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posted Hide Post
^^^^^^^^^^
Good to hear. You did the right thing. Better safe than sorry.
 
Posts: 17747 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Get my pies
outta the oven!

Picture of PASig
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quote:
Originally posted by fpuhan:


So, I feel kind of sheepish for perhaps overreacting.



Well, don't! It's your life here.

Last year at this time at work I didn't quite "feel right" with a pain in my left arm and through to my back and I drove myself to the ER and got checked out. Express service when you mention "heart" to them! Big Grin It also turned out to be something non-cardiac but I felt better knowing for sure.


 
Posts: 35347 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ammoholic
Picture of Skins2881
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The lidocaine patches work. Get them. As for the pain killers, just only take before bed, you don't have to take them every four hours like the bottle says, don't drink if you're taking them though.



Jesse

Sic Semper Tyrannis
 
Posts: 21371 | Location: Loudoun County, Virginia | Registered: December 27, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of fpuhan
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quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
The lidocaine patches work. Get them. As for the pain killers, just only take before bed, you don't have to take them every four hours like the bottle says, don't drink if you're taking them though.


Thanks for the tip, skins2881. I don't drink alcohol, so that's not a problem. I kind of like the idea of "don't work," though! Smile




You can't truly call yourself "peaceful" unless you are capable of great violence. If you're not capable of great violence, you're not peaceful, you're harmless.

NRA Benefactor/Patriot Member
 
Posts: 2857 | Location: Peoples Republic of North Virginia | Registered: December 04, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
A Grateful American
Picture of sigmonkey
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quote:
So, I feel kind of sheepish for perhaps overreacting.


Give that thought the boot.

Now, you know your heart is good. That alone is worth every bit of your ordeal, and will allow you less stress over any symptom.

You are also more likely to react faster in the event you have another issue that causes you to be concerned.

And you can start working on the punch list you now have.

And all of us get and "A" for not having you stick jumper cables on your nipples to prevent a-fib.

(but that was only because I was late to the thread...)




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב!
 
Posts: 44826 | Location: Box 1663 Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: December 20, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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If you ever have any doubt, go to the ER and tell them to relax. Repeat, relax and tell them you don't feel quite right and ask for a heart enzyme test. They will get it figured out quick, repeat relax. They tend to flip out when you mention heart attack... After a couple of stents and a defibrillator installation, every time you end up at the ER, they start (freak out) with the heart first...
 
Posts: 1913 | Location: U.P. of michigan | Registered: March 02, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
goodheart
Picture of sjtill
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OK, let me chime in here as a cardiologist with a couple of rules:

1. If you think it may be a heart attack call 911. Do NOT drive yourself. Distant second best is to have someone else drive.
2. Do NOT repeat NOT call or go to your doctor’s office. You are wasting precious time and the doctor does NOT have the facilities to do the necessary STAT blood tests or treat you.
3. Do not think you’re over-reacting. I’ve gone to the ED for what I was “sure” was “indigestion”. Because so many of my heart attack patients thought they were having indigestion.
4. Even if hours have elapsed, it’s not too late to go, especially if still having discomfort.
5. Many people think “pain” means sharp, stabbing pain. Heart attack pain is not like that. It’s a discomfort, pressure, squeezing, tightness, that you may not think of as pain.

Not saying more because I don’t want people to overthink this.
Heart attack survival has improved dramatically, largely because of EMS systems and public awareness, as well as early angioplasty and stunting. As a result we seldom see (saw) massive heart attacks unless people wait at home in denial.


