It took about an hour maybe a little more by the time we arrived at the hospital by ambulance. Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). I have sharp recurring pain to left of sternum, behind 4th rib. I only wish that he would have survived it, but now at least I know how serious this type of heart attack is and his one that took him suddenly. We assumed surgery but because his nuclear stress test showed good flow, his doctor put him on cholesterol meds. It feels strange how sudden and close such a life-threatening issue grazed us by. Although there may have been a lesion it does not necessarily mean it was of impending trouble particularly if stress tests were unremarkable. After that, you can go home and start doing normal activities again, such as going to work and exercising, after about a week. I asked can you stent a stented stent? Long story, I know, just wanted to give background of myself as what I always thought to be a younger fairly healthy person. The night before, his entire body had broken into a sweat. But, you cant tell that someone is having a widowmaker heart attack from the outside. Appreciate your comment. Based on your recovery from the heart attack, your doctor may suggest heart surgery. And for those doctors and nurses treating patients with this illness, please understand their fears at this (2018). Well, now Im getting ready to change my eating habits. He woke up that Friday morning with a pain and numbness in the entire right side of his upper body. I simply thought I was out of shape. A widowmaker heart attack happens when you have a blockage in the biggest artery in your heart. I had 98% blockage of my widowmaker. Best of luck to all of you. The pain always went away. I had just come home from visiting my daughter in Charleston (4 hours away) the day before and we had just gotten 7 inches of snow on the ground that day. What should I do to prevent a heart attack? all clear we were told. Stayed overnight and had stent in my LAD the next day. Sigh. (The medical term for this is a proximal LAD lesion.) Last medically reviewed on December 17, 2019, When someone is having a heart attack, they will have raised cardiac enzymes, in addition to other symptoms. I was 5 months pregnant with our 4th child when this happened. Some people need to stay longer, especially if they have complications. Arteries opened with angioplasty can become blocked again. I told them it was better and sent them away. Sat in a chair and major chest pain, left arm went numb, then lips, then right arm and fingers. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? The jaw pain seemed to subside only to be followed by teeth chattering chills that went on for 30-40 minutes. They did it by Robot assisted off pump surgery. Now his wife and kids are really in a bind. my uncle is having severe heart attack on 30/06/2016 , and after doing coronary angiogram report it is found that out of three artery one is 100% block and another two is 99% and 80% , what treatement will be useful to survive my uncle , we very much afraid please give your kind suggestion . Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if youre having symptoms of another heart attack. They found it during a Cardiac cath and it was to big for a stent. Your experience has encouraged me. In the process, they knicked an artery and then had to go through my leg to insert a balloon to stop the bleeding. 877-697-9355, Find a Doctor or call I would advise being as aggressive as possible with risk factor modification. (2017). Im so thankful for this article to help me understand this more. It is possible that your husband heart was fine. My husband had a widow maker attack Christmas eve, 2013. Did That Stent Save My Life? I am a renal dietitian. Those tests mainly check the circulation of the blood to the heart. He was a coach, a mentor, a great father, and had touched many lives in his 45 years on this earth. The funeral home was packed as he has I am a nurse and have seen the miracles of science but in the end, it is Gods plan. 1996-2021 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. My wife called the clinic and they said to get to an ER stat. The more quickly a widowmaker is addressed and treated, the higher your chance of recovery. Not a thing! Feel lucky to still be here. They eventually believed me when in the following February when an angiogram showed the bare metal stent was 95% blocked. Then the doctor came in and said my troponin levels were high. Maybe a side effect from surgery ? He was afire fighter and guardsman. We dont have results back from autopsy but I believe it was the widow maker. Im 36 yrs old. I have a history of heart disease in my family. They did get a heart beat eventually but the cardiologist said that he couldnt be saved and the damage was done. A blood clot can also block your LAD artery and cause a widowmaker heart attack. I told my husband I didnt feel good and was going to the restroom. Science & Doctors kept you alive. Are there any specific topics youd like to see us cover? To understand this better, make sure you also readDid That Stent Save My Life?andShould I Take An