Anyone have any advice for someone who has had a heart attack? (long, sorry)

[m&m's mom]

On Saturday my DH had a heart attack. He is only 47, in very good health otherwise, eats well, definitely not overweight, yada yada, yada.
I had our 3 YODD at the mall and he called right when I entered the Disney Store (I teased him, that he saved me a lot of $) when he called me cell phone. He was obviously in a lot of pain and asked me if I could come home. I did not even think of an ambulance immediately. I raced through the mall calling everyone I knew to come check on him. Not a single neighbor home. I got ahold of my parents who live about 15 mins away and asked them to run over and check on him. When I got a little bit of my wits about me I called him and told him to go take an aspirin immediately. As I am racing home he calls back to see how close I am. At that point I ask him if he wants me to call an ambulance and he said Yes. I knew it was serious then.
I called 911 and got to the house the exact same time the ambulance did.
They took him to our local hospital emergency room. He was in a lot of pain. They were asking him all of these stupid questions, name, address, ssn, etc. Hello! See Conscious wife standing w/ her Palm Pilot open!! See semi-conscious man on gurney.
I was going back and forth between the emergency room and the waiting room where my parents had our DD. The 2nd time I went back they had curtains drawn, alarms going off everywhere, and total chaos. I knew it was bad. I calmly went outside and talked to my Dad who was trying to get ahold of my MiL. After a few mins. the nurse asked me to come back in. Cardiologist said he went into Cardiac- something, something, something. In other words he flat-lined/ died. They shocked him back and CareFlited him to larger hospital 10 mins away.
Bottom line- He had a 100% blocked Left Ascending artery(?) they called it an LAD. 4 stints later he went to ICU. Supposedly it was a massive heart attack. The Dr. told me the name for what he had was a "widowmaker". Spent Sat pm to this morning in ICU. He is back home now.
Dr. expects him back where he was w/in 6 months.
We cancelled our WDW trip as we were supposed to leave for 2 weeks in 25 days.
Anyone been through this and have any good advice for me or DH?
Sorry so long!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I don't have much advice but do have compassion for you.

I was diagnosed about 20 years ago with a very minor heart valve defect. This was very scary and for a while, I didn't want to do anything. Your DH may need aome kind of counseling with his doctor or someone to get over the fear that this could happen again. I am a physical therapist so have some medical background but don't have a lot to offer you.

If people offer you help and support, take it.

{{{{{hugs}}}} to you both.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Sorry this happened to DH. Please tell him to take care of himself.

May 4th my older brother (51) had a massive heart attack. My mother took him to the ER where he was admitted. (He's mildly ********). The docs said he had 2 arteries completely blocked, the 3rd was 3/4s. May 12th they did a double bypass on him. The 3rd couldnt be done as it is hidden inside the heart. He will need to have an angioplasty in the future. When the docs operated they stretched his vocal chords. We're not sure if he'll be able to go back to work - havent heard yet. This same brother had breast cancer 3yrs ago.

I have gone to the doc myself since knowing heart disease is hereditary. Had EKG. Next day went back to have 4vials of blood taken for cholesterol, etc. My numbers are fine. (My father died from heart disease. His started when he was 54. Im 45.5) Having a nuclear stress test done next Tu & W. Going back to see doc June 30th.
I have changed my diet. Im now eating lofat, lo cholesterol

Good luck to DH

 

[nancy679]

I dont have any advise except ((((HUGS))))))

Its strange when I saw this thread because my best friends husband also had a heart attack on Saturday--he is only 40 and in good health, thin, etc. He has one artery blocked 50% and another at 75%. He is coming home today or tomorrow and is going to be out of work for 3-4 weeks, and be on a lot of medication. My girlfriend is very scared, shocked, and depressed.

I'll be following this thread to pass on advice to her.

Again lots of (((((HUGS))))

 

[jamsmom]

No advice, but {{{HUGS}}}

 

[helenabear]

No advice here... only {{{HUGS}}} for you all

 

[Disney Doll]

If the large hospital has a cardiac rehab program, make sure he gets into it. They offer wonderful advice on many things, including the psychological ramifications of having a heart attack at a young age.

 

[CathyCanada]

I think Disney Doll's advice is good! My Dad had a massive coronary at the age of 50 and open heart surgery when he was 52. That was 25 years ago, so I am not "up" on newer procedures, but I do remember how hard it was for my Dad to "accept" he had had a heart attack because he was so young.

Good luck and hugs, it's not easy but thank God he is still with you.
Cathy

 

[Serena]

I can only imagine how scared you were. I don't have any advice either, only prayers for you and your family. {{{hugs}}}

 

[m&m's mom]

It's funny that a couple of you have mentioned the pyschological aspects of a heart attack. I thought I had read that the risk of depression increases w/ heart attack. I asked the Dr. this morning before discharge and he that is something they definitely look at/for. I told my DH that it might happen so we both are aware of it and will act quickly.
The strangest thing that has happened it that is seems so unreal. My DH basically died on Sat. and he is walking around today, albeit gingerly, at home.
Strange side note. When my DH's heart stopped beating he said he went into a very sound and peaceful sleep. No white light but he said incredible peace. When he came back he could see and hear them working on him. Bizarre.

My DS is a Nuclear Radiologist and she asked about the nuclear stress test as well. We have an appt on Mon. where he goes for evaluation before he starts Cardio-Rehab amd they will do the nuclear stress test in a few weeks.

