Having a heart attack? And you're alone? Now What?

[RBB]

When I had my heart attack something had been going on for a week or so. The evening it was so bad I had my wife take me to the ER I was so miserable I couldn't drive and did not want to wait on a ambulance as we live in the country. When they got me out of the car at the hospital they immediately ran a EKG on me and sent me straight to cath lab. Total time there before going to cath lab could not have been 15-20minutes.
Doc said I was one in ten to survive a 100% blocked widow maker.
Now I have changed my eating habits. Lost 46 lbs by cutting out fast food and any fried foods. Oh and quit smoking.
After experiencing this what I recommend is getting checked out every year by a Dr, stay on top your health if you want to live. I was so miserable when I had my heart attack no way I could have helped myself.
Had I not been so hard headed I should have went and got checked out as soon as I felt bad.

 

[Phasma]

RBB, the widowmaker is what killed my wife almost 7 years ago. She was tall, slender and in good shape. She was 54 years old. Far too young to die. You were very fortunate. I give you a major thumbs up for your healthy efforts

 

[TimW]

I’ve had my ACLS, and other cardiology credentials for 30 years.

(Cough)BS(cough)

Phasma
Thank you for the valuable info.
What knowledge I have is >20 years old, but I am somewhat decent at understanding current info.
It is petty, I know, but it is fun pointing out all the misinformation spouted by the supposed Dr. El CapTurd.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Yesterday after carrying my new captain's chairs up to the bridge on the 506, I took a big deep breath and felt a dull aching in my chest muscles, every once in a while after some exertion I feel the same. I chock it up to getting older and just plain out of shape. I am not any heavier now than in the past but I stopped working out a couple of years ago. I go to the doc regularly and get an EKG and blood work and always get a clean bill of health. I wonder sometimes though as my Dad died of a massive MI and his Dad survived one but lived the rest of his days with a pace maker and they were both in their early fifties. I will be turning 60 so its always nagging my mind. I bought a Kardia ekg reader for the Iphone to make myself feel better.
CD

 

[SeaNile]

Yesterday after carrying my new captain's chairs up to the bridge on the 506, I took a big deep breath and felt a dull aching in my chest muscles, every once in a while after some exertion I feel the same. I chock it up to getting older and just plain out of shape. I am not any heavier now than in the past but I stopped working out a couple of years ago. I go to the doc regularly and get an EKG and blood work and always get a clean bill of health. I wonder sometimes though as my Dad died of a massive MI and his Dad survived one but lived the rest of his days with a pace maker and they were both in their early fifties. I will be turning 60 so its always nagging my mind. I bought a Kardia ekg reader for the Iphone to make myself feel better.
CD

When was your last stress test? Sounds like classic exercise induced ischemia.

 

[El Capitan]

Yesterday after carrying my new captain's chairs up to the bridge on the 506, I took a big deep breath and felt a dull aching in my chest muscles, every once in a while after some exertion I feel the same. I chock it up to getting older and just plain out of shape. I am not any heavier now than in the past but I stopped working out a couple of years ago. I go to the doc regularly and get an EKG and blood work and always get a clean bill of health. I wonder sometimes though as my Dad died of a massive MI and his Dad survived one but lived the rest of his days with a pace maker and they were both in their early fifties. I will be turning 60 so its always nagging my mind. I bought a Kardia ekg reader for the Iphone to make myself feel better.
CD

EKG is not an accurate diagnostic. Get a stress test. Analogy is engine idles fine but at speed it misfires etc.

 

[TimW]

EKG is not an accurate diagnostic. Get a stress test. Analogy is engine idles fine but at speed it misfires etc.

Wrong again Jackwagon,

Care to tell how you can do a stress test PRN AND at home!!!!?

BTW, it’s rare to have infarct with normal EKG.

Even IF normal, still may have poor outcome.

 

[Blueone]

Not sure what you all are worried about… you died from covid

 

[Carpediem44DB]

When was your last stress test? Sounds like classic exercise induced ischemia.

Funny short story, I had a knee replaced 4 years ago and when the anesthesiologist came by in pre op, he asked me what I did after my heart attack to improve my health? I said "what heat attack, I never had a heat attack". He said its right here in your file when you were doing your stress test two years ago. I remember them stopping my stress test and looking worried, but I thought it was because of the utter pain I was in due to my bad knee! I remember a consultation with a cardiologist over the phone but I did not remeber him using the words, heart attack. I have since had just ekgs but I think I will schedule a consult with a cardiologist and another stress test now that my knee is 100%. My Blood work always shows in the normal ranges.
CD

 

[RBB]

Yesterday after carrying my new captain's chairs up to the bridge on the 506, I took a big deep breath and felt a dull aching in my chest muscles, every once in a while after some exertion I feel the same. I chock it up to getting older and just plain out of shape. I am not any heavier now than in the past but I stopped working out a couple of years ago. I go to the doc regularly and get an EKG and blood work and always get a clean bill of health. I wonder sometimes though as my Dad died of a massive MI and his Dad survived one but lived the rest of his days with a pace maker and they were both in their early fifties. I will be turning 60 so its always nagging my mind. I bought a Kardia ekg reader for the Iphone to make myself feel better.
CD

Carp that new purchase isn't a replacement for a Dr visit.

