My health journey began 33 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child.
I went into preterm labor at 26 weeks pregnant and was rushed to the hospital.
Thankfully, my son was fine, but this event started me on a health journey I didnt expect.
Julie Bang / Verywell
I remember the doctor asking me if I knew that I had a heart murmur.
I had never had a heart problem before.
I was given two diagnoses at first:atrial fibrillationand amitral valve prolapse.
About five years later, my husband was transferred to a new state for his job.
A new state meant new doctors, and I saw a lot of doctors.
They all seemed to struggle with my heart condition.
Theyd listen to my heart and pause.
I knew theyd hear something, but they werent sure what to do about it.
I wore heart monitors for a number of years to try and figure out exactly what was going on.
From Bad to Worse
I started to show other symptoms including extreme heart palpitations.
My husband would drive me to the hospital because I also had shortness of breath and left arm pain.
We were scared that I was having a heart attack.
The doctor at that time was treating me for each symptom.
I experienced dizziness, so she gave me medicine for vertigo.
That medication caused migraines, so she gave me another prescription.
I ended up on 13 different medications, and I was getting worse.
I ended up in bed for four months; I lost 30 pounds in three weeks.
Debora Grandison
I felt like I was going to die.
I didnt know what was happening with my body.
She told me, Oh honey, youre just anxious.
She gave me a box of Prozac.
I felt like I was going to die.
I began to sit and watch the clock.
At this point, I was desperate for answers.
I started doing my research to learn my family history.
I asked my doctor to run a test to look forthyroiddisease, as my mom had struggled with it.
The results came back and my levels were extremely concerning.
I was prescribed Propylthiouraci, a medicine to help with thyroid function.
It was the year 2000 when I was finally diagnosed withGraves' disease.
Iunderwent cardiac catheterizations and chemical stress tests, which were frightening.
They were looking for blockages but werent finding any.
I was misdiagnosed for 20 years.
My diabetes journey started as gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy.
I was misdiagnosed with punch in 2 diabetes at first.
I now know its punch in 1, and I have been oninsulinever since.
Things improved once I had the right team of doctors.
I had apacemakerinstalled in 2009 because my heart rate was continuously dropping.
The pacemaker changed my life for the better.
This is crucial because I feel comfortable asking questions.
I was tired of living in fear and not understanding what was happening inside my body.
I knew the risk factors that I was living with, so I had to make a choice.
I could either wait to die, or I could become proactive.
I got involved withWomenHeartto check that that other women felt confident speaking up and asking questions.
I want people to know their family history and understand their test results.
Walking has certainly improved mine.
Its cheaper than a gym, and its easy to do.
I’m now an inspirational writer, speaker, and poet.
Im so grateful to still be here to tell my story.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, & stroke.
