To alleviate the muscle tension, Amani Odom applied a warm compress to her sore neck as soon as it started. In little time at all, she felt an excruciating agony in her chest.
“I flew out of bed and was gasping for oxygen and grasping my chest,” says 27-year-old Odom of New York City to TODAY.com. “My partner is unclear. “No, this is not an episode,” I told him, despite his assumption that I was experiencing a panic attack. I feel a tightness in my chest.
Odom had welcomed her second kid, Kayden, a few days prior. Odom proceeded to an adjacent medical room, and the couple dialed 911 out of concern. Postpartum aortic dissection is a potentially deadly condition, and she quickly realized that this was the case. Her heart required surgery.
“I was scared to death,” she admits. Your heart is your body’s most vital organ. You won’t be able to do anything. So, I tried to maintain an optimistic outlook, even though I was worried.
I’ve never experienced such excruciating agony
Kayden was born to Odom via cesarean section on May 24. She was worried when, five days later, she started to have pain in her neck and shoulders.
It’s the worst pain he’s ever felt, Odom claims. “It felt like I was having a heart attack, even though I’ve never had one before.” Her partner was told by her to dial 911.
Fear gripped me. It was all a mystery to me,” she recalls. “That sensation in my chest was really intolerable. I was bewildered.
According to the vitals taken by the paramedics, Odom’s heart rate was within normal range. They suggested she remain at home, but she stood up for what she wanted.
“I’m simply stating, ‘No, we must leave because something is undeniably wrong,'” she recollects.
She underwent a battery of tests, including a CT scan and an electrocardiogram (ECG), when she got to the hospital. They saw that Odom’s heart was bigger than normal.
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“They see the water gathering around my heart,” she proclaims. Heart attacks were not considered. All they stated was that a blood clot could have been a possible cause. They were simply bombarding me with information.
Odom was transported to Mount Sinai in the middle of the night, and doctors there performed several of the tests she had previously undergone. At that moment, they realized the source of Odom’s pain.
She writes that what the doctors observed was a rupture in her aorta. At that point, they concluded that surgery would be beneficial.
Odom had the love and encouragement of her loved ones to help her overcome her anxieties regarding surgery. Less than a week after giving birth, on May 30, physicians repaired her aorta through surgery.
She admits that she wasn’t completely healed. Within a few days, my body has gone through a lot. Just that is a miracle.
Odom felt better than she had anticipated upon waking up three days following surgery.
Her hilarious antics left everyone in fits of laughter, she adds. It seems like I was making everyone happy, but perhaps that’s not how people are supposed to lift my spirits… It seems like I can’t help but spew my ridiculousness.
Odom was anxious about her children and the consequences of her death before surgery. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to see them as she recuperated in the intensive care unit.
It was very appreciated, she adds. It’s the longest period I’ve ever spent apart from my first child. It was nice to see him as I had never been apart from him for that long.
Heart valve repair
It is “one of the major causes of sudden death outside of the hospital,” states Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy, regarding aortic dissection. The simplest way to describe it is as a rip in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood throughout the body.
According to El-Hamamsy, a doctor who treats Odom and the director of aortic surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, “Aortic dissections are grossly unrecognized and underappreciated” (TODAY.com). Most people would be confused about what an aortic dissection is if you asked them. A heart attack or stroke, though, would be completely familiar to them.
The risk of aortic dissection is difficult to foresee. More people are likely to have one if they have a history of the disorder in their family, have specific genetic conditions like Marfan syndrome, or have uncontrolled blood pressure, he says.
El-Hamamsy warns against “dismissing as a heart attack” any early inexplicable abrupt deaths in the family history. “Aortic dissection is more common than one might think.”
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The risk of aortic dissection is higher in pregnant women. There were probably many things that led to Odom’s dissection.
“She is likely to have a dissection because of a preexisting weakness in her aortic wall,” El-Hamamsy explains. “Those who are already at a slightly higher risk may find that pregnancy itself is the trigger.”
Aortic dissection, according to El-Hamamsy, is more common in the time immediately following childbirth.
He claims that “the minute the baby is out, it’s all done, and the risk is over” after the baby is born. “These dissections usually take place in the first few weeks following the baby’s birth.”
Signs of an aortic rupture
The Mayo Clinic reports that aortic dissection symptoms could include:
- Pain that starts in the chest or upper back and moves down the back and neck all at once
- Severe, abrupt stomachache
- Walking difficulties
- Breathing becomes challenging
According to El-Hamamsy, Odom “was a regular, healthy young lady who’s active and fit” and the fact that she responded rapidly to the pain in her chest and neck greatly affected her prognosis.
The fact that she is experiencing an acute aortic dissection should not have been suspected, he claims. “(She) felt something was off, so she made an emergency room visit, which likely saved her life.”
Aortic dissection has a terrible fatality rate, according to El-Hamamsy. The severity increases as the duration between the start of symptoms and the start of treatment increases.
“Fifty percent of patients will have died from their acute aortic dissection 48 hours from the diagnosis,” he says. “Each passing hour is a wasted hour… There is no more pressing matter.
Aortic dissection treatment
El-Hamamsy performed a valve-sparing procedure to treat Odom’s aortic dissection.
“We were able to save her aortic valve, and we replaced the aorta,” he explains. Having a mechanical valve when she was so young would have been incredibly detrimental to her quality of life in numerous ways.
Odom will not require lifelong blood-thinning medication because she has her natural valve rather than an artificial one. He claims that the danger of brain bleeding and stroke is increased with long-term usage of blood thinners.
Feeling the need to ‘put (her) health first,’ Amani Odom sought medical attention for her chest and neck issues. She wishes she could be there to witness her two sons’ development.
Feeling the need to ‘put (her) health first,’ Amani Odom sought medical attention for her chest and neck issues. She wishes she could be there to witness her two sons’ development.How polite If Amani Odom El-Hamamsy’s narrative succeeds in raising awareness of aortic dissection, it will be because of Odom.
He suggests that there should be heightened awareness among both the general public and the medical community, especially about the issue of individuals presenting to emergency departments with ambiguous concerns. The frequency of aortic dissections is not low.
Returning to one’s own residence
Odom went home to her family after spending six days in the hospital. The prospect of reuniting with her sons filled her with both joy and anxiety.
“I was genuinely terrified,” she admits. “Nausea kept me awake all night long.”
She was able to get through the difficult emotions she had upon her return home with the help of her partner. She was upset since she couldn’t hold her newborn kid for the first few weeks.
They were against her lifting more than a specific amount, she explains. “The first few months and weeks with a newborn are the most formative years of your life… ” It was really wearing me down.
The physicians were taken aback by Odom’s remarkable recovery, and she continued to recuperate.
“I can’t believe you’re standing here in such good spirits and so strong,” she continues, clearly amazed by the expressions on their faces.
Odom wishes that her experience may encourage others to take a stand when they are sick.
She advises expecting mothers to “definitely take your health into consideration and put your health first” since their health is paramount. I want to be around to witness their childhood and old age, therefore that’s my plan.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
