Glenda Sexauer, 59, was diagnosed withheart failurewhen she was 46.
But it took nearly a yearall while her heart health was steadily decliningfor doctors to realize what was wrong.
She had several symptoms, including relentless fatigue, bloating, nausea, and weight gain she couldnt explain.
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Initially, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and pneumonia before her doctor referred her to a cardiologist.
She was hospitalized for several weeks and had a pacemaker and defibrillator placed in her chest.
Heres her story, as told to writer Erica Sweeney.
Ive always been active.
I exercised regularly, ran marathons, and once did a 2-day, 150-mile bike ride.
But, when I was 46, I noticed that I wasnt feeling like myself anymore.
I hadgained some weightand wastired all the time.
I slept a lot and felt bloated.
I just knew something wasnt right.
Then I researched my symptoms online and thought it might be my thyroid acting up.
I thought, OK, thats what it is.
I continued feeling tired all the time, though, despite taking medication for Hashimotos.
I had a lot going on in my life then too.
My son had just gone away to college and my mother-in-law was living with us.
I was working as a vice president of a financial services company.
My mom was also really sick; she had Alzheimers and was nearing the final phase of her life.
So I thought maybe I was just experiencinganxiety.
Then I started feeling afunny sensation in my chestwhen lying down.
It was kind of like I could hear my heart gurgle.
A couple of nights I had to sit up to sleep.
After my mother passed away, something else gave me pause.
I was at her funeral when I coughed up some stuff that didnt look right.
I saw my primary care doctor and told him I thought I had pneumonia.
He confirmed I had a little bit of fluid in my lungs and prescribed medication.
No one ever thought I hadheart disease.
Then, I finally got a heart failure diagnosis.
To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband and I planned a trip to Hawaii.
We decided to go, even though I wasnt feeling great.
I couldnt eat much and felt nauseated.
When we got there, I sleptsomuch.
I had to sit and rest after walking up just two steps.
At the time, we laughed because I was really pretty healthy.
I decided to see my doctor again to run through all of my symptoms one more time.
I hadnt, so I was sent to a cardiologist.
Thats when I learned I had heart failureand I was floored.
I remember calling my sister and crying.
The day I was supposed to be released, I went intocardiac arrest.
I had to stay in the hospital for another couple of weeks in a medically induced coma.
Its pretty much idiopathic, meaning theres reallyno known causeor reason for my condition.
I ended up getting a comboimplantable cardioverter defibrillator(ICD) thats a pacemaker and a defibrillator.
Its taken years to feel like myself again.
Once I got out of the hospital, I had a lot of doctor appointments.
I was unable to work for about three months.
I would get very lightheaded.
I was exhausted when I got home and would go to bed really early.
It took years to feel like myself again.
I still have an ICD, and I take seven different medications regularly.
Overall, I know Im lucky because Im pretty active.
Ive recovered a lot better than many of my doctors expected.
I can now do a boot-camp-style workout four days a week.
I hike one day a week and also do yoga consistently.
Im retired now and babysit my 15-month-old twin grandbabies two days a week.
Now, I enjoy sharing my story to help other people.
My diagnosis was certainly delayed.
But they didnt ask a lot of questions either.
We were always focusing on a specific symptom.
Unfortunately, it took almost dying to get diagnosed with heart failure.
Ourheart-related symptomscan look a lot different too.
I can use what Ive learned and whats happened to me to help someone elsemaybe even save their life.
