The Doctor Brushed Off My Symptoms. He Missed a Life-Threatening Problem

For years, I felt like a puzzle with missing pieces.

I'm a 41-year-old mother and wife from St. Clair, Michigan, and back in 2021 I was just another patient at the cardiologist presenting with uncontrolled high blood pressure.

I had a previous history of hypertension which was controlled with diet and medication. Once my divorce was finalized and I was able to maintain a healthy diet with regular exercise, my blood pressure returned to a normal range. At that point, I discontinued hypertension medication.

I began noticing problems again with my blood pressure after accepting a higher position within the medical office I worked for.

I was aware of what I was getting myself into. The new position required a lot of hard work and a long list of new responsibilities, not to mention the level of stress that comes along with it but that didn't deter me; I jumped right in with both feet.

I was excited and very much looking forward to this new opportunity.

My female cardiologist conducted thorough tests including a heart catheterization. Surprisingly, all results came back normal. It was a relief, yet my symptoms started to get worse.

Not only did I have high blood pressure, but I began to feel shortness of breath, chest pain and overwhelming fatigue.

When my doctor moved her practice, the distance forced me to switch to a different local cardiologist and my healthcare journey took a distressing turn.

This new male doctor seemed to see me, but not hear me. My symptoms were brushed off despite repeated visits to the doctor.

"It's just high blood pressure," he'd say, advising a healthy diet to treat hypertension, smoking cessation, and weight loss.

My diet always has been good. I've been conscious of what foods I eat, and I work out four to five times a week. However, my weight has consistently fluctuated.

I would never consider myself morbidly obese but at certain points in my life, I was 30 to 40 pounds overweight. At these points, I recognized the problem and made changes.

Once my hypertension symptoms returned, I was in good physical and mental health; I was not overweight and my diet was clean.

Although I was a smoker, deep down, I knew there was something more.

I felt dismissed and minimized, especially when I was told my symptoms were probably just anxiety.

Each visit, I was told that nothing was wrong or it was a panic attack. But I was not convinced.

My health was declining, yet doctors thought it was "all in my head." Even in the year 2023, leave it to a man to tell a woman her heart issues are just anxiety.

When I started to feel like I was going crazy, I sought a second opinion. I reconnected with my original doctor and laid out my history, symptoms and fears.

She listened and decided to do another heart catheterization. I then realized it took another woman to actually listen to me and believe what I felt.

On February 17, the truth came to light—a 90 percent blockage in my left main coronary artery, the infamous "widowmaker."

I felt a big mix of emotions; relief that I wasn't crazy, but also fear for what could have been.

I learned that I wasn't a candidate for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) due to the size of my artery and the location of the blockage.

That's when my doctor proposed a cutting-edge solution—a Protected PCI procedure with Impella, a tiny heart pump.

Yes, I was scared of having surgery, and so was my family. My doctor explained that the procedure was minimally invasive and that I would most likely have a quicker recovery compared to if I had an open-heart surgery. This helped put me at ease, along with my family.

In February 2023, she implanted the Impella CP heart pump to allow my heart to rest while placing a stent. This procedure was a beacon of hope amidst my health turmoil.

Two days after the procedure, I returned home to my family, carrying a new sense of life. The pump thankfully recovered my heart.

The journey, however, left deep scars. I kept wondering how a condition so serious went unnoticed for so long.

I was a medical assistant in a pulmonary and critical care office, accustomed to long hours and high stress, but never did I imagine that stress could manifest so dangerously in my body.

Today, I live a less stressful life as a homemaker, focusing on recovery and family.

The experience taught me the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. My story is a testament to trusting your instincts and persisting in the face of dismissal.

If sharing my journey can inspire even one person to advocate for their health, then every challenge I faced will have served a greater purpose.

Jamie Lavigne is an avid reader, gardener, cook, rock houndist, on and off-road Jeep enthusiast.

All views expressed are the author's own.

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