I have a question for fellow heart attack members on this forum.
When I was admitted to hospital for a HA my Troponin levels were through the roof, with levels that started at 14000, then to 15,000 and finally at the staggering amount of 22000, this information is on my discharge forms from the hospital.
Has anyone else in here had extremely high troponin levels like mine when they had their HA? I’ve read lots of scary stuff on the web about the damage that high troponin levels has on the body, which has set my anxiety and panic attacks off again.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Harrim8
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When my husband had his cardiac arrest over 3 years ago now, his troponin level was in excess of 95000 ! Apparently that is the level they state when it is off the scale.
He couldn't have a triple heart bypass at the time as the limits were too high, but they managed to get a stent in on the second attempt once he was stabilised and he was home within the week.
He is absolutely fine now physically. Slightly low EF, around 45%, but they seem happy with that and he has no symptoms and has been back at work full time since a month after his cardiac arrest.
He does have some anxiety and a few panic attacks, but they think that was the shock as it came out of nowhere as with many people, and also because he was in an induced coma for 2 days. He has no memory of the whole thing, from the day before I took him to hospital, when he seemed fine until about 3 days after they woke him up from the coma.
Speak to your GP/cardiologist if you are concerned, but I don't think it is anything to worry about and certainly hasn't caused any issues with my husband.
Hey Cocoadonkey, thank you for replying and thank you for putting my mind at ease. Wow, that was a very high troponin level that your husband had, and I thought mine was high! I’m very pleased that he’s ok though and as each day passes I’m finding a little easier with the anxiety and panic attacks. I need to keep telling myself that it’s literally about 4 weeks since I had the HA and perhaps not be so hard on myself!
My troponin level was measured at 1500 at the first count. Several hours later they measured it again and said it was off the scale, which apparently went up to 27000.
I can understand why those numbers on your discharge letter would worry you — but honestly, the troponin level on its own doesn’t tell the whole story.
Troponin is just a marker of damage at that specific time, but it doesn’t predict how well you’ll recover. Some people have huge spikes and make a full recovery with very little long-term issue. Others have lower levels but slower recovery. It’s far more about how your heart is functioning now, what your follow-up tests show (like echo or MRI), and how well you’re looking after yourself going forward.
The worst thing you can do is Google troponin numbers — you’ll always find the scariest interpretation without the proper medical context.
You’ve already got the most important thing — you survived and you’re here, now able to focus on recovery. That’s what counts.
If you’re feeling anxious and spiralling, that’s normal too. But don’t hang your recovery on a number from the worst day of your life — focus on where you are now and the fact you’ve got a second chance to rebuild.
Hi Goonerboy6661, thank you for your reply and you speak very wise words! You’re absolutely right and thank you for giving me some refocus on what’s important.
Dear Harrim, I had a STEMI heart attack out of the blue last May, with 95% blockage in the LAD, treated by emergency PCI and stents . Within a few hours after the procedure my troponin was over 50000, (beyond which number they didn’t measure, so presumably more). It dropped to 37000 within 24 hours and to 22000 the day after that. My ejection fraction was only 36 on discharge and I was considered as high risk for heart failure.
At a follow up echocardiogram 2 months later my ejection fraction had recovered to 65 ( normal). This was a much better development than anyone expected. I understand that the huge troponin level did indicate a very severe heart attack, with muscle damage- but because I was treated so promptly, there was no significant permanent muscle damage.
Wow that was high levels, I’m pleased that you’re ok now though. Yes, I have heart muscle damage as I didn’t go to A&E until about 5 days after my HA, I thought I had a trapped nerve in my back that was causing the neck ache, back pains and chest pains. It wasn’t until day 5 when I started with aching arms that I decided to call my GP and he said I needed to go to A&E immediately. After hanging around in A&E for 6-hours they did an ECG which came back normal (probably because I’d already had the HA and my heart thankfully went back into rhythm), it was when the blood tests came back and the high troponin levels that suggested I’d had a mere rate heart attack, I also had an NSTEMI.
I had an angiogram and unfortunately they were unable to get a stent in because where the blockage is was difficult to get to as it was on a bed in my artery. Although the surgeon reassured me that it wasn’t my main artery and that was pretty clear, as were other arteries going into my heart.
I’m hoping with medication, a change to my lifestyle, e.g. stopping smoking, eating healthier, exercise etc. that ill be up and running soon, it’s only been 4 weeks since I was in hospital so early days yet.
