Justin's Story

On December 8th, 2017 I was walking across the street and felt a tight discomfort in my chest. I had just waved to someone and was in a good mood. I didnt think anything about the tightness and continued forward. After a few seconds - it didnt take long -  I noticed that tightness start to steadily increase. After about 15 seconds, I had a hard time breathing and couldn't keep my posture. At about this time I noticed that my breathing became laboured and a slight tense radiating sensation eminated throughout my lower jaw.

I was experiencing a heart attack.

I didn't know this at the time, but at that moment part of my heart was being starved of oxygen. I was at work and proceeded to continue walking through the parking lot into the building and back to my desk. All the while, I wondered if something serious was going on. I wondered if I would even make it back alive. I eventually made it back to my desk and things felt grim. I was hunched over and clutching my chest while my co-worker was staring at me. I told him that I think I needed an ambulance and he suggested to go to first aid. With this suggestion I ventured to the first aid room and received aid. It wasn't long before the attendant was asking me to chew four children's asprin and then that's when I had an idea of what was going on - first aid training finally kicked in. An ambulance was called and I was off to the hospital.

I was greeted by a fantastic staff at Langley Memorial Hospital and once my troponin levels were confirmed to be elevated, I was shipped off to the critical care unit. I did my best to cope with what felt like a surreal experience for a 38 year old individual who worked out and ate reasonably well. Eventually, I was asked to go to Vancouver General Hospital(VGH) for my angiogram when everyone else was slated to go to Royal Columbian Hospital. I thought that was a little strange. My Doctor throughout this whole ordeal had suspected a tear in my artery and I want to say right now, his diagnosis was spot on. I think that is the reason I was sent to VGH and not to Royal Columbian. 

The angiogram intially proved to be very unfruitful as they didn't find any damage to my heart or its nourishing arteries. After a second look however, they saw the tear and informed me of my SCAD. I wasnt sure what they meant, but they did confirm a heart attack. I felt absolutely helpless. I am the sort of person who generally feels invincible when it comes to my health and this was somewhat crushing.

I was referred to the SCAD program at VGH as well as the study to help those who go through this ordeal as well as their supporters. I am quite thankful for this and I probably wouldn't have had the kind of recovery that I had without that kind of support. The SCAD program is a full solution that involves cardiovascular recovery, social therapy, and dietary advice to allow the patient the best possible outcome.

When I got home, I rested and rested and rested and rested. At the begining, I couldnt lift ten pounds without feeling heart pain, but it got better. I had a good support group and got stronger. Eventually I could get back to work full-time. Right now, I work full-time with no symptoms and I am looking forward to the future.