gk4ever2
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 2,634
On Sunday 2/24 I was working around the house and at about 9:15 PM I quickly began to feel VERY sore in my upper back. At first I thought it was from the work I was doing, but I realized the pain came on much too quickly and was far too intense to be normal muscle soreness. I had a coronary artery blockage, so I started taking nitroglycerin tablets and 325 mg aspirin. 15 minutes later I felt better but still not normal, so I rested for another 15 minutes before I realized that I needed help and then I called 911 at 9:45.
The paramedics arrived in just 5 minutes or so. I was sitting on the couch and I spent a minute or two explaining to them my medical history and how I felt while they were connecting me to some of their equipment. The next thing I was aware of is that I was on the floor and they said my heart had stopped and they had performed CPR and used a defibrillator to shock my heart and brought me back. The hospital is about 15 minutes from my house and the emergency room personnel were waiting when I arrived. After some quick routine stuff in the ER, I was taken to have an angiogram which revealed my LAD artery was nearly totally blocked, so they inserted a stent to open the blockage. I spent 2 nights in cardiac ICU, one more night in a regular hospital room, and I was released on Wed. morning.
The location of my blockage in the LAD artery is commonly called the "widow maker" because it is often fatal. If I had waited just a few more minutes to call 911, I might not have survived. I was tempted to drive myself to the hospital, but fortunately I did not because I probably would have died before I got there. I feel extremely blessed to have survived this experience and for such a speedy recovery.
Become familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack - they can include unexpected pain (especially if it is intense) in the chest, back, shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or even just unusual shortness of breath, nausea, tiredness, sweating, or some combination of these. In addition to the initial upper back pain, my left arm starting hurting and I was sweating (unusual in the winter). I know 2 guys that thought they were just extra tired and becoming ill, and they both died that night from a heart attack. If you have unexplained symptoms, call 911 - do not put it off!
Here is some info from the American Heart Association:
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...igns-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_002039_Article.jsp
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...tack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Heart Attack
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...gnosis-of-Heart-Attack_UCM_002041_Article.jsp
Take care, and God bless you!
Gene
The paramedics arrived in just 5 minutes or so. I was sitting on the couch and I spent a minute or two explaining to them my medical history and how I felt while they were connecting me to some of their equipment. The next thing I was aware of is that I was on the floor and they said my heart had stopped and they had performed CPR and used a defibrillator to shock my heart and brought me back. The hospital is about 15 minutes from my house and the emergency room personnel were waiting when I arrived. After some quick routine stuff in the ER, I was taken to have an angiogram which revealed my LAD artery was nearly totally blocked, so they inserted a stent to open the blockage. I spent 2 nights in cardiac ICU, one more night in a regular hospital room, and I was released on Wed. morning.
The location of my blockage in the LAD artery is commonly called the "widow maker" because it is often fatal. If I had waited just a few more minutes to call 911, I might not have survived. I was tempted to drive myself to the hospital, but fortunately I did not because I probably would have died before I got there. I feel extremely blessed to have survived this experience and for such a speedy recovery.
Become familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack - they can include unexpected pain (especially if it is intense) in the chest, back, shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or even just unusual shortness of breath, nausea, tiredness, sweating, or some combination of these. In addition to the initial upper back pain, my left arm starting hurting and I was sweating (unusual in the winter). I know 2 guys that thought they were just extra tired and becoming ill, and they both died that night from a heart attack. If you have unexplained symptoms, call 911 - do not put it off!
Here is some info from the American Heart Association:
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...igns-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_002039_Article.jsp
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...tack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Heart Attack
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Condi...gnosis-of-Heart-Attack_UCM_002041_Article.jsp
Take care, and God bless you!
Gene
