I almost died today

[Angel!]

I suffered a massive heart attack today, a widowmaker they called it. I'm OK now, received two stents. I'm just bored and uncomfortable because I have to lay flat on my back and am not supposed to move so the two arteries they went in don't start bleeding.

I almost didn't go to the hospital. I've had the flu since Monday. I figured I was dehydrated. I've read most women don't get chest pain. I wouldn't have gone at all without chest pain because everything else could have easily been the flu. I likely would have died.

Even when they knew something was wrong with my heart, the doctors thought it wasn't a heart attack. They were listing all the things they were going to look at after they ruled out heart attack.

Thing is I shouldn't have had a heart attack. I'm 35, no family history of heart problems below 50, don't smoke, rarely drink, low bp, not overweight, in relatively good shape, etc. Doctors can't tell me why. That is kind of scary.

I just wanted to share because it suddenly hit me how close I was to dying and that is also scary.

[Deleted]

OMG Thanks goodness you went and they could do something. Rest. Get better. Thinking of you.

[quince]

I'm glad you're alive, and you made the right call. I'm going to now forget that a bad thing happened so I don't obsess over it. Hope your recovery is swift and smooth!

[Jaguar]

Holy shit, so glad your okay << MASSIVE HUGS >>

[taz157]

Mar 24, 2016 21:09:40 GMT -5 oped said:

OMG Thanks goodness you went and they could do something. Rest. Get better. Thinking of you.

[zibazinski]

Whoa!    Glad you're okay.

[mmhmm]

OMG, Angel! I'm so glad you're okay! What a frightening experience this has been for you! I know it's miserable just to lie there but it's so very important that you do so. You'll be in my thoughts. Try to sleep. 

[Opti]

I'm sorry Angel. I'm glad you are OK. Sometimes these things happen because of a previously unknown physical heart issue. I knew a guy in his thirties who had something similar happen and it turned out to be a congenital defect.

When you feel better, it would help me, and I think other female posters to hear of the symptoms. Focus on the fact you made the right choice to go to the hospital and you have us to chat with.

[Sharon]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[MJ2.0]

HOLY SHIT DUDE!!!!!!

[MJ2.0]

Omg now I'm tearing up thinking about your LOs... Please take care of yourself. Lower that stress.

[Abby Normal]

Wow! Glad your ok. How scary!

[MarleyKeezy78]

So happy you are doing ok ((hugs)) That is some scary ass shit!!! Rest well and have a speedy recovery   

[wvugurl26]

Very happy you are still here. Take care of yourself please.

[suesinfl]

OH,Angel, I hope that  you are felling better soon.

[chiver78]

Mar 24, 2016 21:22:55 GMT -5 Opti said:

I'm sorry Angel. I'm glad you are OK. Sometimes these things happen because of a previously unknown physical heart issue. I knew a guy in his thirties who had something similar happen and it turned out to be a congenital defect.

When you feel better, it would help me, and I think other female posters to hear of the symptoms. Focus on the fact you made the right choice to go to the hospital and you have us to chat with.

 
this is exactly why I chose to go to the hospital when I couldn't figure out why my left hand was still numb 12h after getting out of bed (I sleep face down, and often wake up with a hand or arm all tingly. it always passes as the day goes on, until it didn't)...

and seriously, holy shit!! but what mmhmm said - as much as it sucks to be as still as possible, try like hell to do so. it will help heal your new scars and keep your blood pressure as low as possible too. take care of yourself!

[Deleted]

OMG!!  That's horrible!!

Who's taking care of your kids? 

[midjd]

I'm so sorry! And glad you're OK! OMG! 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I am glad you're OK ... how very scary.

[justme]

So scary! Glad you're ok! Do everything the doctors say even if it sucks so you get better as fast as possible!

[CCL]

Wow! I'm sure that was scary, but glad you were able to get treated quickly. Take care of yourself.

[Deleted]

And good job getting me to stop bitching about my bad day!

[whoisjohngalt]

When I read the title I thought your ex did something.

How very scary!  Hopefully your otherwise good health will help with quick recovery.

[busymom]

Good grief! I'm so glad that they figured out the problem, & were able to fix it.

I was thinking you were going to tell us about a car accident, or something like that.  Now, let everyone else pitch in to help your family, & you focus on getting better. 

[sbcalimom]

So glad you're ok!

[haapai]

I'm glad that you're not responding.  I'm gonna take that as a sign that you've been released. 

I have little good to say about the level of care that I received when I was last in hospital.  It was over thirty years ago, but I haven't forgotten.  I'm not going to say anything more about that experience until I get some confirmation that you have been released. 

[Angel!]

I am still in the hospital. Was busy with guests and then being allowed to sit up and eat. Now I need to sleep, but it is so hard getting comfortable.

My mom is with the kids right now. Luckily she was already with us helping out because dd and I both had the flu and ds2 was sick with a sinus infection. Everyone was mostly better and she was supposed to take the kids to school and then leave that morning. But my problems started literally minutes before she got everyone out the door.

So far everyone here has been fantastic. I'm guessing it depends on where you are in the hospital because I've not been quite so impressed a few of the previous times I've been here. And obviously hospitals vary too. My mom works at a different hospital and she said I was treated far better here than if I was at her hospital.

[mollyanna58]

I'm glad you listened to your instincts and got medical care. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Angel!]

As far as symptoms, the major symptom was unbelievable stabbing pain in my chest. I went from feeling totally fine to practically in tears in just minutes. My first thought was worst heartburn ever, so I took zantac and some pepto.

Then the pain sort of radiated out to the backs of my arms and my arms got tingly. But I was kind of freaking out at that point so my mom thought I was hyperventilating and that was making me tingly. I also was sweating at that point and thought maybe I was having a crazy panic attack. So I breathed into a bag for a while and really tried to focus on calming down. Then I tried to eat and drink thinking I was probably dehydrated/low blood sugar. The tingling went away and the pain subsided quite a bit. Then I got nauseous and puked. My arms felt weird and weak after that, especially my right arm.

After a bit we called a nurse helpline and they basically said call 911 to rule out a heart attack. We decided that I probably should go, but opted to drive. While we were getting ready and going the pain in my chest started coming back. It came in waves and my chest would hurt for a bit, then my arms would hurt and it just cycled like that. It never again got as bad as when it first hit though.

[Angel!]

The first ekg was almost normal. So they ran blood tests. They thought it might be my gallbladder and did an ultrasound. Then the blood test that indicates heart problems came back slightly high. So they ran another ekg and that one was really messed up.

Then my status somehow changed to emergency cardiac or something. Suddenly there were 5 people in my room doing all kinds of prep. A chaplain showed up, which didn't really make me feel confident. I got rushed up to the cath lab and the doc was meeting us there. Although they were still telling me this was all precaution and they just needed to rule out heart attack. But they got in there and found two blockages and almost instantly when the second stint was placed all the pain in my chest vanished.

It probably took about 2.5 hours between when I first had the pain until I got to the ER. It was around another 3.5 hours before they rushed me off as an emergency. So it wasn't a quick ordeal. It wasn't the heart attacks you see in the movies where I keeled over and got rushed off to surgery (which is how I thought heart attacks happened).

I am just so happy I had chest pain. I almost wrote that off. But other possible symptoms - back pain, nauseous, dizziness, fatigue - I definitely would have just thought it was the flu and headed off to bed and who knows what would have happened.