Aftermath of a Heart Attack

[veggiepatch1959]

Between 5 and 8 December 2013 after continuing chest discomfort, I was diagnosed with what was considered a significant coronary event, after what I considered to be an extended bout of heartburn. This was confirmed by blood marker tests as a heart attack.

Being 54 years of age, a smoker and drinker with a fairly healthy diet and a heart problem history on both sides of the family, it was always going to happen sometime.

Anybody else here been through this eye opening dilemma? the biggest challenge is a complete change of lifestyle.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

And by the way, there is no need for feeling sorry - it's just a fact of life.

Thank You.

 

[Pantherjim.]

Can't say I have been through it Veggie, but having been a Cardiology Specialist Nurse for 14+ years I've seen and treated it almost every day, and I wouldn't wish Ischaemic Heart Disease on my worst enemy.

All I can say is Give up the smokes, knock back alcohol to "in moderation" levels, and take your new prescribed meds religiously. You offered that you already eat a healthy diet, so I suspect you don't need advice in that direction, and your family history is unfortunately the only risk factor that you can't modify.

Also; get a decent Cardiologist and follow up with them regularly. Ask them about getting a cardiac echocardiogram done to assess the extent of the damage post infarct and your heart's level of function. Hopefully it was just a small heart attack and most of the heart muscle is still alive and kicking. Join your local public hospital's Cardiac Rehab program if they have one. The Cardiac Rehab Nurses work wonders. Everything else should fall into place, and you should lead a long and healthy life.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

That was such a reassuring reply PJ. Many Thanks.

To be more specific, I had a 95% blockage in a minor artery and noticeable lesions on a more significant artery. As a result, the investigative angiogram needed further testing which was inconclusive....two hours of the most bizarre discomfort in my life. What caused the heart attack is still unknown.

The smokes are the biggest hurdle as indicated by the assessment by the Prince Charles (Brisbane) cardiac specialist nurses. Alcohol is an easier vice to give up.

Just for the record, follow up blood tests came in this morning and all is OK. And I've lost 4.5 kgs in 3 weeks!!!

 

[Parra]

Good to hear things are heading in the right direction for you. Take the warning as a gift.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Good to hear things are heading in the right direction for you. Take the warning as a gift.

Thanks Parra....

The typical male attitude of being bulletproof suddenly goes out the window after such an event. Makes one quickly reassess how fragile life is.

 

[Pantherjim.]

That was such a reassuring reply PJ. Many Thanks.

To be more specific, I had a 95% blockage in a minor artery and noticeable lesions on a more significant artery. As a result, the investigative angiogram needed further testing which was inconclusive....two hours of the most bizarre discomfort in my life. What caused the heart attack is still unknown.

The smokes are the biggest hurdle as indicated by the assessment by the Prince Charles (Brisbane) cardiac specialist nurses. Alcohol is an easier vice to give up.

Just for the record, follow up blood tests came in this morning and all is OK. And I've lost 4.5 kgs in 3 weeks!!!

No worries Veggie.

May I ask what they're going to do about the 95% blockage? Hopefully they can fix it with a balloon angioplasty and you won't need bypass surgery.

For the record, you don't need to give up grog completely, just knock it back to moderation ;-)

The smokes are a different story however unfortunately.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

No worries Veggie.

May I ask what they're going to do about the 95% blockage? Hopefully they can fix it with a balloon angioplasty and you won't need bypass surgery.

For the record, you don't need to give up grog completely, just knock it back to moderation ;-)

The smokes are a different story however unfortunately.

Done in all the same procedure. The before and after images I received from the hospital are amazing. The minor artery appeared to be reduced to the thickness of a human hair before the stent was installed.

Looking forward to a lifetime medication regime.....

 

[Coaster]

I gave up the cigs after 20 years 18 months ago. And it was the easiest thingi have ever done. I expected it to be a nightmare, the secret for me was understanding it was more the fear of failure of giving up holding me back. Having peers judge me for trying and failing actually held me back from trying, if that made sense.

Anyway hypnotherapy is the way to go.
Good luck

 

[Tone83]

Interesting it felt like heart burn, I thought heart burn was a misnomer and it's actually stomach acid that causes the feeling?
Wouldn't have thought an actual heart problem would feel anything like heart burn. I get heart burn here and there, kind of scary.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Interesting it felt like heart burn, I thought heart burn was a misnomer and it's actually stomach acid that causes the feeling?
Wouldn't have thought an actual heart problem would feel anything like heart burn. I get heart burn here and there, kind of scary.

