Stress echocardiogram done ✅

[Eagle69]

So I had my 6 week scan yesterday. To be honest I had a stress test trying to get to Kings thanks to signalling failures, a bit of wet snow and eventually traffic. Got there 30 mins late but they still accepted me which was a relief!

Did the first scan. Then a contrast scan as they weren’t sure whether my LVT (clot) had gone. They think it had so on to the treadmill.

Slowly cranked it up to the point I was jogging up quite a hill and my HR was up to 160 and I was getting a sweat on. Felt good no pain or discomfort. Was great to do a bit of exercise for the first time for over 2 months!

Quick transfer to do another scan and a quick chat. They said that they think clot is gone so meds done their stuff, got another scan in April specifically for that. But the damaged part of heart doesn’t seem to have healed much. No apparent change from scan done in January.

Waiting for analysis and report but can I expect that that damage is irreversible now? Or can I expect the healing to restart? The HA was quite a bad one I was told. Just trying to get head round what news might be coming my way soon.

Cheers all

[EU95PTM]

When treating a heart attack, time is of the essence. I understand, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, the more time that passes before the blood flow is restored, the greater the risk of permanent and irreversible damage. 11 hours passed for me before I was admitted to a cath lab (horrendous experience in A&E and a delayed diagnosis). I believe the NHS target is around 90 minutes for the “door to balloon” time (from arrival at A&E to balloon opening up the blocked artery).

I’m not sure if an echo would be able to quantify the amount of damage that has occurred and whether it is permanent or not, you may just need to wait for the report to come through. An MRI with contrast dye would definitely show the location of any permanent damage.

[Eagle69 in reply to EU95PTM]

Thanks for the feedback EU95PTM

Not sure when the NHS ever had 90 mins as their door to balloon!? I think you did well with 11 hours, as I was 3 days until stenting. I was also in A&E for about a 14 hours before being admitted to a cardiac ward. This was all over Xmas so probably hampered by skeleton staffing.

Not sure on your current situation but are you still recovering, or recovered or living with the aftermath? What, if any, perm damage have you been left with? Hoping you're fine.

Cheers

[EU95PTM in reply to Eagle69]

Yes, this is definitely the target for a stemi HA where there is a total occlusion, although I the reality probably is that very few hospitals are able to achieve this.

I’m sorry to hear that you had to wait so long in A&E and to have the stent too.

I’m now almost 11 months on from my heart event. I have had to adjust to living with heart failure as a result of the HA. For me, the muscle which separates the left and right ventricle is now necrotic but I can still do most things and the ton of meds I take supports my heart well. Psychologically it has been far harder and it is an ongoing process. I know I have so much to be grateful for but I am relatively young (51) and I can’t help feel short changed to have this happen to me!

Hopefully you will have a good outcome from your next echo.

[Eagle69 in reply to EU95PTM]

Yes I'm with you, I'm 53 and fit and not overweight. Was out on the bike on Xmas day half way round on a 30 mile ride. Trained 5 times a week etc.

I've had a few ups and downs mentally especially in the first few weeks after I was told about the thrombus. Double kick in the teeth.

I suppose I just need to wait now and hope.

Keep well mate

[Lezzers]

Hi, unfortunately damage to your heart caused by a heart attack is irreversible, that won't repair itself. However, your heart is a muscle and, like any muscle, exercise will make it stronger & the rest of the heart will take up the slack from the damaged part, that's how it was explained to my husband. If you haven't already been referred ask your medical team to refer you to cardic re-hab so that you're given appropriate exercise after which you can be referred to a gym to continue it. It's important to follow an appropriate exercise program as an inappropriate program can cause more damage than good! The damage to your heart will be seen on an echo, my husband had an echo on weds, the technician asked if he'd had a HA, when he said yes the technician was able to show him where the damage was & where the electrics are misfiring from, he recently had a VT storm and will shortly be having an ablation mb

[Eagle69]

Hi Lezzers - thats for the feedback. That was what I was thinking.

I'm not on any rehab yet because I've not the all clear regarding my LVT (clot). I think its pretty much dissolved as they wouldn't have put me through a stress test yesterday. I have another scan on the 11th April specifically for the thrombus.

Thanks

[Lezzers in reply to Eagle69]

Good luck with the next scan. It might help you to know that my husband had a massive heart attack resulting in cardiac arrest & his heart being badly damaged, that was 25 years ago. He did his re-hab, went to the gym at least 3/4 times a week took his meds & had no further problems for about 15 years. In 2012 he was diagnosed with heart failure but was still relatively well & still went to the gym right up till the first lockdown. Unfortunately, during that time he was diagnosed with cancer & has since gone through treatment which has caused a few problems but he's not doing too bad for someone they thought wouldn't see the first year out!!