 

[CathyCanada]

I was 19 but I remember the terror I felt thinking I was going to lose my Dad, like it was yesterday.

Look after yourself too!
CC

 

[faith]

Sending you a hug! I can relate to you and your Dh's experience. My Dh had a major heart attack at age 50. The one vice he had was smoking. He has never had a cigarette since that day.
I remember when he first came home I would lay in bed and desperately listen to hear him breathing! I was terrified that something would go wrong again. I strongly agree that the cardiac rehab programs are wonderful. Dh met many men and women there that he could relate to and of course the medical personel to guide him back to better health. It's been a rough road with several trips back to the ER's or hospital stays over the years but he is doing much better. Hang in there and take care of yourself also. The stress and worry that the spouse carries is rough. If you have any specific questions PM me.

 

[TeresaNJ]

So sorry m&m'smom, I'm glad to hear your DH made it through okay. The reason they call those types of heart attacks "widow maker's" is because as you age, the heart builds up what is called collateral circulation, in other words, as major arteries slowly block off, tiny arteries form around the major ones, providing alternate circulation to the heart. When a younger person has a large blockage and has a heart attack, they haven't had time to build up collateral circulation, and therefore, no blood to that area of the heart, and they alot of times experience sudden cardiac arrest. Thank God your DH was already at the hospital when he arrested, and they were able to get his heart going again. I wish the best to both of you, and with the advances in cardiac care and treatment, I'm sure he will live a long and healthy life.

 

[janette]

No advice but will keep ya'll in my thoughts and prayers.

My FIL has had heart problems for several years, there are very good doctors in the area. PM me if you'd like me to ask who he goes to for cardiac care. He now has some other health problems and sees several different specialists.

 

[TheLionKing]

The real question that needs to be answered is how much heart muscle was irreversibly damaged and how much was stunned by the temporary lack of blood flow. Your husbands "ejection fraction" which is the precentage of blood squeezed out by the heart with each heart beat, will be the best predictor of his long term prognosis. Stunned heart muscle may not recover its function for several weeks and that is why some test will need to be performed to evaluate the ejection fraction. Tests that do this include cardiac echocardiography and nuclear medicine scans such as a MUGA or first pass study.

Depending upon his ejection fraction, he may need certain medications to prevent the development of heart failure or he may need medications to prevent the progression of coronary artery disease or both.

For patients who have moderate to severely damaged hearts, there is data to support the implantation of defibrillators to prevent epsiodes of cardiac arrests that could be triggered by large areas of scars. That is what I do. Hopefully, they were able to restore blood flow quickly to minimize the damage and that the amount of permanent scar will be small.

If he smokes, he needs to quit.

If he is overweight, he will be better off if he loses weight.

If he has borderline or high blood pressure, losing weight will help but he may need medication to help with that.

If his cholesterol level is mildly elevated, he will probably be started on a "statin" which is a cholesterol lowering drug. Some of them have been shown to prevent a second heart attack.

He is probably on Plavix, but he will need to be on aspirin as well when the Plavix is stopped.

These issues should be addressed by your cardiologist.

 

[janette]

Hoping you got some good news from the Drs yesterday.

Keeping ya'll in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[ead79]

I don't have any advise for you, but I want you to know that I will keep you and your DH in my prayers. I can't imagine how frightening this was, and I will pray. {{{HUGS}}}

 

[RobDoc]

{{HUGS}}

Your report brings back a lot of memories, as I went thru the same thing 18 months ago.

I had a 98% blockage of the LAD and went thru angioplasty and stent therapy. I was admitted during the night after being awakened with massive chest pains (think...an elephant sitting on your chest).

I was released from the hospital (kicked out) the following day (Tuesday) and after getting instruction from my cardiologist, I asked him if we could still take our planned trip to WDW (DIScon) on Thursday. He said as long as we didn't drive the trip would be OK. (I also asked him when I could play tennis- he thought about it and said he wanted me to wait... until Saturday for that). DIScon was wonderful!

As frightening as the experience was, the end result was great. I have no restrictions, had no heart damage and have been able to return to all activities as before.

I have a treadmill test this Friday (and have been studying for it
), so hopefully everything will check out OK then.

I'm glad your DH made it thru his ordeal. Just be supportive and help him with whatever prescription/diet/exercise regimen is suggested for his long term benefit. I'll assume he will be on some heart meds, plavix, aspirin and a statin drug (like Lipitor) to lower cholesterol. He'll also likely be carrying nitro-glycerine with him now.

...and yes, IMHO, aspirin is a WONDER drug (it broke me out of the heart attack twice before I finally drove to the ER at 5am)

Just appreciate what he's been thru and what was accomplished by the fine medical staff.

Best Wishes to you too - you're both survivors!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

A big {hug} and prayers for you both, mom. So surprised to read this. And so good he was able to get to the hospital in time with the thinking of you both.

I recalled my meeting you all in Dallas a few years ago and went and looked at the meet pictures from then. As you said, he sure looks the picture of health, then too. But then, as Doc posted above, Doc looked/s the picture of health too. I guess we never know what is going on inside our bodies. And I do carry aspirin with me always, hoping I never need it, but just the same, we never know.

My best wishes again, mom, and prayers. Hoping today is better than yesterday.

Dan

 

[Pooh93]

{{HUGS}} and Best Wishes for dh and your family.