My Unexpected Diagnosis: A Journey from Marathon Training to Myocarditis

Training for the 2005 Twin Cities Marathon proved more challenging than the two marathons I had completed previously. I distinctly remember a long run with friends when my husband brought our two daughters in a double stroller to check on us. I was feeling unusually fatigued and struggled to keep pace with my running buddies, even though I managed to finish the marathon. 

In May 2006, we took a family trip to Hawaii. Upon returning and settling back into our routine, I found myself unable to walk up the flight of stairs to our bedrooms. I attributed this to the business of life and jet lag, not realizing it was a sign of something more serious.

Later that month, while visiting my parents in Watertown, South Dakota, I experienced a sharp, five-second pain in my chest. My parents insisted I go to the local hospital for an evaluation. The hospital staff performed a cardiac enzyme test to measure certain proteins in my blood. Elevated levels of these proteins, known as biomarkers, can indicate damage to the heart muscle. The key biomarker in this case was Troponin T, which signifies heart muscle stress due to inadequate oxygen. My test results showed elevated Troponin T levels.

The local hospital staff consulted with Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Initially, Avera suspected a lab error, but after repeating the test, Troponin T levels remained high. I was quickly transported by ambulance to Avera in Sioux Falls, two hours away. There, an angiogram was performed to check for blockages. I had no blockage. After two days in the hospital, I was advised to have a further evaluation from heart specialists in the Twin Cities.

Upon returning home to Saint Paul, MN, I met with a cardiologist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. They conducted an MRI of my heart, diagnosing me with myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle, often referred to as a “heart virus.”

The doctor prescribed Coreg (a beta blocker) and Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) to treat the myocarditis. I remember feeling that I was too young to be on medication. Having previously recovered from other viruses, I was reluctant to take the prescribed meds. Despite the challenges of running, traveling, and parenting, I continued to push through, trying to maintain the pace of living my dream.