Gai Maher, 46, first thought she had a sinus infection after feeling an ache in her jaw. 9News
woman Gai Maher was doing hardly anything at all when she had the surprise heart attack she credits with saving her life.
But the pain soon intensified to the point where Maher suggested to her husband that they call an ambulance to their Penrith home, in Sydney's western suburbs."When I got to hospital, they treated me for an esophageal spasm until they saw my blood results and then went, 'Oh, holy crap, it's a massive heart attack'."
In July last year, Maher was told she had sarcoidosis - a rare, autoimmune condition that can affect different parts of the body, including the lungs, brain and heart.Before her heart attack, Maher didn't notice any signs that she was dangerously unwell. MRIs or PET scans are included on the Medicare Benefits Schedule for many heart conditions - but not cardiac sarcoidosis.
Melbourne cardiologist James Hare, who is also an associate professor at Monash University, said the lack of imaging rebates for cardiac sarcoidosis patients was worrying. However, Hare said he had known of patients who were forced to cancel their scans because they could not afford them. "They had already done an echocardiogram and they could see that something in my heart wasn't working properly - so that's why I needed the MRI. It was an important scan that I felt I should get."Layfield said she would most likely put off getting another scan, if her doctor ordered one, because of the cost.
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