myocardial infarction

[nitroman]

I had a myocardial infarction Friday. It is easy to be flippant about it now because everything is relative, meaning just to feel normal again feels really good. I was able to keep an actual amount of food down TONIGHT for the first time since my last meal on Thursday.

I had a “warning” ischemia Wednesday, but immediately chewed three aspirin and lay down for a half hour, and didn’t give it further thought. On Friday though, it came on much more strongly AND I didn’t have any aspirin to take, so it became an infarct. ALWAYS HAVE ASPIRIN ON YOUR PERSON.

The one thing books don’t teach students about myocardial infarctions is how much they hurt. For the first time since hurting my back I didn’t think about that even once for the next 36 hours. Religious or not, you say out loud, “kill me God, just kill me”… and you truly mean it. It has to end sometime, after all. No sense being in agony for the rest of your life.

As is the case in matters concerning death, military training makes it much easier to face. For instance, they can kill the “me” but they can’t kill the “we.” That only means some of us may die, but as a group we will succeed. Even cavemen out on a hunt knew the importance of that. A mammoth may stomp on one of them, but the tribe would survive if the hunt were successful.

I am quite sure LEC will survive unscathed whether I am here or not. I only wish that applied in other areas of life.

[HJ2]

[Fredjohn]

More commonly known as a heart attack. Hope you are recovering ok and getting good treatment.

What diagnosis have they given?

Seriously get well soon. Full recovery is possible these days. Take it easy and don't stress out.

All the best

[Nobby]

likewise, hope you are recovering well and your soon back to norm.

All the best Nobby.

[RayD]

Sorry to hear about this Matt, you'll be back to normal in no time.

All the best

Ray

[epipete]

Well survived Matt, the forum, not least, would be the poorer for your absence!

What are the symptoms, that you experienced, of ischemia on Wednesday that prompted the aspirin dose?

Pete

[Fredjohn]

Matt
Just a few words of encouragement for you.

I was out Xmas shopping with my better half 2 years ago, and I had a severe giddy/feinting spell (nothing to do with the present she wanted!!!). I didn't actualy feint, but it took about half an hour to recover. Went to see the doctor within 1 hour and he referred me to specialists for further tests etc etc.
The upshot was my aortic valve was packing up (technical term aortic stenosis), and 6 months later in June I had a replacement valve, so I have a bit of pig keeping me going.

I only spent 4 days in hospital and exactly 4 months after the op I did a charity cycle ride of 30 miles in under 2 hours. I recovered very quickly, mainly because I have generally always been fit and active: I actually did an 8 mile walk two weeks before the op and was less tired then my partner! I then did 2 weeks skiing last winter perfectly OK, no side effects and am fully recovered now. My only medication is 75mg apirin daily.

It now almost feels like nothing happened. I did various excercise routines in a physio class as part of my recovery plan. There were heart attack victims in the same class, all recovering well and being "normal". So do not despair: there is normal life after a heart attack.

And I am off skiing again in 3 weeks.

Incidentally all of my care was through our NHS not private health: people often knock the NHS, but all I can say is I had absolutely 1st class care from the NHS and they were truly wonderful. Guess you don't have that in the US, so private is the only option.

So get good care, do what they say (!) and recover quickly, and then party

John

[nitroman]

What are the symptoms, that you experienced, of ischemia on Wednesday that prompted the aspirin dose?
Pete

I think it is normal at 50 for your heart to send a non-painful, but not-normal signal for a few seconds. That has happened hundreds, probably thousands of times. Wednesday though, the feeling didn’t go away, it PERSISTED. When I also got nauseous I knew I needed to take an action.

I think everyone’s experience though, is unique.

On Friday it started with an acute, severe headache which lasted for 3 minutes. The moment that went away I started having really bad chest pains, and other symptoms kept piling on without any being taken away. My lower jaw felt like the Klitschko brothers clocked me left & right. The chest pain exacerbated directly behind my sternum… obviously not a surface pain… it was totally outside of my experience (I think that’s the key point here). You know what’s normal for you, and what is COMPLETELY not normal.
Tingling in my complete upper body.
Left arm felt especially weak.
Thumbs pulled in towards palms like when you’ve exceeded your down-time diving.
Dry-heaves due to not eating yet that day, otherwise would have thrown up.

Cardiac muscle, unlike smooth or striated muscle, cannot be regenerated after your growing years are over at 16 or 17. The heart can only repair itself with scar tissue. Unlike muscle tissue, scar tissue cannot contract, which is muscle tissue’s sole raison d'être. If cardiac ischemia persists to become an infarct, necrotic cardiac muscle is replaced with scar tissue, your heart cannot contract as well, and doesn’t pump as much blood as it used to. Each case is a matter of infinately variable degree.

[inkitin]

Been there, done that (March this year), got the tee-shirt and very pleased that you're OK and here to tell us the story.

As you say, all our experiences are different and I can only say that I was extremely fortunate in not suffering such pain as you have described.

Looking on the positive side I can say that, despite it all, I now feel great and a lot better than before it happened.

Keep taking the tablets and, more importantlly, keep well!

[nitroman]

I now feel great and a lot better than before it happened

What do you attribute that to?

I have a bit of pig keeping me going.

So women slap you & call you that because of your heart valve?

[epipete]

Thanks for the explanation, will you be changing your name to Nitroglycerin Man?

[Fredjohn]

I have a bit of pig keeping me going.

So women slap you & call you that because of your heart valve?

Oh how I wish As it is my partner just threatens me with a BBQ spit-roast: I used to love pork, now I feel like a cannibal everytime I eat it.

[inkitin]

I now feel great and a lot better than before it happened

What do you attribute that to?

Without realising it, I think I had been heading for it for at least 6 if not 12 months. My wife commented that she had noticed me "slowing down" and in her words "turning old in front of her eyes"!

Having two stents installed within a couple of hours of the attack has obviously improved the blood flow. The tablets I'm taking, I think, are additionally having an effect.

Oh and there's just a slight possibility that giving up smoking has helped!

[lotos]

Wow, that's terrible news and I'm glad you're around to tell us about it. I wish you a speedy recovery.

I'm afflicted with the opposite issue, I have thin blood and a platelet issue (low VW factor) so if I took aspirin that could be the end for me.

[muley]

Matt

Hope your recovery continues well.

Take care

Jim

[HJ2]

I Always wanted a pig, but living in the old city centre of Delft, that was not an option for me (got a kid now ) Althoug there is a woman here who walks her piggy like a dog...
But the asperin sounds doable, so i'll keep a package in the Elan for whomever might need it.

Anyway, all the best and i hope you'll recover soon!

[nitroman]

Thanks for the explanation, will you be changing your name to Nitroglycerin Man?

I can't decide whether you're saying I'm an explosive hot-head or to put you in charge of my public relations.

[epipete]

Twas a droll but badly conceived and executed pun on your tag name juxtaposed with a medicine used in the treatment of heart conditions, most notably angina; and, yes, your right, I wish, along with everyone else here, that I hadn't bothered

Nevertheless, wishing you a quick and complete recovery.

Pete

[nitroman]

Twas a droll but badly conceived and executed pun on your tag name juxtaposed with a medicine used in the treatment of heart conditions, most notably angina; and, yes, your right, I wish, along with everyone else here, that I hadn't bothered

Nevertheless, wishing you a quick and complete recovery.

Pete

I though it clever. In trying to be as droll as you I was perhaps so successful I pushed the bar fully over to boring. Never do anything half-way. Yay me!

PS - In matters of medicine it's a fair assumption I'll understand straight away.

[HJ2]

My vote goes to: Head of PR... definately