Common Heart Attack Symptoms

[Shoesy]

I was debating whether or not to post this, but since my friend suddenly lost her husband last week, I decided to do so.
Naturally, her family is in such shock as their world has suddenly changed, but it turned out that for a while before M. died, he had been experiencing symptoms that he had chosen to ignore. Apparently, he had been feeling what seemed to be some form of indigestion, and even though family members told him to see a doctor, he stubbornly refused, claiming that it was probably nothing serious. I've heard that such symptoms could often be signs of heart trouble, and who knows.........maybe they were in the case of M. So to all of you out there, to whom I wish many years of trips to Paris, etc., don't assume anything regarding your health.

[Penny]

Shoesy this is important!
I found out several years ago this was true watching an episode of St Elsewhere. The father of one of the doctors was admitted and she was chastening him for not mentioning the ingestion. the next time I went for a check-up I asked my doctor and he said he was and in many instances may be the only symptom before the Big One. If it does not clear up after a couple of days of Antacids and you are not getting better , or you have no other symptom of flu or similar then you need to see your doctor.
Somewhere I have the 3 questions to ask if you think someone has had a stroke, will find and post.

[Shoesy]

You should ask the person to 1. smile
2. raise his arms
3. speak a simple sentence

[GitteK]

never ever overhear strange symptoms from your body. Stomach pains - yes, if you overate last night - but not for weeks. Chest pains ? Could be pneumonea - but would also be the forewarnings of a heartattack.
trust your instinct and react. Men can be difficult to persuade to go and see a doctor - that is often a big cause of the much worse consequences.

[holger]

But with all of this please keep in mind that the symptoms are very different for women than for men. Thus women may not think there is a reason to be alarmed because they are expecting the symptoms posted for men.

Might be wise to check with your doctor what these are, or simply google.
My feeling about health is "better safe than sorry."

Soory about your friend, Shoesy!

[Shoesy]

Thanks, holger.

[susanb]

Being a nurse, Iv'e found that men are much more STUBBORN with health care concerns. This is in all areas. Never be afraid to say if you don't go to the hospital or call your doctor, I WILL CALL 911 (or whatever number your E.R. number is) or just put them in the car and drive them. That goes for women too. Number 1 excuse: Maybe its nothing.
So sorry about your friend Shoesy. Thats so sad.
Susan

[Shoesy]

Thanks, Susan.

[Penny]

shoesy: That's it (re stroke)
along the same note of difference. I have Fibromyalgia, my main problem if I have a flair up is I feel like I have a massive case of the flu (with unbelieveable fatigue). No two FMS sufferers have all the same symptoms. One person may have the blinding headaches, muscle cramps, others no. and so on. One of the things that informative books on FMS state don't always assume a new pain/ symptom is part of the FMS. FMS sufferers can have others, such as gout (which my niece has), so don't ignore a new/different pain. whether you have a medical problem or not.

[Shoesy]

I wasn't familiar with FMS, Penny. Do you have flair-ups very often?

[Penny]

Luckily not as bad as 2001-2003 (i got disability in 2003). I having a minor one from trip but I knew I would. I'm having reverse jet lag.
My thoughts on disability income " the pay sucks but the sleep is great".

[andi]

Hi there everyone, just thought I would share our experience with you............
My husband had 2 heart attacks in one day at the age of 37 not too long ago, I must at this point say not all heart attacks happen the same way.
My husband cracked a rib 2 weeks before and the pain he felt inbetween, he thought was due to the ribs. He also had 2 dizzy spells where he thought he would pass out and his vision went funny.
My first real sign that he was not well was when he said "phone an ambulance"..........that morning he awoke with pains in both shoulders but mainly his left, he was a strange colour also, a sort of grey/green. Also he had beads of sweat on his head and his palms where sweaty. When we got to the A & E even the triage nurse thought it was to do with the ribs, maybe a chest infection. The strange colour and the sweating got worse and the pain stayed the same......after 2 hours a doctor discovered he was having a heart attack and all hell broke loose. He had another attack later that night and they did emergency surgery to fit a "stent"....he is fine now and on perminant medication........smoking was the cause, he has quit from that day onwards.
The words said by the hospital on the matter were.......you can have pains anywhere from the groin upwards, not just in the left arm, you can even get them in false teeth! You don't neccissarily clutch your chest and drop to the floor. The biggest signs to look for are the STRANGE COLOUR and the PROFUSE SWEATING of the head. Hope this helps in heart awareness, Andi x

P.S Shoesy, How is your friend Bearing up? Hope she is ok!

[Shoesy]

Hi andi! Thanks for sharing your husband's personal experience with us. It's too bad that it took a heart attact to make him quit smoking.

As for my friend, she's got family and friends to support her, and she's probably still at the stage where she's in shock, unable to really grasp the fact that her life will be different. from now on.

[susanb]

Penny: I'm sorry about your FMS. Auto immune disorders can be hard to diagnose because it is often believed to be many other things. Also, there are a very few doctors who believe that this is not a catagory of illness. I hope you like your physician and that he/she is a compassionette person. I hope that your are in a good stage of disease now. The summer months are usually a little easier tme for those with this frustrating disease. I too, have an auto immune disease called Lupus and not only has it affected my bone and joints, but it has now gone into my lungs and I am having a very difficult time. It makes the one thing in my life that means the most to me somewhat difficult and of course that one thng is travelling. We all take with whst we're dealt!

[Shoesy]

Sandy - Your story is truly amazing. You're so lucky that you finally got the treatment you needed, and we're very fortunate to have you on the forum.

Your experience must have been so frightening for you and your husband. It really should be a lesson to so many people who dismiss their symptoms, thinking that the pain they feel is something other than a heart attack.

I'm glad you found this old thread, Sandy, and I exalt you for sharing your story with us.

[Roniece]

and Shoesy I exalt you for always showing that you care... Sandy, I'm so pleased to hear that you are ok now.. thank you for sharing with us... it is all very important information.

Roniece

[Shoesy]

Thanks, parisbound. You're very sweet.

[sandy]

And thanks Shoesy, parisbound is right.