Member Profiles

PATRICIA GRAVITT

Hi my name is Patricia Gravitt, I am 42 years old, I had a CABG when I was 41 yrs old. I had been having a heavy feeling in my chest so I went to the Emergency Room one day and they told me I needed to have a stress test done. I called a Cardiologist and made arrangements to have the stress test done on two different days, as the time went by I was getting scared so I called and had the stress test set up for one day for both test, they said they don't normally do that but because I was so scared they went ahead and did the test all in one day. The doctor told me when I was trying to walk on the tread mill that a woman twice my age could have walked longer during the test at an incline. I was only walking on level ground. I could barely make the 3 minute walk. So they sent me to the hospital to have a Heart Cath done that same day. When they did my Heart Cath they found that my main artery was blocked 99% and I had two other blockages. I was flown to an! other hospital that same day and had Open Heart Surgery done. When I woke up my doctor asked me what my maiden name was and I told him the weird thing was we went to high school together. I came through the surgery just fine. I was off the respirator in less than 10 hours and doing great. I went home after 3 days in the hospital and did great. That was until I started smoking again. Like an idiot. Now I am going down hill again and I am only 42. So my message to anyone out there that has had this surgery if you smoke give it up because it will only make you worse. If you do as the doctors tell you, you will live life to the fullest is my belief. Have a great day, and remember you never know what tomorrow holds so treasure each day.



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