Has anyone here had a heart attack? What was it like?

michaeluk26

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Crazy question but if you have could you tell me the symptoms before and what it felt like? I ask because I've been having bad chest pains lately. Also how old were you?
 

chroix

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Crazy question but if you have could you tell me the symptoms before and what it felt like? I ask because I've been having bad chest pains lately. Also how old were you?
Go to the doctor or ER immediately. Bad chest pains are not a thing to be ignored. Could be a lot of things and not necessarily worst case but go get it checked.
 
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thabigbluenation

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First of all good to see your still around. If I recall you came close to meeting our maker? Keep fighting the good fight..

2nd you should go in right away if you are having these symptoms.

Heart attack symptoms range all over the place. I had an uncle who had one at work. Thought he had heat exhaustion and wouldn't go to the Dr. Went home and was sick for another 5 days before family forced him to go in. The Drs were mortified when he came in. Couldn't believe he was still alive. Was rushed to lville and had what should have been the widowmaker in their icu.

Spent 10 months with a VAD. A rolling life support suitcase looking thing that had tubes going into his side connecting and running what left of a heart he had left. This until he had a transplant.

He was a miracle to say the least. His remaining quality of life has been ****. Lucky to be alive but that's it.

Lesson is. Go see the Dr asap. Could have possibly prevented all that.
 

BGCATFAN2012

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Had bad chest pains few weeks back, thought I to was dieing. Went and got a covid test and was negative so I think it was covid complications. The virus plays hell on your body.
 
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rick64

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Absolutely get checked out by a doctor right away. Persistent chest pains shouldn’t be ignored.

I got a pacemaker at 51 years old. I’m 57 now. Didn’t have chest pains but started having shortness of breath doing just normal things like walking from my office to my car. Resting heart rate was 38 bpm. That’s OK for someone in supreme cardiovascular condition, but not for your average Joe.

Take care yourself!!
 

roguemocha

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The mask you’re wearing will protect you from anything so you should have nothing to worry about hoss.

Kidding aside, get that checked out! Could be heart burn or acid reflux, irregular heart beat, mild heart attack, etc. Stay safe and get looked at pal!
 

michaeluk26

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Appreciate the answers guys. They've gotten pretty severe and my resting heart rate has dropped from 76 to 56 in a month. I work in a COVID unit so I could easily see a doc at my hospital since but I got the VA. Just didn't want to let anyone there know. But I've made an appointment with a cardiologist. I had a kidney transplant about 8 months ago and hope to God that's not involved. I'm not overweight and my BMI is right where it should be. But I smoke and eat very unhealthy. But the shortness of breath and dizziness is a sign of not getting enough oxygen to the brain. I just wanted some personal experiences to see if mine were similar. Thank you guys a lot, I truly mean it.
 
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LineSkiCat14

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Definitely go get checked out, as everyone said.

But two things it can be that sometimes scared me of a heart attack:

1. Costochondritis - Inflammation of the rib cage. Kind of feels like a chest "catch"/growing pain. Hard to explain, but its not a severe pain, more nagging. But this can be caused by everything fro. Auto-immune diseases to poor posture.

2. Too much alcohol - if you happen to be a boozer.. intaking too much can cause chest tightness. I think its myocardial which is the I flamation of layers of the heart. Almost like it works too hard, becomes enlarged, and (seemingly) presses on the rib cage and such. Admittedly I'm not well versed in this, someone else might know better.
 
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michaeluk26

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Definitely go get checked out, as everyone said.

But two things it can be that sometimes scared me of a heart attack:

1. Costochondritis - Inflammation of the rib cage. Kind of feels like a chest "catch"/growing pain. Hard to explain, but its not a severe pain, more nagging. But this can be caused by everything fro. Auto-immune diseases to poor posture.

2. Too much alcohol - if you happen to be a boozer.. intaking too much can cause chest tightness. I think its myocardial which is the I flamation of layers of the heart. Almost like it works too hard, becomes enlarged, and (seemingly) presses on the rib cage and such. Admittedly I'm not well versed in this, someone else might know better.
Thanks for the info line. I haven't drank since I was 18, and I'm 38 now. But #1 is interesting to say the least.
 
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Bill - Shy Cat

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Absolutely get checked out by a doctor right away. Persistent chest pains shouldn’t be ignored.

I got a pacemaker at 51 years old. I’m 57 now. Didn’t have chest pains but started having shortness of breath doing just normal things like walking from my office to my car. Resting heart rate was 38 bpm. That’s OK for someone in supreme cardiovascular condition, but not for your average Joe.

Take care yourself!!
Rick, I also had to have a pace maker a few years ago. Whenever I did an intense workout, I would pass out. Heart rate would not go above 40. Thank God for modern medical technology and great cardiologist
 

UKGrad93

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I had chest pain and pain moving down my left shoulder once (I was 46). Not unbearable, but noticeable and uncomfortable. Turned out to be shingles.
 
