Heart Attack?

December 18, 2019, 10:15 AM

PASig

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!

It also turned out to be something non-cardiac but I felt better knowing for sure.

December 18, 2019, 10:48 AM

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.

December 18, 2019, 11:06 AM

fpuhan

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!

December 18, 2019, 11:15 AM

sigmonkey

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...)

December 18, 2019, 11:19 AM

hvyhawler

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...

December 18, 2019, 11:32 AM

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.

December 18, 2019, 11:38 AM

downtownv

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!

December 18, 2019, 11:43 AM

Elk Hunter

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

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FBHO!!!

The Idaho Elk Hunter

December 18, 2019, 11:48 AM

cruiser68

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.

December 18, 2019, 11:54 AM

flashguy

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

December 18, 2019, 11:56 AM

sleepla8er

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!!!

December 18, 2019, 11:59 AM

Sig2340

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.

December 18, 2019, 12:26 PM

fpuhan

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.

December 18, 2019, 12:28 PM

Woodman

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.

December 18, 2019, 12:53 PM

Perception

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."

December 18, 2019, 01:12 PM

Oat_Action_Man

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.

December 18, 2019, 03:03 PM

patw

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.

December 18, 2019, 03:13 PM

clubleaf206

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.

December 18, 2019, 04:29 PM

straightshooter1

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