Sunday, May 27, 2012

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 doug lucas asks

Q: 38 had heart attack 4 days ago and another one while in the hospital caused by spasms

I am 38yrs old, 5'11" 145lbs, smoker, athletic.  This past Friday I was in my office working (Army National Guard Recruiter) and experienced what seemed like the same type of chest pain that I have written off my whole life as gas.  This time it did not go away and after 1 hour of this steadily increasing pain I drove myself to the ER.  By time I had gotten to the ER I was also dizzy and short of breath, this may have been hyperventalation(don't know) but I was scared at this point.  The doctors in the ER promptly put me on an EKG which seemed to be normal but with peaked T-waves and no ST changes.  They administered Nitro-G and Morphine thru an IV.  Later the cardiologists spoke with me about his concern that my enzyme levels were very high indicative of a heart attack.  I was held in the hospital for observation and given various medicines and blood was drawn throughout the evening.  The next day the levels had not dropped and by lunch time I had yet another heart attack while in the hospital bed.  They quickly took me to have a catheritizaition (prepared to fix the blockage), but to their surprise there was no blockage.  They then were drawn to the conclusion that I must be having severe spasms in my heart.  So that is where I'm at and trying to figure out what the future holds.  I do want to add that about 4 days prior to the heart attack I went to the doctors for some severe headaches that I have been having over the past couple of weeks, that I never had before but assumed they were sinus related.  Prior to the heart attack in the hospital I had one of these headaches and it went away as soon as the chest pain started getting severe. Any similar experiences or advice? Thank you in advance for any advice you may offer.

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Answers (2)
7/13/10 7:13pm

Did the doctor end up telling you what to do if it happend again? Did he tell you about chewing aspin and taking Nitro????

 

I don't know know much about your problem, I hope someone else anwers this for you, but I'd suggest getting a different Cardiologist to check you out.

 

I've learned that health care people are like 50/50, either they are really really good or really really bad.

 

 

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7/14/10 10:24pm

Hey Doug!  You are now part of the Prinzmetals Angina family.  You indicated that you had some of these symptoms earlier and you attributed them to gas....My experience did not include any of those symptoms or warnings ... it came on quickly and severely.  I ended up in ER with same exact first hospital experience.  I had two heart attacks six days apart and ended up with a stent in right coronary artery, NOT because of blockage, but because it was the only thing that would stop the spasms.  If you don't have nitro, then I would recommend you talk to your cardiologist about getting some.  Many times it will stop the spasms and give you some control over the event.  I have had this condition for about 2 1/2 years.  Been to the hospital 6 times within those two years for this condition, now have 3 stents and a repaired 99% blockage in my distal right coronary artery.  I was lucky as I am able to get to hospital in time to get necessary treatment!  I have recently been hospital free for about 6 months and hoping this will stick.  Good luck!  JP

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By doug lucas— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 07/13/10