Had a heart attack on Monday.
Discussion
bigpriest said:
GTN spray is still part of the recommended package of drugs to prevent another heart attack. I've never had to use mine - never had any repeat symptoms.
My daily list:
Aspirin - Helps prevent blood clots
Bisoprolol - Beta-blocker (lowers blood pressure)
Eplerenone - AR-blocker (lowers blood pressure)
Ramipril - ACE inhibitor (lowers blood pressure)
Lansoprozole - PPI (reduces stomach acid)
Atorvastatin - Statin (reduces LDL cholesterol)
+
GTN Spray - use as needed to relieve or prevent angina
I take all of those too - except the Lanzarote one.My daily list:
Aspirin - Helps prevent blood clots
Bisoprolol - Beta-blocker (lowers blood pressure)
Eplerenone - AR-blocker (lowers blood pressure)
Ramipril - ACE inhibitor (lowers blood pressure)
Lansoprozole - PPI (reduces stomach acid)
Atorvastatin - Statin (reduces LDL cholesterol)
+
GTN Spray - use as needed to relieve or prevent angina
Have you been stented? I had the GTN spray until the stents.
MXRod said:
Not mentioned before , but I always have GTN spray within easy reach , each of my events the first thing paramedics did was a shot of the spray under my tongue , is it not done anymore ?
And BTW my daily routine , as well as other meds , 75mg Asprin . What ever other conditions , including ,a blood condition akin to lukemia but not actually lukemia , the first thing asked is do I take Asprin . Obviously important when considering treatment for various conditions
GTN. 100%And BTW my daily routine , as well as other meds , 75mg Asprin . What ever other conditions , including ,a blood condition akin to lukemia but not actually lukemia , the first thing asked is do I take Asprin . Obviously important when considering treatment for various conditions
Timothy Bucktu said:
Also, get yourself an Aspod and carry it everywhere. If it doesn't save your life, it might save someone else's...
https://www.aspod.co.uk/
May be a gimmick, but I like that and can see it working. https://www.aspod.co.uk/
bigdom said:
irocfan said:
croyde said:
Get yourselves checked out people.
Stupid question time - how? I suspect you can't just rock up to your dr and say check me out?My otherwise fit and healthy non-smoking father had a heart attack aged 58, which he fortunately survived, and my grandfather on my mothers side had angina and occasionally used gtn spray for that.
I'm 35 this year, fairly anxious person, otherwise healthy and reasonably active, but it is something which plays on my mind occasionally.
Occasionally I do also wake with tachycardia, which stops a moment or so later if I hold my breath, but again does focus the mind.
Derek Smith said:
LeadFarmer said:
Are there any risks involved if administering an emergency dose of Aspirin to someone who it turns out wasn't suffering from a heart attack?
I seem to recall at a First Aid lesson at work, the Aspirin subject raised it's head and sparked a debate at to whether there could be any risks to the person administering it. I'm sure the outcome was that there were no risks, but we live in a world where folk complain too easily if it turns out the First Aid someone applied to them had been done unnecessarily or incorrectly
I used to be a police officer and took a little medical kit with me when working. I had plasters, bandages and medical wipes. Later, it seemed that these remained in the permissible arena 'cause one could ask permission, but an aspirin was risky if they were semi-comatose. I also took smelling salts. They, it seems, are an anathema to a safe passage through discipline and complaints.I seem to recall at a First Aid lesson at work, the Aspirin subject raised it's head and sparked a debate at to whether there could be any risks to the person administering it. I'm sure the outcome was that there were no risks, but we live in a world where folk complain too easily if it turns out the First Aid someone applied to them had been done unnecessarily or incorrectly
I argued with a first aid bloke and was asked, 'What if they die?' Problem over, I thought. Who dies of smelling salts?
Next level up was Entonox. You had to give them the mask to take the gas themselves.
Next stage up was morphine. Only certain first aiders were authorised to administer it, and only on the direct instructions of an A&E doctor. In these long past days, this involved setting up what was called a "link call" over medium frequency radio via the nearest BT Coast Radio Station. In our case this was Wick Radio. They connected you to A&E at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary via the BT PSTN network. It was an involved process!
