Heart attack 3 weeks ago and feeling confused. Need advice.

[Kirsten47]

Hi everyone, I'm a 47 year old woman who had a heart attack 3 weeks ago. I was a 40 plus a day smoker, under extreme stress and overweight. I started to feel unwell in the evening so went to bed. I woke up at 2 minutes to midnight feeling dehydrated and rotten. Drinking water really stung my heart. Anyway, long story short - I had severe heart pain, stomach pain, shortness of breath and although I just knew it was a heart attack I convinced myself it wasnt. The pain went on for about All night and after about an hour I got awful joint pain - I convinced myself the joint pain was arthritis. I couldn't sleep - the pain was too intense and then the vomiting started. come 9.30 in the morning all pain except central chest pain had gone. At 10 am I allowed my partner to convince me to go to doctors.

Doc called an ambulance and as ecg didn't show I was having a heart attack I was taken to cramlington hospital. At hospital myblood showed my troponin level to be 2000 and they did a heart scan and says thankfully no heart damage. I was given morphine - which only took the pain away for 5 minutes and put on their coronary ward and told they will transfer me to Freeman hospital as soon as they have a bed available.

I couldn't keep awake, my chest pain never went away so they put me on a GTN fusion and when that went to 4 per hour it finally freed me from my chest pain (1.45pm Thursday) I managed to wake up for a couple hours too before being too sleepy again. Friday morning my doctor told me she was livid that I was still there - I'd been through too much and she would be on the phone to Freeman's at 9am. My blood pressure dropped really low and they couldn't stabilise it at around 10am. They dropped my gtn down to 1 and the immense chest pain was back, but still my BP wouldn't stabilise. By 11am they told me I had a bed at Freeman's and were awaiting an ambulance.

I arrived at Freeman's, went for the procedure within 2 hours of arriving. Had 2 stents fitted to 1 artery and a balloon opened another. Was told I had a blood clot so given something overnight by iv.

Next morning docs came round, didn't ask how I was, says your going home today so I asked how long till I can drive. He said probably a week, We will give you a scan before you leave and let you know.

An hour later he came to do the scan, said, well that was a shock, I wasn't expecting to see that and asked if I had had any pain since the procedure to which I said yes and of he went. He came back about 30 minutes later saying can I stay in for 24 hours more do they can try stabilise my BP and get my meds sorted as the scan shows severe damage to my heart and it will be weeks before can drive!

Anyway next day I'm discharged, blood pressure still low and I'm left with no answers. I asked the doc before he discharged me how comes after heart attack when they did the heart scan at cramlington it showed NO damage and now it shows severe damage. He said he wasbt aware I'd had a scan at cramlington (in which case why was he shocked at my scan result?) And off he went to look for it. Came back and said he cant see anything on my records to say they scanned my heart and that was that

What does it mean please that my heart is severely damaged? Will it eventually heal fully? How can it have happened? Another heart attack or simply the days between arriving at hospital and having the stents? How do I know if the blood clot has gone? I feel really let down by the Freeman's which has a marvelous reputation but I couldn't fault cramlington. I just feel abandoned and left with no answers. I have a heart scan booked in for 30th June at a local hospital and I've read about EF on these forums, but as I have bo idea what mine was on the Saturday at Freeman's I have nothing to compare it to on the 30th to see if its improving.

I had an app with a rehab nurse last Wednesday and she isn't even aware of any heart scans or heart damage I've got.

I understand its normal to feel alone and frightened after a heart attack but I dont know how to get the answers I need.

Do I ever see a cardiologist or is this it?

I saw my gp for 2 weeks in a row upon being discharged as she is meant to up my meds once my BP has stabilised but it still has not, so my next app with her is not for 4 weeks when she is hoping it will have stabilized by then.

Oh and I've given up the smokes haven't had one since the heart attack

Please any advice will be appreciated.

[Maisie2014]

Phew Kirsten47. I’m exhausted reading what happened to you. There are a lot of similarities with myself and others on this site so I’ve no doubt you’ll get good advice here. I think it’s a sign of the times with hospital treatment these days. Lack of resources and your own personal panic. When I was in hospital I kept a notepad by the bed so I could keep a note of what was happening to me. No one believed I was having a heart attack because my Troponin level was so low. I don’t blame the hospital I kept blaming Jeremy Hunt. Silly I know but I was so angry. Still am. You sound as though you are too. Try to keep calm and make a notebook. It may help. Take care

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Kirsten

Sounds like you’ve had a dreadful experience. This forum is a great place to get support though.

