Possible heart attack

[Leeds7]

Hi all

I had a small heart attack in Oct 2015, had one stent then and another in January and then another in July of 2016. I haven’t felt right all the way through, continual chest pains at rest and walking and breathlessness. Nobody can seem to get to the bottom of things. I’ve had 5-6 angiograms, stress mri’s, ecg’s probably everything else that you can think of. I’m also on loads of medication as most of you probably are. The reason for this post is, I believe that I had another small HA tonight before tea. I can’t recall the pain being as bad as that since the very first one that I had 5 years ago. I used the GTN a couple of times and it eventually eased off after about 30 minutes or so, but I also had a bad pain in my back, as if something was being violently pushed into me, and my tummy didn’t feel right , but that didn’t last long. It might have been the hernias that I have playing up at the same time. I’m still at home as I’ve kind of got used to the pain over the years and got fed up with the trips to A&E. Have any of you lovely people had these other symptoms that I mentioned above with a HA, whether it being a big or small one.

Sorry for the long post.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

It is impossible to advise you. I suggest you call 111 now and let them decide if a visit to A&E is appropriate. An ECG and Troponin blood test are probably advisable.

[Hidden]

I get a lot of back pain angina. I also get it in my chest. I've had 5 stents so far (like you I'm still undergoing tests to get to the bottom of it all). I spent over an hour in an mri scanner yesterday.

I'd recommend speaking to your GP at the very least if you felt you had another HA. It could mean a trip to A&E, which I know is a pain, especially at the moment, but it's better to get it properly checked.

My specialist gave me a huge telling off for self diagnosis and he was right to do so. You might need the same pep talk 😏😊

I hope you can get it all sorted.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

What a journey you have had! But it does seem wise to get this last episode checked out, like the other times. But I wanted to reassure you that, having had three HAs around 10 Years ago, I had 9 stents, unstable angina and very similar chest and back pain, to yours, and with a large number of different drugs and investigations, I am now leading a much more normal and active life with minimal angina, and less meds.It IS possible for things to settle down.

It took a v thoughtful and persistent Heart team, good GPs, and daily cardio exercise.

Be optimistic, but please do get checked out.

[Leeds7]

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments. I’m feeling better this morning, but quite tired. I always feel reluctant to go to A&E as they don’t seem to be able to find out what’s wrong, and I then feel a fraud for wasting their time, especially in these horrible times for everyone.

[Qualipop in reply to Leeds7]

NEVER feel a fraud and never avoid going. Don't take chances with your life.

[Qualipop]

My HA was severe indigestion for two days and pain in my back. Only when I had a little tingling in my left arm did I realise what it was. If you think you had one you absolutely should have ring 999 no matter how fed up you are. YOu must ring either 111 or your GP today.

[MJOR1981]

I reiterate what Qualipop has said, I very nearly went straight home from the gym the night I was having my HA, I had it in my head that it’s probably a pulled muscle in my chest / neck.

I had 4 blocked arteries and I drove myself to hospital and queued outside because I thought it couldn’t be my heart.. how wrong I was!

Don’t take chances, remember the longer it takes to resolve the greater the damage will be.

All the best

[sprocket00]

Hi leeds,

Just read your post and can really sympathize with you and unfortunately I understand your reluctance to go to hospital but do understand why everyone says you should to! I am speaking from suffering similar experience to you I thought I was the only one