Sunday, March 14, 2010 Dee S. asks

Q: What are the chances that this can happen again and how long between attacks?

My husband is a truck driver. A couple weeks ago he experienced crushing pain in his chest, pain in his jaw, back and pain along with a very hot sensation in his left arm. was told to get to a hospital as soon as possible or better yet to just call 911. He refused. The next day he told that he was in such terrific pain that he ended up sitting in the drivers seat all night and isn't sure if he went to sleep or if he passed out. He is very stubborn about seeing a MD about this, but as his wife I would like to know what are the chances that first of all this was a heart attack? and was this a passing thing or will this happen again and how soon will this happen again?

He is over weight and smokes. He has high triglycerides and cholesterol and possible diabetes.

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Answers (3)

MonicaRD

3/15/10 10:19pm

Hi Dee S,

I strongly encourage your husband to see his physician or go to the emergency room now. The symptoms you describe are the symptoms of a heart attack . There is no way to know if the pain he felt was actually a heart attack unless he is seen by a physician. There is also no way to tell if the pain will reoccur or when it will reoccur. Heart attacks can be fatal and his medical history and habits are not encouraging. Your husband should take the original advice given to him and see his doctor immediately.

Best of luck,

Monica M. Skidmore, MS, RD, LDN

MrQuadruple

3/19/10 12:12am

Sound like a good chance that he had a heart attack to me. He should have seeked help right away, as the more time that goes by the harder it will be to tell what was happening to him.

If it was a heart attack, it will for sure happen again in a matter of time, and it will be much worse and less chances of survival.

Dee S.

3/19/10 9:02pm

Thank you very much for your response! As his wife, I am feeling very backed against the wall. I just feel like I have suffered a loss and the thing is... he is here. I fear for when it happens again. I feel like maybe he is suffering from depression too!

Again... thanks!

MrQuadruple

3/20/10 11:52am

I had a pain that lasted about 90 seconds, and I ignored it.
Later that day and the following day, I had this pain come and go a few times.
The last pain came at midnight and would not go away, and I found myself alone on all fours on my kitchen floor.

I'm very lucky I was able to get up and get to the hospital,
I'm lucky I live with-in a mile of the hospital.
I'm very lucky, most stories we hear are that people died of a heart attack.

Smoking was bad, but not the only cause of heart trouble.

So don't let him think that by cutting back or stopping smoking will prevent him from having a heart attack.

If he has had some crazy chest pain, he should see a doctor as soon as possible and get some tests done.

Dee S.

3/20/10 2:44pm

Thanks so much for your info! I take it from your 'name' on here that you have obviously had a bypass.

He is home today and I have been talking a little about it but I do think it is falling on deaf ears! I guess I can only wait and see what happens!

Q: What are the chances that this can happen again and how long between attacks?

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