6' 1" - 185lbs - decently active
I was doing something active this morning and all of a sudden my throat hurt and I had a pain between my shoulder blades.
Now I'm in ER waiting to be moved to Cardiology.
Like what the every living fuck. Any advice as I lay here freaking out?
I'm a 17 year old male. 219 lbs, 5'11" (ive lost 20 pounds so far since december)
But a couple months ago I was just sitting on the couch and I had multiple heart palpitations, they weren't pleasant at all, and last for about a minute of here and there ones. I got really worried and being the dumbass I am I didn't say anything about it. I had a really shit sleep that night given the adrenaline.
But ever since that night, I've been hyper aware of my heart, mass googling at every sensation, wondering this wondering that. Now the main reason im so paranoid is that my Dad had a heart attack in his early 40s, and his dad the same before that a long time ago. So im obese, and I have a hereditary factor to this.
i've had multiple panic attacks. I get nervous, then heart starts racing, tight chest, and sometimes heart palpitations. Pure heart attack jet fuel. But I can get past them.
It was getting better these past few weeks just until recently. My left arm feels ever so faintly weak, and I just cant explain why. I have a painful spot on my chest that appeared the day of this post, but it only hurts within a centimeter radius, and only with certain movement.
So of course now im back on the paranoia train.
BUT, about 2 years ago, I was out in the sun washing the car with my dad and I had randomly fainted. Not long, i was out for maybe 5 seconds. No memory loss, nothing weird, just a scraped elbow. (i got lucky and didnt hit my head, was on pavement too.)
I was scheduled for appointments and tests given my dads heart history since they wanted to be safe. I had an ECG, EKG, Holter monitor, and a blood test down. EVERYTHING came back normal. But yet now, even with all of those reassurances from a few years back im still paranoid.
Could things have changed so drastically to the point where I'm likely to have a heart attack now?
I still haven’t been to the hospital,
Hes in ICU, 3 stents, ive spent the morning crying because wtf man. I got into a fight w him 2 days back and was so angry at him, im just praying continuously atp, his pulmonary are severely damaged is what the doc has said. He said its a very complicated case.
64 F. I got out of the hospital three days ago, they put four stents in. Last night while sleeping I was bit by a misquito near my IV site, I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why my arm was on fire, my vein was popped out, and wondering if I was dying. Then I spent a hour crying over it.
Im black and green bruised everywhere from needles, ekg stickers and whatnot. I feel like everything is out to get me, and very vulnerable. Im not sleeping well and think I'm still in shock over the whole ordeal. Just basically feeling very sorry for myself.
This was my second heart attack. The first one I had my husband to take care of me and didnt have much after effects, in fact I felt great and finally had energy. Not so with this one, my husband died and I'm by myself and I feel like I've been run over by a garbage truck. Im guessing I have "heart attack blues" with a twinge of ptsd. Just posting to clear my thoughts and to let someone know how miserable I feel. Im sure these feelings will pass soon enough.
In 2022 after I got covid, my cholesterol skyrocketed for some reason and never went back down. My eating habits are great and I was a very fit person with zero family history of heart disease or hypercholesterolemia.
I generally eat low fat and when I do eat fats it’s healthy ones like olive oil or nuts. Recently, I’ve been getting very painful central chest pain that puts me in like fetal position anytime I exercise. And what’s strange is that 2 minutes of exercise can trigger it, but it takes an hour sometimes more for it to go away.
I’m super suspicious that I have atherosclerosis even though I’m only 25. How can I even get a cardiologist to do an angiogram on a 25 year old?
So, it's nearly a year since my heart attack, and everything is going well:
So everything is on the up, no questions on the above, just noting progress, everything is going in the right direction.
The question I have is:
Thanks!
Edit: I got 2 stents at a bifurcation.
Edit 2: what sort of scans and tests do you folks get yearly? So far I’m getting bloods every 6 months.