Glad you are ok.
A couple of my friends recently had heart attacks, both seemed healthy to me.
My Dads 79 and had a stent put in recently voluntarily rather than as a result of a heart attack etc. He asked a doctor what was the most likely thing to kill him and for him it was a heart attack. So he volunteered to have investigative surgery which found that he had a 90 degree kink in an artery which they then put a stent in. The rest were fine.
I learnt off him that preventative health care is good idea. I get a full health check every 18 months. Obviously it just tells you how you are at a point in time but it can highlight possible areas of concern. Its not cheap but to me its a good investment in myself.
I also exercise, eat well, don't smoke (stopped 10 years ago) and these days don't drink as much.
Its just about trying to minimise the risk as much as you can
A couple of my friends recently had heart attacks, both seemed healthy to me.
My Dads 79 and had a stent put in recently voluntarily rather than as a result of a heart attack etc. He asked a doctor what was the most likely thing to kill him and for him it was a heart attack. So he volunteered to have investigative surgery which found that he had a 90 degree kink in an artery which they then put a stent in. The rest were fine.
I learnt off him that preventative health care is good idea. I get a full health check every 18 months. Obviously it just tells you how you are at a point in time but it can highlight possible areas of concern. Its not cheap but to me its a good investment in myself.
I also exercise, eat well, don't smoke (stopped 10 years ago) and these days don't drink as much.
Its just about trying to minimise the risk as much as you can
Edited by Jonny TVR on Tuesday 5th April 12:33
As a STEMI survivor I fully endorse the above post.
I have a twin brother so, with heart disease known in our family, he was concerned that he might be susceptible to it after I had mine.
Fortunately he has good medical insurance through work so was able to get an echocardiogram done which revealed no issues for him. A big weight off his mind though.
Next stage after that, if it reveals any problems, is an angiogram where (if suitable) they can sort any blockages with a stent on the spot, or explore other treatment options.
I can't say how weird my angiogram felt, you are lying there, awake, chatting to the surgeon whilst he tinkers with the inside of your heart.
5yrs on I'm still amazed it happened to me and gave me a second lease of life. If there are any cardiologists amongst the PHers reading this, I take my hat off to you. My guy was too busy on his list that day for me to properly thank him but it really did save my life, something I can never forget, I feel humbled by what was probably all in a day's work for him.
I have a twin brother so, with heart disease known in our family, he was concerned that he might be susceptible to it after I had mine.
Fortunately he has good medical insurance through work so was able to get an echocardiogram done which revealed no issues for him. A big weight off his mind though.
Next stage after that, if it reveals any problems, is an angiogram where (if suitable) they can sort any blockages with a stent on the spot, or explore other treatment options.
I can't say how weird my angiogram felt, you are lying there, awake, chatting to the surgeon whilst he tinkers with the inside of your heart.
5yrs on I'm still amazed it happened to me and gave me a second lease of life. If there are any cardiologists amongst the PHers reading this, I take my hat off to you. My guy was too busy on his list that day for me to properly thank him but it really did save my life, something I can never forget, I feel humbled by what was probably all in a day's work for him.
Piginapoke said:
Glad you’re ok OP.
Does anyone know how effective exercise really is in preventing heart disease? I’m 50 and run 6 or 7 days a week, but always wonder whether it’s just genetics and I’m wasting my time
Exercise is good for you of course, but it will not protect you from the problems associated with 'comfort consumption', unfortunately.Does anyone know how effective exercise really is in preventing heart disease? I’m 50 and run 6 or 7 days a week, but always wonder whether it’s just genetics and I’m wasting my time
Bit of a thread resurrection.
I’m currently in hospital having had a heart attack on Thursday.
I’m 41
Strong family history of cardiac death
Genetic high cholesterol
Level 2 heart block
Healthy other than that - not overweight, don’t smoke, don’t drink much, good diet.
Felt a bit rubbish for about a week with intermittent shoulder pain which I initially put down to a collar bone injury I’ve been having physio for.
Tuesday of last week, I had an ache in my arm pit periodically.
Weds was similar, odd pain down my arm but I dismissed the obvious and still thought it was my shoulder.
