OT - Christmas heart attack

[kanga24roos]

Hey, all Looking for a little support and all will be oks. We are planning our second family trip to WDW in April. Our first trip 2 years ago was a huge success. DH had never been so he was just as enchanted as our 4 dss. We are planning our second trip with my DB and his family of 6. So christmas comes along and all the kids get what they want, DH gets new roller blades and goes out with the older 2 DS for some fun...then we all go to the beach for a quick game of touch football with the neighbors, After we get home DH starts pushing on his chest complaining he can't take a full breath I (always the jokster) say "you better not be having a heart attack on christmas" no no he says ...he asks for TUMS... I'll get them in a minute I say... He says we need to go to the ER ...I say WHY? ..As I start to get 4 DSs ready to go to the ER ...he says "call the ambulance" I say the kids are ready it will be faster if I drive you. So we get to the Er and I'm all pissed offf because I'm sure it's just heartburn..they take DH straight into the back and 4 DSs and I wait in the ER ...About an hour later a nurse comes to the door and asks for me...she puts the 4 DSss in a small conference room and takes me to my DH
I'm then infromed that DH indeed is having a heart attack and needs to have angioplasty ASAP. Now DH is 37 non-smoker physically fit cholesterol (which was just tested a week before for a check-up) is 131 which apparently is very good. SO i freak out ...the cardiologist walks me and the 4 DSS through the hospital telling us about the procedure he's about to do. DS 10 finally say to Dr. "Listen I don't care how long he has to stay or what you need to do to him....just make him be ok" He then said "we are going to Disney....can he still go on Rock n Roller Coaster?"
Well DH was discharged from Hospital on New Years Eve with 3 stents in his heart arteries..mega meds, and a warning from the doctor that when he goes to WDW in April...not to do RRC.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Here's a hug for you and prayers for your hubby. You will still have a magical trip even though he cannot go on RCC.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Oh my goodness how scary! Many prayers for him and I am so glad he is going to be okay. Stay off that RnR though, follow doc's orders!

Allyson

 

[MeLady]

omygoodness! Glad to hear he is out of the hospital. Prayers will continue for your family! He can walk through the line with the kids and then be able to see a bit of RRC!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry to hear about your dh's heart attack, but glad to hear that he's doing okay!

You said you wanted to hear that it'll be okay, and I'm sure it will! There are lots of people who have heart attacks and go on to live long, healthy lives.

You'll have a wonderful trip even with your dh avoiding RNRC.

 

[deedeed]

Hi,
Your story sounds a lot like mine quite a few years ago. Except that it was my dad having the heart attack. We were at a meeting to add on to his building when he said something was wrong, well long story short, he has had two angioplasties.
Good part of the story! He is now an avid marathoner and is in great shape. Has not had a problem since.
You and your family will have a great time at disney. Just take it a little bit easier than normal and you all will be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[LaraK]

I am so glad that he is doing well now. It is so frightening to go through a major illness like that. Please accept my best wishes during his recovery.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Wow - that is very scary. Good thing you got there in time. Maybe it's good that you caught it now and not after riding RnR! My prayers are with your family. I hope DH has a very speedy recovery. I think something like this makes you appreciate what you have all the more. You have to live in the moment because you never know what the future might hold. So enjoy your trip in April (we'll be there too!) and many more trips after that!

 

[disneypearl]

My prayers will go out for your husbands continued recovery! Listen to the doctors and stay away from the RNRC. There is still plenty for you all to do as a family. Glad you got him to the hospital as quickly as you did. Your son sounds very brave!

 

[karibritt01]

Go in April and have fun. Take it slowly, and allow plenty of times for breaks. You're DH will still be in the recovery process. Even though he will be feeling better by April, his heart muscle will still be weaker. Not a good time to go commando!

FYI... my Dad died of a heart attack when I was 11 yrs old. It was a mild heart attck, but in the early 80's, no one knew CPR like they do now, and he suffered brain death. I tell you this because there is something anyone having a heart attack can do that will save their life... COUGH!! Force yourself to cough continually until help arrives. Coughing forces your chest muscles to constrict, and therefore squeezes the heart. Luckily, your DH made it to the hospital with no problem. Just store that tip in the back of your mind in case you ever need it again.