Just to let you know exactly how it felt, here's a detailed description. Hope it helps if you have concerns.

On the Thursday night, I developed what I thought was classic heartburn symptoms. A burning feeling originating at the bottom of the sternum and radiating vertically with varying degrees of discomfort. I had a feeling of wanting to fart or burp but neither happened. I hardly slept that night.

First thing Friday I bought Zantac 150 mg and took as directed - no improvement. The pain moved around a bit, spreading from the middle of the sternum to one or both shoulders but the level of discomfort was considerably less.

Saturday wasn't too bad with similar symptoms and episodes where there wasn't any pain or discomfort.

Sunday started off good until early evening when Thursday's symptoms returned with a vengeance - pain and discomfort was worse so to hospital I went at about 11.30 pm.

In retrospect, any chest pain should be treated with caution and suspicion. I was advised if I let this go for a few more days, I could've been in much worse shape. Seek immediate medical attention as soon as you experience any onset of sudden chest pain or discomfort. It might save your life.

P.S. Just a bit about the Zantac. About 10 years ago, I had a similar episode and rolled around on the Casualty waiting room floor for about six hours before being attended to. I was diagnosed with a possible acute attack of pancreatitis. I was given Zantac 300 mg and the pain disappeared within 20 minutes.

 

[The Charlatan]

Had no numb/pins and needles/radiating pain in your arm or neck?

I've had some chest pain of late, bloodworks and ECG/ultrasound showed nothing and the GP has theorised that it is costochondritis. I've noticed since I've been on Christmas holidays the chest pain is virtually non-existent (I work a stressful job with long hours,) which has me a little concerned that it may be more than just rib-cage inflammation. It could also be a coincidence.

 

[9701]

I went through the same thing on Australia day last last year Veggie, I too wrote it off as heartburn at first. mine lasted about 2 hours on the saturday. I had another smaller incident on the sunday whilst at woolies so I grabbed a bottle of Mylanta off the shelf and drank a couple of mouthfulls and sat down till it went away (about half an hour). I had another bout that sunday night and wrote it off to heartburn again (you never want to think it is anything bad).

Monday was a public holiday so I stayed home and reted, tuesday I went to work and went motorbike riding Tuesday night. Wednesday I talked myself into going to my Dr for a check, he took blood pressure (very high) and an ecg (inconclusive), he gave me some tablets to lower my blood pressure and sent me for an x-ray.
I went back that afternoon for the x-ray results and it appeared my heart was enlarged around 5% (not enough to cause major concern), he then told me to get a blood test on the way to work on thursday which i did. I was sitting at work at around lunchtime when the Dr's surgery rang and told me to get to Ippy hospital asap.
After taking about 40 pills in 5 minutes they told me I had suffered a heart attack and would be sent to the PA hospital for an angiogram.
I stayed in IGH untill Monday morning and was transffered to PA and had the angiogram at about 2pm on the Monday. My right hand coronary artery was 95% blocked for an (apperently long distance) so they had to place 2 stents end to end in.
I was released the following morning and like you now have a daily lifetime regime of medication.
Seriously guys if you suspect anything go straight to your doctor I felt weak (the way my era was brought up) for going but if I had of ignored it I would of had a possibly larger event and not been around to have the choice.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Sounds like both of you were pretty lucky TBH- you both had serious blockages and luckily had relatively mild attacks which brought them to light so you could have them remedied, and you're probably now in much better shape due to having the blockages sorted.
As others have said kick the smokes in the guts, that shit will kill you. And re your diet, take a good look at it even if you think it's healthy, often there are things you thing are healthy that aren't really so good for you.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Sounds like both of you were pretty lucky TBH- you both had serious blockages and luckily had relatively mild attacks which brought them to light so you could have them remedied, and you're probably now in much better shape due to having the blockages sorted.
As others have said kick the smokes in the guts, that shit will kill you. And re your diet, take a good look at it even if you think it's healthy, often there are things you thing are healthy that aren't really so good for you.

Thanks Space Monkey, but it sounds like 9701 had a worse time than me.

Very similar scenarios but never dismiss chest pains when you have:-

• A family history of heart disease
• Moderate/heavy smoker and/or drinker
• Overweight/poor diet/high cholesterol
• Recent stressful events....something rarely mentioned

The last one applied to me. After losing my job at the end of 2012 and going through a extended appeal process to be reinstated (which still hasn't been resolved), I have no option but to sell my house due to a default notice being issued by the lending institution.

Luckily it's just an investment property as I'm currently renting my present residence.

All these factors have a cumulative effect.