Support Ricardo's Heart Attack Recovery

Hello my name is Ricardo , some people know me as Rico and others as Richard but still the same person :) . I recently had a heart attack and was hoping I could get some help for my road to recovery.

On Sunday June 23 I woke up at 6am with what felt like someone sitting on my chest . I walked around my living room hoping to shake the feeling, doing some breath work to try and relax but to no avail . Instinctually I said I should probably go to the ER just in case . Didn’t want to bother anyone so I took my gfs car to the emergency room at Kaiser .thought I’d be back to cook breakfast lol. On the way there watched my heart monitor on Iwatch trying not to panic . Luckily there was no one there and I said the right thing “tightness in the chest “ . Immediately they hooked me up to an ekg machine and as soon as it beeped everyone rushed into the room . Still was calm, but knew something was wrong . When the doctor came in he told me , “ your having a heart attack “ but it wasn’t like it was in the movies , me clutching my chest feeling like I was dying . Just had shortness of breath and discomfort in my chest . I called my family immediately on the phone and told them I was having a heart attack and of course they were in disbelief .The diagnosis was 100% blockage in one of my right arteries . I needed a stent ( little balloon that opens up the artery ). ambulance came and rushed me to st Joseph’s hospital . Felt fine on the way over there . Once I got to the hospital everyone was in a frantic hurry I guess as it should be . They talked fast and then of course I agreed to what they were saying . Local anesthesia and angioplasty ( camera up the veins ) through my groin to find the clogged artery . I was awake and aware the hole time , didn’t feel anything except one moment it felt like my heart was tightening up and then it was released all of a sudden. Only moment of fear for my life but besides that I tried to stay positive . Kept me over night obviously but I was out by the next day . I know it seems like I’m brushing over it but it was pretty serious . Had a lot of good things that I did apparently main one coming in right away but that I should’ve had someone drive me.

the emotional part of this journey has been what’s taking it’s biggest toll on me . I don’t typically talk about my feelings or struggles or emotions but this one was hard not too. At first I was mad at myself for not listening to my doctor and taking cholesterol medicine and watching my sugars and keeping my blood pressure low. I’m sure this and stress contributed to my heart attack . Went through all the stages of grief , denial , bargaining , anger , depression . But I don’t know if I’ve gone through acceptance . It’s like a piece of me died that day . The guy who loves to drink and have a good time . The guy who knows all the happy hours and where to get good tacos and what’s the best places to eat . I feel like it was all taken away from because of the bad life style choices I made in my life . I feel mad that I can’t appreciate that I was given a second chance at life . It’s gotten better day by day . But I guess I just have to take it one step at a time . I used to feel indestructible . Push myself to the limit no matter what , risk taker , spontaneous , outgoing . Now I feel the complete opposite of that . Just want to stay in bed and do nothing . I know it’ll change and I’m sorry I didn’t tell a lot of you. I was just in a bad place but I just wanted to share my experience and I feel like sharing will at least help with people reaching out with their own experiences and prayers. We’re meant to help each other and I hope if I had died that at least I brought a little joy to your life . Sorry for the long story and thank you if you read all of it .