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bigsmoothie

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Appreciate the answers guys. They've gotten pretty severe and my resting heart rate has dropped from 76 to 56 in a month. I work in a COVID unit so I could easily see a doc at my hospital since but I got the VA. Just didn't want to let anyone there know. But I've made an appointment with a cardiologist. I had a kidney transplant about 8 months ago and hope to God that's not involved. I'm not overweight and my BMI is right where it should be. But I smoke and eat very unhealthy. But the shortness of breath and dizziness is a sign of not getting enough oxygen to the brain. I just wanted some personal experiences to see if mine were similar. Thank you guys a lot, I truly mean it.
Don’t smoke. Please. The difference in my mom and aunts and uncles who smoked and who didn’t is unbelievable. Don’t smoke
 

LineSkiCat14

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Thanks for the info line. I haven't drank since I was 18, and I'm 38 now. But #1 is interesting to say the least.

Yeah, it's likely NOT the issue, but it is still common in people. And reading stories on it, a lot of people who were diagnosed with "Costo", thought they were having heart attacks.
 
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FirewithFire

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Shortness of breath was the sign that sent my uncle to the Cardiologist. He had three blocked arteries and was pretty much fast tracked into a triple bypass.

My boss -- 53 -- has pericarditis right now. No reason known, but he has had covid and has had all his vaccines. Was having heart attack like symptoms before they found that.
 
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roguemocha

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@michaeluk26 PLEASE stop smoking and eating terrible food. It’s worse than not exercising at all which I’m sure you know. After a couple years as an ICU RN it blew my mind how poorly a large percentage of medical workers smoke and are badly out of shape. They see every day how they’ll end up and do nothing to stop it. Also, sets a bad example to patients when you tell them to stop doing/being exactly who the healthcare provider is as well.

Get well soon and let us know!
 

Chuckinden

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I had two heart attacks one year apart each 10 yrs ago at age 58. I had no chest pains. My heart would just start beating really fast over 200 bpm both times. Stayed in the hospital 3 days running tests and found nothing.

After the second HA they sent me to a specialist who determined I had abnormal electrical signals causing my heart to beat fast. He did an ablation and no issue since.
 

rick64

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Rick, I also had to have a pace maker a few years ago. Whenever I did an intense workout, I would pass out. Heart rate would not go above 40. Thank God for modern medical technology and great cardiologist
My father got one too when he was about the same age I was. Cardiologist believes it’s very possible it’s hereditary as we both had the same problem. As you said, thankful for modern technology and a wonderful doctor.
 

IdaCat

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I had two heart attacks one year apart each 10 yrs ago at age 58. I had no chest pains. My heart would just start beating really fast over 200 bpm both times. Stayed in the hospital 3 days running tests and found nothing.

After the second HA they sent me to a specialist who determined I had abnormal electrical signals causing my heart to beat fast. He did an ablation and no issue since.
We’re they really heart attacks? This sounds like SVT. I have that and it’s really only a nuisance problem. Had several episodes when I was younger but no problems for the last ~20 years.
 
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Chuckinden

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We’re they really heart attacks? This sounds like SVT. I have that and it’s really only a nuisance problem. Had several episodes when I was younger but no problems for the last ~20 years.
Well, when I was in observation, nurses came in a 3am and said we have to get you to ICU, tests came back showing you've had a heart attack.
he specialist said I had SVT and it caused a heart attack.

I always told my wife the tests showed I had a heart attack after the hospital found out I had good insurance.
 

justa

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My BIL was 44, had kidney transplant first week of Dec. went home week of Xmas, feeling great, no problems. Sister found him dead middle of night couple days before Xmas.
Autopsy results not finalized yet but they think something like potassium spiked and caused heart attack.

Regardless, if you had renal failure with a transplant and you’re still smoking & eating like **** then you wasted a kidney on someone that really wanted to try to live a long life. And if you work in a medical field and didn’t change lifestyle frankly you’re an effing idiot.
 
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precipitance

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I wouldn't wait for a doctor appointment. Simple lab work and a stress test can rule this out rather quickly. Waiting might cost you your life or leave you in a state where you wished it had.

My mother ignored chest pain for a few weeks. Did tell me, the nurse in the family, and ended up in cardiac arrest. She had a brain injury due to the length of time her heart had stopped. She's a different person now, alive, forgetful, and can't walk on her own. We feel lucky but every day we know it could have been different.
 
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IdaCat

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Well, when I was in observation, nurses came in a 3am and said we have to get you to ICU, tests came back showing you've had a heart attack.
he specialist said I had SVT and it caused a heart attack.

I always told my wife the tests showed I had a heart attack after the hospital found out I had good insurance.
Yeah, I've never heard of SVT causing a heart attack, but I haven't followed the info on the condition for a while.

I used to have SVT episodes in my 30s and 40s with heartbeats approaching 300 bpm. Went to the ER to get it stopped 3 times and got it all on EKG. The first cardiologist I saw treated it as no big deal. Later saw another who also wasn't too concerned. He suggested Catheter ablation to cure it and also told me about Vagal Maneuvers to make it stop on my own. I didn't like the ablation idea of having an instrument inserted into a blood vessel in my groin to burn out heart tissue. Possible blood clots or pace maker if they effed it up.

