6 months post Heart Attack

[VC61]

I had a serious heart attack 6 months ago (referred to as a widow maker) I had emergency surgery to fit a stent. Now 6 months on I am still experiencing almost constant chest pain probably better described as chest discomfort. I have been back to A&E who have done blood tests and ECG's and they assure me all is good. I am on a cocktail of drugs including blood thinners, dissolvable asprin, statin etc. The almost constant chest pain/discomfort is really messing with my head, I am constantly expecting this pain/discomfort to escalate to another heart attack. Is the pain/discomfort to be expected and will it ease with more time?

[RF260]

Hi, I had heart attack in April, angiogram suggested no stent although LAD (aka Widowmaker) was I think moderate but not enough to stent (yet). I've been to A&E twice in the past 6 months with chest pain and generally feeling crap, like you blood tests etc ok, however I've also gone into persistent Atrial Fibrillation in last couple months which alongside all the meds is slowing me down. Just had 24 hour holter (no results yet) and got echo next week to see what's going on. I have a low resting heart rate (into 30's at night and 40's sat watching TV). I can just about cope with the fatigue but we automatically associate chest pain with something bad especially after our experiences. The thing I can relate to in your post is "messing with my head" , I believe that the mental torture and acid reflux are big factors, but how to relax and stop stressing is so much easier said than done, I'm 64 years old , no major previous issues but can relate to much of what you say. Good luck, try and relax (says someone who finds that tricky).

[cometwatcher1927 in reply to RF260]

wish you well sincerely

Can relate to your symptoms been ongoing

Although I’ve not had a heart attack had a quad by pass , 3 months later still experiencing chest pain , like unstable angina so back on the meds

it’s worrying all the time - I know , from experience

[VC61 in reply to RF260]

Thanks for your words. It's reassuring to 'talk' to someone who's had the same experience. I have to say I am surprised at the lack of aftercare, I've not seen a Cardiologist since discharge from hospital. My GP seems quite dismissive as if I'm wasting their time. Unfortunately I couldn't do the rehab course (which I regret) as couldn't afford the time, no work, no pay. I guess I just have to get used to the new normal.

[VC61 in reply to RF260]

Thanksvfor your response. Let's focus on living and stop worrying.

[RF260 in reply to VC61]

Thanks and I wish you well, hopefully we can get through the worry phase, maybe meds tweaks to help the tiredness (and in my case deal with the A fib where I'm thinking they can try anything as long as I'm asleep..)

[AlfredV]

Congrats on surviving the big one. I don't think chest pain after the event is that uncommon. We are set an expectation that we can return to normal after just a few weeks. For me I struggled to walk more than 20 yards without bad chest pain 2 weeks later. I think it was a full 18 months before I went a whole day without some sort of chest pain.

Things can improve, but it can also take much much longer than expected for reasons that cannot always be explained.

If I'd followed the instructions I'd been given about chest pain I would have been visiting the hospital every single day for months. What I did realise was that often the chest pain I experienced was noticeably different from the pain I experienced having a heart attack. This helped me deal with it mentally a little better.

[VC61 in reply to AlfredV]

Thanks appreciate your words. Good to know I'm not alone in experience.

[Ewloe]

remind yourself your heart has recently been checked out. You know the condition of it and the medications will be helping it behave. Your in a better place now with your heart than before because you know what is going on and your on the right medications. Try and relax and let the medications do their job. I know that’s not easy but you’ll get through.

[VC61 in reply to Ewloe]

Thanks, I need to realise I'm now in a better place and need to focus on living not dying.

[Vegart]

Hello, VC61. Sorry to read of your chest pains that have an unknown cause. Are you on any blood pressure medicines? I ask because some can have the side effect of chest pains.

[VC61 in reply to Vegart]

Yes I'm on a whole bunch of meds including for blood pressure. I'll ask my GP.

[Angelonmyshoulder]

Hi VC61 👋. My Widowmaker HA was just over 6 months ago. Emergency stent sorted my LAD - first few months were hard work (mentally & physically). I got anxious every time I got pain in the chest, debated using the GNT spray but held off & eventually realised I needed to relax & listen to my body. As Alfred V also says, the pain was totally different to my HA. Ultimately everyone’s experience and pain level is different. All I can say is recovery is not just physical but also mental. I used online relaxation videos & mindfulness sessions which really helped. I increased my activity gradually and I am really happy with where I am now. I also have never used my GNT spray but always carry it with me. Wishing you all the very very best with your recovery. I am sure you will get there 👍

[VC61 in reply to Angelonmyshoulder]

Thanks, seems we experienced the same life changing experience at about the same time. I too have never used my GTN spray. I guess it's a matter of getting used to our 'new life'.

[Scout2017]

Entirely normal that it messes with your head, don't worry about that on top of the rest! Did you have CPR? Took 18 months for my cracked ribs and sternum to stop hurting, 5 years on it's still sore the day after something that stretches my chest, like vaulting a gate, so my head tells me its obviously cardiac. Eat too much, bit of indigestion, my head tells me its cardiac. Thank goodness for paracetamol and Rennie.

Think positive? We don't call it a widow maker in our house.

