A physician’s personal story of gratitude, love, and his epiphany about the importance of self-care.
Doylestown Health radiologist Mark Silidker, MD, was at work one afternoon when he felt pain in his chest and upper abdomen.
“I had the same epigastric pain the night before, and my discomfort was relieved when I took an antacid medication,” he says.
Having just eaten a sandwich for lunch, his first thought was that he was experiencing indigestion again. Dr. Silidker took another antacid. Unfortunately, this time, his symptoms did not improve.
“I began to feel dizzy and sweaty, so I sat down in my chair," he recalls.
Rapid Response by His Colleagues
Fortunately, his partner was working in the same room. Recognizing Dr. Silidker’s declining condition, he alerted the Rapid Response Team. Within minutes, the team assessed his condition and placed him on a stretcher, transporting him to the Emergency Department (ED).
An electrocardiogram (EKG) confirmed what his colleagues already suspected — Dr. Silidker was having a heart attack.
Time is Muscle
Plaque can build inside the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. A heart attack happens when plaque blocks the arteries, preventing oxygen from reaching the heart muscle, causing it to die. The faster the blockages are cleared, the less damage to your heart.
The ED team rushed Dr. Silidker to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab for a coronary angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to find and open blocked arteries.
Steven Guidera, MD, an interventional cardiologist and Dr. Silidker’s personal cardiologist, was working in the Cath Lab that day.
Opening Arteries in the Cath Lab
Using low-dose X-ray guidance, Dr. Guidera threaded a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through a small incision in Dr. Silidker’s wrist and up to his heart. He injected a medical contrast dye, which revealed a severe blockage. Again, using a catheter, Dr. Guidera deployed a collapsible, mesh stent, pushing the plaque against the artery wall while propping it open, restoring blood flow to the heart of his patient, colleague, and friend.
"They took the catheter out, put pressure on my wrist, and sent me to a room in the cardiac wing," says Dr. Silidker.
A Grateful Physician and Patient
"I was very fortunate to have had my heart attack happen while I was in the hospital, and that my colleagues took action, because there would have been a lot more damage to my heart if I had not gotten to the Cath Lab so quickly," says Dr. Silidker. “I received excellent care throughout the entire experience. The nurses and staff on the cardiac unit were fabulous.”
Not only is he grateful for the outstanding care he received, but Dr. Silidker had a chance to observe his fellow healthcare workers in action. “Everyone here provides the same, high level of care and compassion to every patient,” says Dr. Silidker.
A Physician’s Epiphany
“After my heart attack, my wife and daughters reminded me I'm important to my family, and I need to take care of myself, too,” he says.
Members of his community expressed a similar sentiment, including his priest. “I was sitting in church when the priest came down the aisle, gave me a hug, and said, ‘I'm glad you're here. Your work on this earth is not done,’" he says.
“This was a powerful message. As a physician, I often focus on others and neglect myself, and this experience opened my eyes to how much we are needed by our families and by our communities,” he says.
Though Dr. Silidker has a personal and family history of heart disease, he did what many of us do —he minimized his symptoms.
“Don’t ignore your symptoms,” he says. “And, if you have a family history of heart disease, tell your primary care physician and get checked out,” says Dr. Silidker. “Don't believe because you have no symptoms that you're safe. Because heart disease can be a silent killer.”
Know Heart Attack Warning Signs
Chest discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, pain or fullness in the center of the chest. Call 9-1-1 for chest discomfort with or without other symptoms.
According to the American Heart Association, heart attack symptoms may last more than a few minutes, or may go away and return. Symptoms can be sudden and intense or appear slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Signs of a heart attack include:
- Achiness that may occur in the arms (one or both), back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
- Other signs such as sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, feeling unusually tired, or having a rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Women and diabetics may experience atypical symptoms including back or jaw pain and shortness of breath.
CALL 9-1-1 FIRST in the event of a medical emergency, especially if heart attack or stroke is suspected!
About Doylestown Health’s Heart & Vascular Services
Expert cardiologists and cardiac surgeons assist patients and physicians with managing risk factors for heart disease, offer advanced treatment options and provide outstanding emergency cardiac care. Doylestown Hospital’s accredited Chest Pain Center is fully prepared to treat cardiac emergencies around the clock, focusing on rapid diagnosis and effective treatment. The multidisciplinary team at the Woodall Center for Heart and Vascular Care is dedicated to providing the highest level of quality care and patient safety.
