Diagnosing a Heart Attack

[Alfie9292]

I have just had the symptoms of a heart attack. Chest pain but not severe mostly pressure on my chest then going up my neck, jaw and into my mouth . This lasted around 15 minutes and I tended to ignore it. I went to bed and in the night had heavy pressure on my chest and I took 2 painkillers and went back to sleep again. My son he next morning insisted that he take me to A & E. were I I was thoroughly examined - blood tests , heart monitor, chest X-ray etc., they said everything was good. Has anyone experienced similar as I cannot seem to dismiss what I felt from my mind and wonder if I should follow it up with a cardiologist visit. Would appreciate your comments. Pam

[Hidden]

Hello I am no expert and only been diagnosed with my condition last month albeit symptoms been around for a while. There will hopefully be very experienced people along soon to offer advice, but I would say definitely follow up with referral to cardiologist via GP (that’s how I did it). May and hope comes to nothing but you no doubt as anyone would worry and that in itself can exasperate how you feel. So yes - nothing to lose and everything to gain. Take care

[Alfie9292 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I will definitely seek a second opinion.

[Lezzers]

My husband went to the hospital 3 times with what we now know to be classic HA symptoms, each time he was sent home with diagnosis of muscle sprain, muscle strain and then a muscle virus. This was over the course of 3 days with the pain becoming even more severe as time went on. He then went to the GP who gave him some meds and told him if he didn't improve to go back to the hospital and tell them to stop looking at their machines and listen to their patient!! He was in fact having a massive heart attack! I've no idea what tests etc were carried out as this was over 20 yrs ago but they probably thought my husband was too young to have a HA. Are you still getting the pain? If you're not happy maybe speak to your GP, a HA will usually show up on an ECG I believe.

[Alfie9292 in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you for your reply. I will follow it up .

[Griff-64]

Don't take no for an answer!Definately talk to your doctor, write down what is happening, times of day, dates.... If you think you have something wrong, be a pain until you get an answer that satisfies you.

Your doctor will know the best course of action and whether you need any meds right now, but if you have another attack like that, I wouldn't hesitate to call an ambulance, and that's the advice my doctor gave me on more than one occasion.

[Alfie9292 in reply to Griff-64]

Thank you for your reply. I will contact my doctor today

[Griff-64 in reply to Alfie9292]

Sometimes, the hardest part is being believed, if you keep notes, you're more likely to be.The doctor is the best bet at this point if you can get a quick appointment.

Good luck 👍

[Alfie9292 in reply to Griff-64]

Will book app today. Thanks

[Hidden]

Dear Alfie9292

A big warm welcome to you from the forum, I hope that you will find it as informative and supportive as many do.

Well so what brings you here? Fear of the unknown about the symptoms you are experiencing? And I think rightly so.

First let me say that I am not medically trained and even the few that are on here would be reluctant to give you a diagnosis on this platform.

But these feelings are not normal for you, so something has to be answered about your concerns.

You need to get onto your Dr, don't wait for a future appointment { we are so busy etc} tell the receptionist that you think that you have problems with your heart and get an emergency appointment. He/she should prescribe a spray called GTN which you should have by you if these feelings return until further investigations can be done.

Please try not to over worry, but you must get to the bottom of these feelings not only for yourself but your loved ones.

We are here to help in anyway that we can, now you have reached out the ball can start rolling.

Take care and please keep us informed.

[Prada47]

The Hospital have carried out the usual tests and the results look like you haven't had a Heart Attack, the next stage will be Medication !! Have you been on Medication or did the Hospital suggest Medication from your GP on the Discharge letter ? I don't know if every Heart Attack shows on an ECG but I know mine could still be seen 20 years later.

Pursue it farther, but be prepared for a long haul through the system, they have carried out all the basics and decided nothing further to do, or they would have done it. Don't want to sound to negative, but the system is what it is !!!

Regards

[Alfie9292 in reply to Prada47]

Thank you very much for your reassuring message.

[MONIREN]

Welcome to the forum. You have been given very good advice, seek second opinion. Females don't have normal heart attack symptoms, I know both times I called ambulance, they assured me I wasn't having heart attack, my ECG is always normal. Both times I did. Now under cardiologist who listens to me and investigates further. You know yourself that your symptoms were not normal. Unfortunately the hospital is able to confuse me, by rephrasing question. Write down your symptoms and when they are happening. Hope you get it sorted. Take care. Moni

[Alfie9292 in reply to MONIREN]

Thank you for your reply Moni my doctor has now referred me to the chest clinic .

[RailRover]

When I had HA, the symptoms were similar to those you describe. Pressure (not pain) in upper chest, but excruciating jaw pain which had been threatening on and off for several weeks, but which I mistook for dental issues. What I would say, however, is that it was the type of experience I couldn't ignore. I certainly could not have gone to bed to try to sleep it off as you did. It clearly demanded immediate action, so I went to A&E.

My wife drove me there at breakneck speed which took 12 minutes. I don't quite know how I walked into the place, but I pushed my way to the front of the queue and said to the receptionist that I needed to talk to someone in the next 2 minutes or I wouldn't be talking to anyone ever again.

They got me into triage and (I was told later) my pulse rate came down to 21. Next thing I am on a trolley surrounded by heads. I remember looking up and thinking "The Muppet Show". First of all, they thought it was an allergic reaction because I was orange and not grey as they would expect for a HA. They took blood tests for troponin, the enzyme released in distress by the heart as cardiac muscle dies (this would presumably be the test they did on you). They also took ecg. Both of these confirmed the heart attack. They then thrombolysed me with clot busting drugs to remove the blockage which turned out to be in my RCA. I was later stented.

This cuts a long story very short, but the take away is if it happens again and you think it's serious, go to A&E when it's happening. Later may be too late.

[Alfie9292 in reply to RailRover]

Thank you for your reply. Glad you are doing well now.

[cazada]

Hi, similar thing January 21 , rang 999 and was taken A&E, they said possible gall bladder or acid reflux. Given sone meds and sent home. Jump to 28th February 2022… middle of night similar symptoms, took sone meds and pain refuel, back to sleep, wowed all the next day, feeling awful… had my tea… felt I’ll but could put finger on it…. Drive myself to A&E again….. sat waiting in there for 18 hours before it was confirmed… heart attack !!! Don’t be put off … I was not going to be fobbed off this time ….. insist on angiogram that was the only gong which confirmed it , best of luck