[VC61 in reply to Scout2017]

Thanks, thankfully no CPR for me. I appreciate your words and advice.

[iCat]

You are doing well, fingers crossed - 6 month after STEMI LAD is a huge milestone (even with a chest pain).

My husband is just over 6 months after having a massive STEMI LAD ‘widowmaker’ in April. Two stents, in a window frame of 6 hours after it has happened on the mountain walk. The doctors hardly believed he has survived. Troponin >10 000. Totally blocked 2 arteries with hard calcium deposits x2 stents, third artery was unblocked without a need for stent yet, all a very difficult case I was told.

Although the consultants did a fantastic job, and his Heart Function was preserved at 40-45% according to MRI scan on 4th day, on the 5th day (then at home) my husband felt a new chest pain, still being present with use of GNT Spray x3, which went only after taking 4 aspirin tablets while talking to 999 (he was on Ticagrelor as well). He was “not feeling right” for days after till it felt even more uncomfortable than his ‘new usual’ and (14 days after widowmaker) the ambulance took him to the hospital again. All the tests, to begin with, seemed ok: ECG compared to his STEMI was ok, troponin dropped from 10000 to 20, and the A&E stuff wanted to discharge him… But in the morning the fantastic consultant🙏 (who did the stents) ordered Echocardiogram “just to make sure all is ok” which had shown a mass in the LV meaning my husband had a LV Thrombus LVT - a known complication of STEMI LAD. He was very lucky to be diagnosed (Echocardiogram rate for LVT is just about 16 % to compare to MRI about 96% ).

Immediately they put him on heparin and started him on old fashioned (but proved very effective specifically for LV thrombus) Warfarin with INR target 2.5 (2-3) and Clopidogrel. He started to feel better, but it was a very gentle time - and he was only allowed gentle smooth moving exercises, no cardio rehab allowed yet because of the danger to become embolic.

After 4 months new echocardiogram has shown that his LV trombus has been resolved!!!!! Chest pain was gone too. And Heart Function is 45-50% now. Touch wood. The consultant continued Clopidogrel, discontinued Warfarin, replaced it with mini Aspirin. Still on big bunch of other meds too, but no need for GNT spray, fingers crossed. Completed the cardio Rehab at the hospital now one per week.

No advice, but we were told that it is mostly important to take all the prescribed blood thinners religiously after HA.

LV Thrombus is a common complication after STEMI LAD especially if there was a delay in unblocking arteries (in some studies more than 50% of all STEMI LAD patients (!)) is generally underdiagnosed because Cardio MRI is very expensive and the contrast is bad for kidneys which are usually not healthy with Cardio Vascular Disease, and echo diagnostic is less reliable plus needs a very experienced specialist to see it. There are many proper medical articles at PubMed, free to read.

Please do NOT self-diagnose, but if you don’t feel well (no need to wait for a bad pain spell) it might be a good idea to go to A&E (better with member of the family or friend) keeping at hand your Discharge paper from the hospital (when the stents were fitted). They will check your new cardiogram against the historical one and make the informed specialist suggestions (no offence, but GPs are not qualified at this level, and generally the GP would not refer you to the specialist in order to save money for the NHS, and if so you would be at the back of a queue for many months whilst you mostly need help NOW).

Best of health to you and everyone. And good luck!

[VC61 in reply to iCat]

Thanks, seems your husbands experience has been a good deal worse than mine. I'll keep taking all the meds and get on with enjoying life and stop worrying, what will be will be. I hope your husbands recovery continues to go well.

[Bree26 in reply to VC61]

I had a widow maker heart attack and needed 2 stents fitted and have damage to my heart muscle .

I can’t fault the doctors with regards all my medication and help and advice.

I was give blood thinners right away as well as many other medication. I was also very lucky in that I got a heart and body MRI to find out how my heart and if there was any blood clots that needed to be treated.

I had to make sure I listened to my body , I did need to take my GNTspray a few times because my chest hurt.

I also was retaining fluids and now I can’t drink more than 2 litres of any fluids and I have a water tablet . I get tired but I walk and walk as I believe it is the best thing.

I will be taking all my medication and listening to my body more .

Talking to people on here really helps .

[Mhodgkiss]

I had an unexpected heart attack, 100% blockage (widow maker) & stent fitted….9 years ago. Your apprehension and worry is understandable. It makes you question everything and makes you lose confidence. But my advice: take the meds, exercise (I dog walk twice a day) and adopt a more healthy diet.

Take care

[TasteLessFood4Life]

I can definitely relate to the chestpain. Like you have moderate stenosis of the LAD. Since, the diagnosis I have had on/off chest pain for no particular reason for over a year now. Been to a&e couple of times have had scans and tests - all seem ok. However, it is important to know what triggers the chestpain - typically - chestpain during exertion is heart related, while chestpain randomly or at rest is not. Secondly, heart related chest pain are mainly in the center of the chest. These are a few tips that my cardiologist gave me.

Finally, the LAD has a bit of a bad press, but in fact most blockages do occur in the LAD anyway. Whilst it is a major supplier to the heart, it also the most prone to blockages.

Hope this helps - take care of yourself and try to relax if you can.