Heart Attack Support Group

Heart attack is a serious, sudden heart condition usually characterized by varying degrees of chest pain or discomfort, weakness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and arrhythmias, sometimes causing loss of consciousness. It occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted, causing death and scarring of the local heart tissue.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Heart Attack Support Group

I had a heart attack 3 weeks ago today

Januaryice
Januaryice
I woke feeling fine and came downstairs and bang! My whole Chest and rib cage felt like they were on fire and that my bones all across my upper chest were going to break. I called 911 and they gave me 4 chewable baby aspirins and sped off to the hospital. I was in and out of consciousness. I heard someone yell "clear" once and it was said 3x 's and I heard The Dr's In the OR yelling and I saw lots of people moving quickly, but I felt a calmness that I wasn't expecting to feel. My heart was restarted 3 times (and amazingly, I was told ) no muscle damage. I have a stent in my right Coronary artery which was 100% blocked and just 1 week prior I went to the ER for severe fatigue and nonstop throbbing pain in all my fingers . They sent me home with "advil" 800mg 3x daily. My blood work came out perfect.My Cholesterol and Triglycerides are all within normal range. I know it was genetic and stress induced . My Mom and her Dad died very young of massive heart attacks in their late 40's and early 50's.
RoboPop
RoboPop
congratulations, you beat the odds against you...now don't do that again. Follow your doctors orders and take your medications as prescribed.

Enjoy life
jody0385
jody0385
Factor V caused my heart attack, so if your numbers are good you might have labs to see if that could be the cause of yours as well since your numbers were good. If you are positive for factor V you may get put on a different thinner specifically for treating factor V (pronounced factor 5). Just thought I'd throw that out there. If both parents died young or had heart attacks young then that could be a player in the game.

Best of luck in the future and thanks for sharing.
BonTemps
BonTemps
Welcome to the group. I know it's a group you would rather not belong to , but you will find a lot of help and support here.
I had a HA with normal cholesterol also. The problem is that if you have low HDL , plaque can build up even if you overall is under cholesterol is under 200.
The blood tests done in the ER will only show a problem during and after a HA. It tests for an enzyme that your heart releases during a HA.
You could have a 95% blockage and it wouldnt show until you have the HA. Sounds like your excessive fatigue was from a very narrowed artery which became 100 % blocked a week later. No damage is a result of your quick actions. I have 2 stents that are almost ready to celebrate their 8th birthday
with no problems since the HA.
Minor7th
Minor7th
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope you share more as it unfolds.
linda50
linda50
Stupid question I'm sure but but I'm new to all this what the heck is a Factor 5?
BonTemps
BonTemps
Not a stupid question at all. i didnt know either so i looked it up. Best I can tell it is a genetic defect that causes blood to form clots when it shouldnt. Blood needs to be able to clot or we would bleed to death from a moderate cut. The typical heart attack is a blood clot in the coronary arteries that cuts off oxygen to the heart.
Factor 5 [defect] would increase the risk of heart attack and blood clots in the lungs because blood
clots would form much more frequently than is normal.

Someone please correct me if this is wrong.
TripleC
TripleC
Hi,

I just joined. I had the same heart attack 4 weeks ago. How long did it take to fully recover? I walk for 20 minutes and I’m winded. I hope the echo test I’m getting this week shows little or no damage but I would think I wouldn’t feel like I do now after 4 weeks.