GB Bikers Forum
General Chat => The Bikers Cafe => Topic started by: NorthumBryan on June 12, 2023, 11:02:53 AM
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it's a week ago that I rang the doctor and said 'I've been having these minor pains in my shoulders and chest since I had a tooth removed, do you think it's related'? The doc said 'get to the A&E Hospital at Cramlington ASAP, I think you're going to have a heart attack'. She was nearly right - I'd already has one! So after a week of prodding, poking & tests it shows I've had a very minor heart attack, but I have no idea when it happened? I was moved to the Freeman Hospital where I had two stents fitted yesterday and then released back home after a few hours with a banging headache (common after the radioactive marker dye).
i feel fine if a little sore and covered in bruises from various needles, the blood thinners have made me bruise way more easily than normal. I've even been out an watered all the pots in the garden this morning. I have a months restriction on driving (July the 10th is the magic day) and a months sick note to go with it. I'm taking this as a fresh start in life, chapter 2 if you will as I've had far too long eating too much, drinking too much and exercising too little...
But I'm still here and still smiling :)))
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Glad your ok.
I have had a heart attack. STEMI, full blockage of an artery. I had 3 stents put in. 2 a few days after the heart attack. Why they waited is beyond me but I did feel mostly ok apart from my chest KILLING ME for 2 days.... A month later I had to go back for a 3rd stent. I got 6 weeks off work for it :))) Bit extreme to get time off work lol
My HA was a side affect of my Type 2 Diabetus.
Fun times eh?
Theres a whole story behind mine if anyone wants to hear the joys.
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I've not got anything much better to do for a month- crack on!
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NorthumBryan OMG so sorry to hear this 😱
So glad it was only a minor one 🙏🏻 and yes definitely take it as a fresh start in life all the best mate 👍
Nagasaki sorry to hear of your heart Attack as well 😱
I have type 2 diabetes and I am on blood thinners as I have AF.
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Cheers mate, really appreciated :thumb:
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Damn! Glad you're OK. vrrr
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Cheers :thumb:
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I've not got anything much better to do for a month- crack on!
Ok then!
Grab a cuppa :)
:campfire:
Back in 2016, June 4th on a Warm Saturday night I was fast asleep. It was approching time to get up and get ready for the night shift in a hotel reception.
But before my alarm could wake me I was awoken by a very sharp pain in the top middle of my chest, right below my neck.
How odd, I thought.. It was painful enough for me to call work and say I was not going to make it in for my shift.
Soon after the phone call I decided to call NHS Direct. I did not feel unwell apart from the pain in my chest, Almost like someone had stabbed me with a hot knife.
I went downstairs to get the phone, My housemate did a double take at me and asked "Are you ok?" Not sure I replied. Why? "Well, your whiter than a sheet!" I looked down at my hands to see that I was indeed lacking in colour. My hands and arms where as white as a sheet of paper or a fluffy cloud. It was now I thought something was very wrong.
okokok thats enough of that lol
ANYWAY
I called NHS Direct and I was told it was propably just heart burn... HEART BURN?! They said if I was still worried I should call my out of hours GP, So I did but sadly no one answered. It just rang and rang. By this point the pain had gone, I was looking more saturated so thought, Ok Food then I can head into work. I stuffed my face and before I could finish... BAM! the same chest pain hit me like a train.
I thought, stuff calling again. Ill take my self to A&E. So, I jumped on the bike and rode 8 miles or so to Wrexham Hospital. Once Inside and explaining why I was there my ass cheecks barely hit the seat before I was called in to be looked at.
A quick chat with a nurse, I was taken back and had an ECG that showed I was indeed having a heart attack. A quick blood test also confirmed it.
I feel very let down by the NHS Direct team that day. Things could of gone much worse!
I was in the Acute Cardiac Ward at Wrexham Hospital for Saturday and Sunday, Tranfered to Glan Clwyd Hospital on Monday. I stayed the night and on Tuesday I had 2 dissolvable stents put in and I had to go back 1 month later for a 3rd. Why they didnt just do all three at the same time, I have no idea. I was home Tuesday or Wednesday Im not sure.
