Yup....did not see this one coming.

Last Friday I had what I considered mild heart burn all day until I was driving home and it started to hurt...similar to bad heart burn then REALLY BAD. What started me worrying was the tingling in my arms and light headedness. So about a mile from home I pulled into the my son's school parking lot and called 911, they were there in less than 10 minute....seemed much longer thought. Once there they got me in the rig and start hooking me up and stabilizing me, this took maybe 5-7 minutes and we were off to the ER another 7-10 minutes.

My wife met us at the parking lot of the school and the EMT told her where we were going so she was there waiting for us, at this time I was still down playing the pain ...at least to her.

Once I was in the ER they had me prepped and ready in less than 10 minutes and the Cardiologist came in stating "lucky you, I just finish up a procedure...let's go"

Once in the OR they were great, explaining everything even making jokes, I was breathing like I was in labor due to the pain but since I had already had 3 hits of morphine the Dr. said "sorry the pain will be gone as soon as I clear the obstruction"

So there we were talking, the Dr. and OR Nurse were even playing bad 80's music trivia...which I was was actively trying to take part in when everything got squirrely. Next thing I know there is a guy over me asking me "Mike are you ok?" To which I replied yup, that's when the DR. cam up and apologized for shocking me......"Really Doc, pretty sure you don't need to apologize for that" The Nurse next to me apologized as well....I asked her to please not tell the misses ..

So anyway, they found the artery 100% blocked and put in a stent...that's when things went squirely.

Once complete I was in ICU unto the next afternoon and released on Sunday.

SO far I feel great....easier to get tired is all. Took a week off and maybe next week as well.

A little background on me;
- 44yo
- 6' 230lbs, certainly not fat, 36" waist, 17.5" neck and 49" chest so I carry the weight well.
- last physical my cholesterol was 215...DR. said not a big deal
- not overly active except for hunting in a blue moon and work around the house.
- diet is not bad, ML cooks everything fresh but I did junk out when on the road.
- I smoked and dipped pouches for about 15 years, not heavy in the last 10 years but still.
- Had a coupe lite beers daily and more on the weekends, seldom partied anymore, maybe 3-4 times a year.
- work was fairly stressful which I tended to keep internal...no reason to bother the misses with it.
- Though myself pretty indestructible, seldom sick and even when I am I normally recover in 48 hours or less.

So now I move to the next part of my life, it happened so quickly it doesn't quite seem real. Could not get an appt with my PCP so I am waiting until next Friday (unless they have an opening pop up) with the cardiologist. Taking it easy...which is not easy, doing some light house chores and such and resting otherwise.

Changing the diet, stopped smoking, getting off the pouches is harder but I have cut down by 70% and working to quite entirely (lots of gum).

I am writing this not for sympathy but as a warning to others my age that like me thought it could never happen.

I have to say also the team at Mckinney Medical City were excellent, a good mixture of humor and professionalism as were the EMTs....very good bunch of guys....they knew their business and got it done.

Anyway, any advice for those who have gone through this at a fairly young age? I am feeling great but am worried about what I can and cannot do .....my lawn needs mowed badly (tried calling 4 different service with no call back yet). Feel I can go back to work but since my company requires a release I am pretty much screwed on that until next week.....not so bad I guess besides burning PTO

Oh well....I look at this as I have been given a 2nd chance....going to try real heard not to screw it up.

Had a stroke when I was 44...just like you say, you never know.

Glad you are well.

Glad you recognized the probable signs and took heed. Many try to “tuff it out”, and either don’t live to tell the tale, or do irreparable damage.

Glad you made it out uneventfully. Now, onto the second chance chapter of your life.

Scary stuff, I’m happy to hear you’re still with us.

Do you have family history of heart disease?

I am glad to be reading you posting this.

Not much to like, reading someone else posting, about this happening to you.

I'll keep you in prayers for full healing and long healthy life going forward.

You listen to the doctors and start bothering the misses more often...

quote:

Originally posted by Copefree:
Do you have family history of heart disease?

That was my first thought. Dad? Grandpa?

44 is awfully young. Although, I once watched a 26 y/o kid die from an MI. So, you never know. At 53 now, I had a stress test last year which was perfectly fine. Thankfully, no real cardiac history in my tree.

You were wise to recognize the symptoms, dewhorse. I can vividly remember a really young guy having an MI right in front of me when I was a paramedic (years ago). It put the fear of Jesus in me to see it happen to such a young guy. Still scares me when I think about it! I’m 47 and weigh too much Best of luck on the recovery, what part of Texas are you in? I’m in North Richland Hills.

quote:

Originally posted by Copefree:
Scary stuff, I’m happy to hear you’re still with us.

Do you have family history of heart disease?

Yes in thinking about it I guess both sides have had heart attacks and a few strokes.

And in looking back I would occasionally had chest "stiffness" while mowing and such, it was very similar to what I felt when running hard in the Army so I did not even think about it besides telling myself to get in the gym.

Glad you're ok.

Life can start to add up in the 40s-50s-60s.

Definitely get off the Tobacco.

Both my Grandfathers went via Heart Attacks but my Dad has lived healthy and is at 74. So I hope with diet / exercise / etc I can follow in his footsteps.

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
You were wise to recognize the symptoms, dewhorse. I can vividly remember a really young guy having an MI right in front of me when I was a paramedic (years ago). It put the fear of Jesus in me to see it happen to such a young guy. Still scares me when I think about it! I’m 47 and weigh too much Best of luck on the recovery, what part of Texas are you in? I’m in North Richland Hills.

Up in Mckinney...great area, nice being only 10 minutes from an ER

Now on to my mid-life crisis....figuring something fun...sexy...with 4 wheels

You sound like you’ve got a handle on things, just dealing with free time. Feel free to drop an email if you need something!

Sounds incredibly frightening! Rest and relax and heal up buddy!!

Glad to hear you came through the ordeal well and are still with us.

I am 66 and mom and dad both had bad hearts but so far so good for me. I asked my MD if I should get some testing done with my family history and he did not seem concerned as I was not experiencing any symptoms such as shortness of breath and my other test results including cholesterol are good and my calculated risk factor is good.

Thank for sharing your story as a warning to take any symptoms of heart attack seriously and take appropriate action.

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
You sound like you’ve got a handle on things, just dealing with free time. Feel free to drop an email if you need something!

Thank you,

Since you can't go back to work without a release, try going down to the PCP without an appointment. Walk up to the nice lady and tell her "Good morning. I don't have an appointment. I know sometimes people don't show up or cancel. I will be sitting right over there, with a book. Let me know if something opens up or if the doc can see me between appointments."
You will get seen, eventually.
Bring donuts and you will be seen quickly

Glad you're okay. BTW: which artery did they stent?

Bruce

Glad to see you're doing well and you already have appointments/making appointments with your PCP and cardiologist. I'm guessing your PCP will suggest an aspirin regimen and maybe some other meds, possibly some lifestyle/diet changes. Whatever he recommends follow it to the letter.

And the best thing you could have done is realized something was wrong and called 911. All too often you see people blow it off and then have a full blown cardiac arrest, or it self resolves but not after extensive cardiac muscle damage that cripples the heart's function.

I am really glad you are okay. Like monkey, I will be praying for your complete recovery.

Thank you for sharing this; it is a reminder for all of us.



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glad things are turning out good. Take care of your self.