Last week I posted a poll about putting your job before your health. Many of you said that it's a struggle to put yourself before your work...
In 2013, I nearly died on a business trip.
As I left my house for the airport, my leg hurt. I thought I pulled a calf muscle or something.
Landed in LA for a conference and sales mtg. I was in pain, but I just powered through as I had to be “on” for work, and my CEO was presenting.
I mentioned it to my colleagues and asked if anyone had ever had a blood clot. They laughed, saying, “If you had one, you’d know it.”
At 2am, I woke up in agony. Called my husband 17 times, but his ringer was off. I paced around the room until morning, determined to get through the day.
Left a msg for my doc. All I could think was that I didn’t want to be “that girl who bailed on a sales meeting to go to the ER.”
I got ready for work and headed out the door. The pain was so intense, I could barely walk all the way down the hall to the elevator. So, I took the stairs, which were right across from my room.
Climbing the stairs, I felt pressure move from my leg to my lungs. After collapsing in the stairwell, I gathered myself up and walked into the meeting. Everyone could see that I was unwell, but I brushed it off and continued on.
My Dr finally called and told me to go to the ER. I walked out the door, and fell to my knees. Told someone to CALL 911. I saw my children’s faces flash before my eyes. Surreal.
Minutes later, I was surrounded by LA fire fighters while I lay in the hallway. I told them, through gasps of air, that I had a blood clot in my lungs. They said that I was having a panic attack. I told them NO, and to take me to the ER.
After a bunch of tests, I was swarmed by a group of docs. “Over 85% of your lungs are covered in a massive blood clot. You’re lucky to be alive.”
I was immediately rushed to the ICU, where a another Dr saved my life.
Dramatic? Yes. Also pretty stupid.
The Learnings:
1) Trust Yourself: I knew something was wrong from the start, but I didn’t listen to myself. Stop seeking external validation when you know.
2) Conviction: When know your truth, be fearless. Your life or your job could be on the line.
3) Health is Everything: Without it, nothing else matters. To care for others and do good work, you need to have your sh*t together.
#healthequalswealth
#trustyourself
#healthbeforework