So, I've had a heart attack

wvnewbie

wvnewbie

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Location
WV
I am still new here and have been mostly lurking. I've enjoyed good health, am very active, have a great BMI, hate fried food & fast food, never go to see a doc, etc. Last November (2017) in a an effort to be pro-active I had a complete blood work up and EVERYTHING was great.

Started having weird chest pains in early June. Tolerable pain and I dismissed it as indigestion. Put on my backpack and headed into the Wilderness for 5 days & 4 nights. NO problem. Did not have chest pains! No shortness of breath. "Episodes" continued... Friends, family, and neighbors convinced to get an ECK. Told that I had not had a heart attack; but, it "wasn't perfect". Told to see a cardio doc and I did find one who could see me in September...<sigh>... Couple more "episodes" and went to an Urgent Care, another ECK and told that the ONLY way to determine a heart attack is with a blood test for the enzyme troponin. Went to an ER, blood test was 3.5 and it should be 0 to 0.2 - Told I had had a heart attack and needed heart catheterization NOW. I was totally unprepared for all this! Off to another hospital in an ambulance, overnight, and had that procedure done early next morning and three stents.

If you have read thus far, here is why I am posting. The overnight before the procedure I got zero sleep. Every 15 minutes, they had to draw more blood, more this & that, and even had me get out of bed to be weighed. Back in my room about 10 AM and was being handed a dozen different meds. When I questioned "why" and "what is this for", I did not get real answers other than the doctor "sez so". Asked to speak with the doctor and waited until about 3:30 PM. No sleep, cranky, and fed up. Pulled out all the needles and tubes and walked out. Probably not my best move.

That was all a week ago and I seem to be recovering. However... I have been unable to find a good forum that discusses what I should be doing after heart catheterization and stents. Anyone aware of such a forum?

Thanks!
 

I am a retired Rn who used to work in CCU (Cardiac Care Unit). You're right - walking out like that was definitely not a smart thing to do (if you like living) you kinda shot yourself in the foot. You would be wise to waste no time in finding another physician to supervise your post op care. Unfortunately para medical personal may not give you the information you wanted until the doctor has first done so. For quite some time you will need close supervision.
 

WV, You've had one of my fears. Good health, try to do the right thing, and yet still have a heart attack.
Good luck. Being in good health is on your side so I'm sure if you get over the shock and face treatment you'll be fine.
 
WV, you need professional medical care before you start seeking medical advice from a forum. I'm sorry this happened to you; must have been quite a shock. Please see a cardiologist. Good luck and take good care. We're here for support.
 
WV,

Same thing here, 18yrs ago. age 51, I was in good health, reasonable diet , regular exerciser , took a few vitamins.....ten feet tall & bullet proof.......yeah-right.

No real drama, a friend said i sounded 'funny' insisted on taking me to the hosp. Sure enough, heart attack, three stents .

I don't tell folks what to do , but if I may? I suggest a good cardiologist . I'm not pro-doctor either, but at least until your stabilized .

Your life / your health .........I wish you only the best!
 
I'm so sorry for your ordeal. I can understand how you felt at the hospital, no one telling you what is going on. The health care wheel is a very very scary place to be. Unfortunately, you do have to play their game to a very sharp point. It sounds like you felt you had lost complete control as these people shoved meds at you (just following orders) with no explanation. Which is wrong of coarse. In the end, I would stay and then have gone to the cardiologist or even my own doctor and discussed the medications. Likely you would not have stayed on everything they prescribed at the hospital but I wouldn't know.

Should you need help in the future, I hope there is another hospital in your area. Certainly keep your follow up appointments.
 
Good luck WV, I have no advice but wish you well. I don't blame you for getting frustrated when not even given a straight answer as to what drugs they're making you take, etc. That should be the patient's right to know IMO.
 
RadishRose said:
WV, you need professional medical care before you start seeking medical advice from a forum. I'm sorry this happened to you; must have been quite a shock. Please see a cardiologist. Good luck and take good care. We're here for support.
Click to expand...

I agree RR, you shouldn't use forums for seeking medical advice, however, I listed links for a place where WV could chat find comfort talking with people who are going through what he/she is experiencing. Sometimes it's nice to be able to talk with those who have been there there and are going through the same things. But, yes medical advice is best left to the professionals.
 
WOW! All of these responses - overwhelming. Rather than address each, I will try to answer: # 1. I do not have a "regular / family" doc. # 2. Attempts to find and make an appointment with a cardio doc were useless; best answer was "We might squeeze you in sometime in September". # 3. I have no follow-up appointments. # 4. My "close supervision" happens to be my puppy. --- I live alone in a rural area and the nearest hospital (where I was) is a 45 minute drive.

It has now been 9 days and I feel reasonably well. I have been taking it easy. Just some minor yard work. Managed to pick up and move some large rocks to add to my fire pit. Tomorrow I hope to mow the grass and do some weed whacking. A bit tired at times. Some shortness of breath which I did not have before. Probably a result / side effect of all the meds.

I have never been a big eater and have even less appetite now. Forcing myself to eat something each day. Even adding half a banana to my Cheerios and I just don't like bananas...<g>... Made a tuna fish + mayo + salad today and <Gag!> choked it down.

Thanks to all! Thanks for the links which I will check out. NOT for medical advice; more for the "support & comfort".
 
Agree with Dragonlady!

Some health insurers provide free phone consultations with an RN.

If you have to go back into the hospital, WV, ask them to provide you with a "Patient Advocate" if the staff is not answering your questions.
 
Very profound. Thanks! I have asked for an appointment with two different cardio docs and have received NO response. Guess I am a known pariah...
 
Novel idea! I am vaguely aware of the "Patient Advocate". Thought that was only for billing disputes. Thanks!
 
I would have sought out a number of opinions when the initial pains started up. Sometimes, you can pull your intercostal muscles, and your chest will hurt, in a weird way, for up to several weeks, more so on exertion. I wouldn't trust the lab tests, unless I had them a few times, at different labs, and they all showed the same atypical levels. Even then, I wouldn't want stents. Medical practitioners are scammers, and I mean the majority. They want to make money off of you, plain and simple. If there isn't anything wrong with you when you go in to see one, he/she will find something. Good luck to you. Stop hauling around rocks! That's exactly how I pulled some intercostals in my chest.
 
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