Scott Edstrom never expected he’d need the new hospital in town barely a month after Methodist Celina Medical Center opened, but that’s when a “widow maker” heart attack struck without warning.
“No one would have guessed the guy who works out every day would be the one having a heart attack,” says Scott, who exercises every day before work. “When my family found out I had a heart attack, they were shocked.”
So was his wife, Terri, who drove him to Methodist Celina that day in April when the Prosper couple needed a lifeline and found a cardiology team that was up to the challenge.
“Everyone was so kind,” she says. “Each and every one of the two dozen staff we encountered tried to make our experience easier. I’ve never encountered a hospital staff like this, and I’ve had four babies and too many surgeries to count in my lifetime.”
Most mornings are predictable for Scott: exercise, breakfast, and then off to work. But his routine was ruined by severe chest pain like he had never felt before.
“I thought the pain would eventually go away, but when I got in the car, I noticed it was getting worse,” the 49-year-old says. “ When I went back to my house, I collapsed on the ground.”
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, his wife rushed him to the emergency room. On the way there Scott started sweating profusely, a condition known as hyperhidrosis, one of the most common symptoms of a heart attack, along with shortness of breath and severe angina.
“When I arrived at the ER, the pain in my chest was intense,” he says. “It felt like an elephant was stepping on me.”
FITNESS MASKS SYMPTOMS
Scott has a family history of coronary artery disease, and over the years, his wife has urged him to get checked out. He brushed it off, thinking he was too fit to worry about it.
It’s not uncommon for physically fit patients to miss the warning signs of heart disease that are more obvious in less active people. Sometimes being in good shape can mask the symptoms. In Scott’s case, it might have also helped save his life.
“I think working out definitely helped save my life and strengthened my odds of surviving the heart attack,” he says.
When Scott arrived at Methodist Celina, his shirt was drenched in sweat. The staff quickly ran an EKG that showed he was experiencing an acute myocardial infarction. His heart attack was caused by a complete blockage of his left anterior descending artery — a textbook widow maker.
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Scott was rushed to the cardiac catheterization lab, where Rikesh Patel, MD, a cardiologist on the medical staff, took over.
“Time is muscle in cases like these,” Dr. Patel says. “We have to open that blood vessel and restore flow to save the heart muscle and the patient’s life.”
By threading a catheter through an artery in Scott’s right wrist, Dr. Patel found a blockage in the main artery that supplies blood to the front wall of the heart. The minimally invasive procedure removed the clot and opened the artery using balloon angioplasty.
“We placed a stent to truly stabilize that artery and restore normal blood flow,” Dr. Patel says.
STENT OPENS BLOCKAGE
Scott’s father also needed a stent after a heart attack years ago, but he required open-heart surgery. Scott’s procedure was less invasive, and his recovery was less intensive.
With his artery open again, Scott felt immediate relief. He credits the Methodist Celina staff for helping him stay calm throughout the procedure.
“When I was on the operating table, the nurses kept checking on me,” Scott says. “The whole nursing team was amazing. They made sure I felt supported the entire time.”
His wife felt that same care and attention.
“While one nurse was taking him back, another was helping me with registration,” Terri says. “They did absolutely everything they could so that I wouldn’t have that stress while I was worried about my husband.”
SPREADING THE WORD
Back home with his wife, Scott is focused on his recovery and looks forward to exercising again. Since the procedure, he’s eating a more heart-healthy diet and says the scare has inspired his entire family to prioritize their health.
“Since all this happened, my family started getting more serious about their health,” he says. “My brothers are seeing their doctor and calling me when they’re concerned about stuff.”
Scott is grateful for the care he received at Methodist Celina, and he’s spreading the word that the area’s newest hospital staff is already up to their lifesaving task. He also has some advice for others with heart disease.
“Don’t wait to get checked out, just get it done.” He says. “Put your pride aside, and just get it done.”
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