Good afternoon, March 15th I had a Widowmaker heart attack, after being in Sedona hiking for a week. Doctor told me I won the lottery, and that they can't explain why I had the heart attack except for that it was my time. I was there for 3 days and literally every nurse that came in told me that I must have a purpose that I'm one of 10% that survive this heart attack. And if I would have been 30 minutes later I wouldn't be alive. And I know that they were being sweet and kind and trying to build me up, but all it has done is mind fuck me. Not only all of this, but my boyfriend of 10 years completely abandoned me during my healing process out of a month he was probably here for less than 5 days full. So I'm really struggling with my mental health, physically I'm great I'm back to bartending one night a week, I'm I'm walking my dogs about 14 miles a week when I get off my couch. What did everyone do, if you're mental health affected you like this. Like what's my purpose? Why did I live? It's hard to get off the couch, but my dogs give me a reason to get off the couch. My psychiatric nurse up to my medicine and I'm going to therapy again, I put that on pause while I was kind of just physically healing.
My dad had a severe heart attack last week and will be coming home from the hospital soon. I live with my parents and do most of the cooking in our house, so I’ll be taking on the majority of the meal prep and cooking for him moving forward. (I always told him that his diet was very problematic but this topic always became heated.)
I’m vegan myself, but I’m willing to cook fish and eggs for him if those would be good options for heart health. My parents honestly aren’t very knowledgeable about nutrition or cooking, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can and help him make changes that he’ll actually enjoy and stick with.
Before this, his diet was pretty rough : lots of canned soup, rotisserie chicken, frozen meals, cereal, and very few fruits or vegetables aside from the occasional meal I made.
He really loves Vietnamese food, so I’m hoping to lean into that, as well as Mediterranean (both I have experience cooking.)
I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who’s cooked for a family member after a heart attack. I plan on meal prepping for him as well, as well as freezing food so he can have options so he can have autonomy. Is there anything else I should know (: I live close to many health food stores, farm stands and Whole Foods, so I really am open!
For this who need a bit of encouragement or belief I thought I'd share my story.
I'm 48 years old. I had a widowmaker last November. I was in good shape previously from hiking and runnning. My heart attack came on the way home from hiking. All my extremeties went numb at the same time and the pain was insane. I somehow still drove myself to the hospital. I got yelled at for that but I was making decisions on the fly.
Got a stent within 90 minutes or so of walking into the hospital. I was discharged about 48 hours later. At discharge my EF was 55 so somehow I escaped with fairly minor damage. Doctor said if my clot had been in a different place I'd have been dead.
I went through cardiac rehab and they encouraged me to get back to doing what I enjoyed. At first I was terrified and some of those early workouts were tough mentally and physically. We talked about my hobbies and the woman in charge of rehab said I could ski, hike, or run a half marathon again. At my followup with the cardiologist he said the same and as far as they were concerned I was under no restrictions except try to not hit my head or get injured because of the blood thinners. Also please don't train for a marathon (yet).
The first few weeks running on my own were hard. I was scared and had a few mental breakdowns. Went home crying a few times. Scraped up my hand falling on the sidewalk and bled all over the place. Finally felt back in March that I was coming around and feeling more 'normal' so I decided to sign up for our local half marathon that was almost exactly 6 months after my heart attack. I decided that since they said I could that I would.
I'd done about 15 half marathons previously but this was the hardest I've ever trained. I still knew it wasn't going to be fast. I was just going to do it and prove I could and finish. I ended up finishing in 2:45 with my family there to cheer me on. It wasn't even remotely my fastest but it didn't matter. I broke down crying a bit at the finish line. My 4 year old did some artwork on my shirt to support me.
We can still do hard things after this. It's possible. It's scary and it sucks. But get out there and try. Life isn't over. Keep pushing.
Maybe it's not a half marathon. Maybe you hate running. Doesn't matter. Go for whatever you want and do it anyway. Go live your life.
I can't let today pass without notice. It's a busy week and next week will be too; I'm tired and stealing moments to catch my breath between meetings, events, projects, and calls. But for one moment I will stop to remember.
Fourteen years ago today I had my heart attack. Now the anniversary of that day means almost more to me than my actual birthday. Every year is a celebration, a victory, an achievement. Every argument with my family is one I was never sure I would get to have. Every setback at work is measured against progress I almost didn't get to make. My current struggles with health and fitness are painful, stressful, exhausting, and a blessing.
There's not a day goes by I can forget what happened, but for one day each year I also make time to remember.