When I think back to the moths and weeks before, I was very very tired at work and after, Not at all. So there were signs but quite vauge.
I do remember feeling instantly better after the stents were put in, Like as soon as I was off the bed and into the wheel chair I felt so much better. More alert and awake.
I don't know about you but the pain from the heart attack for the 2 days I was in Wrexham was just insane. My chest felt like it was on fire. I was told that the sack around the heart gets inflammed and thats what hurts. But sadly the only medication that can help is anti-inflamitories and since I was on blood thinners I could not have any. They tried gving me morphine but it didnt do anything to me at all.
I have had a few scared over the years with chest pain but its always just been angina. Also, GTN spray's... taste like arse.
Good luck with your rehab and enjoy the time off!
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That is an interesting tale and you're not the first I've heard of that have been let down by NHS direct. It's operated by poorly trained staff using a tick-box system, the advice they give is only as good as the info they get. So, if they get a case like your's or mine where very few classic heart attack symptoms are showing it can lead to the wrong diagnosis.
I'm just pleased you're out the other side and doing OK, that's the main thing after all :thumb:
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The bruising around where the two stent's were inserted is starting to get rather colourful...
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Wow that’s some bruising, I had no idea where they inserted the stents ?
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They used to go in the leg, but that's quite rare these days. It's usually in the wrist with just local anesthetic.
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My 3rd stent was done via the leg, not a fun time i can tell you.
My first 2 was via the wrist. My wirst was not as colourfull xD
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A near identical reflection and you had the inflatable cuff too, I was pleased to get that thing off...
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Was a bit on the tight side wasn't it lol
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Oh yes, I thought my hand was going to fall off at one point...
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After a total of five weeks off work on the sick following my hear attack it's back to work today! I was able to have a little drive around yesterday afternoon, the car is fully charged, sandwich made (wholemeal bread, salad contents...) and I'm looking forward to a bit more 'normality'. It's a steady phased return with 4 hours a day to start with, easing myself up at my own pace to 7.5. I have to say work have been brilliant and I really couldn't fault them in any way. It will be a funny day today but I am pleased to be back and on the mend.
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That is fantastic news mate, it’s good that it is a phased return to work for you 👍
I am glad that work have been good with you it sounds like you work for a decent company ?
Just take it easy and don’t push it.
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Hi NorthumBryan how did your phased return to work go today ?
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It went surprisingly well, just the 644 emails to go through and everyone pleased to see me. I was pretty tired when I headed home but felt good that I'd taken another step on my recovery.
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That is brilliant news 👍 and I hope the recovery continues 👍
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:thumb:
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I've had some great news today, my recent ECG has shown normal heart function, no sign of any damaged tissue and a volumetric flow efficiency of 65% (normal is about 55%) so better than new! Very happy & relieved in equal measures :)))
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glad to hear it!
Have they got you on some meds... for the rest of your life? I got to take Bisoprolol, Ramipril & Asprin
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Yes, on all manner of stuff forever. I bruise like a peach these days too. Still, better than the alternative...
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I think I need to see my dr about my meds...
If I have to move a load of linen at work up stairs my heart rate goes nuts, my smart watch shows 130-150 and boy does it not feel good at all.
I have to stop and rest for a bit.
Its the same on a push bike. When my last bike broke beyond repair I tried to push bike into work and I could not even get down the road without my HR hitting 150+ far to high.
So keep an eye on yours when active!
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Crikey, that's high ! I'm so medicated I have the opposite issue, during my cardiac rehab' classes it's a struggle to get my heart rate into the high 80's, very rarely do I hit the 90's. Most of the time it's around the low 60's, I feel quite lethargic a lot of the time and sleep - what's that?
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wow, to low.
Mine does get low when I sleep, 48-58 most of the time, Resting is usualy around 70-85 and if i dare to move up some stairs 110 lol
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Called the dr today and they want me to go in for an ECG.. yay
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Good to get it checked out, we're quite lucky up here in Newcastle as the Freeman Hospital is a national heart specialist unit. I've just signed up tonight for 6 months 'advanced' cardiac rehabilitation - also known as the gym...
