Chest Discomfort

[LDSILLS]

WARNING TO ALL OF YOU!

You know they say if your chest doesn't feel right go to the emergency room ASAP. I did not do that!

Knowing I had a cardiac catheterization on Friday April 11 2025, one week ago, I figured Ill just be still and wait for the catheterization to happen, despite some intermittent unpleasant chest discomfort, but not pain, it was going on for a little more than two weeks prior. Also they did a echo cardiogram two weeks prior and it was fine as well. And did a ECG in which the cardiologist said I passed with flying colors.

Well I arrived at my appointment for the cardiac catheterization procedure, the nurse asked how I was. I said chest discomfort is bad and it slightly worse when I lay down. They did a ekg for the admittal and within minutes they were back in my room rushing me to emergency. On the way they said emergency can handle you much better than we can in the cardiac catheterization waiting area. I was in a state of unstable angina. Despite it feeling not real bad like they show in the movies.

Being in that condition in the emergency room the cardiologist quickly moved me to the cardiac catheterization area. It was discovered my LAD artery that feeds the lower left side of my heart was blocked. But my 5 bypass vessels were all 100% open. They stent'ed the LAD as part of the cardiac catheterization and I immediately felt better. Basically that stent stopped me from having a widow maker heart attack. The heart attack one only 2% of patients survive.

I was lucky no heart attack, but it could of happened at anytime. Also the pain leading up to where I was was not a true pain as the medical staff kept asking, it was a discomfort. Moreover, blood pressure and heart rate were all very good.

Guys, be vary afraid of any chest or frontal body discomfort. Listen to your body it will tell you allot more than certain heart test. Go to the emergency room even if you think it maybe something you ate.

[PatrickBruce]

Holy crap man. Glad you are ok. I'm a former EMT and most certainly agree with your advice. Don't screw around with chest pain.

When I was 20 I ended up going to urgent care with severe chest pain that got worse if I tried to lay down. The nurse clearly didn't believe me when I said my chest hurt (according to her I was too young for my chest to hurt...). I firmly requested an EKG, which showed pericarditis (inflammation around my heart that was putting pressure on my heart). That day ended with me being sent to the ER with me hooked up to a bunch of monitors and antibiotics for the infection.

If I hadn't gone, damn good chance I wouldn't be here. DON'T SCREW AROUND WITH CHEST PAIN.

[Stumpkiller]

Yikes. Glad you got where you needed to be.

My friend and neighbor (age 67) went into the Emergency Room this morning and they rushed him right into surgery. Four stents. He'd been having chest pains since Thursday night. Hope not too much damage was done.

[Mcrider55]

I absolutely agree with LDSILLS, do not even hesitate if you think or feel something isn't right. Six years ago I suffered a stroke, never saw it coming, never had any signs, just woke up one morning and I was slurring my words and my left hand wouldn't respond correctly. Wife saw it and said "we're going to the emergency room NOW". I ended up undergoing surgery where they roto rooted my carotid neck veins, and by the grace of God, came thru with no damage mentally or physically. The surgeon told me I had a "widow maker" blockage and was lucky to be alive. Since then I see my Dr's at the local VA every 6 months and since I turn 70 this year, asked for a full checkup. They stepped up magnificently and put be thru an entire battery of tests. Everything turned out well, BP is higher than they like but not crazy high, so they adjusted my medicine and I'm good to go. The moral of this story is, even though we may mentally feel we're still kids, our bodies are not. Take care of yourselves, see your Dr's regularly, follow what they tell you and pray for the best.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Across the road neighbor (45) had issues. Pain in his jaw!! Hard time breathing! First and only time he had seen a doctor.
First glance? Off to a #1 rated heart facility!! He is now wearing a defibulator vest with a monitor.!! You never know from one day to the next. Dr.s think it may have been caused by stress? He lost a GOOD FRIEND to suicide a few years back and the anniversary came up.
His BP was something like 250/200???? Be thankful for EVERY DAY!!!

[Robinhood]

Glad to hear you are OK buddy. I have a lot of artirial and venous issues. One of them will take my life, hopefully not anytime soon.

[sharpshooter]

Glad you caught that, heart conditions have a way of sneaking up when you least suspect it. I have been very fortunate in the fact that I had a aorta valve replacement in '21, and had no blockages whatsoever.
2 months after surgery the cardiologist discovered a leak that was a caused by "blown stitch". So basically I had to start the game all over, Fortunately, it could be repaired by a parocardio plug inserted through the groin.
Even after that surgery, I felt like someone kicked my ass, and I had to start cardio rehab all over again. The only good thing was chest was all healed by then. I did have a bout with a-fib last year and had a cardio version, but since then I've been good other than me and ladders don't get along.

[FyrepowrX]

I've spent most of the last month recovering from the same thing.

a month ago i was working on the farm, spent all day...ran trail cameras, filled some feeders to keep pigs outa my wheat fields, felt great, no issues. a week later, some twinges in the collar-bone area, and left shoulder...i assumed that to be sore muscles from hoisting feed sacks over my head.

The next day shortness of breath started, which did ease up if i leaned forward a bit...a sign of myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle. I called my primary care doc on friday, he said to come in tuesday...but i didnt make it that long.

Sunday morning shortness of breath got worse , and i told the wife to take me to the hospital, where they wired me up for an EKG..blood pressure spiked up to over 200 and i had a heart attack on their table. They scrambled around, got me stabilized, hauled me to the heart lab at warp speed, and i had a stint in place within minutes...but within that time i lost about 40% of heart function.

The widow-maker is a bad one, and i was lucky to be at the hospital & wired up when it happened, or i suspect things would be much worse. Apparently the universe is not done with me yet. When it happened i felt a tightness in the chest, but the pain was mostly in the neck/shoulder/arm...odd feeling, like i had just open hand slapped a brick wall really hard with my left arm.

Next week i start 4 months of cardio rehab, they seem to think i'll recover, though they arent sure how fast. Oddly..i dont feel all that bad now, until i get up to do something simple...then i feel like i just ran a mile. Spent 3 days in cardio ICU after the event, then a few weeks going stir crazy at home.

got lots of interesting bruises still, and now that i'm starting to go back to the office a bit, have begun accelerating plans for retirement. i own a couple of businesses and enjoy what i do, but dont wanna be the guy that keels over at work. My goal is to be at least partially retired by the end of this year.

My oldest kiddo is a Doctor, and he moved to Wyoming last year...i spent June there last year in Casper, wonderful place, giving serious thought to moving there once we get everything else squared away. Wife is not crazy about cold, and winters there are brisk, so she is not yet convinced.

anyway, for what its worth, if you feel ANY shortness of breath, with left side distress/tighness/pain...get too the ER as fast as you can get there....heart attacks dont always feel like that sudden pain in the chest.