Whatever frustrating thing is happening in your life right now is not so important as the fact that you are alive to be frustrated by it; make time to take care of yourself so we can continue being frustrated together for many years to come!
I had my regular appointment with GP 4 months post catheterization and he asked me if I experience shortness of breath while climbing stairs etc and I could not think what I should reply? Because when you do physically demanding work, you lose your breath and I do. I have lost the feeling how does it feel not having shortness of breath. How can I find out if I experience shortness of breath?
I started getting shortness of breath feeling around 20 years ago when I was few years into sedentary life. Once I climbed the stairs or did something similar together with other people and people around me asked me with surprise if everything is okay because they felt my breathing was unusual while I did notice that I struggle catching up my breath but I did not relate it to any issue and thought of it as a result of continuous sedentary life. I don't change my life and after 20 years I got heart attack. So personally I do not know anymore what is not shortness of breath because I still feel shortness of breath or whatever it is when including stairs or try to run etc. is there any standard or scientific way to measure this?
14 years ago, when I was only 46, I had my heart attack. “90 percent blockage … Single-vessel coronary artery disease, Mild to moderate LV dysfunction”
I remember that I was lost, afraid, in trauma, and did not know what to do.
I did not know how to move forward… literally move forward.
I decided to turn that fear into a mission. I have learned to trust myself, my spirit and body, and make way for good things to happen. I’ve spent the last year writing my story in a book called “My Second Chance”.
Today I want to give back. Give survivors the hope that I lacked after my heart attack. So I decided to give every one who wishes to read the book - can have it for free.
to get a free copy of my book - Just drop a comment below, and I will send you the link.
I hope that this book gives both practical tools and inspiration and faith to my fellow survivors. We are all in this together.
With love, Simon ❤️
I just wanted to let anyone know that might have recently had a heart attack things can absolutely get better.
My life was good before my heart attack, I cannot complain. 48 years old, at the gym, bench mark run, best time ever, led to a plaque fracture and eventual heart attack and 2 stents. I was extremely lucky and had great care that I am grateful for.
After my heart attack my life has really improved a lot or feel I am living more of it. I really struggled with the mental aspect in beginning for a while, got right back into the gym, my food not where it needs to be but better.
Just wanted to post as I don’t read this forum that often anymore and it helped me a lot after my heart attack. Lots of great stories of people who have lived long, healthy and happy lives.
In the beginning that can be almost impossible to see yourself enjoying life without fear, anxiety or regrets, because it can really suck at times.
Good luck and try and pause and be grateful whenever you can
Is there a blood test?
I had a heart attack followed with a stent in December.
I bought a treadmill today and was just wondering a safe pace and how long to stay on to start.
I am scared I going to have a heart attack on it.
On TRT for over 15 years with no issues, looks like current guidelines say wait at least 6 months before resuming. Anyone go back on TRT and then had to stop because of sides?
30 yo female. Obese.
I had a brief episode of squeezing pressure in my left elbow spreading to my chest, lasting less than a minute. I also felt dizzy and noticed a chest jump/skip sensation. For the past few days I’ve been feeling dizzy on and off and having a stabbing pain in my upper back near my shoulder blade on my left side.
I have high blood pressure, controlled with medication.
I was last seen by cardiology a year ago who put me on blood pressure tablets and said I had LVH.
Should I be referred to them again?
Not sure if these symptoms I’ve been having are possible heart attack or something else. I’m worrying, can anyone advise please?
I am 49. Married for 25, two daughter 13 and 16. I am from Brazil but live in The Netherlands for the last 10 years. Last Jan 15 had pain in my chest and ignored, just got my monster drink and Marlboro and after went to sleep. 16 Jan, all day ok. At night, at my bed, felt pain inside both arms and my chest. Went to a hot shower, then had my monster drink and Marlboro again. Crazy, yeah?
Saturday Jan 17, early in the mornin getting ready to go to the church, was feeling kind of reminiscent pain and thought, no, this is not right... something might be wrong. Went to hospital. Shared my pain in chest and arms. Got an eltrocardio exam and they said, ops, something looks weird. Blood exam. Then the first punch in my face. Sir, you had an HA and might be having it for couple days because your Tropanine is at 18.000. She said, I dont understand how you are here now, talking with me. They took me to intensive care and there stayed for 2 night, then on Monday went to a room and started exams.
