Stomach Pains Led Her to the ER – The Diagnosis Was a Heart Attack

What began as severe stomach pain for 53-year-old Ulster County resident Anne Pelham turned into a life-threatening cardiac event.  

Four days before her emergency room visit, Pelham experienced pain in her upper stomach, just below the breastbone.

"I suffer from several stomach problems and assumed the pain was related," she recalls.

As the days passed, the pain intensified, radiating down her arms and up to her jaw. Accompanied by profuse sweating, vomiting and frequent bowel movements, Pelham finally realized something was seriously wrong.

Anne M. Pelham

"The pain level was the worst I have ever experienced," Pelham says. "I knew that something was really wrong, and I needed medical help. I’m so glad I listened to my body and instincts." 

Pelham's initial visit to a local hospital revealed something worse than she imagined—she was having a heart attack. "My artery was 100 percent blocked, causing a heart attack," she explains.  

Recognizing the need for specialized cardiac care, Pelham was quickly transferred to HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, where she received life-saving treatment in their new cardiac catheterization laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to invasive cardiac procedures. Interventional cardiologist Falak B. Shah, MD, and his team quickly inserted a balloon pump and stent to open Pelham’s blocked artery.

But Pelham’s journey wasn’t over. During the procedure, Dr. Shah discovered that Pelham also had severe blockages in her left coronary artery system. These blockages were separate from those that caused her heart attack and were not suitable for stenting. As a result, Pelham needed immediate, specialized cardiac care and was airlifted via helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for triple bypass surgery. 

"Being told I needed to be flown to a third hospital really drove home how serious my condition was," Pelham reflects. "Facing my first-ever flight while grappling with a life-threatening heart condition was overwhelming, but I knew I was in good hands with the WMCHealth team.”

Now on the path to recovery, Pelham is determined to spread awareness.

"Women do not always have chest pain or other typical heart attack symptoms," she emphasizes. "I encourage other women to educate themselves and be their own advocate."

As part of her recovery, Pelham is participating in cardiac rehabilitation at HealthAlliance Hospital. She speaks highly of her experience, noting, "The staff's positive reinforcement, clear objectives and obvious concern for my well-being have made each session a step forward in my recovery. I'm genuinely looking forward to continuing my rehabilitation journey with them."

Pelham's experience highlights the critical need for women to recognize atypical heart attack symptoms and the importance of accessing specialized cardiac care promptly. For more information about the cardiac catheterization lab at HealthAlliance Hospital, visit our website.