Thread: Would you know if you were having a heart attack?

Call 000 and take 300 - 500mg of aspirin as a precaution and tell the ambulance and emergency people what you've done. How do I know? Luckily it was false alarm but they reckoned I'd done the right thing.
AlanH.

Would you know if you were having a heart attack?

Fortunately yes, or I wouldn’t be writing this! I had what was a life threatening heart attack on January 5.

Aithough on medication for a tendency for elevated cholesterol levels for the past 15 yrs or so, I probably would not be considered a strong candidate for a heart attack. I am on the far side of 65 but have general medical annually as well as an annual medical for my commercial pilot’s licence. Although slightly overweight I am physically active and have enjoyed good health.

The previous day I had a dull “heaviness” in my chest, not really pain, for about 10 minutes - which I put down to indigestion.

On the night of the 5th I went to bed about 10 pm, and soon after the dull pressure in my chest returned. Again I thought it was indigestion but it didn’t go away, and I spent 10-15 minutes wondering if it may have been something more sinister. I decided it could be!

I sat up in bed and told my wife to ring 000 as I think I may have angina! She said, “You’re joking”! I replied, I am not likely to joke about angina”!

Paramedics arrived in 15 min. Normal vital signs and ECG, but a shot of nitroglycerin under the tongue relieved my discomfort. Ambulance ride to St Vinnies hospital A&E. ECG still normal. Blood taken and results a few hours later indicated unhappy heart muscle. 2 am phone call to a cardiologist and I am put on the end of his list next day for a angiogram. About 10 am the heaviness in my chest is back and ramping up into a dull pain. I go straight to the front of the angiogram queue - nitroglycerin now not giving any relief!

Angiogram revealed that my main cardiac artery, supplying 50% of the heart, was 95+% blocked - the other cardiac arteries were clear. The blockage was removed, the artery dilated and a stent inserted.

I was instantly a new man.

The cardiologist says that had the heart attack occurred when I was away from rapid medical help - such as fishing in the Gulf where I was only a couple of weeks earlier - it is unlikely that I would have survived!

So yes, I probably would know if I was having a heart attack.

The moral of the story is if you have anything resembling chest pain, don’t fluff around, call 000. Better to be sure than DEAD !

About ten years ago I had a somewhat similar event - that did turn out to be indigestion. But it was straight to hospital where I remained for several hours until the blood tests ruled out a heart attack.

So be warned - the symptoms really can be very similar.

Originally Posted by Barraman

Would you know if you were having a heart attack?

Fortunately yes, or I wouldn’t be writing this! I had what was a life threatening heart attack on January 5.

Aithough on medication for a tendency for elevated cholesterol levels for the past 15 yrs or so, I probably would not be considered a strong candidate for a heart attack. I am on the far side of 65 but have general medical annually as well as an annual medical for my commercial pilot’s licence. Although slightly overweight I am physically active and have enjoyed good health.

The previous day I had a dull “heaviness” in my chest, not really pain, for about 10 minutes - which I put down to indigestion.

On the night of the 5th I went to bed about 10 pm, and soon after the dull pressure in my chest returned. Again I thought it was indigestion but it didn’t go away, and I spent 10-15 minutes wondering if it may have been something more sinister. I decided it could be!

I sat up in bed and told my wife to ring 000 as I think I may have angina! She said, “You’re joking”! I replied, I am not likely to joke about angina”!

Paramedics arrived in 15 min. Normal vital signs and ECG, but a shot of nitroglycerin under the tongue relieved my discomfort. Ambulance ride to St Vinnies hospital A&E. ECG still normal. Blood taken and results a few hours later indicated unhappy heart muscle. 2 am phone call to a cardiologist and I am put on the end of his list next day for a angiogram. About 10 am the heaviness in my chest is back and ramping up into a dull pain. I go straight to the front of the angiogram queue - nitroglycerin now not giving any relief!

Angiogram revealed that my main cardiac artery, supplying 50% of the heart, was 95+% blocked - the other cardiac arteries were clear. The blockage was removed, the artery dilated and a stent inserted.

I was instantly a new man.

The cardiologist says that had the heart attack occurred when I was away from rapid medical help - such as fishing in the Gulf where I was only a couple of weeks earlier - it is unlikely that I would have survived!

So yes, I probably would know if I was having a heart attack.

The moral of the story is if you have anything resembling chest pain, don’t fluff around, call 000. Better to be sure than DEAD !

What is it with SWMBO asking if your joking when you ask them to call "000"?
A couple of years ago I was feeling really off, told SWMBO I'm going to bed as I didn't feel well.
Half an hour later massive chest pains & couldn't move my arms. Stagger out of bed & ask SWMBO to call an ambulance (Yes, we have one), & get "Are you serious?"
A couple of swear words later the ambulance was called & on site.
Turned out to be a lung infection but scarred the Crap out of me.
Jonesfam
Also scarred the crap out of SWMBO after the initial few minutes!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

About ten years ago I had a somewhat similar event - that did turn out to be indigestion. But it was straight to hospital where I remained for several hours until the blood tests ruled out a heart attack.

So be warned - the symptoms really can be very similar.

I had the same experience went to bed started feeling un well numbness in right arm & pain in chest , then brain kicked in & started to have panic attack , ( never had a panic attack before) , wife rang for ambulance who could not find anything wrong but off to hospital to be on safe side . I apologized to Ambo's for false alarm . no problem , "if in doubt call an ambulance" is what they told me A few blood tests at hospital, lots of meters & a MRI before having a stress test & all OK & home that afternoon. Never did find what was wrong , probably started as hart burn & brain did the rest.

Also scarred the crap out of SWMBO after the initial few minutes!

Interestingly, I think such an event has a bigger mental impact on partners than it does on the patient. “Scarred the crap out of” describes it well!

After an initial “I can’t believe this is happening”, I was soon resolved to my fate - whatever that was to be.

I have had a fortunate life with few regrets. I lucked in with the cardiologist on call and was well placed to get the best medical attention available. That's not to say that it isn’t quite confronting - heart attack, angiogram, angioplasty (stenting), maybe bi-pass surgery, death!

I was with it enough to know what was going on and have some knowledge of the procedures, which may not be a good thing. I signed all the consents etc and thought I kept my wife informed on what was happening - ie “I’m having an angiogram tomorrow”. However, turning up next day to be told I was in the “theatre” came as quite a shock to her - probably made worse when I was wheeled back into my room in a wheel chair feeling quite chipper after being stented!

Although I am now fine, apparently I am “grounded”! Gonna have to work on that as I have plans chase barramundi in the Gulf again this year!

Originally Posted by ATH

Call 000 and take 300 - 500mg of aspirin as a precaution
AlanH.

And chew rather than swallow whole - makes absorption a lot quicker. I have a full packet of asprin in my bed side table ready to go.

Although I am now fine, apparently I am “grounded”! Gonna have to work on that as I have plans chase barramundi in the Gulf again this year!

I noticed that you mentioned a commercial pilots licence. Yes, you will be well and truly "grounded" with CASA! I never had a heart attack, but had arrhythmias show up during a stress test for a licence renewal. A bit surprised that you did not experience the same.

Not sure what happens after a stent is installed, as in my case the cardiologist determined that where the blockage was (is) situated he could not use a stent. My licence was promptly withdrawn.