What I Wish I’d Known

By Kim Lewis, as informed to Stephanie Watson

As a single mother, I did a number of juggling. I had an lively son and a job at a well being and sports activities facility. I used to be busy. Making time for physician appointments and taking good care of myself weren’t excessive on my record. I realized the arduous manner how necessary it’s to be proactive about my very own well being.

Just over 20 years in the past, after I was 32, I bought a cough that would not go away. I used to be having a lot hassle respiratory that I needed to sleep upright in a recliner to get sufficient air into my lungs.

I stored going again to my physician and telling him the cough wasn’t bettering and I could not breathe. He identified me with all types of issues — pneumonia, strolling pneumonia, bronchitis. Finally, after the third or fourth go to, I informed my physician, “I believe I have to see a lung specialist.”

The lung specialist instantly despatched me to a hospital, the place I fell right into a coma. When I got here out of it 3 days later, my medical doctors informed me that I had irritation of my coronary heart muscle known as myocarditis, which was brought on by a virus. I used to be in coronary heart failure.

A Scary Prognosis

The medical doctors informed me I had 5 years to reside. My son was 12 years outdated on the time. That meant I would not get to see him graduate from highschool. It was horrifying to consider. He’s my entire world.

My son was my child boy, however he needed to develop up rapidly. I used to be so sick that I wanted him to care for me. By the time he was 15, he needed to drive me to the hospital if I bought sick in the course of the night time. If my port got here out, he would name the physician and say, “Tell me what to do.” My coronary heart failure put a number of strain on him.

Turning My Health Around

I knew I needed to make drastic modifications if I used to be going to get extra time with my son. I began maintaining a healthy diet. There was no extra going to quick meals home windows for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I used to be sitting all the way down to heart-healthy meals. Instead of retaining snack muffins and sweet bars on my countertop, I’ve bananas, apples, and oranges. I inventory my fridge with bottles of water, not soda.

Exercise additionally grew to become a precedence. Rather than watching TV within the night, I am going for a stroll. I train a water health class 3 days per week and I play with my grandchildren to remain lively. I ensure that I train and see my medical doctors. And I take a guideline-recommended coronary heart failure therapy to assist my coronary heart pump blood extra successfully.

I’ve these actually wonderful medical doctors who monitor me intently and take excellent care of me. They say I’m nothing wanting a miracle. They do not have an evidence for the way a lot I’m in a position to do, however they suppose it is a mixture of wholesome dwelling, good remedy, and weight reduction.

What I Would Have Done Differently

If I may discuss to my former self, I’d inform her that she must take higher care of her physique. I can look again now and say I in all probability ought to have gone to the physician extra typically. I ought to have been extra bodily lively. And I ought to have had a salad with my slice of pizza as an alternative of consuming three slices of pizza.

I additionally ought to have requested for a second opinion when my physician wrote off my signs. Had the medical doctors caught my coronary heart failure sooner, I may not have had everlasting harm. There’s a superb line between trusting your physician and trusting your intestine. If you are not comfy with what your physician tells you, it is OK to get a second opinion.

If I had it do over once more, I positively would have prioritized my well being. I’ve met a number of different coronary heart failure survivors who additionally put their well being on the again burner whereas they took care of the whole lot else. I ought to have put my well being on the entrance burner and brought care of me.

A New Outlook on Life

Coming so near dying made me respect life extra. I respect the vacations, dinner with mates, sunrises and sunsets, and the sound of rain. I respect household gatherings. I’ve a really giant household right here in Tennessee. We get collectively about 4 occasions a yr. I’m tickled each time I get to see them.

I really feel like life is extra treasured now. I do know that I used to be given a second probability. After being informed that I had 5 years to reside, I’ve made it greater than 20 years. Every day is a present.