Tag: Dr. Tara Sedlak

Could you wait 10 years for a cardiac diagnosis?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 24 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters

My pal Cheryl Strachan, a Registered Dietitian in Calgary and author of my favourite cookbook for heart patients (30-Minute Heart Healthy Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Easy, Low-Sodium Meals ), contacted me on February 13th (our national ‘Wear Red Canada’ Day) to ask:

“Are you watching today’s ‘Wear Red Canada’ webinar?  If you’re  listening to Bobbi-Jo Green’s heart patient story, I’m picturing smoke coming out of your ears!”

Cheryl had guessed correctly. By the time Bobby-Jo finished her webinar presentation, I was livid. Continue reading “Could you wait 10 years for a cardiac diagnosis?” →

Same heart attack, same misdiagnosis – but one big difference

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 33 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters

Our two stories are freakishly the same in so many ways:

♥ In 58-year old Nancy Bradley’s story, she went to the Emergency Department at the Royal Inland Hospital near her home in Kamloops as soon as she felt alarming symptoms she knew might be heart-related: dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath and “an elephant sitting on my chest” feeling. (In my story, I was 58 as well, and I went to Emergency at the Royal Jubilee Hospital near my home in Victoria as soon as my own alarming heart attack symptoms started).

♥ All of Nancy’s cardiac diagnostic tests seemed to be “normal”. (All of my diagnostic tests seemed to be “normal”, too).

♥ Nancy’s Emergency physician suspected heartburn, and suggested she take antacid drugs. (My Emergency physician suspected heartburn, and suggested that I take antacids).  Continue reading “Same heart attack, same misdiagnosis – but one big difference” →

Your Heart, Your Health: two hours in one fantastic picture

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 5 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters

What you’re looking at is called a graphic recording. It’s live visual notetaking of one presentation – drawn by Vancouver illustrator Sam Bradd. As Sam explains, this kind of on-the-spot graphic recording “helps people remember and care about ideas. It supports interaction, reflection, and seeing the next steps.”  When I spoke recently at the public panel discussion event called Your Heart, Your Health hosted by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Sam started the evening up near the stage with a blank page about 4’x8′ wide.  By the end of the evening, we had what you see here!

Afterwards, I loved being described by event organizers as a “knowledge translator“ along with Sam for our roles both during this presentation on women’s heart health as well as in the ongoing work we do with patients. Continue reading “Your Heart, Your Health: two hours in one fantastic picture” →