Thursday night at the barbers and sitting there with an increasing pressure in my arm pit - thought to myself that this definitely isn’t collar bone related.
Was close enough to a hospital so thought I’d pop in, thought they’d do a cHeck, tell me I was being silly and to go home.
How wrong I was.
From signing in at the front desk to being monitored in resus was less than half an hour.
A raft of tests done and two blood checks for my Troponin levels.
The first was 678
The second was 694
It should be 5 or less.
The team here were excellent- I was on my own, incredibly scared. Terrified in fact and was a bit of a state.
They said theyd caught it in time and that I’d made the right decision even though I should’ve come in when I first felt funny.
Packed off to a ward at 4 am yesterday - given a drip of GTN for any pain - which I must admit, never really came. It was never more than a dull ache.
The cardiac team came round yesterday and put their plan into action - off to the cath lab first thing for a jelly scan and then angiogram with expected stent insertion.
The cath lab here was an unexpected experience- the team was young and learning. The 2 top consultants were lovely and it really didn’t feel like a serious medical procedure. Other than slight discomfort from the tube going into my artery - it was fascinating.
The issue was that my “pump and tubes” as they were referred to - were spotless. So no stents needed.
The bubble pressure strap used to close the arterial incision was an impressive bit of kit. Simple but effective.
It’s very sore today though.
Something else caused my heart attack but they aren’t sure what. They’ve done checks for myocarditis and it’s not that either.
I’m pain and ache free now and actually feel much better. I just can’t go home until they work out what the issue is. My other problem is that my heart block has been dropping my heart rate from 50 to 30 for a few seconds pretty consistently every minute. I guess that means I might get a pacemaker at some point.
There was talk yesterday of seeing if my troponin levels drop to an acceptable level then sending me home with lots of new pills and a referral to the specialist hospital I have been under the care of for years.
I’m just waiting for my first bloods of the day and it’s gonna be a boring weekend ahead!
So far it’s been a terrifying experience but also an important learning experience- we all see the portrayal of a heart attack in film or tv. That’s actually cardiac arrest.
A heart attack can seem like something you can brush off.
Please don’t do that.
Don’t stress about a 8 hour wait in A&E - if you say you have chest pain - you get seen pretty quick.
I’m currently in hospital having had a heart attack on Thursday.
I’m 41
Strong family history of cardiac death
Genetic high cholesterol
Level 2 heart block
Healthy other than that - not overweight, don’t smoke, don’t drink much, good diet.
Felt a bit rubbish for about a week with intermittent shoulder pain which I initially put down to a collar bone injury I’ve been having physio for.
Tuesday of last week, I had an ache in my arm pit periodically.
Weds was similar, odd pain down my arm but I dismissed the obvious and still thought it was my shoulder.
Thursday night at the barbers and sitting there with an increasing pressure in my arm pit - thought to myself that this definitely isn’t collar bone related.
Was close enough to a hospital so thought I’d pop in, thought they’d do a cHeck, tell me I was being silly and to go home.
How wrong I was.
From signing in at the front desk to being monitored in resus was less than half an hour.
A raft of tests done and two blood checks for my Troponin levels.
The first was 678
The second was 694
It should be 5 or less.
The team here were excellent- I was on my own, incredibly scared. Terrified in fact and was a bit of a state.
They said theyd caught it in time and that I’d made the right decision even though I should’ve come in when I first felt funny.
Packed off to a ward at 4 am yesterday - given a drip of GTN for any pain - which I must admit, never really came. It was never more than a dull ache.
The cardiac team came round yesterday and put their plan into action - off to the cath lab first thing for a jelly scan and then angiogram with expected stent insertion.
The cath lab here was an unexpected experience- the team was young and learning. The 2 top consultants were lovely and it really didn’t feel like a serious medical procedure. Other than slight discomfort from the tube going into my artery - it was fascinating.
The issue was that my “pump and tubes” as they were referred to - were spotless. So no stents needed.
The bubble pressure strap used to close the arterial incision was an impressive bit of kit. Simple but effective.
It’s very sore today though.