_________________________
“Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
 
Posts: 18718 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of downtownv
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quote:
Originally posted by sjtill:
OK, let me chime in here as a cardiologist with a couple of rules:

1. If you think it may be a heart attack call 911. Do NOT drive yourself. Distant second best is to have someone else drive.
2. Do NOT repeat NOT call or go to your doctor’s office. You are wasting precious time and the doctor does NOT have the facilities to do the necessary STAT blood tests or treat you.
3. Do not think you’re over-reacting. I’ve gone to the ED for what I was “sure” was “indigestion”. Because so many of my heart attack patients thought they were having indigestion.
4. Even if hours have elapsed, it’s not too late to go, especially if still having discomfort.
5. Many people think “pain” means sharp, stabbing pain. Heart attack pain is not like that. It’s a discomfort, pressure, squeezing, tightness, that you may not think of as pain.

Not saying more because I don’t want people to overthink this.
Heart attack survival has improved dramatically, largely because of EMS systems and public awareness, as well as early angioplasty and stunting. As a result we seldom see (saw) massive heart attacks unless people wait at home in denial.


Well, you aren't going to get better info than from this member!


_________________________
 
Posts: 9117 | Location: 18 miles long, 6 Miles at Sea | Registered: January 22, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Too old to run,
too mean to quit!
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Been down that road myself maybe 40 years ago.

Working in the basement, found myself on the floor. No idea how long I had been there.

Got wife's attention and she called 911. Ambulance arrived very quickly (short drive to the fire house) and they took me to the emergency room. Turns out it was not a heart attack, but could have been.

Moral? Get thee to the ER ASAP, when such things occur!


Elk

There has never been an occasion where a people gave up their weapons in the interest of peace that didn't end in their massacre. (Louis L'Amour)

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. "
-Thomas Jefferson

"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Alexis de Tocqueville

FBHO!!!



The Idaho Elk Hunter
 
Posts: 25656 | Location: Virginia | Registered: December 16, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Woke up today..
Great day!
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Go get checked out ASAP! I had a widowmaker a few years ago and I had ZERO symptoms except it felt like I swallowed an air bubble. None of the typical symptoms. My Dr told me if I hadn't gotten to the ER right away there was no way I would have made it. Even today they are not sure why I survived.
 
Posts: 1864 | Location: Chicagoland | Registered: December 10, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Muzzle flash
aficionado
Picture of flashguy
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Some years back I had a strange feeling in my upper chest and called my Best Friend, who worked in a hospital. He said to get to the ER right now! I drove myself to the nearest ER (I know, that was a bad choice) and they did the usual tests. I was admitted to the hospital and scheduled for surgery right away (on a Sunday!--the surgeon didn't want to wait several days for the next OR opening). I was given a quadruple bypass, and the doc said it looked as if I were having an attack while the surgery was underway. It was successful, however. All went well for several years but I eventually suffered with A-Fib and was put on medications. I had a couple of outpatient heart treatments, but they did not fix the problem. I now take meds to slow down my heart and have an implanted pacemaker to keep it from going too low. I'm doing fine, now--heart rate is stable and I feel good.

Going to the ER right away likely saved my life. I'm glad you responded to good advice.

flashguy




Texan by choice, not accident of birth
 
Posts: 27911 | Location: Dallas, TX | Registered: May 08, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of sleepla8er
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quote:
Originally posted by fpuhan:
...I feel kind of sheepish for perhaps overreacting...

While I understand how you feel ~ For many, the first sign of a heart attack, is a heart attack with no warning signs.

My Dad was released from the hospital for a non-heart related issue. The morning the day he was released, he was cleared by his cardiologist following a full workup while he was being treated kidney stones. He passed away from a heart attack after taking two steps into the house.

You might only get one warning sign, you might not get any warning signs at all.

For your sake and those who depend on you ~ never second guess going or not going to the ER if the thought of a heart attack crosses your mind ~ just go!!!
 
Posts: 2881 | Location: San Diego, CA  | Registered: July 14, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Step by step walk the thousand mile road
Picture of Sig2340
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Use the Lidocaine patches. Lidocaine in addition to its anesthesia properties is administered to people who are suffering premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), a heart arrhythmia.





Nice is overrated

"It's every freedom-loving individual's duty to lie to the government."
Airsoftguy, June 29, 2018
 
Posts: 32520 | Location: Loudoun County, Virginia | Registered: May 17, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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quote:
Originally posted by downtownv:

Well, you aren't going to get better info than from this member!