I’m finding it difficult to fit together what you’ve been told and what has actually happened to you and you might find it helpful to talk to one of the BHF nurses (contact details below). I imagine that one of the Docs you saw was working for the main consultant cardiologist but you should have been given a clear indication of what was wrong and what your next steps should be. When I had my heart attack I was treated between two hospitals and there were some miscommunication issues so maybe they’re both thinking that each other is doing to cardio rehab etc? But do talk to the BHF nurses who I’m sure will be able to set you straight. Good luck Kirsten.

The Heart Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The number to call is 0300 330 3311.

You can also email us at [e-mail]

[DaveyG71]

Hi Kirsten, I too am from your area and actually went same hospital route as yourself. I had a inferior STEMI almost 6 weeks ago, went to Crammie where this was confirmed and was immediately blue lighted to freeman! I cannot complain about ether hospital the whole thing was fixed within 4 hours 2 stents and lots of meds as mine was caused by narrowing of thee arteries. I was issued with lots of paperwork next day which explained everything that had happened and I’m now awaiting cardiac MRI appt to check other 2 arteries that are blocked/narrowing. I think where my care breaks down is at gp level! I have had to chase them for everything, review appts bloods etc it’s a nightmare, I even had to chase them for my home visit which they said they don’t do anymore however my cardio rehab team told

Me they do and they must!! Low and behold I got a home visit 2days later!

Anxiety and a form of PTSD is normal after a heart episode I have some horrendous lows but more normal days these days! I try to forget about my issues and get on with my life now! The way I see it is if the cardiologists aren’t worried about my heart then I shouldn’t be.

Hope this helps

[Chappychap]

Congratulations on giving up smoking!

That's your number one risk factor sorted.

If you can get your weight down to a healthy BMI (some authorities say a better target is a waist measurement that's half or less than your height, so a 5'4" woman needs a 32" waist or smaller) then you'll have sorted your second biggest risk factor. Getting your weight under control is doubly effective if along the way you get rid of sugary, highly processed junk foods and stick to a Meditaranean diet that's rich in fruit, veg, oily fish, and unprocessed whole foods.

The third most important thing you can do to lower your risk of another heart attack is exercise regularly. The NHS and the British heart Foundation both recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week.

I appreciate your head is spinning, and you want more answers than you're currently getting, but the really important thing is reducing the risk of this nightmare happening again. And that means serious life style changes alongside your medication.

Some (but sadly not all) hospitals offer cardio rehab courses for heart patients, where you'll get a lot more help to make these critical life style changes. Ask your hospital about this.

Good luck, and once again well done for quitting smoking. That's the hardest job done, if you can quit smoking then you can fix your weight and exercise too, for a hat trick of heart protection measures!

[shopman]

I'm not a great advocate of NSECH but do think their Cardio Dept is more up to scratch than some of their other Departments. Was taken there once but once they had my history and notes suggested perhaps I was in the wrong place and should go to the Freeman instead - something which I had said all along.

It is good you have stopped the evil weed now all you have to do is combat the inevitable weight gain. I gave up a 60 a day habit and have never been away from my GP since - not saying smoking was ever good for me but believe it did mask all the other problems I have ended up with.

If it helps at all trying to explain why they cannot see your results at the Freeman they are still having some issues communicating between Northumbria & Newcastle. Letters seem mostly OK but scans & xrays are a different matter.

[Clerkenweller]

As others have said you need to start taking notes of everything. The hospitals must send a report of your treatment to your GP and you have a right to ask for a copy. Keep copies of everything and always take them with you. Before seeing any doctor write down beforehand your questions and their answers. Then read BHF literature and work on your weight/diet and of course fitness. You will get and feel better although as many on this site will tell you it is abumpy road. Don’t worry. Stress only makes things worse. Good luck.

[Nuttyshirlz]

Sorry you had such a bad time. I can’t fault freemen’s. The years there looked after my dad with his heart and many bypasses even telling us kids to look after ourselves. My dad died at 51 with his heart and I’m now 52 and suffer with high blood pressure. Don’t think anyone really needs a diet just need to cut out the bad stuff and eat more of the good. My dad wasn’t overweight. Good luck 🙂