Woman Feels ‘Bubbling’ Pain in Her Chest During Workout. Doctors Shocked After She Survives Rare Aortic Tear

Marie Anne August, 45, was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition called aortic dissection

A “fit and healthy” woman is opening up about surviving a near-death experience, hoping to raise awareness about a rare and life-threatening health condition.

Marie Anne August from Devon, England, was at her gym participating in a CrossFit workout when she felt pain in her chest while using a rowing machine.

“I was doing high-intensity rowing at the time and it felt like something bubbling in my chest, and then a sort of ripping and it goes right to the back of your chest up to the back of your neck,” she said, BBC reports.

The 45-year-old initially thought it was a cramp but as the pain got worse, a trainer told her to sit down and just breathe.

“I couldn’t breathe and the pain was absolutely excruciating,” she told the outlet.

As time went on, her pain diminished, but August decided to go to the emergency room. She had an EKG and blood tests but was ultimately sent home after her results were normal. However, she returned to the hospital two days later because she looked “very gray and ill.” 

This time, August underwent a CT scan. The results led to her being diagnosed with aortic dissection, a life-threatening condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body’s main artery (aorta), according to the Mayo Clinic. Blood rushes through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split; normal blood flow throughout the body may slow or stop. If blood passes through the outside aortic wall, the condition is often deadly.

Symptoms of aortic dissection include sudden and severe chest or upper back pain, stomach pain, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, leg pain, difficulty walking and more.

Aortic dissection occurs in about 2 out of 10,000 people and is most often seen in men ages 40 to 70, according to the National Library of Medicine.

August was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and told she required open heart surgery or would die.

“I was absolutely terrified,” she said. “I didn’t realise how serious it was until I got to the hospital, then was told I had less than 24 hours to live and that they had to operate immediately. They also listed all the complications that could occur — stroke, loss of limbs, paralysis and lots of other things. I was just so frightened.”

Despite the grim prognosis, August’s surgery was successful and within five days she was back at home recovering.

“What saved my life was being so fit and healthy,” she told the outlet. “Medical professionals, having heard my story, will look at me in bewilderment that I’m actually here.”

Now, a year later, August said she still has residual damage to her aorta that she has to monitor closely, but she’s trying to get back on her feet.

“Overall I’m doing much better than expected,” she said. “But it’s such a change — from being someone who is quite fit and active — to all the things I can’t do. And that makes me very sad.”

“But I’m pretty determined to figure out what I can do safely. My gym’s been really great helping me with cardiac rehab,” she added. “And I’m determined to get back to full health if possible with my limitations.”

August admitted that she’s a little “disappointed” that the aortic dissection wasn’t caught during her first visit to the emergency room. However, she’s hoping her story can raise awareness of the rare condition.

“It’s very difficult for them to diagnose. Unless you have a CT scan, it’s very difficult to know that you’ve got an aortic dissection.” she told BBC. “It’s not the doctors’ fault, but more awareness and education is essential because many people aren’t as lucky as me.”