Not a heart attack

[LeeOliverHunt]

Hi all,

At the beginning of January I was admitted to hospital and was told I'd had a heart attack at the age of 36. The doctor said that as I had chest pains and a high level of troponin in my system it was a heart attack. I also had a resting heart rate of between 120-150.

After a CT scan, angiogram and Cardiac MRI, I was told it wasn't a heart attack after all, as the doctors couldn't find any damage to my heart. The doctors said they don't actually know what happened. After just over a week they then released me and put me on daily aspirin.

Ever since being released I've been having waves of fatigue that come on suddenly and when standing still my heart rate jumps to over 110, sometimes over 120. I've also had some slight chest pains and feel ache in most of my joints. The top of my right leg has also been tingling and sometimes hurts when I walk - the doctor did say this was a compressed nerve.

My question is has anyone gone through the same? If so did you find out what was wrong?

Thanks for reading!

[MummaSoap]

Hi LeeOliverHunt

I haven’t got any answers for you but I just wanted to say that it sounds like you’ve been through quite a frightening time recently and I hope that someone on the forum can help you to find some answers or point you in the right direction.

I hope you start feeling better soon, if your episodes of higher heart rate continue, it might be worth asking for a 7 day holter in case it is a form of arrhythmia that perhaps hasn’t been picked up?

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Soap

[56dick19]

high I went to hospital as I work up out of breath in the night. I was told that my heart was all over the place after a ECG they kept me in and was told Id had a heart attack but not had any chest pain. After further investigation they said it wasn’t a heart attack but there was massive damage to my heart. They kept me in for a week did more investigating and found out that I had dilated cardiopulmonary

[Andyman]

After my heart attack and cardiac arrest I had no damage to my heart they said. Does help I know but it can happen.

[fishonabike]

Has anyone suggested that it may have been an episode of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy or Coronary Artery Spasm?

whatever you had, it seems that it has had a greater effect on you than expected - you may find that you need to take things a little more gently for a while to let your heart recover from whatever shock it had

i hope you find answers soon

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Troponin blood levels can be raised for other reasons not just a heart attack.

Infection including Co**d, inflammation eg myocarditis

Blood clots, extreme exercise, post surgery or trauma.

When the heart muscle isn't able to supply enough blood to the heart.

A supply demand mismatch. This can happen with heart rate and rhythm problems.

Disorders of the heart muscle itself eg Cardiomyopathy , heart function issues.

I live with coronary vasospasms, vasospastic angina and I have temporary transient contrictions of my coronary arteries.

I experience chest pain, changes to my ECG and slightly raised troponin blood levels.

I experience the classic symptom of vasospastic angina, chest pain at rest, in particular between midnight and 6am.

I agree with MummaSoap perhaps ask for a holter test to monitor your heart rate and rhythm over a period of time.

I hope you feel better soon.

It took me a while to get my diagnosis and I acknowledge how unsettling it can be when you are in limbo without a diagnosis.

[Sarahd56]

Hi OliverDo some reading on Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.I have had two episodes of this. It's not very known,but is being recognised or diagnosed more now .I had not heard of it until after my first episode.Theres also an excellent Facebook page with heaps of information,with very knowledgeable people in the group.Do a search for Takotsubo on face book.Hope this helps

[LeeOliverHunt]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all your messages and advice, I do really appreciate it!

I've been back to the doctor and they have started me on beta blockers, hopefully these will make a difference.