There had been some busy days at work for Clermont-based diversional therapist Claudia Stephson in the lead up to her heart attack in 2022
“I’d had a day off here and there; I just felt crap,” Claudia said.
“We’d had a big day at work with a visit from the Muster Dogs and ABC TV crew here.
“Then on the Saturday I felt uncomfortable, and I thought I must have pulled a muscle.
“It was a vague pain – something in the middle of my back.
“That night I woke up at two o’clock in the morning with pain running down the back of my arms and in the middle of my shoulder blades.
“And I was clammy; nauseous and clammy.”
Claudia, who was 58 at the time, knew she needed to get to Clermont Hospital, just 150 metres from her home.
“I had some tests which were a bit inconclusive but next morning the doctor said ‘I need to get you to Mackay’,” Claudia said.
“But there were other emergencies, so I didn’t actually get on the helicopter until Monday afternoon and then I was straight into the catheter lab with Dr Zhang, my cardiologist.”
Claudia was later transferred to Townsville for triple bypass surgery which was performed on 27 July 2022.
“I had complications overnight so they had to go in again,” she said.
“A week later I was still very frail.
“I’d lost 11 kilos and looked 15 years older.”
After three months of rest Claudia began a gradual return to work at Mont Cler Residential Aged Care Facility where she provides diversional therapy for residents.
She has also ensured she can help others as a result of her experience, by establishing a Clermont support group for Heart Support Australia.
“I lead a meeting on the last Saturday of each month to provide peer support to people who have had a heart event, to help understand and manage the condition.”
We are sharing Claudia’s experience during Heart Health Week (6-12 May), which is an annual Heart Foundation event.
People are encouraged to “never miss a beat” by speaking to their GP about a 20-minute Heart Health Check to assess the risk of heart attack or stroke in the next five years.
It also takes just three minutes to use the Heart Age Calculator via the following link www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-week To find out more about Clermont’s Heart Support Australia group, you can email claudia.stephson@gmail.com
