When and where did your heart attack occur?
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Hi Dawn! I'm glad you're here, and thanks for posting your story. I can only say I'm sorry you've gone through what you had to, but I'm so happy that for the last few years things have been going well, and I hope that continues for you.
Vailara, nice to see your posts too. I hope you've been well.
I've been lucky that so far I tolerate statins pretty well. I've gone from 80mg to 40mg of Lipitor a day, and my blood cholesterol levels are low enough that my doc wanted to halve the dose again recently. I actually talked him out of it. There is some recent research that indicates that they stabilize plaque build ups. Since my MI was caused by an unstable plaque rupture I wanted to keep my dose up for at least a while.
I found your comments about inflammation interesting. i think about that a lot too. Maybe the statins are helping reduce it (some research concludes they do), but there doesn't seem to be a lot of emphasis on measuring and directly treating inflammation yet. It's a conversation I want to have with my doc at our next visit.
Stay well!0 -
Hi Joe! Thanks for the welcome & well-wishes!
I'm so glad you're doing well on your Lipitor! Side effects are not fun. I'd be interested in hearing what your doctor says about inflammation's possible role in your MI. When I brought it up with my doctor several years ago, she did not think that inflammation contributed to my heart disease (she decided this without testing me for inflammation). She is a very "by the book" doctor. Maybe I'm more hopeful and eager to believe that inflammation is the cause because I can't take the meds. This is the first thing about this heart disease that I feel in control of -- my diet. I may someday find that I am wrong in my thinking, but in the meantime, cleaning up my diet certainly won't hurt!
Great to meet you! Best wishes for you and your health!0 -
Joe, that's interesting information about statins stabilising plaque build up. I had been hoping to reduce my statin dose soon, but I'm going to have to look into it! There are so many things to consider.
Naturesdawn, I know what you mean about feeling in control of something. I think that is so important. There have been times when I've felt I'm not in control and it's something I can't do anything about and that doesn't feel good. I feel much more in control now (whether I actually am or not!). The big thing I've changed is my exercise levels - I was so scared of exercise for such a long time. Now that I'm doing more exercise I feel it's helping me.
Best of luck to both of you with your health!0 -
My cardiologist also put me on statins on account of stabilizing the plaque build ups. My cholesterol was only 172 and my triglycerides at 60 the day of my heart attack. The doctor indicated that blood clotted around a plaque rupture in my left anterior descending artery causing a 100% blockage and it was lights out for me.
Even though I was in good shape with running marathons, etc., my family history was a curse. I always tell my doctors that I came from the shallow end of the gene pool! My cardiologist felt that because of my family history (all 4 grandparents, father, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., with major history of early heart attacks) I should have been on a statin as a preventative measure. I now try to counsel people to consider statins (assuming they can be tolerated) if they have a family history of heart disease. I was lucky to have an AED and a CPR trained person in the same room when I had my heart attack. Otherwise, my cardiac arrest would have been permanent.
Luckily, the statins have not been an issue for me. Perhaps only needing a 10mg dose of Lipitor helps as the small dose has been enough to drop me down to about 110 TC. Beta blockers are another issue altogether - my resting heart rate was 48 prior to the heart attack and because my attack was major, they want me on them even though it drops me closer to 40. Dizzy spells result if I get up to quickly and running is a real drag since my heart rate has a tough time going above 130. Still, the side affects are manageable and I'm pretty well past the fear I had when I resumed running knowing that the statins and other drugs have reduced my chances of another heart attack.0 -
Hi Javaruck,
Wow! Sounds like you had quite a scary experience! It's smart for you to take preventative measures and follow your doctors directions, especially with your family's history! I'm so glad it's working for you and keeping you healthy.
I was on 10 mg of Zocor and still had problems with the low dose. I know that my cholesterol and triglyceride levels were pretty close to the results my doctor wanted while I was on the Zocor, but I couldn't walk across the room without pain on my 34 year old legs, and couldn't remember things that happened just yesterday. I had a really hard time with taking a drug that helps one part of my body while damaging others. It really made me question statins. I read an article recently that said something like 11-30 million Americans are on cholesterol drugs and another 25 million more SHOULD be on them. Why is it that such a huge number of people NEED cholesterol meds to stay alive? What is going wrong??? I'm glad that pills have been invented that can save the lives of people, like myself, who have heart disease, but I'd like to see more research be put into why we are developing heart disease (and needing statins) in the first place!
I've never heard of a person's heart rate going as low as 40! Wow! I can imagine you get dizzy! I would just get a little light headed, but I don't think it was bringing my BP and pulse down as low as yours. Although...when I was doing my annual treadmill last week, they stopped the test and made me go lay down & called my doc in because my BP was falling much lower than normal for me, instead of rising while I was exercising. I'm waiting to have a follow up test now. I'm hoping it is just the Atenolol...although I stopped it for two days before the test. We'll see!