Aspirin Every Day?. 30 years later, I was in China, and decided to climb up the steep Great Wall. I was fortunate to have a cardiologist that went the extra step and found the blockage when I was told by the head hospital surgeon that most Docs would have released me after the initial portion of the stress test and the eco check out OK. How did they find the blockage? Three days later I was released. My whole world view has changed. The total blockage of the LAD artery is a serious problem that requires immediate treatment. On the morning of 12/18/15 I was headed to my spot on the couch waiting for my coffee to finish brewing. Two days later I began suffering major intestinal pain and returned to the ER. I lay there until the big one hit me about 1:30 AM. THEY PUT A CATHERIA IN MY LEFT GROIN THEN SHIPPED ME TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL. Also, be aware that the normal stress test may not find the problem. No I was having a Heart Attack ! Worst of all, most of the sensations that I felt when I had my heart attack, tightness across the shoulders, heavy in the arms and a feeling of utter despair. Well I had my incident on July7th of 2016, I am an active runner and swimmer, eat well and do all I can to take care of myself- I was only 47 years old when this happened and had a lot of stress before this happened, my wife had just finished a yearlong fight with breast cancer. Delayed treatment for a heart attack can lead to significant tissue damage and scarring. how your body recovers in the months and years following the heart attack. The following day I became aware of a constant sensation on the left side of my chest as if someone was resting their hand on my chest. Ironically, that was the day we changed the clocks to spring forward. A tiny balloon at the tip of the catheter will inflate and push through the blockage. I am 39 years old, an avid runner and wieght lifter. All testing and ekgs and stress test said everything ok. Im so glad you made it, you have a very smart wife. Its completely devastating and its hard to believe that this could happen to a seemingly healthy 38 year old and my kids have to grow up without their dad. Uses include in large-volume, high-flow [], ATL Technology announced that it acquired manufacturing operations of Gyrus Medical from Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe. We discuss this with him but he felt like it was the best course of action. What happens if the left coronary artery is blocked? Y do i have hypertension evenafter stenting? They also said the can do it with a keyhole operation that goes between the ribs so the chest bone is not split. We avoid using tertiary references. I NEVER HAD CHEST PAIN, never had arm pain, never had the traditional heart attack symptoms! I too am a nurse and have seen a lot. Im not at all cautious as [], Medical device companies are presently grappling with a host of economic challenges, but there is actually no shortage of opportunities for medtech engineering and innovation. By the way, my biggest concern in all of this was what it was going to cost me. Rich I was told that a blockage in the LAD is called a widowmaker. This usually happened in the evening while out feeding, in the heat and humidity. Thats almost always better than having someone drive you to the ER. We went to the ER and upon a series of test was informed that I was having a heart attack. If the ER team unblocks your left main or LAD artery quickly enough, you could have little or no damage to your heart. with a 95% blocked widow maker. Its hard to except at such a young age. I need to change my lifestyle and eating habits but life is good. Theappellationwidow maker,whichhas been applied to thislesion(in part because of thelargeamountofmyocardiumthat the left anteriordescending artery supplies and its proximity to the distal left maincoronary artery), has done nothing to allay this anxiety.In the earliest days ofinterventional cardiology, theproximal leftanteriordescendingartery was Only now have come to realize, by the grace of God that I am still here. The good news is that if done in time, we can treat these lesions to good effect with the use of minimally invasive techniques such as stent placement (see the diagram below). I was done on Monday and home on Thursday. Can you stent a 100% blocked artery? 100% LAD BLOCKAGE. I have two boys and they are the world to me. At this time I had fallen out on the ground and was on my back and lifted my legs up on the swing to help the strain on my heart. It was so narrow it looked like the thickness of a single hair. no energy, sluggish, brain real foggy, left arm was very weak. I can only figure Im one of the survivors because Im supposed to learn more lessons (including compassion) before its my time to go. During angioplasty, you're awake but relaxed and pain-free. EF of 40%. As the largest coronary artery, the left anterior descending artery supplies a lot of blood to the left side of your heart. I had a heart attack 3/5/16. But he was certain something in there was wrong. CABG is usually best for a total blockage in the LAD. Im 46 yrs old, and for about 2 months