Could use some advice on heart attacks please.

[cassanova]

Within the past month I've been experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath. I never thought too much about it because it only happened when I exerted some energy, like mowing the yard or going for walks. The last time this happened I went to the ER and they said it was anxiety, So I waited until my doctors appointment today to discuss it with her.

Apparently the EKG machine I was hooked up to today indicated that I had a heart attack. She hasn't completely ruled out anxiety attacks, but due to other symptoms I described, and other risk factors, such as being overweight, diabetic, high stress, hypertension, etc, etc, she is almost certain I did have a MI and have a cardio issue. She also put me on a statin, a heart medication, nitro pills, and an anti anxiety med again.

I'm scheduled to go back sometime in the very near future for a stress test, but other than that and the meds, I'm not certain what to expect.

She didn't really tell me anything other than diet modification, avoid stress, don't do anything like exercise, mow the yard, quit all tobacco products, etc. I'll be honest, I was a tad freaked out when she told me she suspects I had a heart attack that I didn't think to ask her about the follow up procedures.

If anyone has experience dealing with this, I'd be very appreciative of your input. I have no idea of what to expect as far as tests go. All I know is I have to take a stress test (don't even know what that consists of) and the little bit of information she gave me about needing to modify my diet, etc, etc.

I'm also especially to know how an EKG machine would know if I actually had a MI?

[jonathan_matos5]

nothing constructive to add except get well.

call a real medical professional for your follow up treatment. not a bunch of bassists

[Relic]

Went through open heart surgery 3 years ago at 42 to fix a heart defect and croaking from a heart attack now is a constant thing I need to be aware of.
Stress test - they'll monitor your heart rate and rhythm while having you on a treadmill or something of the sort. It gets progressively harder and they watch how your heart reacts. Sometimes they do it with drugs, where they give you something to put your ticker into hyperdrive and watch it that way instead of having you work up a sweat.
An EKG checks your heart rate and rhythm, an arrhythmia (an oddball heartbeat where it's not beating properly) can signal trouble.
this is all really oversimplified but you get the picture...

1st order of business - dont panic! Relax. This crap happens to thousands of folks every day who go on to overcome it just fine.
fix your diet, stop smoking cut back on drinking and follow your doc's advice.
You;ll get through it.
If you need to vent or anything I'm here for you dude.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by cassanova

I'm also especially to know how an EKG machine would know if I actually had a MI?

The EKG can tell because the electrical waveform of a heart changes after Post MI muscle damage. Exactly how it changes can indicate what part of the heart muscle suffered oxygen deprivation and how bad it was.

You'll get the stress EKG and then if it shows an issue you'll probably get an angiogram and a heart cath.


I was a paramedic for a lot of years. That and, I had a cardiac arrest of my own about 8 months ago.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Relic

Went through open heart surgery 3 years ago at 42 to fix a heart defect and croaking from a heart attack now is a constant thing I need to be aware of.
Stress test - they'll monitor your heart rate and rhythm while having you on a treadmill or something of the sort. It gets progressively harder and they watch how your heart reacts. Sometimes they do it with drugs, where they give you something to put your ticker into hyperdrive and watch it that way instead of having you work up a sweat.
An EKG checks your heart rate and rhythm, an arrhythmia (an oddball heartbeat where it's not beating properly) can signal trouble.
this is all really oversimplified but you get the picture...

1st order of business - dont panic! Relax. This crap happens to thousands of folks every day who go on to overcome it just fine.
fix your diet, stop smoking cut back on drinking and follow your doc's advice.
You;ll get through it.
If you need to vent or anything I'm here for you dude.

I'm not panicking and am quite relaxed. I was a tad freaked earlier today though. Looking back on it, I think it was just shock and caught me off guard. No morbid type thoughts like Omg, I'm gonna die or anything like that. Truth be told, I'm actually remaining optimistic that it's just anxiety. Tomorrow starts a new day, so when I wake up I'll begin life anew adhering to as much of my docs advice as I can. I have no doubt I can get through this. Stopping tobacco use is probably going to be the most difficult aspect of it all, especially since I also have to modify the diet.