I respect doctors, but avoid permanent invasive treatments whenever possible. For rare nuisance problems, which is all it was for me, I reject everything but simple, easy fixes. For whatever reason, I no longer have the problem, hopefully, and I'm not worried about it. Glad yours worked out OK.

With the OP's history, I think he should take any problem seriously. Also OP, take better care of yourself man!
 

michaeluk26

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My BIL was 44, had kidney transplant first week of Dec. went home week of Xmas, feeling great, no problems. Sister found him dead middle of night couple days before Xmas.
Autopsy results not finalized yet but they think something like potassium spiked and caused heart attack.

Regardless, if you had renal failure with a transplant and you’re still smoking & eating like **** then you wasted a kidney on someone that really wanted to try to live a long life. And if you work in a medical field and didn’t change lifestyle frankly you’re an effing idiot.
Look man, that kidney wasn't going anywhere else. In fact if you go back to my postings when I found out about the renal failure I made my peace with dying. I flat told them I wouldn't take a kidney over others that needed it. The only thing that changed was my brother came out of his 6 month seclusion in Russia, found out, and volunteered his if it was a match. Well it was.

As far as smoking goes I smoke about 12 a day. You wanna know when I started? After a firefight on my first deployment to Iraq. While you guys were watching the 03-04 team I was getting shot at. While you guys watched Tubbys last year and Billie Gs hire I was going house to house rooting out AQI during the bloodiest 7 months of the war in Iraq. Then in September of 2011 in Afghanistan an IED almost blew my feet off, killing two others in the same vehicle. I smoke because I have almost crippling PTSD. It's the only thing that'll calm my nerves, especially after bad nightmares. That's literally the reason I woke up tonight. Maybe that's a terrible excuse but live that life and get back to me.

A long life? It bought me 10 years roughly. Again check my posts, I mentioned that too. I'm not trying to minimize, only explain. For you to call me effin stupid while I was asking serious questions is straight up disrespectful. Kinda ironic the dude that's killed people has empathy and a civilian doesn't. You know the last thing I do is judge people and their lifestyles when come across them in the hospital. I'm especially nice to drug addicts, as I found my best friend of 20 years dead of a fentanyl b overdose in March 2020. I made a topic about it here. My father was ran over by a tractor and had to taken by helicopter to UK in November and he's been withering away since. My stress is at a 10 easily.

Finally let me let you in on a secret, way more hospital staff smoke than you could imagine. Again I'm not overweight and my BMI is in the normal category, not overweight or obese. I don't like being a dick to people, but no reason to insult me bro.
 
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thabigbluenation

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You came this far to get those 10 yrs. A lot can happen in that time. Its worth getting yourself checked out. So take the time to rule out the heart attack part. I think You should anyway.
 

chroix

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My BIL was 44, had kidney transplant first week of Dec. went home week of Xmas, feeling great, no problems. Sister found him dead middle of night couple days before Xmas.
Autopsy results not finalized yet but they think something like potassium spiked and caused heart attack.

Regardless, if you had renal failure with a transplant and you’re still smoking & eating like **** then you wasted a kidney on someone that really wanted to try to live a long life. And if you work in a medical field and didn’t change lifestyle frankly you’re an effing idiot.
Sorry for your loss but no need to be a dick. People make all kinds of decisions to cope with getting through the day. I don’t doubt that some of the choices you make couldn’t be judged harshly as well.
 

berniecarbo

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If you have never been to war, it's hard to understand. There's such a thing as survivor's guilt. You question why you should be the one who lived while others died. Memories don't go away.
 

calismyhero

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Go to the doctor or ER immediately. Bad chest pains are not a thing to be ignored. Could be a lot of things and not necessarily worst case but go get it checked.
This right here ^^^^^ anytime you have chest pain, tingling in your arms, especially on your left side, it’s not only smart but can be life saving. The EKG can distinguish a pattern of arrhythmia that can be like a warning sign that you need a heart cath that can determine if you have a blockage. Some can be helped with medications, only may require surgery. Either way, it can save your life so go today and check yourself out.
 

Chuckinden

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Yeah, I've never heard of SVT causing a heart attack, but I haven't followed the info on the condition for a while.

I used to have SVT episodes in my 30s and 40s with heartbeats approaching 300 bpm. Went to the ER to get it stopped 3 times and got it all on EKG. The first cardiologist I saw treated it as no big deal. Later saw another who also wasn't too concerned. He suggested Catheter ablation to cure it and also told me about Vagal Maneuvers to make it stop on my own. I didn't like the ablation idea of having an instrument inserted into a blood vessel in my groin to burn out heart tissue. Possible blood clots or pace maker if they effed it up.

I respect doctors, but avoid permanent invasive treatments whenever possible. For rare nuisance problems, which is all it was for me, I reject everything but simple, easy fixes. For whatever reason, I no longer have the problem, hopefully, and I'm not worried about it. Glad yours worked out OK.

With the OP's history, I think he should take any problem seriously. Also OP, take better care of yourself man!
Something the doctors said about "enzyme" levels showing I had a heart attack. I still don't believe it and have told my doctor that. He said "yes, you did". So there's that.