Hi, firstly please be reassured that its very early days and heart anxiety is totally normal 👍🏽 Most of us, if we're honest have experienced this in one form or another, panic attacks, nightmares, not wanting to go out or be alone, etc It is quite a normal part of the recovery process for many of us.
Tropinin levels are really scary but again, its normal and all part of heart episodes. My HAs were 7 yrs ago. I also had other complications and am left with an enlarged heart - I describe it as slightly lazy to my grandchildren 😉And it has some scarring.
I was very ill for quite some time but have a new normal now and get on with life quite nicely. I work v part time as a teacher, have my young grandchildren 1 or 2 days a week, swim and walk - but not uphills any more.
Im sure you will get through this 'phase' just as you did your stay in hospital, which was phase 1 of your recovery. Heart anxiety is very real, please be reassured by stories on here & give the BHF nurses a call and have a chat they are lovely.
Onwards & upwards to the next phase - perhaps gentle exercise and cardiac rehabilitation 💪🏽 good luck in your journey, do keep asking questions on here, BHF nurses, GP etc
Hi HHH2017, thanks for your reply. Your message fills me with hope and thank you for that. For the first couple of weeks I used to be constantly searching on Google which I guess doesn’t help when you’re trying to recover from a HA, and also doesn’t help with Health Anxiety and Panic Attacks, I’ve stopped doing this now as I’ve learnt my lesson. I’m taking each day as it comes and slowly I’m starting to feel better after 4 weeks of being discharged. I’m on a number of medications (15 tablets per day) to help with my recovery, I’ve stopped smoking and lost over 2 stone in weight due to healthier eating.
Wow, you are doing brilliantly - time to give yourself a pat on the back!
Great way to cope is to focus on the things you can control - like health, weight etc and you are ALREADY doing this very SUCCESSFULY 🙌🏽
You are right-Dr Google, doesn't help! NHS website yes but limited. But I cannot recommend BHF nurses highly enough so please do give them a call whenever you need it. You are off to a great start, keep it going.
I am so sorry your troponin was high and this has worried you. The important thing to say is that is how it was then. It was a huge warning sign and those warnings have been heeded and acted upon and you are being monitored and treated. The scenario now is totally different from how it was then.
It is disturbing when these heart episodes happen and I was in shock and disbelief for weeks - think of the person/lifestyle least likely to get a heart attack for a who raft of reasons and that is me!
But I am grateful that I was able to be treated with the stent and am now pottling along (apart from the blessed atrial fibrillation) and have put the episode behind me. I hope that you too will be able to do this.
Your kind words mean a lot and when I think of where I was both mentally and physically last week compared to this week, I can start to see an improvement. I’m sure over time I’ll get there as it’s only been 4 weeks since I was discharged from hospital, so it’s early days in my recovery journey.
I’ve made some drastic changes to my lifestyle since the HA, I’ve stopped smoking, lost over 2-stone in weight die to eating healthier etc. It definitely scared me and I intend to continue on my upward journey of recovery. Thank you again.
Thanks for your reply Avagra and that’s amazing news, sounds very similar to me although it’s just my LVEF which is 40-45 due to the damage caused by the HA.
It is clear that Troponin levels can differ vastly but when I had my heart attack in December 2020 (I thought it was a gallbladder issue 🙄), my Troponin level was 16,500. I was 50 at the time so quite the wake up call.
I’m 51 and yes, it was a shock to me also, I thought I had a trapped nerve or something in my back/neck and went 5 days not doing anything about it. It wasn’t until day 5 that I started with aching arms that I decided to call the Dr and he advised straight away that I go to A&E, so glad that I did!
It’s definitely been a life-changer for me, it’s been 4 weeks since I was discharged from hospital and I’m still having anxiety and panic attacks, hopefully they will go in time.
Sorry to hear about the ha.That is crazy level of tp. I thought mine were high, they were around 4000, docs initially said I had a ha , but at the end they diagnosed me with myocarditis.
hi Harrim8. Yes my trop in went up to 27000 it was off the scale. When I visited A&E recently they thought there had been an error. Best not to read too much on the web , it’s happened , you are still here so take each day as it comes. Every day is a bonus. Take care with your diet exercise and enjoy your second chancexxx
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high Troponin then decreased 
Troponin levels 
Af and high Troponin levels
Not a heart attack