I appreciate the offer to vent.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Steve

The EKG can tell because the electrical waveform of a heart changes after Post MI muscle damage. Exactly how it changes can indicate what part of the heart muscle suffered oxygen deprivation and how bad it was.

You'll get the stress EKG and then if it shows an issue you'll probably get an angiogram and a heart cath.


I was a paramedic for a lot of years. That and, I had a cardiac arrest of my own about 8 months ago.

Any chance an anxiety attack can cause damage to the heart where it would show up on an EKG like an MI does?

[Munjibunga]

PM sent.

[jmattbassplaya]

Don't listen to me, but I would think it'd be a good idea to keep up those walks and do some VERY EASY exercises to help build up your hearts strength and ease tension.

Ask your doctor if this might be a good idea.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Don't listen to me, but I would think it'd be a good idea to keep up those walks and do some VERY EASY exercises to help build up your hearts strength and ease tension.

Ask your doctor if this might be a good idea.

That would be a bad idea until the diagnosis is complete. If there is significant arterial blockage, exercise is not going to help until it is resolved. After the pump is fixed, then the doctor will probably prescribe a rehabilitation program of controlled and closely-monitored exercise.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

That would be a bad idea until the diagnosis is complete. If there is significant arterial blockage, exercise is not going to help until it is resolved. After the pump is fixed, then the doctor will probably prescribe a rehabilitation program of controlled and closely-monitored exercise.

Listen to Munji then

Best of luck to you. I wish you nothing but the best.

[benthughes]

An EKG can tell you that damage is occurring or that damage has been done. if damage has been done you are likely susceptible to more damage. If the Doc said to avoid stress and exertion without further study I find it rather negligent. You could use an angiogram to see if any cardiac vessels are partially/totally obstructed. A Stent or so is waaaaaaay less invasive than a coronary bypass.

I can't understand someone saying that you may be fine of you avoid stress and exertion. It seems impossible to me and seems like an answer given to blow people off. best of luck to you

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by benthughes

An EKG can tell you that damage is occurring or that damage has been done. if damage has been done you are likely susceptible to more damage. If the Doc said to avoid stress and exertion without further study I find it rather negligent. You could use an angiogram to see if any cardiac vessels are partially/totally obstructed. A Stent or so is waaaaaaay less invasive than a coronary bypass.

I can't understand someone saying that you may be fine of you avoid stress and exertion. It seems impossible to me and seems like an answer given to blow people off. best of luck to you

Originally Posted by cassanova

I'm scheduled to go back sometime in the very near future for a stress test, but other than that and the meds, I'm not certain what to expect.

Seeing he is scheduled to go back in, I would hardly say he's being blown off. The Dr probably isn't wanting to say one way or the other until they have figured out what happened. As the OP said:

"She hasn't completely ruled out anxiety attacks"

Says to me they aren't 100% sure what's happened, they have him coming back in to get more tests and to try and diagnose what has happened.

Cass, hope it's nothing too serious, hope you have a speedy recovery!

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by benthughes

An EKG can tell you that damage is occurring or that damage has been done. if damage has been done you are likely susceptible to more damage. If the Doc said to avoid stress and exertion without further study I find it rather negligent. You could use an angiogram to see if any cardiac vessels are partially/totally obstructed. A Stent or so is waaaaaaay less invasive than a coronary bypass.

I can't understand someone saying that you may be fine of you avoid stress and exertion. It seems impossible to me and seems like an answer given to blow people off. best of luck to you

My basal rate was through the roof and exerting myself will only raise an already elevated heart rate. She's having me avoid exerting myself to help keep my heart rate as low as possible. The chest pains primarily come when I'm doing some of the simplest tasks like mowing a yard, picking up the mower, or even walking to the mailbox, it makes perfect sense to avoid strenuous activities until they can put their finger on what's exactly going wrong.

Stress also elevates blood pressure and since I suffer from hypertension, that's not a good thing because it causes the heart to work harder because arterial walls become weakened and more prone to a build-up of fatty substances on the inner walls of the arteries. The harder working heart is now more susceptible to a heart attack. I also now have to monitor my BP on a daily basis to make sure that's getting under control.

