Heart attack survivor shares her story

September, 2021

In the lead up to this year’s Run & Walk for Your Heart event, we heard from a number of ‘Wellness Warriors’ hoping to inspire others in the community to commit to leading healthier lifestyles.

Here is Celia’s story

In October 2019 Launceston woman Celia Lanham had a heart attack.

Considering herself a fit and healthy person, the then 46-year-old said she had no idea what was happening to her – or how serious is was.

“I started to feel queasy, with pain in my back between my shoulder blades,” she said.

“The pain spread to my chest and across my back. I then started to get pain in both of my wrists, as if I had tight blades around them.

“My husband Paul came in from outside about 15 minutes later, and I told him how I was feeling.

“Paul got on ‘Dr Google’ and became quite concerned, he tried to convince me to go the hospital.”

Celia resisted, but eventually the pain got so bad she agreed. Even then, she insisted Paul drop her at the entrance to the hospital, because she didn’t want her kids to come home to an empty house and worry.  

“When I was in triage, the pain in my back, chest and wrist became so bad that I struggled to stand up straight,” she said

“Luckily there wasn’t much of a wait and after explaining my symptoms they took me straight into the ward.

“Next thing I know I am attached to a machine, and being wheeled into what I knew was a serious looking cubicle.

“I had a catheter in each arm and nurses milling around me. A doctor came in and it was obvious to me that he had been called in from home.

“I started to panic. I have never been faced with the real thought that I might die.”

Celia later found out that she had experienced a heart attack, and she went on to spend five days in the cardio ward.

“I am a healthy and fit person with no history of heart disease or heart attack, I did not fit any of the criteria of an at-risk heart attack patient,” she said.

“I haven’t got heart disease, in fact I was told I have a very healthy heart.

“What happened was that a section of an artery came away, and that with a small blood clot blocked my artery causing the heart attack.”

After the heart attack, Celia said she became very anxious that it could happen again.

During her rehabilitation, she was told that the best thing she could do to prevent another attack was to monitor the stress in her life.

“I made the decision to change jobs, and really focus on finding somewhere with a great culture and work-life balance.”

Now working at TasPorts, Celia has made a commitment to either walk or ride her bike to and from work every day from her home in Trevallyn – no matter the weather.

She also remains conscious “not to sweat the small stuff” and says she decided to share her story to help more people understand that anyone can experience a heart attack, no matter how healthy they think they might be.

“After I had it, I didn’t want to talk about it. However, I realised after a month or so that it was important that I share my story to others that will not be as stupid as I was – and will call an ambulance as soon as they experience symptoms of a heart attack,” she said.

“I believe that Paul saved my life by insisting that I go to hospital, and I have been told by the hospital that I should have rang an ambulance.

“Please take your symptoms seriously and get yourself checked.”

Now in its 14th year, Run and Walk for Your Heart is an annual event aimed at raising awareness for heart disease.