 

[yobub]

Glad to see the fact-based discussion on this topic, save one unnecessary post. Despite years of first aid and CPR training, the idea of self-CPR never came up so it's interesting to learn about this.

There was another thread over the summer that discussed the relative merits of carrying an AED onboard. That thread was derailed by ignorant comments, but I'd be interested in hearing perspectives from those who actually treat or treated heart attacks on the relative merits of having an AED onboard for cruisers who are regularly a couple of hours from EMS care. I understand AEDs aren't effective on every cardiac situation, but given the small investment (as boating equipment goes), is it worth considering?

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Glad to see the fact-based discussion on this topic, save one unnecessary post. Despite years of first aid and CPR training, the idea of self-CPR never came up so it's interesting to learn about this.

There was another thread over the summer that discussed the relative merits of carrying an AED onboard. That thread was derailed by ignorant comments, but I'd be interested in hearing perspectives from those who actually treat or treated heart attacks on the relative merits of having an AED onboard for cruisers who are regularly a couple of hours from EMS care. I understand AEDs aren't effective on every cardiac situation, but given the small investment (as boating equipment goes), is it worth considering?

Our club owns one and it is on board the lead boat on every cruise out just in case. We do have a retired doc in the group, and she thinks it's important enough to have available. Cross fingers, we have yet to have a need to use it.
Funny, we have two of them in the school hangar, one just got installed in a fancy windowed cabinet with a fancy lighted sign pointing out the position. Not one damn word has been said about having anyone trained on its use. We have a first aid box on the wall as well, but the policy is give NO First Aid, Call 911 only. WTFO!!! There have been condom dispensers
installed and now they are empty for a year, the school nurse that was to keep them stocked got furloughed when the campus went mostly online for Covid so our poor students have to buy their own for now. What is the world coming to?
CD

 

[El Capitan]

Funny short story, I had a knee replaced 4 years ago and when the anesthesiologist came by in pre op, he asked me what I did after my heart attack to improve my health? I said "what heat attack, I never had a heat attack". He said its right here in your file when you were doing your stress test two years ago. I remember them stopping my stress test and looking worried, but I thought it was because of the utter pain I was in due to my bad knee! I remember a consultation with a cardiologist over the phone but I did not remeber him using the words, heart attack. I have since had just ekgs but I think I will schedule a consult with a cardiologist and another stress test now that my knee is 100%. My Blood work always shows in the normal ranges.
CD

An EKG can show you HAD a heart attack in the past. Not surprised nobody told you you may have had one during stress test.
I used to do stress tests every day w patients. The shit that happens was unbelievable but it never makes it out of the lab nor hospital.

 

[El Capitan]

Glad to see the fact-based discussion on this topic, save one unnecessary post. Despite years of first aid and CPR training, the idea of self-CPR never came up so it's interesting to learn about this.

There was another thread over the summer that discussed the relative merits of carrying an AED onboard. That thread was derailed by ignorant comments, but I'd be interested in hearing perspectives from those who actually treat or treated heart attacks on the relative merits of having an AED onboard for cruisers who are regularly a couple of hours from EMS care. I understand AEDs aren't effective on every cardiac situation, but given the small investment (as boating equipment goes), is it worth considering?

It is worth considering so long as you have some training in how to use it. The algorithms have changed a ton over the years. It used to be 90% electricity 10% drugs. Over the years it changed more to drugs and less electricity.

Don’t know where it is today.

 

[Phasma]

The beauty of the AED is that anyone can use it. There is always a diagram on the AED showing pad placement. Once pads are attached it’s merely pushing a button. The AED will determine if the patient is in a shockable rhythm. If not the AED will verbally advise you to start CPR. It’s pretty fool proof

 

[tc410]

An EKG can show you HAD a heart attack in the past. Not surprised nobody told you you may have had one during stress test.
I used to do stress tests every day w patients. The shit that happens was unbelievable but it never makes it out of the lab nor hospital.

Good to know that you were part of the “never made it out of the lab nor hospital” group of qualified CAT 5 cable runners.

 

[Woody]

SpikeDaddy, you are correct on spelling. Spellcheck did me in once again. As for nitro, if a patient already has a heart condition warranting a script for nitro, by all means administer two within 5 minutes. If not prescribed, keep in mind, nitro can cause a dangerous sudden drop in blood pressure and can create a whole list of other issues. Being able to maintain hemodynamic stability with IV fluids is hugely important for a patient if administering nitro. The half life of nitro is short but in can be dangerous.

I always have Nitro pills in my right pants pocket. Change pants and in that pocket goes the Nitro and my Buck knife. What a habit, don't feel right until those two things are in there. Never have used the Nitro though but the knife it seems everyday.

 

[TimW]

An EKG can show you HAD a heart attack]

And (although not always) that you’re actively HAVING one.

Try and stay with the program.

 

[TimW]

Not surprised nobody told you you may have had one during stress test.
The shit that happens was unbelievable but it never makes it out…

Not surprised in the slightest that you would think that way. You appear to have the integrity/moral compass of a sea slug.
Go back to sweeping floors and pulling cables.

BTW, I used to respond to code blue calls from stress testing about twice a week when I was still working.

 

[mrsrobinson]

More common than you think. Hope she’s better!

She's better, they kept telling her it was heartburn. Had she not been in the hospital recovering from the prior day emergency ankle surgery she probably would not be with us now.