Heart attack and Stent

Hi everyone.

I originally came to this forum in the hope of finding information about physical training after a heart stent.  After reading several threads I realize that many people are worried, as i was, about the consequences of a heart attack.  I hope that if I explain what happened to me before, during and after a heart attack it will be of some use and help reassure you that life goes on. 

For years I was having slight pains in my chest from simply walking several hundred yards.   I often felt a minor pain in my left arm and jaw and was quickly out of breath when walking upstairs.  I tried to convince myself it was simply a case of getting old, even though I'm just 47.  In hindsight I guess I knew there was something wrong with my heart.  All the signs were there, I just chose to ignore them, after all heart attacks are what happen to old people, in fact anyone, but not me!

Seven weeks ago whilst at work I had a tremendous pain shoot straight across my chest, I was out of breath, sweating and a little dizzy.  It was not like you see on TV, where someone drops instantly to the floor.  It was more of a feeling like I had been hit in the chest by a 10 year old child with a baseball bat, it hurt and took my breath away, but that was all.  The pain was of an intensity that I was no longer able to perform a normal days work.  I had little option but to go to my doctor.  It seams strange now to think that even at this stage I was still trying to deny what was happening to me. 

My doctor did a ECG and before I knew it I was in hospital laid on the operating table.  At this stage I was absolutely terrified, two hours before I was expecting to do a normal days work, now I found myself looking at what I thought to be a life and death situation.  Looking back I now know that this emotion was totally unjustified.  There is enough information on the internet explaining the technical side of having a heart stent, but basically the surgeon makes a small cut into the archery at the top of your leg next to the groin and from there goes up into the heart.  I was awake during the whole thing, there was very little pain involved.  I felt the cut to the groin which was minimal, I would compare this cutting my finger on a piece of paper, and now and again a little tingling feeling in my chest.  That was all.  Afterwards I spent the next 24 hours in intensive care with a bandage wrapped tightly around the cut in my leg.  This was uncomfortable but removed after 8 hours.  I was released from hospital 5 days later. 

If I could give advice to people it would be this.  Please don't ignore the sign's of a heart attack as I did, go and see your doctor, and if you do find yourself having a stent don't get yourself all worried about it.  I feel a lot healthier in myself after it, stairs are no longer the problem they was and for the first time in years I have started riding my bike again.

Thank you so much for sharing and I am just going to pull down some info I posted a while back re the sx of a heart attack. 

Common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:

Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes
Pain extending beyond your chest to your shoulder, arm, back, or even to your teeth and jaw
Increasing episodes of chest pain
Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Impending sense of doom
Fainting
Nausea and vomiting
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women may be different or less noticeable than heart attack symptoms in men. In addition to the symptoms above, heart attack symptoms in women can include:

Abdominal pain or "heartburn"
Clammy skin
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Unusual or unexplained fatigue
Not all people who have heart attacks experience the same ones or experience them to the same degree. Many heart attacks aren't as dramatic as the ones you've seen on TV. Some people have no symptoms at all. Still, the more signs and symptoms you have, the greater the likelihood that you may be having a heart attack.

A heart attack can occur anytime — at work or play, while you're resting, or while you're in motion. Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people who experience a heart attack have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor of an attack may be recurrent chest pain (angina) that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by temporary, insufficient blood flow to the heart, also known as "cardiac ischemia." reference: Mayo Staff

Don't "tough out" the symptoms of a heart attack, such as pressure or pain in your chest, for more than five minutes. Call 911 or other emergency medical services for help. If you don't have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital, such as a neighbor or friend. Drive yourself only as a last resort, if there are absolutely no other options. Driving yourself puts you and others at risk if your condition suddenly worsens.

I know the info you shared and this info will help educate many people who read here so again, Thanks !