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Got the most asinine response from my GP today...
I had a ECG just to check things and had a phone call back this morning.
She said all was fine, BP is also ok. But this was at rest.
She asked me how I knew my HR was high. I said I have a smart watch that monitors pulse as well as being able to feel my heart pounding and also checking it manually my self.
She just said, Stop using the watch to monitor my pulse and ignore it as they are "Unreliable" .
Ok, So, what, Im supposed to just ignore my heart pounding in my chest, Jump on the treadmill or bike and just Éclairing yolo it?
So there we go. My GP has said to ignore it and just do my excersise.... great advice.
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Wow! I thought I was unfit and pushing my luck. My HR only gets to 160 on the treadmill at the gym. I'll count myself lucky for now. Hope it's nothing that casn't be sorted :thumb:
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Not ideal... GP's seem to be to busy to give an FCUK these days? Keep monitoring things, we haave an Omron BP machine which is to NHS spec' and is very accurate. I use it a lot just to keep an eye on things. My wife picked up up while she was still a Pharmacist, but they are not cheap. As it's NHS spec' I find GP's do take notice of my recordings, especially when I mention they were taken under the supervision of a Pharmacist. But - it shouldn't have to be like that.
It might be worth considering a different GP practice if thats an option?
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Good luck switching GP. I've been lucky to find a small family run practise about 1/2 a mile from home. I only got taken on because dad has been a "customer" there since the 1950's and mom from the mid-60's. They're not actually accepting anyone.
If you can find a smaller practise rather than a large one, you'll be much better off.
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Well bugger me....
Round 2.
Currently in papworth hospital cardiac ward.
:crying: :bang:
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Oh crikey, fingers crossed eveything is OK :thumb:
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Not got out of this one so lucky.
Angiogram shows more narrowed arteries..
And now...
Sheesh, I'm here for another 2 weeks to have bypass surgery... At 39. Terrified does not even begin to describe how im feeling rn.
I bet that woman I hit the other week did this... Cast some curse on me or something :crying:
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Oh no 😱
Hope it all goes well 🤞 keep us informed.
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That will be a long two weeks... I was in for a week waiting to have 2 x stents fitted last year, following a heart attack I knew very little about. It was really minor and it was caught very early before it got the chance to develop into something more serious. That was a very long week, although the food was surprisingly good. I was helped by my room mates (we were in a room of 4) who were upbeat & chirpy, despite various ailments. Andy, went on to have a triple bypass after fitting stents failed and is doing very well. He's not able to work off-shore at the moment, but he's decided not to go back there anyway and has a job lined up in Scotland. Alan, had his pacemaker replaced and is doing well and back to full fitness and Robert has just had his 80th birthday after having 3 x stents fitted.
It sounds ominous and being stuck in hospital you will have very little else to think about. Try to remain as calm as you can, relax in the knowledge that the UK has one of the best set up's in the world for dealing with all manner of heart disease. I was quite nervous thinking about what was going to happen, but the staff at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle were superb. Remember, they do this sort of thing every day. Vent your frustrations on here, we're here to listen (read) and help if we can. If you need anything just holler.
Best of luck with the forthcoming op' :thumb:
Thinking ahead to your recovery, I took up the option of 'cardiac rehabilitation' which is basically supervised gym sessions. It was hard at first but you soon get up to speed. I've gone from being quite overweight to not so quite overweight, playing badminton and going to the gym twice a week. I have more energy around the house & garden and in many way's it's been a valuable wake up call for me.
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Papworth is one of the best and newest hospitals on the UK that deal with heart issues.
Had a lovely bloke come by this morning to have a chat and see how I was doing. He said as far as treatment goes, this is the best in the UK right now. Your not only in good hands your in the best.
Helps a little but I'm still not looking forward to it. The angiogram was fairly unpleasant even with sedation and quite a lot I'm told.
Wrist is a little sore. No nice massive bruise yet
There are all sorts of things going round my head right now...