 

[SnowWitch]

The best thing anyone can do is learn CPR. I am a nurse in cardiac critical care and its frightening the number of patients that we now see in their 30's and 40's. What many fail to realize is your geneic hx has a greater influence on cardiac health than lifestyle choices. Yes, smoking and eating fatty foods are going to get you into trouble but normally when you see younger patients having MI's they have a signifigant family hx. So if you have a positive family hx educate yourself and your family.

 

[SnowWitch]

Also take 162mg of aspirin asap. If you don't that is one of the first things you will get as soon as you reach the er. It will thin the blood and allow it greater ease going around a blockage in a vessel.

Also best of luck to your husband and enjoy your trip!!!!!!!!!

 

[kanga24roos]

What many fail to realize is your geneic hx has a greater influence on cardiac health than lifestyle choices.

The problem is is that DH doesn't have a family history of this type of thing.

Thanks to all for listening mostly...I've found the hardest thing is for me to say to our friends and family "he had a heart attack" it just doesn't sound right to me. I am very thankful that he knew what he was feeling wasn't normal and knew enough to make me take him to the ER...I looked down the road of him not being with us anymore and I did not like what I saw at all.
We cannot wait to go to WDW and although he already says he feels better than before the heart attack I plan to keep an extra eye on him to make sure we don't over do it.

 

[Echo queen]

I wish you all the best of luck and health in the future. So what if he can't ride RRC he is alive and with you all. You may now know what "echo" queen really means.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Prayers for your family!! Another tip that is so important is NEVER hesitate to call 911. It is always better to be overconcerned than sorry. Always have then on the way and then do the cough and the aspirin. I think every person should have to take CPR in order to graduate high school. Best gift you can give your family.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm so glad for all of you that his treatment went well. Missing the thrill of roller coasters is a small price to pay for staying alive.

You know, when it comes to things that run in families, someone always has to be first -- that's how it turns into a history, after all. Now he has a history, and you'll need to make sure that your children make sure to tell their health providers about it so that they can be watched as they grow older. Early heart disease runs in my DH's family. (Cancer runs in mine, on both sides. All things considered, I'd rather have the heart disease history.)

 

[kanga24roos]

You know, when it comes to things that run in families, someone always has to be first -- that's how it turns into a history, after all. Now he has a history, and you'll need to make sure that your children make sure to tell their health providers about it so that they can be watched as they grow older. Early heart disease runs in my DH's family. (Cancer runs in mine, on both sides. All things considered, I'd rather have the heart disease history.)

Strange thing is heart disease runs in my family and cancer in his . I had a sister die with a congenital heart defect ,30 years later we had a son live with same defect. So now DH and DS#3 can wait for the rest of us to get off the roller coasters.

 

[daisax]

Glad he's doing well and I hope you all have a blast (RnR or noT) on your trip.

Two things though -- it's almost NEVER a good idea to drive the person yourself instead of calling an ambulance. If he had collapsed on the way to the car or halfway into the car you'd've lost valuable time getting to the phone and calling 911 then and there. Plus, the ambulance crew is able to immediately administer meds and in communication with the ER so that transition is smooth upon arrival, as opposed to just pulling up in a panic and calling for help.

Second, the "cough when you have a heart attack" is an urban myth and can, in fact, make things much worse. See Snopes.

 

[kanga24roos]

-- it's almost NEVER a good idea to drive the person yourself instead of calling an ambulance. If he had collapsed on the way to the car or halfway into the car you'd've lost valuable time getting to the phone and calling 911 then and there. Plus, the ambulance crew is able to immediately administer meds and in communication with the ER so that transition is smooth upon arrival, as opposed to just pulling up in a panic and calling for help.

I 100% agree with you ...the thing is he is 37 years old no history (family or otherwise) to suggest he was actually having a heart attck. I truly thought it was really bad indegestion. If I for 1 second thought it was as serious as it was I would have called the ambulance.