Gail Romanini’s heart story is surprising – but not uncommon
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Gail Romanini’s heart story is surprising – but not uncommon. When she sits down this Valentine’s Day with the little humans in her life who call her “GG,” the heart symbols all around her will serve to remind her of her own strong recovery from an emergency bypass surgery.
“I feel 99% back,” she says.
But it was a journey, and one she’d like other women to hear.
About eight years ago, at work, she was seized with abdominal pain, shortness of breath and diaphoresis (sudden sweating). She went to a local emergency department, but there, an electrocardiogram and blood test came back normal, and as her symptoms subsided, the diagnosis she was given was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). She got a prescription to help manage it, and several years passed.
Not without new episodes. Once, running to catch an airplane, she was again seized by abdominal pain and had to sit down and take her reflux pills. After a few minutes, she felt better. She also developed moderate pain in her upper back – and got an annual membership to a massage salon to work it out – but that, she thought, was unrelated.
During this time, she moved with her husband, Steve Strong, to a dream home on the water in Merritt Island, and a number of new humans who know her as “GG” arrived to enrich their lives.
It was her new gastroenterologist who said, after an exam, that he couldn’t find anything, and “you need to see a cardiologist.”
‘Know Your Risk’
When it comes to women and cardiovascular disease, Health First Cardiologist Kevin Campbell, MD, FACC, says classic symptoms of a heart attack such as crushing substernal chest pain or shooting pain down the left arm often don’t present in women progressing into critical stages of the disease.
“They may have pain in their back, or often be short of breath – or they may just have a feeling of dread,” Dr. Campbell says. “Atypical symptoms.”
There are several risk factors that women must know about, Dr. Campbell says.
■ Hypertension (high blood pressure)
■ Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol)
■ Diabetes
■ Obesity
■ Smoking
■ Family history
■ A sedentary lifestyle
Romanini could point to more than one of these in her health history.
“Women are all too often undertreated and underserved when it comes to cardiovascular disease,” the doctor says.
Emergency Triple Bypass
Romanini got an appointment with Dr. Campbell, who in short order scheduled a stress test (which was positive) followed by an urgent cardiac catheterization which produces images of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
At a recent appointment, she recalled the discussion between them when the positive stress test results and the likelihood of critical coronary artery disease was first broached.
“You looked at me that visit, you said, ‘You don’t have GERD, you have –,’ I said, ‘No! You’re wrong. I walked in here with GERD and insomnia and I’m leaving that way!’”
But the patient, aided by the determined encouragement of her husband, agreed to proceed with the catheterization.
The procedure was performed in March 2022, at Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital. Before her husband could finish his meal at a nearby restaurant, he got the call – Romanini was being transferred by ambulance to Holmes Regional for an immediate three-vessel bypass.
‘Don’t Stop There’
Romanini’s surgery was extensive – and successful. At the same time, her daughter gave birth to the couple’s youngest grandson – William. Her bed rest took months – months she could not hold him and cannot get back.
But her recovery has been even more profound. Today, she is active, happy and pain free.
“You had a really critical coronary artery disease, blockages in all three major coronary arteries, and this illustrates a point I want so many women to hear. Just because you’re not having chest pain doesn’t mean it’s not cardiac,” Dr. Campbell says. “If you have risk factors, what seem like different symptoms can be signs of advanced disease.”
“In seven years, no physician suggested anything other than GERD, and I had my EKGs, my cardiac enzymes, my physicals, every year. Everything was fine, and no one looked anything further. I was blindsided.”
“The greatest risk that any woman has when it comes to coronary artery disease is just not knowing – it’s really about raising awareness,” Dr. Campbell says. “Women tend to present older, with more extensive disease, later in the disease course.”
“Women tend to put everyone else before themselves. They have multiple roles – mom, spouse, and, in many cases, working professional – it is vital you take time to care for yourself as well as those you love. Advocate for yourself – and other women. Ensure all women get the care they deserve.”
“I’m happy to share what I know. Today, when my girlfriends say, ‘I think I’ve got GERD – I’m going to see a doctor.’ I say, please, don’t stop there!”
If you have pain, nausea, shortness of breath or any physical symptoms causing you worry, make an appointment with a cardiologist at www.HF.org/findadoc, or call (321) 434-3131.
To see more news coverage of Health First, visit HF.org/news.
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