Firstly; I know I need to speak to a qualified doctor, but until I can manage to track down my Husband's doctor I am a little stuck,
Tuesday morning, my Husband had chest and arm pains which he kept to himself, I came home from work and he still didn't mention it. Few hours later he was in substantial discomfort; stupidly whilst heart attack was at the back of my mind I dismissed it as he is 41 and otherwise fit and healthy. He spent the rest of the night up and in pain taking two paracetamol to try and ease the pain, until I took him to the local walk in centre who performed an ECG, dosed him up on morphine and gave him GTN until the ambulance arrived. When I got to the hospital he was having tests, 2-3 hours later when I saw him and sat down with a nurse, they explained he'd had a heart attack and had two stents fitted, and he is having a 3rd fitted on Monday.
Obviously this was quite a shock so never asked many questions, and between going to and fro to the hospital and being Mum to the children I haven't been able to see anyone to ask questions. All my Husband has said is that they told him that it wasn't a warning one, it was serious. I have done some reading and tried to stay away from the horror stories but I just want to know if they will answer my questions at the hospital and if anyone can shine some light until then. He also had an echo cardiogram today, they told him there was some scarring and it needed further recovery?
Can they tell me the classification of the heart attack?
As the pain lasted so long and he/we waited 24 hours before seeking medical assistance was this just one heart attack or more, would they know?
Having two stents and needing a 3rd is this typical?
My husband is very stubborn and brushes things off far too easily, so I do have a concern he isn't telling me everything but he has given the hospital his permission to discuss his health with me and he has quite readily agreed to stop smoking, but is quite unhappy about the prospect of medication for life - the paracetamol was a big thing for him to do.
I know I need to speak to him and to the Dr's but it's this kind of time when my head starts whirring and I conjure up all sorts.
Hopefully someone can offer advice at this late hour,
One final thing there is family history of heart problems which only came to light yesterday.
TIA
Written by
banana1982
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I am not sure I can offer much medical help or answer any specific questions, But I do I know it can be particularly difficult for the partner or someone who has suffered this kind of 'sudden' event, I can only speak from the experience of being the one who had a/multiple heart attacks. I had several months of feeling weak and having heavy arms and some indigestion pains until the pain and discomfort got so bad that I was rushed to hospital and had a stent fitted aged 46. This was in 2008, I had been to the GP for a regular health check up – when the nurse was surprised by my very high blood pressure (I usually have low bp) and booked me in for an ECG on the Monday – she also sent me home with a blood pressure monitor over the weekend. This was really scary as the pressures were so high. The ECG didn't show anything significant but she wanted my doctor to see me. He prescribed me a GTN spray, which I had to use that night – I was in such agony but I still went into work and had a client meeting! The following morning I got up and felt so unwell, I called the GP and spoke to my doctor who told me to call an ambulance right away. I was rushed into hospital and the following morning I had a stent fitted, my artery was 95% blocked. They told me that I could have had multiple small heart attacks and that this is not unusual.
I made a full recovery, lost loads of weight and got much fitter, I felt better than I had in many years. I have since put a lot of weight back on due to stress at work but am in the process of taking myself in order again! I do have AFib now – but I don't think that has anything to do with my heart attack. I have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apneoa – and I think that is the cause of the AFib.
Try not to worry, there is so much they can do now in cardiology. It's in many ways so much harder being the supporting partner, when you are the one in the bed being looked after you feel safe. I know my partner still worries about me, and gets anxious if I complain about anything related to my heart. Try to take time to relax, look after yourself and learn as much as you can about cardiac recovery, in my experience the NHS did a fantastic job with me and were supportive, understanding and so helpful. Take all the help you are offered and keep strong for your husband.
AFIB is not uncommon after a heart attack as the scar tissue that forms on the heart can disrupt the electrical pathways that control the normal heart sinus rhythm.
Complicated scenario and one that is difficult to handle but try to handle it one meaningful step at a time. I think the hospital, Cardiology, has to write up what they find in the patient and what treatment they have given - and send a copy letter to the GP. You cold ask for a copy of this letter - may cost but worthwhile. Also list your key questions and try telephoning a Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation. Finally I have found that is good to get hold of the e-mail address for the main Cardiolgist involved - seeing your husband - and sending a polite e-mail with key factual questions. Also find out who is the main Co-Ordinator in the Cardilogy Unit for the Cardiologist involved and "cultivate" polite telephone (not too often) and e-mail contact with them - asking them to check with the Cardiologist. It has worked for and helped me in dealing with heart issues over a lengthy period of time. Best wishes.
When I had my first heart attack which I was getting pains for 16hrs before I went to docs and 12yrs later I had another one three months ago I had two stents fitted, so I would not worry the doctors know what they are doing and if you have any worries ask them they will tell you and explain everything
Hi, very similar story to yours but three months on now.
My husband had a heart attack at 38, ignored the signs for nearly 48 hours before going to the GP.
With hindsight have felt very guilty about not taking action sooner, especially as we knew there was an extremely strong family history. But when you're busy with family life and work, it is so easy to dismiss these things.
Anyway after 8 days in hospital and 2 stents he has come home and made a great recovery. Being younger and fitter definitely has its advantages when it comes to recovery.
I also was rushing between hospital and kids and didn't see anyone in the hospital to ask any questions. So a couple of weeks later we made a GP appointment and took along all the discharge notes and a list of questions. He was wonderful and went through it all with us. They pinpointed the exact time of heart attack for my husband, so I assume they should be able to do the same for you.
He was also given a phone number for a specialist cardiac rehab team and phoned them with questions quite a few times in the first few weeks.
