MGoPSA Announcement Way OT Chest Pains
I had chest pains this past week so drove to ER when they became more severe. Diagnosed with 99.5% blockage in Left Anterior Descending Artery(LAD) Received 3 inches of stents immediately. I was lucky. No irreversible or significant damage to heart.
LAD is called the Widowmaker because it supplies most of the blood to the heart. It also is unusual because blockage can move from 50 to 100% quickly. No other artery had blockage for me.
Be more aware than I was in case you have chest pains. Mine started right sided and infrequent.
Thank God for Doctors, hospitals and cardiac treatment technology.
Merry Christmas.
December 9th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
I'm 63. If I were you I'd go see a pulmonary specialist first.
December 9th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
Be well, EQ. I'd had to lose a fellow former Quaddie! Were you in the RC?
December 9th, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
No I went to B-School after 3 sems in LSA. Got in right before admission standards took a leap. Stayed in EQ four years.
December 9th, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
As someone who has a lengthy and distinguished family history of cardiovascular disease, I thank you for posting this. Glad to hear that it was treated in time!
December 9th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
I recently had a very similar situation. I did not have chest pains. I had dizziness and just a general not quite right feeling. My blockage was not as severe and I passed a stress test and could have been released. I was given the option of having a heart catheterization during which they found blockage requiring 3 stents. So while stress tests are good indicators they are not an "all clear". I have also changed my diet to mostly vegetarian and low salt. I'm finishing a rehab program at Michigan Heart, the Pritikan diet is part of this.
December 9th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
God speed and wishing a complete recovery. Two yers ago I had a neck fusion front and back. During PT I had the symptoms of chest, arm pain. Went to ER and the next day had a 6 cabg. Was playing tennis two days before and swam. Last month I blew an artery now down to 5. You never know. Be well fellow M guy you’ll be ok. Enjoy the holidays and loved ones.
December 9th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
Were the chest pains dull or sharp?
I am thankful that you caught it in time.
This is a perfectly times post given some of the other stuff that went up yesterday. God bless.
Edit: I see a bunch of Intel above, but not necessarily the type of pain? I assume more pressure than sharp?
December 9th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
More of a pressure in a general area for me than a sharp one. I had a gall bladder attack that reminded me of it. Started off dull and became more intense at the end event. Just remember that your symptoms might differ.
December 9th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
Wow.... Glad you acted quickly. Make the most of your 2nd lease on life.
December 9th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
I want to point out that anyone having chest pain should NOT drive themselves to the hospital. Call 911. You get to the hospital faster, you get to the correct hospital (not all hospitals have interventional cardiac cath labs, which is what you need for this), the EMTs and paramedics can begin diagnosis and treatment as soon as they pick you up, and you don't risk having a heart attack on the way and crashing your car.
That said, I'm glad you're okay! Make sure to get yourself a cardiologist (if you don't have one) and see them regularly.
December 9th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
I wanted to make this point as well. Any situation of chest pain should be reported to medical emergency personnel. At the time of your arrival to the emergency department, you put staff ahead by 10-15 minutes just by havung IV access, a history of current meds, and a 12 lead EKG ready for the physician.
I recently had a friend who was murdered and may have been able to survive the stabbing had he called 911 instead of trying to drive himself to the emergency room. Barely 30 years old and left behind a wife and 2 kids. Take care of yourselves, there is no shame in calling for help.
December 9th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
You are absolutely correct. Fortunately I knew where to go and I live in a smaller community where we have 4 awesome hospitals.
December 9th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
Glad you listened to your body. I would add for those who might have a similar issue that you should probably call for a ride...
These kinds of things also help us put things like sports in perspective.
EDIT: I see Purple made my point about calling for a ride more pointedly than I.
December 9th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
My story: About 2 1/2 years ago, my internist heard a heart murmur for the first time and referred me to a cardiologist, who said I'd need a valve replacement in the next 2 years but that, if I ever had chest pain, go immediately to the hospital. Then a year ago, while at the grocery store on the way home from work, I felt a sharp, focal intermittent pain in the left side of my chest. I'd never felt anything like it before. When I got back in the car, the pain became steady though not overwhelming or even terrible. But I called my wife and said I was going to the hospital (about 15 minutes away). Yes, I drove myself, but I was already in the car.