had chest pain/heart burn, went to gi dr because i thought it was heart burn, because tums made it stop hurting. Our Cardiologist and Pulmonologistare the best in this area, but it was in Gods hands, lots of prayer warriors! He was the definition of healthy. Completely unbelievable. Immediately after I felt like something was stuck in my gullet, then a burning sensation between my shoulder blades that quickly became a pain that ran from my underarms to my fingers (like an electric shock). If seemed he needed short breaks on the walk more than I did. Causes and Risk Factors for Widowmaker Heart Attack. This widowmaker article scared me, it is written so well. Unfortunately, those tests can not always predict if a Heart Attack is going to happen. My wife came into the bathroom and took my blood pressure. There were times that were really bad, physically and mentally, and it took a long stay in a Transitional Care Unit and daily physical rehab before I could finally go home with my brother, as I cannot live alone now. And ask your doctor if you need medicine to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. And the patient's blocked artery can often be reopened with a stent, he added. Open heart procedures, which represent a major portion of our volume, require cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung bypass machine) and are usually the most complicated and complex procedures. I was in a coma for 4 days afterwards as they cooled my body. It causes the same symptoms as a heart attack caused by a blockage in a different artery, including chest pain, chest heaviness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and cold sweats. Court reporters rely on information like this to make our jobs easier. I think they did a balloon angioplasty. Alternatively ask the initial Dr for a more reassuring explanation regarding you symptoms as they are scary to you. You are likely on a beta blocker and that is meant to keep the heart slow and B/P low. The dizziness, vomiting, chest and back pressure, and sweating was happening for about 7 hours before the chest pains actually started, which was my indicator that something was terribly wrong, so we left at that point for the ER. Stent worked very well. This is a update on life so far after the insertion of a stint in my LAD that was 100% blocked on November 12, 2015. I was close enough to see the bench at the stop when I became short of breath and had to sit down on a cement car stop. And I have 3 herniated discs in my neck and one in my back, so I thought my pain was also coming from them. Then my left upper arm felt tight. Medicines to treat pain, blood clots and/or abnormal heart rhythms. It seems that your risk factors were controlled? Imagine driving through a tunnel. They hooked me up to the monitor and things were looking good there but I went to the hospital as a precaution. Doctors previously referred to this as an angioplasty with a stent. He said that was when he ran the catheter up the arteries. My advice is learn CPR. I think this was brought on by job related stress ( Illinois governor refusing to sign a state budget for a year), smoking half a pack a day for 35 years and eating too much sodium. They're a major pipeline for blood. An absolute tragedy. Im 62 and female. Do to my excessive cardio fitness my heart had minimal damage. I had a widowmaker heart attack also November 2015 and had to have emergency bypass surgery. She ordered a stress test with dye, and discovered two 90% blockages, requiring two stents. Nothing like a toothache most days. The plaque becomes less stable over time and tends to clot off at a certain location. My wife also brought me to the hospital with my two young kids in the back seat of the car.. Terrifying.. you will be fine.. EKG was ok, cardiac enzymes slightly elevated but normal. A widowmaker heart attack is a type of heart attack thats caused by a 100 percent blockage of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Now our authors are keeping readers up to date with essential information through twitter. I told him the event wasnt painful, just irritating, but he insisted. I went to ER last week and was kept overnight, the Cardiologist who attended mt did a CT without contrast but wanted me to come back and have a contrasting scan under supervision( I am allergic to Iodine) after he has spoken to my regular Cardiologist . He mentioned it bothering him again the next week or so later. We had just gotten our food and I started feeling very nauseated! The low blood pressure created problems in itself especially with regard to positional changes. The dr called around 3 pm and said get to ER. I went to cardiac rehab June of 2015, but stopped two months later because I had another health issue. Can I cheat once a month and have a hamburger and fries? Most people die within an hour. Im not even 60 yet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I was put on effient , 81 aspirin, beta blockernever really had high blood pressure.it was border line.also put me on stronger cholesterol meds. Eat right, exercise? Over the last [], By Mlnlycke Health Care Introduction Sustainability extends well beyond the resources and processes we use in manufacturing; it is instilled into every element of our conduct as a business. I was so weak the night before just walking across the hospital room. My son passed away on 7/17/14 at the age of 23 as a result of a train accident. He is 41 I am 30 with 2 kids under 6. Im 47 and had a heart attack almost a year ago, but I was lucky to only have a 100% occlusion of the RCA. One in the LAD and one in the Circumflex at the top where the arteries Y. