Thread: over in a heart beat

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

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Thats why if you go to hospital with chest pain they will hook you up to a monitor and keep you in for at least 12hrs, while they determine through blood tests if you've had a heart attack.

My field of practice

That's interesting - when it happened to me a couple of years ago I was only at the hospital for about three hours before they sent me home - the blood test took about fifteen minutes for results. Eventually, after detailed assessment it was determined that it was a gallstone (which has given no further trouble).

John

Sad, Very Sad.

Aunty of mine was making the bed one day and had a massive Anurism (spelling) she went in a flash, doctor said she proberly never felt it.

What a nice way to go, Quick and painless....

My luck will be that Crucifiction will come back into fashion....

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Thats because the docs would have used more than just the blood test to reach the conclusion. While the pain of gallstones can mimick heart pain it is usually a different pain and not relieved by the treatment for chest pain eg stick an anginine tablet under the tongue of someone with heart pain and it will at least alleviate it somewhat. No effect on gallstone pain and if its gastric reflux you have the pain will likely get much worse...

I must admit, they do usually wait for the 2nd of 3 blood tests taken over a period of time. But some docs do think a negative on the 1st test means no heart attack but this is not necessarily so

Always good to have the knowledgeable people around. My problem is after spending so much time in hospitals growing up I hate them and only go as a last resort. I still remember my mum would sign the discharge papers before the ambo's could take her if it was one hospital in particular.
The biggest problem is realizing it is chest pain and not a stitch or similar. At least I don't get those pains anymore

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Thats the thing you see...if you have chest pain you sit down and do nothing...and get an ambulance to come get you...its no good driving anywhere with chest pain...in fact its a great danger to everyone else on the road

ECG's only measure the electrical activity of the heart. They don't detect muscle damage (heart attack)...so you can have a massive heart attack and have a normal ECG.
Thats why if you go to hospital with chest pain they will hook you up to a monitor and keep you in for at least 12hrs, while they determine through blood tests if you've had a heart attack.

My field of practice

One of my old boy's work mates, also 43 (10 years apart) sitting at home eating dinner in his chair, with his wife and 4 yound kids, start to pretend to choke and carry on......always a practical joker, except this time he wasn't joking, dropped dead in his lounge room, infront of his kids non drinker, non smoker, fitness fanatic