Post heart attack - symptoms. Should I be worried?

[Snowshill]

12 December had a spontaneous coronary artery dissection which caused a heart attack. Been home for 3 weeks. Day to day ok, gentle walks and bit of household pottering.

Today felt hot & clammy when just standing. Bit later get lightly tingly & dead left hand. General left sided chest tightness & discomfort. Left side of face a bit tingly. Lethargic and not even wanting to watch tv or read.

Put my head back for an hour. Feel bit better.

Is this a normal recovery patter - good days and bad days?

Knowing when to go to a doctor or take the wait and see option is difficult. Don’t really want another trip to hospital.

Anyone had similar symptoms in the weeks after an attack?

Thanks.

[Lezzers]

Hi Snowshill. I think it would be a good idea to get medical help, just to be on the safe side. If it was me I think I would be calling an ambulance. Take care hope you're feeling better soon

[Snowshill in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you. All the symptoms disappear, hence my confusion. It doesn’t feel like when the original attack occurred.

[Lezzers in reply to Snowshill]

Maybe ring the NHS helpline number for advice. Do you have a gtn spray & did you use it?

[Nathan53]

I really understand your feeling of not wanting to go to hospital etc I can be the worst at trying to diagnose myself to avoid what I experience as 'hassle' but I can only say overcome your reluctance and get yourself to a walk in centre or hosp. They will understand check you over.

[Snowshill]

No GTN spray prescribed. See how things go this evening.

[Zena166]

Hi snowshill. As others have said you should seek medical advice. Any type of tingling or weakness resulting in feeling unwell should be investigated. It seems like hassle but better to be safe and getting it sorted. Hope you get it sorted. Take care. Zena

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Snowshill,

I agree with everyone else's advice you should seek medical advice sooner rather than later.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an unusual cause of a heart attack.

It is not well understood and recognised and perhaps you need a referral to a specialist.

There is one in based in Leicester the other Charing Cross hospital London.

scad.lcbru.le.ac.uk/

I hope feel better soon

[kizza67]

I had a scad causing a heart attack last July and have had all sorts of pains since the doctor and cardiologist didn't seem to concerned I'm waiting to see a specialist in Leicester in February. I think you should speak to your doctor about your symptoms are you on lots of medication and what have they said to you about any treatment do you mind me asking how old you are and are you female you should go on beatscad website very interesting to read other people's stories

[Upe_]

I had suspected SCAD heart attack in November with some central chest pain, shortness of breath and general weakness/exhaustion for a week after discharge (ie 10 -11 days after the event). I attributed the latter to six new medicines that I was started on whilst in hospital but booked to see my saw my GP, who increased bisoprolol and prescribed GTN. I haven’t used GTN yet and gradually got stronger, could walk much further and some 5-6 weeks after the event started phased return to work (not promoting this idea) - I felt good!

I would consult a doctor or call a BHF nurse as I saw recommended in this forum to other people, when the symptoms you described are not bothering you. I’d call ambulance if they are present to this extent. Yes, with embarrassment and worry about bothering people but I would call.

SCAD, as you know, is less well known therefore “when to?” question may be more difficult to answer.

PS Have you come across a “heart sisters” website? It’s not specific for SCAD but it has some very useful articles, and made me think differently about seeking help.

[Greenlavender]

Hi there I had my scd in Oct. I've had 2 visits to A&E both not my heart (thankfully). First costra condritis chest wall pains - caused after all the resuscitation I had. The second dizziness feeling faint....... Hospital sent me home with sickness meds saying I had an inner ear problem. My doc discovered I still had really low blood pressure caused by the meds. I have 6 too. I've had 3 doses halved and finally can drive and don't feel dizzy all the time.

So at this early stage you cannot make your own assumptions. Get help if you are unsure. You know your body. Good luck.

After joining this forum this week I've now signed up for information from Leicester re scad too. Thanks to contributers advice.

[JoanyB]

Sorry being a somewhat late to comment but I’ve been a bit busy and don’t check the posts every day.

First of all, how are you feeling Snowshill? Do get your symptoms checked out if they continue for a time or re-occur. I’ve been unlucky to have had 2 SCADs but lucky to have had no real on-going effects so unfortunately can’t help with your particular query, except to say that SCAD patients do seem to have a variety of symptoms that could possibly be their dissections healing.

Milkfairy has kindly given you the link to the Leicester specialists, and on that site you can join the important research ( scad.lcbru.le.ac.uk/content... ) and/or get a referral to one of the specialists ( scad.lcbru.le.ac.uk/node/53 ) via your GP or cardiologist if you feel it necessary (some of us Scadsters get lucky with our cardiologist and other, like me, get ones that know b*****all about SCAD!l). If you sign up for the research it doesn’t mean you will automatically get a referral, and vice versa. By the way, with there being so few SCAD specialists it does mean waiting a few months for the referral appointment.

The following message (and the above) goes to Kizza67, Upe and Greenlavender :):

Also on the Leicester site, under ‘’PATIENTS & FAMILY’ - ‘Interesting Links’ there is a link to the SCAD Survivors Support Group for the UK & Ireland. I would strongly recommend joining this closed group where you can ask questions of / give support to your peers, and also the BeatSCAD* Trustees can give really good advice and keep us up-dated on the latest research and happenings. Oh, and we have small meet-ups every so often in the various UK areas

Sorry for the rambling post!

JoanyB

* BeatSCAD is the charity that raises funds for the research and tries to get the information ‘out there’ to all health professionals ( beatscad.org.uk/ )

PS: By the way Milkfairy, the London specialist is at Chelsea & Westminster not Charing Cross

[Snowshill in reply to JoanyB]

Thanks for your reply. I have not had a recurrence of those symptoms. Frustrated by the lack of information regarding recovery and expectations of activity levels. If I walk really slowly 2 to 3 miles I am too tired the following day to do anything. Likewise if I spend a day doing things in the house (other than sitting) I am tired next day.

I work in the hospital and my ward manager is thinking I will be off for over 2 months which shocked me. Now I appreciate she may be correct.

[JoanyB in reply to Snowshill]

Sorry for another delayed response! You are still in the very early days and your heart needs time to recover (just like a broken leg!!). I am retired so going back to work didn't apply, but I would think the timescale you've been given would be right. There are various opinions, and it obviously depends on the severity of the dissection, but it should be healed by a couple of months. Have you been referred for Cardio Rehab where you can build up your exercise under the supervision of trained instructors and cardio nurses? If offered, do go (or if not offered push for it!). It will help enormously with getting confidence back in the body that's let you down.

Depending on how SCAD savvy your cardiologist is, and if they schedule tests to check on healing (non-invasive CT angiogram) and heart function/damage(MRI), do think of getting referred to the specialist clinics in Leicester or London who will arrange these tests for you and give SCAD specific advice.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to JoanyB]

Hi JoanyB

Thanks for the info about Chelsea and Westminster.

Are you actively involved in beatscad charity?

Nothing like the lived experience of a condition to be be able give your fantastic encoraging advice

[JoanyB in reply to Milkfairy]

No, not involved with the charity! And thanks for your kind words. Some people get amazing follow up care, others like me are cast adrift and I want to help them find the available information on SCAD :).