma for five days.  I was a dead woman walking after that, for six weeks I recovered, was given the all clear, went out on my own to get some milk and suffered a heart attack, stents and more recovery needed.  I am four years on now and although I am fit. I still am reserved in what I do, just in case...  

 

it started and although I didn't know what was happening my warning signs were shortness of breath combined with sweats sometimes the odd palpitatoin, my doctors brushed it off as the menopause, I took what they said and left it at that.