Comments on: How does it really feel to have a heart attack? Women survivors tell their stories

By: Event Management Tales

Event Management Tales — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:27:36 +0000

[...] to relate to. If most of your company consists of young females, invite a young female to speak. Here are a few survivor stories to give you a better understanding of what you can expect to hear. [...]

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:05:15 +0000

Julie, you need a second opinion, particularly if any of these symptoms are unusual FOR YOU (for example, tachycardia can often cause exercise intolerance, which could be “normal” for you). But left arm “swollen”? – not typically a cardiac symptom. Go get a second opinion.

By: julie

julie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:46:50 +0000

I been feeling my heart beat fast every time I go up my stairs I can’t breath my lips been feeling numb and tingling my left arm gets swollen and numb I also have tacky cardia I been to the doctors and he said that I can still work I dont know what to do

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:06:58 +0000

Typically, not being able to turn your head doesn’t sound like a heart symptom. This may or may not be heart-related – but at this point you just don’t know. If the symptoms do not ease up if you take a muscle-relaxant, call your doctor.

By: melissa ray

melissa ray — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:46:55 +0000

I’m sitting in bed and have been up for hours. For 4 days I have been having upper right back pain and up to the neck. I cannot turn my head left. I thought that it was maybe just a pulled muscle. I haven’t been working out this week so I thought some how it happened in my sleep. Tonight I woke up with more severe back and neck pain and now pain in my elbow and a tingling all the way down my right arm and to my fingers. It hurts for me to try and get out of bed. Not having any chest pain. I’m only 29 and a healthy weight. I need some answers. Do I need to go to the ER?

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:07:35 +0000

Rhonda, it may be time for you to become the "squeaky wheel". Have you asked your family doctor for a referral to a cardiologist? Have you been referred to an internal medicine specialist to rule out acid reflux? Are you generally prone to anxiety? SOMETHING is causing these distressing symptoms - they may or may not be heart-related, but at this point, you simply do not know yet. Also, start immediately to keep a detailed journal of your symptoms - when they hit, what you're doing when they hit (time of day, eating, sitting, moving around, resting, lying down), how you are feeling when they hit (stressed out, anxious, feeling calm), what activities are involved if any, do symptoms start slow and get worse or come out of the blue? etc. and bring this written report to the doctor. Also check out "What Is Causing My Chest Pain?" Good luck to you, cheers, C.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:56:21 +0000

I have been having what I think is heartburn that is really frequent accompanied by a persistent pain like muscle spasms behind my left shoulder blade and it radiates under my left breast area. I have seen my family practitioner and have had EKG’s done and he, my Dr. was not concerned and was given either a muscle relaxer or was told that I just had acid reflux and gave me more medication. Needless to say, none of this has helped my symptoms. I am scared to death that there is something going on that no one is listening. Does anyone have any suggestions?

By: ibivi

ibivi — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:46:54 +0000

I did this too. While I was on sick leave I stopped taking Norvasc because I thought it was making me dizzy and weak. I got an episode of chest pain and when I told the doctors about stopping Norvasc they told me that I should never stop medication needed to keep my heart working properly. I’m on it for life. Some doctors don’t always explain the importance of the medications they put you on. Nevertheless, always talk with your doctor before stopping any medication you’ve been prescribed. Take care.

By: ibivi

ibivi — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:27:02 +0000

Diagnosing heart attack in women is not as clear cut as it is with men (crushing chest pain, pain running down the left arm, etc). When I was in cardiac rehab one of the women had nothing more than pain in her left arm. She went to her doctor who told her to take acetaminophen for the pain. The pain persisted and 3 days later her doctor told her to come back in. They gave her an ECG which showed that she had a heart attack. That was the only symptom she had. No shortness of breath, no chest pain, no weakness, no sweating, no vague feeling of being unwell – nothing else. But her age range put her into a potential heart event category. She didn’t smoke, she wasn’t overweight – she was generally in good health. Her doctor was shocked. My doctor was shocked too when she heard that I was in the hospital.

By: ibivi

ibivi — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:05:06 +0000

If you have chest pain go to an ER right away and when you arrive tell them immediately that you are having chest pain. Don’t say anything about not having insurance. You can sort that out later. You need to be checked out by a doctor to see what type of heart issue you have. Do not diagnosis yourself. Stress can give you symptoms which are similar to a heart attack. But don’t wait for it to “go away”. It could be a symptom of a cardiac event. Best wishes for the new year!

By: ibivi

ibivi — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:55:51 +0000

Firefighters are high risk for heart attacks because of the hazards they are exposed to and the stress of fighting a fire. I’m surprised he doesn’t take it more seriously. He can’t be a manly man if he’s dead.

By: Janelle

Janelle — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:08:22 +0000

Hi. I didn’t realize young women could have heart attacks. Recently I’ve had some strange things happen to me but I don’t know if it’s my heart. Over the past six weeks or so I have had a couple of episodes that have been disturbing. I get this sensation in the center but kind of toward the left just under my breast that causes intense pain. It’s like a squeezing and yet a torn muscle at the same time. I can’t breathe when it happens and nearly double over. I have also been short of breath and my heart beat seems to be irregular. Lately I’ve had heartburn. I got laid off so I don’t have medical insurance anymore but last year my heart was fine. Thank you.