First was an echo where the lady saidd that my FE, fraction ejection, was in 52%, which was the lower, lower limit. Normal, I understood is 55-75%. She mentioned that after a tropanine in 18.000, she was impressed, positively. At least that, because when at intensive care, a cardio vet, yes he might be a vet, told me that I should have had damage severally my heart.... that i might have killed 50% of my heart.
TUE 20th did a cateterism adn the bomb.... 3 places with plaques in a level that was not wise to put stents. Sorry Sir., you will need to do a open chest surgery and 3 bypass. Got shoked... and would still need to wait until the next Monday 26th to do it. The whole week waiting was tought. They did want to explain to me everything that would be done, but I preferred not knowing ANYTHING. I was only reading the bible trying to find peace in it.
Was tought. Still remember the morning of 26th, shaving my chest... I was the first in the morning to have the surgery. Thanks God all went well. They got a vein from my right leg and an artery from my chest. They were very happy with the results and how all happened. Just after the surgery I got shoked again to know that my heart was stooped by 4, 5 hours, extra corporeal circulation, etc.
31st Jan I left the hospital. Then at home the coin started drooping... WTF just happened to to me in the last 14 days??? Right now my family could be taking decisions if they will stay here or not, I already would have been buried. What happened??? How??? Ok, I was never the sports guy, smoking, alcohol more than I should, for sure, did try to balance with better food and do know people who does 10x worst than me, WTF???
Then I found out the Lpa. Is a lipoprotein that we all have and it is genetic. You have since you born and that's is it. Ideal <70. Mine 167!!! Lpa 167 I couldn't have lived my life with the LDL around 2, like I always did. With this level of Lpa I should have had LDL 0.5....
Never heard before about this Lpa. Impressively neither my GP.... how can that be??? Ok, my bad habits simply accelerated the plaques bulding. But with this Lpa, I was building up plaques, literally since I was born.
Now, close to 4 months from the surgery, I am experiencing a deep depression. A feeling of emptiness, don't want to get out my bed, cannot relax my mind. My mind doesn't stop, thoughts that doesn't stop to torture. I feel like I want to sell everything, house, car, hobbies... don't want anymore anything material... HAving difficult to concentrate in my work.... What am I doing here? Should I leave my job, sell everything and go back "home"? Should I just go back and spend more time while my parents are here? How will be from now on? WTF is this stuff that the bypass may have problem in 10 years from now? Why am I feeling this sadness?
Anyway, I am trying to do the basic to keep working... going now to the third week of physio cardio, which I hate.... Trying to do not take any decision for now. I understood that it can take up to 1 year to get back my mind. I truly hope that with this new medication that i will start this week, I improve. I was taking venloflaxine but too tough for me.... will try Brintelix. Besides that I am trying to take care as I never did to my spiritual side, of course zero smoking, energy drink, alcohol e feel other things. Eating flexseed, shia and psyllium husk every day + Oat with soya yogurts, rice, beans, lentil and lot of water.... I spend the day drinking war water. Between 2-3 lts.
Last blood exams my LDL was 0.7... my GP said he never saw such low LDL exam... Until there is a medication to reduce Lpa, the only thing I can do is keep LDL as low as possible to do not build plaques again, and as AA says..... live one day each day...
If anyone reading this have been through similar experience and feeling, I would love to hear how are you doing? did you felt something similar?
I don't know even if made any sense what I wrote.... feeling very confusion in my thoughts....
take care you all.
hi everyone, I need to talk about my situation hoping to get some insight. my mom was 52 when she had a heart attack. she got a stent put in her heart and is on heart meds and blood thinners now. it has been 4 years since her heart attack and she started smoking cigarettes not even a year after her heart attack and still does and she works a high stress job. Every time I see her she complains about her health and how stressed she is. It pains me to see her take no action over her own life and not change her lifestyle. this is going to sound terrible but I’m genuinely wondering what her life expectancy would be? please don’t slander me I am just trying to look at this situation as realistic as possible. Any insight is greatly appreciated.