In Prunella’s words “I was diagnosed with SCAD in Worcester UK on 25th June 2026 at the age of 49.  I had been for a walk that morning as Im normally on alternate walk/run days followed by half hour weight training.  However I felt extremely tired on this particular morning.  I did my workout but I knew I didn’t give it my all!  An hour later I called my friend as it was her birthday.  We talked on the phone for about an hour and 15 minutes as we hadn’t caught up for ages.  Whilst coming to the end of the call, I felt uneasement in my chest, I sort of brushed it off as reflux, told my friend I had to go.  The pain was getting worse…I called my husband who was working nearby, I remained calm and told him I needed him to come home as I had a chest pain.  When he arrrived about a minute later, I was rolling around on the floor trying to stretch the pain out.  He asked me a series of questions on how I felt etc….as soon as I told him I had jaw aching, he got me an asprin and water to take.  Even few seconds he asked how severe the pain was….also bullied me into calling the emergency services.  Why I didn’t want to call was because I honestly thought he was over reacting and I didn’t want to waste peoples time.  I knew the Emergency Services are busy without having to check on my ‘reflux’.  The turned up about 15 minutes later, the pain had eased by this time; going from a 10/10 to a mild 2/10.  My stats and everything was normal.  The paramedic suggested I go with them to the hospital anyway for blood tests.

After sitting hours in a crowded waiting room waiting for my results, the nurse called me.  She told me the doctor wanted to see me.  I thought ‘bit over the top for reflux’.  When he came he said he had to come ‘eyeball’ me and make sure I was ok.  And that the test results revealed I had just had a heart attack!  I asked him if he was serious.  I told him I felt fine.  He said I would be admitted to the ward for a day or two.  And that’s how my heart attack came to light.
I do find the groups helpful, but I also find there are lack of answers for me.  The traumatic angiogram revealed where the ‘tear’ was.  I stayed in hospital for 4 days.  Cardiologists explained about the rarity of SCAD and said I would be referred to the specialist in Leicester.
A day or two being home, I contacted the Hospital in Leicester to see if my referral went through.  They confirmed, told me the waiting list was approximately 18 weeks long.  This did leave me feeling apprehensive as I wanted to know WHY and no-one could tell me.  I called my GP and they admitted their lack of knowledge in this field… for me and I probably many more, it would be great to have answers explained quicker than 18 weeks or more away.”