andsome Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Recently I have had very mild discomfort in my chest when exercising. Definitely NOT pain as such, just a very mild discomfort as though someone had lightly hit me there a few days ago. 'Er indoors insisted that I visit the doc. He arranged a visit to the local hospital, where I had a go on the treadmill. This was inconclusive, so the specialist arranged an angiogram. I had this yesterday and it was found that I had considerable closing of one main artery. He prescribed medication for the time being, and I will have to have a stent inserted soon. He said that I would almost certainly have suffered a heart attack if I had not taken action. He pointed out that hard pain is NOT necessary, and that even mild discomfort should alway be reported if it occurs regularly. It is all too easy to mistake this discomfort for indigestion. Better safe than sorry. Take this as a warning to get something done if you feel that you get too regular indigestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 10 out of 10 for your wife for encouraging you to see medical advice. Hopefully all will go well from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Sorry to read that andsome - join the club - I went through the same procedure a few years ago and have been fortunate in that regular angina medication has kept the need for a stent at bay. You will probably find you are worse in the winter - cold weather will antagonise it.One factor is to keep calm and it has been proven that stroking a pet has a considerable calming effect. Now is the time to put your hatred of cats aside and get yourself one. A second factor in reducing stress is to stop worrying about politics - just let Mr Brown get on with it in the background whilst you do your utmost to enjoy your life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 It is ten years since I had heart surgery following what I thought was my second heart attack (the first one, as far as I knew, was two days earlier when I was taken into intensive cardiac care). During the first procedure it was discovered that I had had numerous "silent" major heart attacks and there was considerable damage to my heart - thus an early follow-up procedure was performed.Don't worry about being "stented", andsome. It is almost painless and you can (if you want) watch the whole procedure on a monitor.BTW, having seen Alan's post I am reminded that my cardiologist's prescription for almost all of his patients is to get a dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 It is ten years since I had heart surgery following what I thought was my second heart attack (the first one, as far as I knew, was two days earlier when I was taken into intensive cardiac care). During the first procedure it was discovered that I had had numerous "silent" major heart attacks and there was considerable damage to my heart - thus an early follow-up procedure was performed.Don't worry about being "stented", andsome. It is almost painless and you can (if you want) watch the whole procedure on a monitor.BTW, having seen Alan's post I am reminded that my cardiologist's prescription for almost all of his patients is to get a dog.I watched as much as I could of the angiogram. It was not a comfortable experience, the worst part being the injection of the local anaesthetic. From the amount of pressure applied to my groin, and reading the literature supplied, I fully expected a lot of follow up discomfort and bad bruising. I doubt whether I have two square inches of bruising, and have no pain at all, just a feeling of slight stiffness as though a large sticky plaster is in place. I count myself extremely lucky. As I said in the original post, DON'T ignore what seems like regular indigestion, it may be mild angina.Sorry to read that andsome - join the club - I went through the same procedure a few years ago and have been fortunate in that regular angina medication has kept the need for a stent at bay. You will probably find you are worse in the winter - cold weather will antagonise it.One factor is to keep calm and it has been proven that stroking a pet has a considerable calming effect. Now is the time to put your hatred of cats aside and get yourself one. A second factor in reducing stress is to stop worrying about politics - just let Mr Brown get on with it in the background whilst you do your utmost to enjoy your life.NO cats, and I get a lot of comfort from hating El Gordo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 I am told cacophonous noise is not recommended for people with heart condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Good thing you took notice!We may never have had your words of wisdom on here again..... I have always said - if you don't look after yourself, who else can.My Mum always 'procrastinated' - see on here the other day - and died young...She left everything until it became very serious and needed major surgery. My sister is on the same route.I totally believe in facing health problems head on - no matter how unpleasant the treatment is going to be. I may be half the woman I was but I'm fully intending to be here when I'm 100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 You had an anaesthetic? Blimey! Cannula straight in the groin for me - bloody big thing as well. Probably too busy thinking the guy inserting it was not really an Islamic militant, just looked like one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 You had an anaesthetic? Blimey! Cannula straight in the groin for me - bloody big thing as well. Probably too busy thinking the guy inserting it was not really an Islamic militant, just looked like one.Are you sure that you didn't get a local? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 No anaesthetic at all. No Valium either although I was offered it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 No anaesthetic at all. No Valium either although I was offered it.OUCH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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