Anything from oh god a breathing tube oh and a pipe up my junk to heart lung machine during the surgery what if something goes horribly wrong.. I go to sleep and never wake up... Plus so much more
Then the recovery it's all a lot to take in. The waiting is the worst. I should be getting a date for the op today and I hope it's sooner than the expected mid next week. It's only Tuesday!
I'm glad you and your hospital companions are all doing well
I keep getting told that with me being much younger than a typical patient I will bounce back quicker after the surgery and might even be out of here in 3 or 4 days after the op Vs 6+
Here's hoping.
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I fully agree - the waiting is the worst. It'll soon be here, and soon be over. I was kicked out of the Freeman 4 hours after my stents went in! I assume someone got a warm bed to jump into. Fingers crossed for you.
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Round two damage so far :whistle:
So both wrists are done in for now zzzzzz
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Wait until they get you on anti-clotting & blood thinners - you'll bruise like a peach !
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Already on em!
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I constantly look like I've been in some sort of serious accident I have so many bruises. Anything does it from gardening, DIY and even just going to the gym.
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Dam...
While I was on clopidogral after my first HA I didn't have any issues with bruising at all luckily.
And this time round my wrist is not as bad either.
Downside is for the surgery I will have another line put I to my left wrist artery to monitor blood pressure. And it's still healing from the angiogram..
My right wrist is kinda inaccessible right now lol
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Bugger, at least you've still got one spare.
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I've just recovered from a very nasty 24 hr bug, runny bottom, cramps sweats etc. Not nice but I feel a lot better today. Unfortunately, it looks like the Mrs may have it...
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Ah yes, I had this from my mother just after xmas.
Fun isnt it? lol and your sharing so thats nice lol
Got the surgery tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck. It's going to be hard work laying there unconscious for 5 hours or so. :whistle:
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Fingers crossed for you, very best of luck and let us know how it went as soon as you can :thumb:
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Back home as of Sunday, Well i say home I was with my mother for few days and today I came back to my own place.
Once I have recovered I think it will be time to adjust my life style a little bit. Eat a bit more healthy and get a bit more activity in.
My weight is 82kg @ 5'4" so a little tubby but not fat by any means but I gotta look after this bypass!
Take care of your self as well mr, Would hate yo hear you gotta go for bypass 10 years on!
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I am so glad to hear you're OK :thumb:
I know it's early days and you'll have some healing to do, but have a look (when you're up to it) to see if they do either a GP referal scheme or a Cardiac Rehabilitation scheme in your area. I'm really enjoying mine and it pushes you, under supervision to get fitter, move more and get involved with sports (usually badminton, table tennis etc). I'm coming towards the end of stage 2 now and it's helped me so much. Stage 3 is up to 4 classes per week consisting of badminton, table tennis or soft tennis (big squashy tennis ball) and then an hour in the gym, all supervised. I've even joined the new badminton club at work and we play once a week. It's a much harder game playing with fit, young 20 & 30 year olds but I'm enjoying it (and beating them...).
Best of luck on your recovery.
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Hows things with you so far Mr B?
I am just about to go to bed, and back in work at 3PM today.
Not sure how I feel about it.. I feel good but I know when I get up and about doing stuff like working on the bike I am Éclaired soon after. So I kinda expect to be quite tired.
1 day in, day off, 1 day in, day off, 2 days in, 2 days off. So an easy start as I requested. I was down for 2 days in, 1 off then 4 in a row :wtf: I said to my boss, yeah thats a no go. I might be ok.. but i might get 4 hours into my first shift and be looking for my bed! lol
Wish me luck.
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I'm doing good, although a week in Menorca hasn't hurt. I'm just about to come to the end of my stage 2 rehabilitation this week so I'll be moving over to stage 3. The only downside is it is entirely during the day but I can work it around my lunch and just stay a bit later to make up for it. We've got a nice shower at work so I can get changed each way at work. Mondays are fine as I'm only doing 3 days a week since my little 'episode' last year.
Fingers crossed for your return, if it feels too much say so! Good luck :thumb: