Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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What my heart attack felt like etc.

Posted by Allan Campbell on March 29, 2023, 13:52:39

Severe pain from left shoulder 3/4 way across upper chest just under the collar bone.

It was gone in 15 mins.

At hospital they wire you up to a machine with about 8 to 10 patches. They stay on for 48 hours and you do not move much.

I did get up and stretch and to wee.

You are unplugged to go to loo, for a wee it’s a bottle job.

You are given various tablets and have blood taken as well as blood pressure.

Thank goodness that I had the presence of mind to take 2 books to read plus other things like Jimmy jams plus dressing gown not thatI needed it. Also my daily tablets.

Ann brought phone charge later.

The grub in Harrogate hospital was not as good as that in Leeds General Infirmary LGI.

At Leeds they past a “tube” up either your arm or from groin to the heart.

A form of dye is fed into you which goes around the arteries and is watched via a scanner.

They then have 3 options of treatment, medication, stents then a by-pass opn. They told me that Inwas going to have 3 stents put in.

You can feel them putting the stents in you arteries. I had 2 on the left and one on the right. These were outside the heart, I think between heart and rib cage.

There was no pain during the opn. Just a sort of tingling as they worked.

The worst part is all the needles going in and the two intravenous feed points. One was very uncomfortable only used once but there the whole time “ just in case”

They tell you that the heart is the strongest muscle in your body and has marvellous recovery ability. The heart is the only muscle that works 24/7 all you life.

The above is my description of what went on. Others may differ.

The actual opn. Theatre is different to what you would expect, more just a room with a big white “x” ray machine whoes head moves around. You are awake the whole time ( I my case) laid on a table.

The x Ray machine is moving around over your chest as they work. Like being checked over by aliens

I will be on medication for the rest of my life, blood thinner, anti resection, etc 5 tablets altogether.

From looking at the others that I met in the 2 hospitals one was a similar case to me, another one in for a second time for additional stents and one chap who had I think a bit of a bad one.

I continue to recover. Target to get back on bike as much as I can plus light jobs.

I think that I got away with it lightly due to being sort of fit and active, not smoked or overweight.

Check if heart attacks etc run in your family.

Allan C.

Re: What my heart attack felt like etc.

Posted by Norman Dunn on March 29, 2023, 14:25:53, in reply to " What my heart attack felt like etc."

Well done for explaining the procedure Allan, and glad to hear it all worked out well for you.
That is handy to know.
As you imply it might have been worse if you hadn't kept yourself fit with regular cycling and not smoking.

You need to check you family as well

Posted by Allan Campbell on March 29, 2023, 15:00:53, in reply to "Re: What my heart attack felt like etc."

That one question the hospital ask.

You can minimise the risk by looking after yourself but that has to start at a young age. If older it’s catch-up etc.

As far as I understand I had a narrowing of two arteries. Is that different to a blockage due to furring up ? If a bit of the blocking material breaks loose that can be fatal.

I’m not going any further into it because I just don’t know.

My diet is changing, no chocolate

no red meat and other stuff. Can I have a beer or whiskey maybe, maybe not, check in 6 weeks.

If you are over 60 your in line for a problem so watch out.

Allan C.

Re: You need to check you family as well

Posted by Stan wears on March 29, 2023, 17:58:47, in reply to "You need to check you family as well"

The tube you refer to is a stent. The problem is that warning shots are quick. After my stroke, they found a heart problem so the hospital gave me a Huawei watch and paired it with my mobile. It monitors me 24/7 and sends it to the NHS and if I do too much it let's me know to slow down and stop what I'm doing. Maybe a gadget like this will prevent any physical overload on your heart. Worth investigating. Good look.

Re: You need to check you family as well

Posted by Steve in Australia on March 29, 2023, 19:23:09, in reply to "Re: You need to check you family as well"

Allan.....description very accurate.....over past 18 years I've earned myself 6 Stents and several trips to hospital.
I'm a NON smoker....now.....was a 60 -100 a day chain smoker for over 30 years....stopped 20 years ago.
Cardiologist said the only thing that saved me was giving up the cigarettes and the fact that I've been involved in Judo since I was 9 years old.
Look after your heart, it is the only one you have, and it will look after you.

On a positive note......All those tasks that need done around the house can wait, because of ""Doctors Orders""....""Nothing strenuous""

Re: You need to check you family as well (for Steve)

Posted by Stan wears on March 29, 2023, 20:00:51, in reply to "Re: You need to check you family as well"

Sounds only to familiar Steve. By knowing what we know and have been told, it's helped us. Take care too.

Re: You need to check you family as well-to Steve in Ozz

Posted by Malcolm on March 29, 2023, 22:31:48, in reply to "Re: You need to check you family as well"

60-100 a day, really? How did you find the time? I'm not being funny, or anything, but I am still a smoker (about 20 a day) and have heard, and spoken to people that do that many, but find it hard to figure out how anyone can do 60-100 a day.

I don't expect, or require, an answer. And I'm NOT asking you to justify, or explain the number...nor should you....

Just mystified....as a smoker...

Re: You need to check you family as well-to Steve in Ozz

Posted by Sheila on March 30, 2023, 8:55:58, in reply to "Re: You need to check you family as well-to Steve in Ozz"

Malcolm, my father smoked 60 cigarettes a day, we only found our when he died of lung cancer aged 60. He used to go into the local shop every morning and buy his 60 capstan full strength, Mrs Warwick told my mother she used to say does your wife know and he would just smile. Last year our painter and decorator who smoked 20/30 cigarettes a day, he started to get indigestion, until the pain was so bad his wife phoned 999. It was a heart attack. He also had stents and although found it hard, he has stopped smoking, the doctor told him he would not have another 12 months if he didn’t stop.

For Stan and others

Posted by Allan Campbell on March 30, 2023, 7:56:24, in reply to "Re: You need to check you family as well"

The thing I called “tube” is a Catheter. A wire is passed up to the problem area or narrowing and the balloon carrying the Stent goes along that and reaching the location the ballon is inflated until the Stent is in place.

There are a few videos of how it’s done on the net. Worth a look.

Allan C.

Re: For Stan and others

Posted by Sheila on March 30, 2023, 9:05:59, in reply to "For Stan and others"

The procedure is called Coronary Angioplasty, my friend glad it done I know a catheter is usually used to empty your bladder, without going to the loo.

Re: For Stan and others

Posted by Steve in Australia on March 30, 2023, 11:20:56, in reply to "Re: For Stan and others"

The Coronary Angioplasty, when you are the subject of concern, is very interesting to watch on the overhead monitor as the Stent is positioned and inflated........and you can chat to the Surgeon and ask questions as he performs the procedure, because you are wide awake....if still somewhat relaxed from the medications as the Stent is inserted.

Re: For Stan and others

Posted by Stan wears on March 30, 2023, 12:05:31, in reply to "Re: For Stan and others"

You learn something everyday on this site! I appreciate just how lucky I've been...

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