tPA

“Ignoring your health is like not stopping for a red light. It can get you killed.” -P. Paarmann

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) gave me a second chance at life.

I wouldn’t be writing this without it. In fact, I highly doubt I’d be here at all.

It was specifically developed for people who’ve had ischemic strokes. There are specific criteria, and when it’s given within a certain window of time, it will dissolve the clots that caused the stroke.

I got my shot with ten minutes left in that window.

It makes me very emotional just writing that.

And I didn’t know it even existed until I needed it.

Because I didn’t believe I had AFIB. I thought I was just worn out and that I needed to slow down.  Even though a doctor told me they thought I had it, my life was going so fast, and I was dealing with so much, I just nodded and kept moving.

Ignoring it almost killed me.

But in the ICU, I learned how ignoring what your body is trying to tell you can cost you everything. It was brutal.

Talk to your doctors. Listen to your body. Don’t ignore the signs.

Go to this website to learn more about AFIB: heart.org

Don’t take a chance with your heart.