How do you get immediate service in a busy ER? Walk up to the desk and say, "I'm having chest pain." I hadn't had a heart attack, but a cardiac cath found blockage in the LAD, I don't recall how much. My cardiologist said I needed a bypass. They kept me in the hospital for 3 days before the surgery. I had a double bypass and valve replacement. That was on a Friday, and by Tuesday they said I could go home, but I asked to wait another day. The caregivers at the hospital were wonderful. Recuperation at home went well. I was 67. Three close friends my age had had heart surgery about 10 years ago. Although they were much younger, their recuperation was way more difficult. They couldn't believe how well I was doing. Partly, I credit my surgeon and partly (I was told) surgery methods have improved.
Within about three weeks I was back at work, and pretty soon back full time. Four weeks after the surgery, my wife and I took a weekend train trip to Chicago (about 300 miles away) for a day-long meeting of an organization i'm involved in. Two weeks after that we flew a couple of hours away for a Bar Mitzvah. Then I started a 3-day-a-week cardiac rehab program using the Pritiken system of education, diet and exercise. I lost about 30 pounds and ultimately graduated. Do you know what it takes to graduate from cardiac rehab? Your insurance money runs out. (It's $300 a session.) Today I feel great, am still exercising, and am trying to keep the weight off.
Now a joke for Jewish readers: My surgery was on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. I learned that there is a halachic (Jewish law) principle that if you have heart surgery on Rosh Hashanah, you don't have to fast on Yom Kippur.
That's my story. As others have said, if you have unusual symptoms, get seen.
December 9th, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
Is there any kind of proactive detection / test you can do ahead of time to see if you are walking around with a hidden problem?
Rather than waiting for pain or other symptoms when it might be too late?
December 9th, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^
Angiogram is the diagnostic test.
December 9th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
That's something to discuss with your internist. Mine monitored my blood pressure and lipid tests (cholesterol, etc.) regularly for years, did an EKG at my annual physicals, and, as I indicated above, when he heard a heart murmur referred me to a cardiologist.
December 9th, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
Glad to hear that you're OK.
My heart issue was viral, and I am still on some of the meds three years out, but anything involving the heart.....scary business.
December 9th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
Thanks. I've probably got 23 years on you. It would be difficult to deal with a heart issue that young(or younger).
December 10th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
Three years ago would have been 38 for me, and like so many people, I didn't exactly consider having to deal with something like that in my late thirties - but some problems know no age.
December 9th, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
I just saw a cardiologist for a routine exam. I'm having a calcium heart scan done in a few weeks, and I've been on a statin for 22 years. I'm 53, and have low blood pressure and great cholesterol numbers but every male on my father's side died from a heart attack in their 50's and early 60's. I'm a woman, so I don't know if the genes carry to me, but I don't really want to find out. Be proactive! Glad you were and everything turned out ok.
December 9th, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
Also, I once went to the emergency room with pain in my left shoulder that radiated down my arm. I was really freaked out. My blood pressure was through the roof, which was not normal for me. They kept me overnight and found nothing cardiac. It was determined that I have an issue with my neck and it causes radiating pain on my left side. Don't be afraid to go. It might not be worst case scenario, and it will give you peace of mind.
December 9th, 2018 at 4:31 PM ^
As a tangential PSA: Please learn bystander CPR (AHA Basic Life Support)--i.e., chest compressions. Anyone can learn it, whether high school or 75 years old.
Heart attacks can trigger a cardiac arrest (heart not pumping blood) and chest compressions can keep the brain alive until EMS arrive.
I once took care of a 70-85 y.o. retired fire fighter who had a cardiac arrest. He can in comatose but eventually did great because he "dropped dead" during his weekly meetup of his old fire fighter buddies, so they immediately started good CPR until EMS arrived. It reminded me of those movies that have elderly guys come out of retirement to save the earth from an asteroid.