A Health Journey: Tommy Bell’s Experience with Heart Attacks

Tommy Bell always recognized that his diet wasn’t ideal. However, after starting work at a Florida hospital over a decade ago, he gained a deeper understanding of nutrition and began making healthier choices. By the age of 62, he felt pretty good overall—he didn’t smoke or drink, maintained a balanced diet, and walked more than 10,000 steps daily while transporting patients at AdventHealth DeLand Hospital.

Then came the day before Thanksgiving last year. While driving home, Bell felt a mild chest pain that prompted him to return to the emergency room for a check-up. Tests revealed a blockage in his critical “widowmaker” artery, along with calcification around his heart, indicating he was at risk for a serious cardiac event. Doctors promptly scheduled a procedure to insert a stent.

Thanksgiving found Bell in the hospital, and he underwent the stent placement the following day. Yet, shortly after the procedure, he experienced excruciating pain. “I went into a fetal position, and I couldn’t straighten back up,” he recalled, remembering someone urging him to do just that for help.

Tests indicated that Bell had suffered a heart attack. Medical staff quickly placed another stent, after which his condition stabilized. He was released on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, but soon after he began to feel heartburn-like symptoms, prompting his wife to rush him back to the hospital. His recollection becomes hazy at this point.

“I got in the car, and then I don’t remember the trip. I remember arriving and someone saying they wanted to see the EKG. Then someone instructed to send me straight to the cath lab,” Bell shared. When he regained full awareness, he found himself in the ICU, informed that he had experienced two more heart attacks. In total, that made three heart attacks in just four days. “I was thinking, ‘What have I done to myself?'”

Addressing an Uncommon Complication

Dr. Janak Bhavsar, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth DeLand, explained that a blood clot formed following Bell’s first surgery, leading to the subsequent heart attacks. This complication affects only about 0.5 to 1% of patients with stents, he noted. Additionally, Bell had a significant blockage that heightened his risk for complications.

“High levels of calcium around the artery restrict the stent’s ability to expand and improve blood flow,” Bhavsar elaborated. “This can cause slowed blood flow and increase the likelihood of a clot forming.” To treat this issue, Bhavsar’s team performed an intracoronary lithotripsy, using a specialized balloon that sends out electrical shocks to break up the calcium and widen the stent. Bell also received another stent and was prescribed blood thinners to lower the chances of further clot formation.

Although Bell experienced pain for several hours after waking up, it didn’t indicate another heart attack—rather, it was a side effect of the ordeal he had endured. He spent the next four days closely monitored in the hospital, where he was surprised by the support he received. Friends, coworkers, and various hospital staff visited often. “The amount of love that was poured out was so overwhelming,” Bell remarked. It struck him that people genuinely cared about his recovery.

“I Couldn’t Believe This Happened to Me”

After spending two weeks recovering at home, Bell returned to work. Resuming his role in the very hospital where he had battled for his life was surreal. However, familiar faces made the transition easier. Additionally, he consulted the rehabilitation team at AdventHealth DeLand to discuss lifestyle modifications aimed at preventing future heart issues.

They praised his cardiovascular fitness, attributing it to his demanding job. But it was time to tackle his diet. “I had indulged in fast food in my 20s and 30s. Even though I started cooking more at home later on, I didn’t always consider aspects like salt and cholesterol,” he reflected. He recognized that his earlier eating habits had accumulated over the years. Most arterial buildup, he learned, can’t be reversed solely through lifestyle changes.

Now, Bell emphasizes a diet rich in lean meats and fresh salads, regularly swapping recipes with other heart attack survivors, and packing healthy snacks for in-between meals. He plans to continue follow-up appointments with Dr. Bhavsar.

“I couldn’t believe this happened to me,” he continued. “I thought I was eating well enough and taking care of myself. But it turns out I had more to change than I realized. Now, I have the power to transform my future through better eating.”