All in all, I don't think she's being negligent. I think she's having me do all this to avoid triggering a heart attack.so much as she's telling me to do all this to avoid triggering heart attack.



When blood pressure is too high and remains that way, arterial walls become weakened and more prone to atherosclerosis (a build-up of fatty substances on the inner walls of the arteries). The heart must then work harder to try to pump oxygenated blood through the clogged arteries. The clogged arteries are also more prone to blood clots that can block the flow of blood entirely. Blood pressure can also cause arteries to bulge (aneurysm) or burst (hemorrhage).

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by benthughes

An EKG can tell you that damage is occurring or that damage has been done. if damage has been done you are likely susceptible to more damage. If the Doc said to avoid stress and exertion without further study I find it rather negligent. You could use an angiogram to see if any cardiac vessels are partially/totally obstructed. A Stent or so is waaaaaaay less invasive than a coronary bypass.

I can't understand someone saying that you may be fine of you avoid stress and exertion. It seems impossible to me and seems like an answer given to blow people off. best of luck to you

What blows me away is the original doctor's negligence in not at least running a blood test for indicator enzymes. That and an EKG take less than an hour. For the rest of you who experience chest pain, it is not something to trifle with. Find out what's going on immediately. There's a reason why you go to the front of the line in the ER with chest pain.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

What blows me away is the original doctor's negligence in not at least running a blood test for indicator enzymes. That and an EKG take less than an hour. For the rest of you who experience chest pain, it is not something to trifle with. Find out what's going on immediately. There's a reason why you go to the front of the line in the ER with chest pain.

I'm actually scheduled for lab work next Friday. She wanted to get me in there today, but the lab was closed by the time my EKG was done. The VA runs some stupid hours, the Pharmacy and Lab close at different times than the entire clinic. What she wanted to test me for I cannot remember. I did have my A1C test done yesterday so I doubt this lab work is for anything diabetic related. I'm gonna have to call on Monday to find out what exactly their testing for.

[benthughes]

A1C is done as a predictor for diabetes. Lab tests can show damage but you need to take a look at the coronary arteries... I say as I eat pizza rolls. The VA health care system leaves much to be desired IMO. Again, best wishes to you, my friend.

ben

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Seeing he is scheduled to go back in, I would hardly say he's being blown off. The Dr probably isn't wanting to say one way or the other until they have figured out what happened. As the OP said:

"She hasn't completely ruled out anxiety attacks"

Says to me they aren't 100% sure what's happened, they have him coming back in to get more tests and to try and diagnose what has happened.

Cass, hope it's nothing too serious, hope you have a speedy recovery!

If I had to guess I'd say she's 95% certain it's coronary. I've been doing some research and so far some of it's said that anxiety attacks do not damage the heart. If this is true, then I'd think the damage shown on the EKG wouldn't be showing up from panic attacks. I don't know, that's why I'm researching and asking others on here in the hopes they might know.

Originally Posted by benthughes

The VA health care system leaves much to be desired IMO. Again, best wishes to you, my friend.

You get no argument from me on that one. I also want to see both EKG's and compare the one from yesterday and about 2 years ago and ask a ton of questions. I thought I noticed something very similar about the 2 EKG's she was comparing, but don't want to go into details yet as to what it was, until after I ask a ton of questions when I go back on Friday.

[mrpackerguy]

I hope the "she" is a cardiologist, otherwise I'd question why she hasn't referred you to one.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by cassanova

If I had to guess I'd say she's 95% certain it's coronary. I've been doing some research and so far some of it's said that anxiety attacks do not damage the heart. If this is true, then I'd think the damage shown on the EKG wouldn't be showing up from panic attacks. I don't know, that's why I'm researching and asking others on here in the hopes they might know.

It depends on the location of the tachycardia (I think sinus tachycardia can be caused by Anxiety). So, for instance, if it was showing up there, it could mean there is damage there, or that it's just anxiety (or a number of other things).

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

I hope the "she" is a cardiologist, otherwise I'd question why she hasn't referred you to one.

It's the VA. She gets in touch with them and then I get a letter in the mail stating when my appointment is. I've gotta go back Friday, so I'm planning on asking several questions that I didn't ask yesterday.