Something else caused my heart attack but they aren’t sure what. They’ve done checks for myocarditis and it’s not that either.
I’m pain and ache free now and actually feel much better. I just can’t go home until they work out what the issue is. My other problem is that my heart block has been dropping my heart rate from 50 to 30 for a few seconds pretty consistently every minute. I guess that means I might get a pacemaker at some point.
There was talk yesterday of seeing if my troponin levels drop to an acceptable level then sending me home with lots of new pills and a referral to the specialist hospital I have been under the care of for years.
I’m just waiting for my first bloods of the day and it’s gonna be a boring weekend ahead!
So far it’s been a terrifying experience but also an important learning experience- we all see the portrayal of a heart attack in film or tv. That’s actually cardiac arrest.
A heart attack can seem like something you can brush off.
Please don’t do that.
Don’t stress about a 8 hour wait in A&E - if you say you have chest pain - you get seen pretty quick.
Good that you got seen to and are under great care.
I may have contributed to this thread a while back.
I had a heart attack out of the blue 13 years ago when I was 46.
Slim, pretty fit. I was just putting the kids to bed.
It was a very stressful time as wife and I had just split.
No stent needed despite an angiogram and just put on a diet of pills which I'm still on today.
A couple of months after leaving the hospital I rode the 60 miles to Brighton on my heavy old bicycle with a stop for fish and chips and a pint.
I'd never ridden more than 10 miles previously.
Cut to the beginning of this year and another stressful time. Split from girlfriend, moving house and lots of trouble with my teens and their alcoholic mother.
Chest pains and palpitations.
Ended up seeing a cardiologist and had a 2 week monitor fitted. Finished with a full stress test on a running machine and the doc announced that he never would have guessed that I had had a heart attack back in 2009. No scarring, good function.
So it shows you can bounce back but just try to avoid stress, as that can seriously do you harm.
All the best fella.
I may have contributed to this thread a while back.
I had a heart attack out of the blue 13 years ago when I was 46.
Slim, pretty fit. I was just putting the kids to bed.
It was a very stressful time as wife and I had just split.
No stent needed despite an angiogram and just put on a diet of pills which I'm still on today.
A couple of months after leaving the hospital I rode the 60 miles to Brighton on my heavy old bicycle with a stop for fish and chips and a pint.
I'd never ridden more than 10 miles previously.
Cut to the beginning of this year and another stressful time. Split from girlfriend, moving house and lots of trouble with my teens and their alcoholic mother.
Chest pains and palpitations.
Ended up seeing a cardiologist and had a 2 week monitor fitted. Finished with a full stress test on a running machine and the doc announced that he never would have guessed that I had had a heart attack back in 2009. No scarring, good function.
So it shows you can bounce back but just try to avoid stress, as that can seriously do you harm.
All the best fella.
Thanks Croyde.
It’s appreciated.
I was so alone on Thursday night - it’s such a horrible thing to go through. All you can think about is that your going to die (with my family history - it was a real concern). It’s just nice that there are good people still who can and will help.
Got a cardiac MRI booked but it’s on bloody Tuesday - and I’m not allowed home in between.
It’s appreciated.
I was so alone on Thursday night - it’s such a horrible thing to go through. All you can think about is that your going to die (with my family history - it was a real concern). It’s just nice that there are good people still who can and will help.
Got a cardiac MRI booked but it’s on bloody Tuesday - and I’m not allowed home in between.
pidsy said:
Thanks Croyde.
It’s appreciated.
I was so alone on Thursday night - it’s such a horrible thing to go through. All you can think about is that your going to die (with my family history - it was a real concern). It’s just nice that there are good people still who can and will help.
Got a cardiac MRI booked but it’s on bloody Tuesday - and I’m not allowed home in between.
Sounds scary, it is great to hear that you appear to be in good hands and doing well. You're not alone though, there are a bunch of middle-aged car blokes here for you!It’s appreciated.
I was so alone on Thursday night - it’s such a horrible thing to go through. All you can think about is that your going to die (with my family history - it was a real concern). It’s just nice that there are good people still who can and will help.
Got a cardiac MRI booked but it’s on bloody Tuesday - and I’m not allowed home in between.
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