Great meeting you! Wishing you continued health!0 -
Hi- I'm new to MFP & this group. I had mine 3 weeks ago (8/19/13). I just brought my 12 year old home from his martial arts class. I felt awful heartburn & a need to burp. I made a seltzer w/ baking soda & water & joined my son in the TV room. I felt worse, so I went outside for air. My chest was pounding, I got nauseous & sweaty. I hesitated calling 911 because 20 years ago I went to an ER w/ chest pain.at that time I only had an anxiety attack, so I was billed hundreds of dollars for going to the ER for a non-emergency. I Googled Heart Attack Symptoms & realized I probably was having one now. I was driven to the hospital via ambulance & soon after I was in the Cath Lab getting emergency angioplasty w/ 2 drug stents. A week later I received another stent. I joined MFP last week to track sodium & fats. Today I found this page. I'm starting cardio rehab next week. Glad to have found this site. John Oak0
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Hi John! I'm in the UK, so I don't know what it's like to worry about being charged for an ER trip - but I did still worry about calling an ambulance in case it wasn't my heart and I'd have wasted people's time. Thank goodness you googled the symptoms and were convinced! I hope you're recovering well now. Good luck with the cardio rehab. 0
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Thank you, I appreciate that.0
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John, just saw your post. Just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear you had an attack, but good for you for getting in quickly. I'm almost 14 months away from when I had my mine, and I can honestly say that MFP has been a great resource for helping me get some focus on things that I really needed focus on. So welcome, and I hope you'll find MFP useful as well.
Good luck, especially with your cardio rehab. I thought it was really valuable experience, and it got my recovery off to a good start.0 -
August 25th/2010. I was asleep and woke up at 2:45 am with wicked pain right in the centre of my chest. Having been to a stress test a few weeks earlier, I immediatly knew what it was. A few weeks prior had some warning signs. Had to get off the treadmill because of severe pain in my left arm. My wife called 911 and they were there in minutes. Paramedic kept asking if I had taken any viagara which I told him no about 5 times. Went to hospital and had the blood clot drug. Then sent to another hospital and had an angioplasty with a couple of stents put in. Being in relatively good shape, and fairly young at 42, I could not believe it happened to me. A "stemi heart attack". 98 percent blockage in the cartoid artery.I probably suffered a little from young man's syndrome as I felt a little invincible and thought something like that could not happen to me. Blown away over the years to have met so many people that have had heart attacks at a younger age. I was surprised at how painfull the experience was. At the end of the day, an eye opener that has resulted in living a healthier lifestyle.0
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I'm sorry, I've only just noticed your post above! It's kind of funny that the paramedic kept asking about viagra - I've never heard of that. Maybe some people get cardiac symptoms after taking viagra? It's good that you got quick treatment, though.
I was surprised at how painful it was too! It's interesting that you had warning signs - I was just reading recently that a lot of people do. I had a LOT of warning leading up to mine, but couldn't get a doctor's appointment at the time.
I'm glad that there's been a good outcome, and well done on getting healthier!0 -
7/1/2012 evening was when I was admitted but it actually started the previous Friday. My episode:
Woke up Friday morning with a numb left elbow and thought I'd slept on it strangely. Numbness went away after a few minutes; Experienced a sharp, stabbing pain near my left, front, shoulder that evening and thought I'd pulled a muscle. This went away after a few minutes and I didn't think much about it. Saturday morning, not long after getting up from bed, had that sharp stabbing pain again and it dissipated with a few minutes. Again, didn't think much about it and took some advil/tylenol. Was out shopping, mid-day, and that pain came again with a little more intensity but went away after about 10 minutes. Was starting to get concerned but felt pretty fine afterwards. Took some more advil/tylenol when I got home. Saturday evening saw a repeat of Friday evening event but not as intense as Saturday afternoon's. The events were transitory and it was hard for me to define what exactly was going on symptom wise. Sunday morning, repeat of Saturday morning but not of the mid-day event. Thought I might be getting "over" whatever it was. No repeat of the previous day's mid-day on Sunday,episode which reinforced my thinking that things were getting better. That night the pain returned and intensified. I started to experience some sweating, slight nausea, and this time it didn't pass. Took some baby aspirin and told my wife that it was worse and she asked me whether to call 911 or have her take me to the ER. I chose having her take me to the ER. I'm lucky to be here! Folks at the hospital were terrific. We quickly found out I was having a massive HA and my LAD was 90% blocked. About two hours later I was on the ward recovering after having a bare stent put it. This is a classic "widowmaker" and I'm fortunate to have survived it! Lots of damage done because each of those pain events was damaging the heart but I'm on the mend. Passed annual stress test last week with "flying colors" and this week's meeting with my cardio doctor was very positive. Next week we'll get an update on my current EF from the Echo Cardio I'm scheduled to have. Crossed fingers it's better than the last. Oh, BTW, also went through some major AFib this spring and have gotten that under control now. Thanks.0 -
Thank goodness you got treatment so promptly and got through it. It's scary to think that all of those events were damaging your heart, bit by bit. I'm glad your results are good at the moment. Have you had to make any lifestyle changes?0
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Thanks! First and foremost I stopped smoking!! I actually had a cig on the way to the hospital. A terrible addiction that spanned 4 decades. Once I was cleared for it, I started Cardiac Rehab and was making good progress until some other issues arose, chiefly AFib. Now that that is under control, I'm restarting CR and going to focus on losing weight through exercise and better nutrition choices. Its an ongoing process that I'll be working on henceforth, no doubt.
