A humbling experience

[Ronstar70]

What started out as a day off work to finish the garden path, turned into a day I will never forget. After a delivery of gravel and several wheelbarrows later to complete the garden path, I became aware of a mild pain at the top of my chest. A few minutes later my left arm began to ache. Never really felt like this before so assumed it was down to me over exerting myself and perhaps pulling a muscle? A call to 111 and a Doctor would call me back within the hour. Over 2 hours had passed and I was feeling slightly better. Missed the call from the Doctor who left a message to say if pains getting worse go to the hospital. It wasn’t. As I was feeling better I tidied up the garden. My wife then arrived home from work and I received another call from the Doctor to say I was having a heart attack and phone for an Ambulance. Wow, what a shock to hear that, which he did repeat 3 times. As we live between 3 biggish hospitals and I had reasons to go to one, I decided to drive myself than take the chance of going to another one. On arrival to A&E was immediately hooked up to an ECG which looked ok. After bloods was taken a once over by the doctor and I thought I might be going home, which he suggested.15 minutes later the doctor came over and said he had given me false hope, and I had had a heart attack and I would be transferred to the heart specialist hospital. By now it was 2.30 in the morning and I was told I would be having an angiogram first thing in the morning.

The procedure was fine with a mild sedative and was told I had a complete blockage in my RCA. A stent was not fitted at the time just the blockage cleared. There was lots of clothing so a stent would be fitted after I had been on the blood thinning drip for 48 hours

An early start again for the stent to be fitted and this time I felt a bit more like a pro having had the procedure for a second time. I did feel more this time and it was a weird feeling when your breathing changes. A few shallow breaths later and all complete.

Apart from a massive bruise on my arm, feeling fine and trying not to overdo things.

Looking back I was a bit naive and perhaps stupid. When you feel indestructible, it is hard to believe you could suffer a heart attack. Lesson certainly learnt.

Wanted to say that everyone who looked after me was fantastic and I really did receive first class service

The innocent path in the pic

[Prada47]

Hi Ron

Just to say if you live in the Dorset Area and are looking for a contract to do my path just send me a message !!!

Seriously sounds like you had a Lucky Escape which sounds a bit silly but reading your post, sounds as though you have had good treatment and it's all been in time. So sounds like not a lot of damage will have been done.

Wishing all the best but remember take care.

Regards

[Lezzers]

Cricky, I'm so glad our builder is laying our path!!! Glad to hear you were so well looked after. Take it easy now, enjoy the sunshine & concentrate on your recovery. Take care

[Mirador19]

So glad you are all sorted and feeling better, rehab will hopefully be your next thing. Take care.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Can't endorse enough when a doctor or medical professional says call an ambulance that is what you must do. A year ago someone I knew drove to his GP about ongoing indigestion. The GP was fairly sure it was a heart attack and called an ambulance. This was extremely fortunate as he arrested in the ambulance and may not have been around today if he had not been in the ambulance.

Anyway glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. You should be offered rehab in a few weeks - if not do chase it up. For now gently does it!

[Lezzers in reply to MichaelJH]

When my husband was first poorly with pains etc, he was gonna drive to the GP but I persuaded him to take a taxi. He'd started to walk home afterwards & bumped into a friend who gave him a lift home, within 20 mins of being home he went into cardiac arrest. The walk home would have taken 30 plus mins.... he would not have made it!! Never take chances!

[Clerkenweller]

Good news. Do take it gently since you have a way to go before fully recovered.

[Lilyrosy]

So pleased to hear you are on the road to recovery.

You are the only other person that I have heard of that had a similar symptom. Just an ache, not a pain, in my arm while walking which I stupidly ignored for over a year.

When I eventually went to the doctor a series of tests followed over a 5 month period and in August last year I had my CABGx4.

I think if I had ignored it for much longer it may have been a different outcome.

Quite obvious really, listen to your body!

Thankfully you did .

[PhilGM]

Thanks for telling your story Ronstar, I had a similar experience but over a period of 6 months, kept passing every test but getting worse so in spite of being told it was just anxiety as my dad died at 39 with coronary thrombosis I kept going back. Had a angiogram revealing 3 blockages resulting in CAB x2. One artery was too bad to bypass so whilst I am still here 2 years later I still have some pain. The moral is always act upon what your body tells you and then persist in telling every man and his dog even though we try try to grin and bear it! Good luck and enjoy your garden!

[Mike424u]

My storey is very similar to yours, but worse, I was in total denial for a couple of days until it got to the point I almost collapsed after cutting the grass one evening, then had to be rushed in to hospital, blue light, and end up with 7 stents, I'm lucky to be alive and grateful for every day I now have.

[MattUK]

Nice path!

Yes its always weird how it hits us, I was also doing the garden and thought nothing of it being a heart attack, was convinced it was just a throat problem, and even the doc thought strep throat but wanted an A&E check first.. just as well he did!

[Lezzers]

Cricky, it seems gardening isn't that good for your health at all!!

[Rosei]

I had just been to the pain( for another problem) when I left, got in the car and got " indigestion" on the way through town to home, after a couple of hours decided to walk to the Doctors, by then it's 6.30 pm, the receptionist said the doc would only see emergencies, told her what was wrong and she relented, got into see the doc pronto and after an initial check, he called an ambulance, the only scary bit was when he brought in the defibrillator, fortunately not needed

[Rosei in reply to Rosei]

Sorry, pain clinic