However, his consultant appointment isn't until next month. I have at times felt very frustrated about having to wait that long, as still have so many unanswered questions. But I am using that time to do my own research, find out more about the family history and really try work out what it is we want/need to know.
It is an incredibly stressful thing to go through as a partner, and with children too it is absolutely exhausting. But it does get better, and sounds like you're coping amazingly.
The biggest risk factor for heart issues is age, which we can't do much about. But the second biggest risk factor is smoking, which we can do everything about! Right now, whilst your husband is super motivated, make sure he doesn't just pack in smoking, but he quits ALL nicotine, be it vaping or patches or nicotine lozenges.
And there's plenty that you can do regarding other critical lifestyle changes. Help move the entire household to the NHS's recommended Mediterranean diet, with very little salt, processed foods or takeaways.
Your husband needs 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week (which excludes the warm up and cool down periods), that's a big ask in a busy family agenda, so he'll need your help to carve out that time and stick to the exercise routine.
There are plenty of people on this forum who have enjoyed many years of healthy, active life following a heart attack, so it's all there to be aimed for. But with a family history of heart problems and a first heart attack at 41, your husband's health will have to become the defining factor in his life from now on. There's no need for panic, but neither is there room for "business as usual", this requires serious lifestyle changes and regular monitoring.
Pretty much teh same happened to me. I had pain in my back and horrific indigestion, really painful for two days and did nothing until the pain went down my arm and I rang 999. Ended up with two stents and had o go back after several weeks for another angiogram for two more possible blockages. The shock doesn't hit until a few days later. Some, not all of the tablets will be for life. Get him a pill box to sort them for a week. afraid he will just have to accept that.NO strenuous exercise for at least 3 weeks to let the stents bed in and no driving in that time. NO need to inform DVLA but tell your car insurers anyway but they won't care. He's less of a risk now he's been treated. In a couple of weeks he will hear from cardiac rehab. Make sure he does it. Exercise under supervision feels far safer. Don't let him start at a gym yet; gentle walking for now. Be guided by the rehab team. He MUST kick the smoking. Your local area will have a Quit Squad who can provide patches, lozenges or whatever suits. I stopped immediately for 6 months then a family upset set me off again. I'm now struggling to stop again and trying to step down with vaping. Not good but better than nothing. It's very very difficult and he will probably need support. Non smokers get on heir high horses and give lectures but they have no idea just how hard it is but it IS essential. Like you I found the lack of information after discharge to be dreadful. I needed answers.
After reading through your story and the replies, it emphasises how important it is to get treatment as soon as you first suspect a heart attack! The patient is always in denial, as was I, and nobody wants to cause a fuss.....big mistake!
I was fortunate as my wife was a nurse, I came home from the gym feeling very poorly but she wasted no time in calling 999. A paramedic arrived and quickly diagnosed a heart attack and it was blues and twos straight to the hospital and a stent was fitted within a few hours of first symtoms.
The importance of early treatment was explained to me by the consultant, he said heart muscle is unique, if the blood supply is not restored within about 4-6 hours then the heart muscle can be lost and won't repair itself like other muscles in the body, it just turns into scar tissue.
It's not all gloom though, there is evidence that the remaining undamaged muscle strengthens over time to restore the lost function, but it can take some time.
Don't be afraid to call a paramedic, it's their job and nobody will ever accuse you of wasting their time, the longer you leave it the greater the cost for everyone.
I was very similar aged 50, had pains and discomfort over a weekend and went to A & E on the Monday evening. Got there just before what they said would have been a very big heart attack but my heart had decided to slow down on the right hand side and the left side decided to work harder. Cutting a long story short 7 stents placed - yes a lot but turns out I had genetic narrow arteries with lots of blocked areas over 85%. (Docs will be able to tell your husband extent of blockages).
Like your husband I was never ill and never even took a paracetamol and suddenly was taking a cocktail of tablets every day, it takes a bit of getting used to, but he must take them, as some of them will make sure the stents keep those arteries open. First month or so I had side effects but got over it and my mantra was these pills are helping to keep me alive. Quite a few of them he may only be on for about a year. Add to that a few life changes, healthy diet and definitely giving up the ciggies, my cardiologist told me that was the biggest favour I did for myself (I vaped, cardiologist was totally cool with it and said the nicotine would not harm me it was all the other stuff in ciggies that was harmful for the heart & I now have no nicotine).
What I found very hard to deal with is accepting what had happened, I went through periods of being angry, upset or simply terrified, it was an emotional roller coaster. For the first few months every twinge I got I thought this is it, here comes the big one. I even ended up at A & E one evening with bad chest pain, which turned out to be trapped wind! Your hubbie will have good days and bad days its all part of the recovery.
I had loads of questions and found the heart rehab nurses really helpful, this site is brilliant, loads of support and so is the telephone support from the heart foundation nurses. I have spoken to loads of people that have heart scaffolding (my name for my stents), some 1 or 2 and some with loads like me (people tend to look horrified when I say 7), and they have had them years a couple I know have had to had bypasses as their blockages were not suitable for stents and I just think if needs be as I am not ready for the departure lounge.
It is early days for your husband and he has a lot to accept and come to terms with. I wish him luck and if he has questions we are all very supportive on here.
There is light at the end of the tunnel I am nearly at my one year anniversary and feel great.
Thank you all for replying, it's been really useful and I do feel much better than I did last night.
It is early days but he remains steadfast about giving up smoking and hasn't had any cravings so far. As for exercise his usual routine includes a daily 4 mile walk Monday to Friday so time to build exercise won't be a problem.
He had his echo cardiogram yesterday, so far he has been told that there is scarring and there may be up to 40% damage to his heart, but we will await a proper discussion with the Dr instead of dwelling on the what if's.
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