Lucky to be alive

[DMCNY]

On Thur. Dec. 1st, I woke up for work like I usually do and got my kids up and ready for school. My whole upper body was hurting like I had worked out too hard the day before, even though I didn't. Not thinking much of it, I just continued out my day. Brought my kids to school and went to work. A few times through-out the day I would get this strange feeling in my upper body. It was hard to describe, I could only think anxiety. Even though I wasn't feeling anxious about anything or overly stressed more than usual. It just didn't make sence. The feeling would come and go, so I didn't worry much about it.

By the time I got home from work the feeling was getting more pronounced and harder to ignore. I told my wife I was going to try and lay down for a while to see if that would help. Laying down just made it much worse. I told my wife I was going over to the ER just to be checked out. My thought was I was just having an anxiety attack, and if they could just confirm that for me I'd probobly calm down a bit.

When I got to the ER I did have very slight chest pain and mostly forearm pain. They did an EKG on me and the Triage nurse said it didn't look too bad, but she would have to give it to the Doc to look at. They called me right in, in front of several people who were all ready waitng. My mind is starting to freak a bit now. After sitting in the ER for a while, the pain in my forearms starting getting much worse, like a crushing pain.

They ran blood tests and the Doc said it showed signs of possible heart muscle damage. At this point I'm like, WTF? The Doc says he wants to admit me to the hospital. I'm freaking out at this point because all I can think about is how I have to go to work tomorrow and get my kids off to school. I almost left at that point. If the Doc had said to me, "Well, it's up to you"... I would have been out of there.

That night, I couldn't sleep at all from the pain. Next morning Doc comes in and says he thinks it's my heart and that I should have a cath done. They do the cath and spot a 100% blockage in my heart. He said they could do a stent right there and fix it. I of coarse agree and they had it done within a matter of a few minutes. He confirmed right there that I did have a heart attack.

I'm 37 years old and will be 38 on the 13th of this month. Looks like I may see my Birthday.

The Doc said part of it was hereditary, but also part of it was my health habits. I DID smoke a pack a day, but havn't had one since the night I walked into the ER. Changing my eating habits. I'm 6'2" 213 lbs. so I need to lose a few. Working hard now at changing my lifestyle.

If you think you might be having signs of a heart attack, don't brush it off like I almost did.

[dvonk]

yikes, close call! glad youre alright!

[opethmike]

Holy shit! Very good to hear you made it through alive!

[DMCTek]

Your a lucky guy! Thanks for sharing this. I hope you quit smoking for good!

[SIMid]

Wow!

Was a warning and time to make the next 38+ years count!!

[DMCNY]

Thanks a lot guys.

I'm not going to lie, the not smoking has been tough at times, but having a heart attack makes not doing it a lot easier.

[Cory W]

On August 25 of this year, my tenth wedding anniversary of all days, my father in law did not show up at work.

Phone calls did not reach him.
Knocking on the door did not reach him.
Police were called, who knocked a door down.
They found him lying at the edge of his bed, remote control still in hand.
Sixty four years old.

They figure it hit so hard and so fast, he didn't feel much pain.
Earlier in the evening, when he was visiting his son, he was complaining about chest pains, and a small tingle in his arm. He wrote it off as the A/C in his vehicle affecting him. My wife is a nurse, knows exactly what to do in a cardiac situation, but he told us not to come over because he was going to bed early, and he'd see us the next day.

Oops.

It can happen to anybody, anywhere. It's good you chose not to ignore it, and even better you had it checked out in time. You'll adjust without the cigarettes, which is better than everybody you care about adjusting without you.

Now I'm going to go back to mostly silent these days...

[john 05141]

For all of you smokers out there thinking to quit.
I know a very effective, very quick and very cheap way to quit smoking.

Take your car and drive to the nearest (serious size) hospital. Walk to the oncology department (that is where they threat cancer patients). Have a seat in the waiting room and sit, look and listen. You'll see those people with hats covering their bald heads waiting for the next radiation or chemo. Listen to the coughs those ex-smokers are making,... Just soak it up. thow away all your sigarettes, and promise yourself a treat if you stay away from smoking for a month. If the feeling comes back, go back to the waiting room of the hospital.

It is a little weird, but with your nose pushed to the facts, it works very good.

A colleague of mine had the same complaints I read here. He drove to Berlin in Germany 800Km away, complaining about chest pains. He was driving 800Km while getting a heart attack. He survived luckily. Be aware, you can enjoy your Delorean much more in health.

John

[Mike C.]

Man Andy, I'm glad you are doing ok! Kudos for getting help and not trying to be too much of a tough guy.

I have to tell you all, PLEASE do not be afraid to go to the ER. I'd rather spend $250 bucks to make sure it IS nothing, instead of sitting home HOPING it is nothing.

Lately my diet has become horrible lately, telling myself that fast food is better since my schedule is too hectic. After Andy's story, im going back to my old eating ways.

Hope your recovery is going well Andy!

[dvonk]

talking about stents makes me stop and think (again)... its amazing how many lives have been saved by such a simple device.

ive been directly affected by them as well: when my girlfriend (28 years old) had a stroke this year due to her carotid artery collapsing (scary!), she had two stents installed to restore blood flow to her brain. also, my father is cardiologist and installs stents on a regular basis.

modern medicine is truly incredible. im glad you got help in time.