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Well done on stopping smoking! I did used to smoke years ago but gave up before the heart thing. Or it might have been at the start of it, because the reason I stopped was because I'd had some chest pain! Good luck with the CR, and with the diet and exercise. To be honest, I've found it a lot easier to diet than I did years ago, I think because the heart disease is a better motivator than vanity!
Feel free to friend me if you're looking for heart friends - that goes for anybody here. I think we sometimes have slightly different issues to the usual, and it's nice to know we're in the same boat.0 -
I had been experiencing some chest pains for about 3 weeks prior to my heart attack. I didn't think much about it and accepted the fact that this must be what heartburn feels like. Funny thing was a couple of Tums would take care of the pain and it would go away. I told my doctor about the pains and he ordered an EKG which did not show anything. I never suspected I would be at risk for a heart attack, I am only 43 years old. I went about my business and dealt with my "heartburn" with antacid until one early morning at 3AM on 5/9/14. I got out of bed and had a couple Tums and then a couple more and by 5 AM when the pain had subsided only slightly I decided to get to the hospital. I live alone and the hospital was about 40 miles away so I only had one option, drive there myself.
I was transported from one hospital to another one more equipped to handle what was happening. I was went right to the cath lab and had 3 stents put in. I was blocked 100% outgoing and 90% incoming. I was pretty lucky to have survived this experience and it was the wake up call I needed in order to live longer. I had been a smoker for decades, an occasional binge drinker for a decade and was addicted to all the wrong foods. In addition, I was experiencing the most stressful year I have ever had in my 18th year as an elementary special educator. With this scare I have been able to be smoke and booze free. With the support of My Fitness Pal, I was able to reduce my caloric intake to 1400 instead of the usual 500 calorie bites I would take. I have lost 20 pounds in the past 4 weeks and am healing myself by making healthy choices.0 -
Y0
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Sounds like you have made some great changes. Congratulations on being smoke and booze free! I think having a heart attack can be such a reminder that we're mortal and have to look after ourselves. Thank goodness you went to hospital. It's quite recent for you - have you been OK since?0
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Hello, I'm Denise. I had my heart attack on July 21st, 2007 when I was 40 years old. For the previous month, I had been having an ache in my neck. I went to my Dr. the day before my MI and had an EKG and was diagnosed as having heartburn. I was given a script for Prilosec. The next day, I worked a 12 hour shift and was popping Tums like they were candy. That evening my neck and ear were aching. My husband went to the store to get me some Maalox after the pain woke me up about 11:30pm. I then started getting nauseas and diaphoretic. My husband begged me to go to the hospital. I was so embarrassed. There is an ER less than a mile from our home. Good thing we went there. I was throwing 'tombstones' or 'firemans helmets' on the monitor. They couldn't give me Morphine because my BP was only 80/50. I had aspirin and Lopressor. Shortly after, I went into cardiac arrest. I was converted back into a normal sinus rhythm and my pain was gone. They were worried that I had a clot on the move and started heparin. I went to the cath lab and was found to have a 100% occlusion of my LAD (widow maker). I stopped smoking 2 weeks after my MI. But, I have gained about 75lbs and am using a fitbit with a 10,000 step goal/day.0
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Hi Denise. That sounds like a terrible experience. How are you doing now? Funnily enough, I had a pain in my neck for about a month before my cardiac event too.
Well done on stopping smoking!
I had mine in 2007 too, and I gained weight afterwards too. I was exercising and eating healthily, but I think I was scared of exercising too hard. And what I was eating was healthy, but presumably too much of it! Have you read the book "The Obesity Paradox"? I'm reading it at the moment - very interesting.0
