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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Al-Anon Family Group -> This one deserves a post of its own. Read this carefully and remember it could be YOU!!!
Post Info TOPIC: This one deserves a post of its own. Read this carefully and remember it could be YOU!!!
Diva


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This one deserves a post of its own. Read this carefully and remember it could be YOU!!!
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Yesterday morning I nearly died! No joke here. I had stopped in to have a word with my internist. Taking a chance that she may have time to see me, and she did. We were talking about stress and how it can react, and I began telling her about the A, and how his behavior has affected my life. I completely lost it, and suddenly I collapsed in a crying, shaking heap! My heart was beating so fast I could feel my chest and back pound, and I had lots of pain. She (internist) took a fast ECG, and decided it might be a good idea to go over to the hospital and see my cardiologist. He took a look at the ECG, and gave me the news that it looked like I might have had a heart attack!!! Upon further investigation, (angiogram) it was discovered that all of the arteries are perfectly clear. Hmmmm...interesting turn of events. When I explained to my cardiologist what I had been talking about with the internist, he immediately had another idea, which turned out to the the correct diagnosis. I had suffered what is called a Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. As best I can understand, the heart was stunned, and the muscles of the heart violently contracted together, emiting a dangerous chemical in massive quantities, and cutting off the blood for those beautiful, clear arteries! This caused a potentially catastrophic event brought on by stress-related anger and resentment. The positive part of this is that 95% of patients who have this happen fully recover. Only one has died, but it IS possible if I do not take the medication and change my reactions to stressful conditions. Recovery time varies, but is normally about 5 weeks. Meantime I must take things easy, which for me will be hard because I love to run and swim. Nevertheless those activities have to go for the time being. This event is so rare that my cardiologist said he had seen it happen only 5 times in his entire career. And once it happens, it is extremely rare for it to ever happen again. Further, he consulted with colleagues who all came into agreement of the diagnosis. Cardiologist determined that I am well enough to come home for my recovery with the promise that if I feel any pain I will return immediately to the hospital. He need not worry about that!! As an aside, this happens almost exclusively to post-menopausal women. When a sinilar occurrence takes place in a man's body, he drops dead on the spot. Now here is a reason to deal with your stress in a way that allows you to avoid a dangerous build-up of bad feelings.

 

So where does that leave my visit with the Bad, Bad One? It is on, albeit not so rigorously...hee hee hee. I will keep you all posted.

 

Kindest regards to all, Diva



-- Edited by Diva at 20:53, 2007-01-31

-- Edited by Diva at 20:54, 2007-01-31

-- Edited by Diva at 20:56, 2007-01-31

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Maria123


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(((((((((((((Diva)))))))))))))))))))),

What a scare.  Take good care of you my friend.  Remember you have us all.  Don't be bottling all that toxic "crap" up inside of ya.

Love Maria 



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Dolphin123


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((((((((((Diva))))))))))))),

So glad you are still with us, take care fo you!

Much Love,
Mandy

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Akasha


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Sakes alive!

What a frightening event and I'm very glad that you were diagnosed...and properly so.  Definitely take care of you and I wish you the best of luck in recovering from this!  Very important lesson and thank you for sharing this Diva.

Good luck with the "Bad, Bad One"

~Laura

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Karilynn


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((((((((Diva)))))))))),

Are you trying to give me a heart attack young lady?  I am SOOOO GlAD that you are alright.  They say the best time to have an attack in when you are visiting your doctor.  Please, please, please take extra good care of yourself. You're such a fit lady that you will be fine. Now remember to let others help you if you need it. It's because you have taken such good care of yourself during your lifetime that your recovery will be smooth.  Thanks for sharing the information with us.  You may have just saved another life. That's our Diva always thinking of someone else. Have a wonderful time with Bill albeit a bit more sedate one at that. We'll say extra prayers for your speedy recovery.

Love and many, many, healthy blessings to you and your family. Kiss the animals for me.

Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty

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david62


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(((((((((Diva)))))))))))

Wow that is scarey!!!! I am so very very very glad you are alright! Take it easy my dear friend. (Now i have to hope ole BB is old fat and bald so he doesnt get that heart of yours all revved up again)

Relieved that you are okay,

David



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ZiggyDoodles


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I am sure that was scary to go through. I am glad you are alright.

Ziggy

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doxie


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that must have been so scary. I am sorry that happened to you. Thank God you are ok.

Doxie

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Christy


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(((Diva)))

Man!  Do I feel like schlump!  Here I was being a goof and had you in a spa getting ready for BB!!   Far from it!!  How scary!

I'm soooo glad you are O.K.  ((((((((big ole hug))))))) 

Thanks for sharing that information with us too.  Never heard of it before.