By: angelica427

angelica427 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:49:16 +0000

Congratulations! I had been tired for a LONG time too, but I always assumed it was from an underactive thyroid. After I got that med, I DID feel more energetic but still not what I considered normal. It actually NEVER OCCURRED to me that I might have heart disease. Never. And apparently I looked too healthy to my doctor for him to suspect it too. He nagged about high blood pressure and losing weight, and cholesterol. But never actually used the words heart disease.. I’ve been researching a lot about the meds I was given post cath, and I wonder if anyone else is wondering about the pluses-minuses of statins /cholesterol meds? It certainly seems like a mixed bag of opinions out there.

Truthfully, right after my cath, I felt GREAT! Then, after I started taking the meds, (prevastatin, Plavix, metoprol tartrate) I’m not feeling nearly as well as I did at first. Makes me feel…too ..fragile, somehow.

By: angelica427

angelica427 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:30:27 +0000

I had the same bruising problem. My procedure was last weekend. My thigh looked like someone had beaten it with a mallet! The bruise stretched from the juncture at my body down to within a couple of inches of my knee, all the way across the top to the inner thigh. Looked like the state of Texas, purplish and blue. I can’t complain though, since they probably saved my life! (99% occlusion in the circumflex posterior). The procedure itself was quite smooth, obviously routine to them. After the local anesth, I couldn’t feel a thing except heavy pressure. Being gentle isn’t a priority, compared to speed, I ‘d guess. The girl who shaved me looked at the assisting and said, “How’s that?” To which he shrugged and responded, “Looks okay to me” as if he couldn’t have cared less if a rogue hair follicle or three got into my bloodstream or not (he had announced it was his last procedure of the night).

I was awake the whole time, so I finally decided I needed to get this cavalier guy onboard and deliberately flattered him by telling him he looked so YOUNG, how old was he anyway? He was obviously not a youngster, but that perked him up considerably and he began to pay a little more attention to what he was doing…lol)

My procedure was about 2 am, so don’t know if I was the first or the last for the surgeon. The nerve sensation is still not back to normal in the bruised area. I haven’t had any of the symptoms you report afterward. Right now, though, I’ve got a “stitch” right between my shoulder blades and hope it’s from falling asleep with too many pillows under my neck last night…

By: Susan Workman

Susan Workman — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:29:20 +0000

Thank you. I finally decided I’m going in now. I’m trying to find my insurance card. Our phones are not working at the moment, so my husband doesn’t want to risk me collapsing and needing immediate care. Since the pain is spreading, he talked me into heading in.
Thank you!

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:23:33 +0000

Hi Susan – sorry you are experiencing these distressing symptoms. They may or may not be heart-related, but right now you just don’t know for sure. SOMETHING is causing this – and passing out may not be the most alarming symptom you have. Good luck to you.
C.

By: Susan Workman

Susan Workman — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:25:04 +0000

I stumbled upon this site because of the unusual chest pain and left shoulder blade pain (feels like a knot is slowly pushing my shoulder blade out…it’s highly uncomfortable and pretty painful). The chest pain is currently under my left breast. I’m concerned, but trying not to jump to a hypochondriac conclusion, considering I’m only twenty three years old. I’m a little dizzy, the pain radiates to the back of my head, and my left arm will feel kind of ‘cold’ (like when the nurse gives you an IV and pushes cold saline in it) on occasion. I’m not laboring my breathing, but it feels as if I’m not taking enough breathes, like I ‘forget’ to breathe and hurry up to compensate, if that makes sense at all.
Anyway, due to monetary issues, I don’t think I’ll run to the ER just yet, but these stories helped tremendously. I’m going to keep a very close eye on how I feel in a few hours, and my husband is going to do the same; if I pass out, he’s taking me straight to the ER.
Thank you for this website!

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:19:36 +0000

Kylie, get your hubby to read this.too. Men can be just as stubborn as women are when it comes to being in denial about cardiac symptoms. Doctors call this “treatment-seeking delay”. SOMETHING is causing hubby’s “episodes” – he needs to find out what. Right away!
Good luck,
cheers.
C.

By: Kylie

Kylie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:21:49 +0000

Thank goodness for this site!

My husband (a firefighter) has had 8 – 9 untreated “episodes” over the past 18 months and each one sounds similar to what is listed above. The trick now is getting him to go to a doctor!!

By: jada murphy

jada murphy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:02:32 +0000

As I read the stories I realize Im not alone with my symptoms being over looked. Right now I sit here with tight chest and pain in my left arm and in my elbow that comes and goes; early this week I was having pain in my left and right legs. Im sick and tired of being sent home . Plus I have high blood pressure and overweight and a smoker with so much stress in my life. I just develped the tightness in my chest. The inhaler is not working that well.