Multiple stents, open-heart surgery and "biohacking" for a healthy heart

Michelle Sheely shares her story of three stents and open-heart surgery for myocardial bridging of her LAD. She also shares about WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Boots and Michelle's conversation focuses on advocacy as well as the effect of hormones on the heart. Thank you for listening!

0:00 intro

1:50 Michelle shares her story of suffering and how she advocated for herself to get help with several stents put in place.

3:30 She changed her diet and lifestyle.

3:55 She has a cardiac ablation.

4:30 She is back in the ER and learns she has a myocardial bridge.

5:00 Michelle meets with Dr. Schnittger at Stanford and fiercely advocates for herself.

6:20 Self advocacy is so important especially in women.

7:00 Michelle has unroofing surgery. Her recovery has been difficult and stressful.

9:00 Reflecting on when she was young versus now.

9:40 Using social media for advocacy.

10:15 Why it can take so long to get heart surgery.

14:00 Medication is working now but it was a journey to get here.

16:00 Hormones were playing a role. She is "biohacking" her way through it.

18:00 There just isn't enough knowledge about myocardial bridges.

18:30 Various non-heart medications were causing Michelle's vasospasms.

19:20 "Western medicine will save me; Eastern medicine will sustain me."

22:40 Boots asks about those with heart issues who do not know how to advocate for him/herself.

26:00 Women, we are the authorities of our own bodies.

27:00 Read your own doctor's notes on your health portal!

28:30 It is ok to fire your doctor!

29:00 Doctors respond to data, not feelings.

31:00 Vasospasms aren't just related to the heart but related to the biochemistry of the body.

31:30 Michelle has worked to retrain her body and is seeking support.

33:00 Finding support is so important.

34:00 Michelle explains what WomenHeart is, her role and how to connect.

39:00 How Michelle's heart disease has affected her daughter and the importance of mental health therapy for the child(ren).

Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com)

Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com)

The Heart Chamber (@theheartchamberpodcast)

Thanks to Michael Moeri for being my right hand man. Michael Moeri - Audio Editor, Podcast Producer and Marketing Director

Thanks to Denise Hardy for your support and believing in me. linkedin.com/in/denise-hardy-30a51086