The primary reason I check this forum every day is because of the wealth of experience, knowledge and wisdom assembled here.




You can't truly call yourself "peaceful" unless you are capable of great violence. If you're not capable of great violence, you're not peaceful, you're harmless.

NRA Benefactor/Patriot Member
 
Posts: 2857 | Location: Peoples Republic of North Virginia | Registered: December 04, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Nosce te ipsum
Picture of Woodman
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quote:
Originally posted by fpuhan:
  • Acute bilateral pain, unspecified back location
  • Paresthesia of arm
  • SOB (Shortness of Breath
  • Pain of left calf
  • Elevated blood pressure reading
  • Cervical spondylosis
  • Osteoarthritis of spine with radiculopathy, unspecified spinal region


Glad they let you out! Salute! With a list like that, you're lucky they didn't confine you for 72 hours!

People avoid hospitals and their plumbers for the same reasons. Because even if what they thought might be wrong is actually OK, the professional will find a list of items which demand immediate action.

I'm sure if I ever went back to my dentist, he'd make enough off of me to buy a new mast for his sailboat.
 
Posts: 8759 | Registered: March 24, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Perception
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quote:
Originally posted by fpuhan:
Thanks, everyone. I did as you suggested and went to the ER.

They took blood, x-rays, a CAT scan and a urine sample.

Turns out the issue is
  • Acute bilateral pain, unspecified back location
  • Paresthesia of arm
  • SOB (Shortness of Breath
  • Pain of left calf
  • Elevated blood pressure reading
  • Cervical spondylosis
  • Osteoarthritis of spine with radiculopathy, unspecified spinal region


The good news is that my heart is strong, I have no blood clots, my blood doesn't show any toxins, and I'm actually in pretty good shape.

Except that I still feel like my body has the flu.

I was given two prescriptions. One, for something I was told after taking, "Don't work, don't drive, don't drink alcohol." Uh, so *everything* gets anesthetized? No, thanks. The other is for Lidocaine patches, which I may apply.

So, I feel kind of sheepish for perhaps overreacting. But, I live alone, and my choices were to go to the ER, or try to ride it out. I think I did the right thing. And you guys were right, even if the initial "diagnosis" wasn't!


Err in the direction you did and you end up feeling sheepish.

Err in the other direction and you end up feeling dead.




"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."
 
Posts: 3621 | Location: Two blocks from the Center of the Universe | Registered: December 30, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Web Clavin Extraordinaire
Picture of Oat_Action_Man
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That's good that you're heart is good, but, please, don't ever ask "is this a heart attack" and delay going to the hospital.

My aunt very nearly killed herself by doing this very same thing.


----------------------------

Chuck Norris put the laughter in "manslaughter"

Educating the youth of America, one declension at a time.
 
Posts: 19837 | Location: SE PA | Registered: January 12, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Glad to hear everything is ok, so to speak. It is never a bad thing to call 911 when you feel like something is not right. Only you can determine what feels right to you.
 
Posts: 7256 | Location: Treasure Coast,Fl. | Registered: July 04, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
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quote:
Originally posted by Perception

Err in the direction you did and you end up feeling sheepish.

Err in the other direction and you end up feeling dead.


What he said, I’ve heard Police, Fire and EMS say before that they would rather be called out and have it be nothing, then to not be called at all and it turned out they needed to be.


___________________________________________________________________________
"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12277 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I had a heart attack and never knew it till I had a heart cath and learned I needed open heart surgery.

In addition to finding I needed the open heart surgery, the docs informed me I'd had a heart attack with some damage to my heart "at sometime" in the past.

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

I always thought there'd be this awful pain, and I'd grab my chest and...well, I guess that happens but this time there was nothing noticeable at all.

Bob
 
Posts: 1713 | Location: TampaBay | Registered: May 22, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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