Love

Cristy 



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Moon


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Wow it is true...

I was at a speaker meeting one time and at the end the speaker asked to pray, well he prayed for all the people who will die from the disease of alcoholism and also the people who will die because of un-treated al-anonism.  We all sortof laughed, but he said "no it's true, un-treated al-anons will die from this disease as well! 

It actually kindof makes sense when you think of it.  Our heart is only capable of so much stress. 

Glad to see you're doing better and taking care of yourself...inside and out

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Yours in recovery, Moon
mama_nz


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How nightmarish!!  You should have put a disclaimer warning, for hypochondriacs like me to not read that!  I could feel my heart pounding and my palms sweating..  (I'm not *really* a hypochondriac, but still found that story scary!)



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annmarie


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(((Diva))),

Look after yourself!

You're in my prayers

AM 

 



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jrtjosey


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 Thanks for the info, stress can cause all kinds of sudden problems.  They are still saying my stroke was stress related and I can see that your coronary spasms could be very possible, they believe I have this as well, although they did not give it the fancy name, but I knew what it was by what you were decribing, as is the cause of some of my recurring chest pain, since I have clean arteries.  I too was told I had a current heart attact at one time of these spasms.

Stress is nothing to mess with and I think we under estimate stress, including me, even after all I have been through and learned the last 8 years.

We all need to find healthy outlets for all types of stress, not just from our A's.  My cardiologists did have ideas to help with the smooth muscle spasms that is not really medicine per se, if you want to pm me.

Thanks Diva

Josey 

 



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carolinagirl


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I'm glad you're ok Diva, would hate to lose your wise insights!

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AlaMom


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(((Diva)))
So very happy your still with us.  Thank your for sharing your story.  I hope that it will help to save another's life in this program.  Wishing you brighter days ahead.
Karen

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Cilla


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My hugs and prayers for you Diva.  Hope you are resting well and reading alot of our program literature~. 
Take care of yourself!

Cilla

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drucilla06


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((((((((((diva)))))))))))

WOW!! Glad you're ok.Take it easy......especially with the bad boy, lol.

love,  dru

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tea2


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(((( Diva ))))
Please do take care of you! I know keeping things bottled up hurts me in one way or another.
I was thinking like Christy, that maybe you were out getting a manicure and pedicure for the special day
Although, seems all the more reason why you should do something good for you and relax.

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bob6502


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((((((((((Diva)))))))))))))

No more of that stuff ya hear!!!

Take care of yourself hon !!!

SenoraBob

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gardengal


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(((((Diva))))) glad you are ok! Must have been a relief for you. Shows me that even though your body may be fit your mind should be as well. I know stress affects people in different ways. THATS IT! I have thought about getting massages to reduce stress for a long time, and if my work is willing to pay part of it I will start asap! Your post just put my plan into action. Take care of yourself.....gardengal

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gardengal
aunitedway


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((((DIVA))))) so glad your alright. even more glad you were in a good place,  for something so odd to of happened when it did,  so you received help.  HP thank you for looking out for Diva!  Thank You Diva, for the information... will definitely take it to heart. no matter the kind of stress we hold in it has its own way of telling us when enough is enough. Please take care of You~ to get well.  your in my thoughts and prayers.  

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Becky1


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(((diva)))
am sorry you had to go thru that!  What a scarey experience!
But, you sent us a valuable message.
Stress can kill.  And living with an alcoholic (or just being affected by one) can send our stress levels thru the roof.
I was hospitalized about a year and a half ago by my counselor, she could see my stress growing by leaps and bounds, and felt it best for me to be admitted.
That is one reason MIP is so valuable to me.  It allows me to express my frustration and anger at the alcohol instead of keeping it bottled up inside.  I tried the "fake it till you make it" routine, and sweeping all my problems under the rug, going around with a smile on my face, when I was dying inside and the pain was destroying me.  That is why I landed in the hospital.  MIP gives me the freedom to give thoughts and words to my feelings.  If an angel had not guided me to this beautiful place when she did, I am sure I would not be alive today.
Hope you keep getting better. 
Keep taking care of yourself.

Love in Recovery,
Becky1

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just me


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((((DIVA)))))
So glad you are ok.  I have had stress related chest pain before but I was lucky it was just anxiety rearing it's ugly head.  Hope you are feeling better.  Go get that manicure and pedicure now so you can stay calm and restful.

Yours in recovery,

Julia

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carolena


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hi Diva,  so glad you're okay - what a scare!

             thanks so much for sharing this.   I have a  "minor" heart condition  but  I've never
             heard of this one.     It makes sense, though.    I know  that  untreated  al-anoners
             can develop all kinds of physical problems that they wouldn't otherwise have.

                                        (((((((Diva))))))))

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