Well, that really sucked (aka 45yo is a bit too young to have a heart attack)

[Liberal Veteran]

Ok. I am back, although most probably didn't notice I was gone. Apparently the new series American Horror Story was so creepy and scary I had a fairly major heart attack and had to get a stent (j/k, it was cholesterol....one of my heart arteries was completely blocked).

Anyhow, without offering medical advice, I fully understand how people confuse these things with gastrointestinal problems.

Now on to the recovery phase.

[LaurenG]

1. I'm glad you're OK

and glad that you're back.

[peace13]

2. Welcome back!

Keep up with your rehab! : )

[Tikki]

3. Whoa....glad you are back on DU and glad you..

are alright now. Pamper yourself and no more horror.....



Tikki

[seabeyond]

4. understand how people confuse these things with gastrointestinal problems

without offering medical advice,

lol, what did you feel. curious. if you dont mind.

and glad you were able to take care of things

and yes, 45 way too young

[Liberal Veteran]

6. In a nutshell...

When I got ready for bed that night, I felt like I had really bad heartburn (there was vomiting involved) and could not get more than a moment or two of relief no matter what I tried (and believe me, I tried just about everything....Pepto bismol, mylanta, ginger ale, baking soda, Tums). After about 4 hours of that, I went to the ER. They gave me a nasty tasting cocktail that didn't touch the pain at all and then decided to check my heart. One wild ride across town to a more appropriate hospital in an ambulance (I still remember every pothole vividly, mostly because I refused to open my eyes from the time they told me they were going to have go in through my groin so one sense was unavailable) I was in the OR and in mid sentence after one shot of fentanyl and the second shot of versed, I woke up in the recovery room and got told the details of what they had done.

[seabeyond]

7. wow... you

thanks for telling me your story. i hope you dont mind the intrusion. i wonder. i have had heartburn since i was 11 or 12, so curious wht the difference would be. you cleared that up.

yrs ago i had pain and just really weird. hubby called an ambulance. they took test. doctor told me not heart. i said, ... i was having chest pains and she was really snotty like i should have known. i have since found that is normal in women in their 40's and that heart attack is different for men and women. i still dont know how i am suppose to know difference between heart attack and well hell.... just normal pains.

why i like a clue in from someone experiencing.

glad you are around to share, wink.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

19. Not to offer medical advice (and get the thread locked) but there is a reason ...

.... the hospital started with the antacid remedy first.

Of course, I remember reading a story about a cardiac surgeon being found dead of a heart attack in his hotel room - with a bottle of half empty pepto bismol on the night stand. So there's that :scared:

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Yeah. My mom had the nausea too, and before that the shortness of breath. We didn't put it

together that it was a heart issue and not the flu. :(

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. I've read women tend not to get the tell-tale arm pain men get.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. No, she never did. And I don't think my Nana did either. She never even knew she'd had her first

heart attack until the docs found that her heart was already damaged.

[Liberal Veteran]

23. I did and I mentioned it during the triage interview in the ER.

But then again, I am male. I did a pretty poor job of connecting the dots on this one in retrospect. I thought the arm pain was related to the hanging over the commode puking my guts out.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Glad you are back with us! Heart issues suck, and yeah they can start a lot younger than you'd think

:hug:

[zanana1]

13. I had one at 38.

I had to have bypass surgery and more blocked arteries were found. Six in all. I'm 59 now and still kicking, and if I can manage to live this long after a heart attack, I'm sure you can, too. Just follow doctor's orders. (It's not easy but it's worth it). Now relax and recuperate. Hope you feel all better very soon!

[LeftishBrit]

8. Sorry to hear that but glad you're getting better - all the best for a speedy recovery!

[Auggie]

9. Welcome back,

and vibes for a speedy recovery.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Wow. Welcome back!

:hi:

[Odin2005]

11. YIKES! Good to see you in one peace!

[grasswire]

12. question: did you take an aspirin?

Public Service Announcement: If there is ANY chance that you have symptoms that might be related to the heart, taking an aspirin can save your life.

In fact, at age 45 most people's docs recommend a low-dose aspirin every day.

[Liberal Veteran]

16. Honestly, I did not suspect heart issues, so I didn't take an aspirin.

In retrospect that sounds short-sighted, but I think I expected a different kind of pain and thought it was esophageal pain.

[Dogtown]

14. When I was a youngster

I handled many emergency calls that involved "pink vomit".

30 years ago you would have likely died.

50 is not an unusual age for cardiac problems, but we've come a long way in recognition and treatment. 45 is youngish, but not that unusual.

Plaque build-up has more to do with heredity than ought else.

Glad you made it through, Bro. Now, pay attention to your doctor (which I did *not*) and you probably won't have your 2nd at 58. (Like me.)

It's very manageable and your lifestyle need not change that much.

[bigwillq]

15. Best of luck in your recovery.

:hug:

[siligut]

17. Sounds like it is your LAD aka The Widow Maker

Dramatic, I know, but cardiac surgeons like their drama. The nausea and severity are what make me think this. It is easy to confuse that one with GI problems more so than the others. Glad you are on the road to recovery. Also, family history is important with heart disease, so if you have any brothers, make sure they know the signs and symptoms.

[Liberal Veteran]

22. It was. That was where the stent was placed.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. You are a lucky man. That's what did Tim Russert in.