Michelle Sheely shares her story of three stents and open-heart surgery for myocardial bridging of her LAD. She also shares about WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Boots and Michelle's conversation focuses on advocacy as well as the effect of hormones on the heart. Thank you for listening!

0:00 intro
1:50 Michelle shares her story of suffering and how she advocated for herself to get help with several stents put in place.
3:30 She changed her diet and lifestyle.
3:55 She has a cardiac ablation.
4:30 She is back in the ER and learns she has a myocardial bridge.
5:00 Michelle meets with Dr. Schnittger at Stanford and fiercely advocates for herself.
6:20 Self advocacy is so important especially in women.
7:00 Michelle has unroofing surgery. Her recovery has been difficult and stressful.
9:00 Reflecting on when she was young versus now.
9:40 Using social media for advocacy.
10:15 Why it can take so long to get heart surgery.
14:00 Medication is working now but it was a journey to get here.
16:00 Hormones were playing a role. She is "biohacking" her way through it.
18:00 There just isn't enough knowledge about myocardial bridges.
18:30 Various non-heart medications were causing Michelle's vasospasms.
19:20 "Western medicine will save me; Eastern medicine will sustain me."
22:40 Boots asks about those with heart issues who do not know how to advocate for him/herself.
26:00 Women, we are the authorities of our own bodies.
27:00 Read your own doctor's notes on your health portal!
28:30 It is ok to fire your doctor!
29:00 Doctors respond to data, not feelings.
31:00 Vasospasms aren't just related to the heart but related to the biochemistry of the body.
31:30 Michelle has worked to retrain her body and is seeking support.
33:00 Finding support is so important.
34:00 Michelle explains what WomenHeart is, her role and how to connect.
39:00 How Michelle's heart disease has affected her daughter and the importance of mental health therapy for the child(ren).

Website: The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
Transcript: Joyful Beat | The Heart Chamber (theheartchamberpodcast.com)
The Heart Chamber (@theheartchamberpodcast)
Thanks to Michael Moeri for being my right hand man. Michael Moeri - Audio Editor, Podcast Producer and Marketing Director
Thanks to Denise Hardy for your support and believing in me. linkedin.com/in/denise-hardy-30a51086