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. The blockage was right at the Y. The hot Arkansas summer has been really hard on me causing my HR to go up to 158 when outside. Saturday morning it happened again. I was having discomfort off an on for a good while shortness of breath, chest discomfort, arm pain, neck and shoulder pain and middle of the back pain. According to Menees, a blockage of 70% or . He sent me your website to try and help me to understand what occurred with my husband. They told my wife they were unsure how I would be because of the time I was pulseless. "In fact, coronary disease is the epitome of an . He didnt make it. Eliminating red meat and most dairy products along with a bump from Lipitor has helped keep my cholesterol below 120. Thank you for letting me run on because I know my family is probably sick of hearing me tks about it, lol. Quotes, tips & stories to help us help ourselves and each other. It was about 1/2 mile. Theyre a major pipeline for blood. No symptoms other than feeling anxious and tired. I am doing well, at home, and awaiting Cardiac Rehab to begin. A doctor inserts a catheter into the artery in the groin or wrist. A heart attack starts when a clot forms in one of the three arteries -- muscular tubes -- that supply blood to your heart. A drug-eluting was placed inside the existing stent (dodged two bullets in six months!). Learn when to see a doctor and how to treat or prevent heart attacks. I am just curious, how much of your LAD was blocked? They gave me more meds, but no emergency surgery like I am seeing in these postings. I feel grateful to be alive for my teenage kids. What you should always do when you see someone having a heart attack or if you think you might be having one yourself is to get help immediately. I could black out if standing up suddenly. A 50 percent blockage doesn't need to be stented, he said. One should never ignore the symptoms and if you are at all unsure then seek medical attention and let the experts decide. The patient's blocked artery can often be reopened with a stent. Heart burn? I now have a large amount of heart muscle damage. The hospital stay and recovery period after angioplasty are much quicker. Having never heard of this term before, I decided to look this up. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. I thought I knocked it out of the park Im 59. I think the insurance companies see stents as being much cheaper than a bypass. Whats the best treatment for my situation? Shortness of breath. Had cardiac cath in hospital and doctor found some blockage in the LAD (not a lot of build up; didnt need a stent or anything). I had widow maker didnt know it I drove home 600 miles having it my left arm hurting bad but i have arthritis so I ignored it got home went to bed got up next morning pain was up my neck into my jaw my wife called ambulance got me to hospital and straight to catch lab I flat lined on cath table they kept me knocked out for two weeks didnt want me moving that was in 2011 Im on blood pressure pills Im doing very well so far. Thank God for 911 helping people performing CPR. Funny thing is that aside from feeling tired a lot I had no other pain in the chest before the operation. He miraculously survived after being shocked over a dozen times. 100% blockage in LAD. The Paramedics advised me that they lost me 7 times in the ambulance, and 3 times in the ER upon arriving at the hospital. I praise and thank God for living in a time of modern medicine and the gifted medical staff at Providence Hospital in Everett, WA. It depends on the types of blockages, where theyre located, how severe they are, and what the best options are for the individual patient. It can be life threatening or lead to permanent disability. He survived but he could not get the required surgery because of his other health issues. See your doctor for regular check-ups to detect heart disease early. What Is a Mild Heart Attack (and Is It a Big Deal, or Not)? A cardiac enzyme test allows for a doctor, The symptoms of a heart attack and a panic attack can feel similar, especially if a person has not experienced either before. God bless. Without enough blood, part of the heart muscle dies. No, did you feel any better at all after the stents. It was also accompanied with stabbing pain in left upper arm, intense deep cramp type pain in the left shoulder (and sometimes to a lesser degree duplicated in the right shoulder and arm), occasional sting from the stent area, a weird taste and smell, sometimes metallic,strange sensation where my windpipe feels like a metal tube and my breathing is laboured. He gave me my wonderful