2.38: 2.38. Early hours of Tuesday 3... - British Heart Fou...

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2.38

maryfoster profile image
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2.38. Early hours of Tuesday 30 May. I’m 82, fit, active, no health problems. I’ve spent the previous day gardening, nothing heavy, and have gone to bed and to sleep as usual. I’m alone: my husband died 19 months ago but I’m coping well. Family and friends are all around.

The pain that wakes me is between my shoulder blades, intense. I know there’s something seriously wrong but I’ve no idea I’m having a heart attack. Impossible, the pains would be in my chest.

One hour: I’m rolling down the Ecclesbourne Valley in an ambulance on my way to the Royal Derby.

The cardiac liaison nurse who, a week later, is helping me get ready for home, says few people know the full facts of heart attack pain. I didn’t know the pains might be across the back orin the throat and that women especially might experience them in those places rather than in the chest. Friends who’ve called in since I came home didn’t know either. Look up Signs of a Heart Attack on the internet and the emphasis is always first on chest pains.

I’d like to help in any way possible to give wider publicity to the signs of heart attack in women. I’m used to contacting local media, including social media. I should like your advice as to what I can usefully do to turn my experience into something positive.

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maryfoster profile image
maryfoster
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9 Replies
Twobells profile image
Twobells

Like you I had no pain whatsoever, I'm female and all I had was breathlessness and just felt generally unwell. I agree that maybe Bhf could do new advert on tv regarding symptoms of heart attack as they are not always in the chest for either sex.

maryfoster profile image
maryfoster in reply to Twobells

Thank you for sharing your experience. It would be good to raise awareness more widely as none of my friends who've called to see me since I got home knew about the different areas people might feel pain.

Julel profile image
Julel

I'm 63,had a heart attack just after walking the dog three miles and ironing. Completely out of the blue. I had very little pain at all, just a slightly tight chest ( thought I was coming down with a cold!) it was the cold sweat, vision issues and sudden shortness of breath that warned me. I'd no idea what was wrong but thought I was going to pass out and rang an ambulance. I was very lucky as they arrived within 15 minutes and it's a bit of a blur after that until I woke up in critical care.

I do agree that there needs to be a lot more information and publicity out there about the symptoms women may, or may not experience. Perphaps BHF could consider it.

Twobells profile image
Twobells in reply to Julel

I had triple bypass and I'm still in shock, I was in very good health, exercised ate healthy normal blood pressure so never thought this would happen to me. I hope you are doing OK now. You are very wise to seek medical help when you did.

maryfoster profile image
maryfoster in reply to Twobells

I'm the same, so surprised and puzzled why it's happened to me. I had wonderful care and am cautiously getting back to normal now. I'm lucky to have a garden I can get out to work in - or just sit in the shade these past few days!

maryfoster profile image
maryfoster in reply to Julel

Thank you for sharing what happened to you. I hope you're doing well now. Will someone from Bhf see these posts or do I need to forward them?

Julel profile image
Julel in reply to maryfoster

I don't know if all posts are read. Sorry, it seems a bit hit and miss.

Kristin1812 profile image
Kristin1812Heart Star in reply to Julel

Hi Julie. I have seen slightly more recently about women having different heart symptoms, to men. My experience was a bit similar to yours during my three heart attacks. Low levels of chest pain, with heavy left arm, neck pain, breathlessness and central back pain. Also an urgent feeling of 'impending doom'! Sounds rather dramatic, but true!

I have noticed that this pattern of angina symptoms is usually v similar. It's useful to tell emergency services that you previously experienced the same low level of pain with your heart attack.

LesleyJ59 profile image
LesleyJ59 in reply to Julel

That's very interesting - I had a similar experience to Julel but it passed and I called my son to come and fetch me as I'd driven to a nearby town. It wasn't until three months later that I went to hospital A and E to get recurrent chest tightness and discomfort spreading into my upper back, along my arms and into my jaw checked out. It was only a blood test that revealed I'd had a small heart attack and there was nothing wrong with my arteries - initially I was told it was just a digestive issue and they were going to send me home with some antacids...

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