doctor who I love with all my heart!! My story is on Sept 30 2015 I was walking from a grocery store to a bus stop with about 20 to 25 lbs of groceries. report noted I had Sever LAD. Now we know why it is called the WIDOW my husband didnt visit the doctor for 12 years. The buildup of plaque inside the artery walls is called atherosclerosis. If youre on cholesterol-lowering medication, the cap thickens, which decreases the likelihood that plaque can break through and cause blockages. I now hope that they can find a solution to help extend my life. Warning signs when an artery is blocked, and how to fix it. My husband went in two weeks ago, and we just found out today from his Cardiologist that he had a widow maker heart attack, along with pulmonary embolism in both lungs. . pain that radiates into the legs, back, neck, or jaw, thrombolytic medicines to dissolve blood clots in the coronary arteries. You have 100% blockage of the Widow maker artery and he said it looks like its been there for awhile. We are all in shock and cant believe this has happened. It has only been 5 months and at times I feel a twinge or think I can feel alittle discomfort where my stent is at at the LAD. I still have 2 blockages that are 60 and less in there. His cholesterol is under 200. I have told my Drs,and nothing was done. I am 54 years old and overweight. He said its very dangerous too. Atherosclerosis, a buildup of cholesterol and other deposits in your LAD artery, causes a widowmaker heart attack. LAD blockage and had a stent put in. It depends on the characteristics of the test, i would advise you have a cardiologist look at the test itself and go through the results with you as it varies from case to case depending on the location of the calcium etc. Where is the opportunity for medtech engineering and innovation. Very informative article and pictures of before and after the procedure. So no we have a spelling teacher with no life scanning for errors. Immediate treatment is crucial for a chance at survival. The critical blockage in the artery stops, usually a blood clot, stops all the blood flow to the left side of the heart, causing the heart to stop beating normally. Went to Dr. and he called to make a appointment for a stress test with cardiologist who was on first floor of offices. Your doctor makes a small cut in your groin or arm and threads a thin tube called a catheter up a blood vessel to your heart. A Moderator needs to remove the post Wendy says June 13, 2016 at 2:46 am Siren and horn blowing we went. Why was I spared? Kathiresan S, et al. Overworked, not taking care of himself, it was a shock and just so needless. Theres no way to guarantee the prevention of a, Springing forward for daylight saving time can affect our sleep, appetite, and even our heart. You obviously had some good doctors taking care of you and a good wife watching out for you! doctor ordered stress test, ECK and echocardiogram. Please dont ever ignore the signs that are there! I suggest to buy a blood pressure machine to have peace of mind and check with your dc if you can do cardio rehab excercicig with monitoring. I had two stents placed and seemed to be doing fine. The receptionist told me to go to ER if it got any worse. However. Scientists are now investigating if this damage can be reversed by injecting stem cells into the area. They placed two stents. After being told my chest pain was Acid Reflex, which the interventional cardiologist read from the medical cardiologist report, I suggested he treat me as if Frances was spelled Francis(the male version of the name). I just lost my brother at the age of 43 on October 31, 2016. 84% is significant, but I am sure your dr. is watching your ekgs, and has told you what to look for. Can a Widowmaker Heart Attack Be Prevented? You thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Your story brought back the experience of that terrible day. I have cut out processed lunch meat I do watch my sodium intake etc.and take my meds..but just wonder how important diet really is now..if I just keep all in moderation. He took a shower, ate breakfast, and left for work. My dad was skeptical and still felt that nothing was wrong with him. The long rehab begins soon. Best wishes to you. God had nothing to do with you living. He survived both with little damage to his heart. I woke up at 2:30am feeling uncomfortable. (n.d.). That night I Googled heart attack and made myself aware of the symptoms. The doctors told me that had I remained at home I wouldnt have survived. Every minute matters when someones having a heart attack. I am home now and feeling pretty good. told me and sounded concern.My cardiologist has never mentioned this to me, unless he has to my family.I am suppose to have oral surgery next week and mention to my doctor that I suffer with angina and have a small blockage in the front of the heart which my oral surgeon called it LAD. Further work up may concentrate on non cardiac causes of pain, such as GI. It took 6 months for all the grafts to fail, and they had to go back to the native arteries. RUSHED TO HOSPITAL, CATHETER, STENT. I just lost my 45 year old brother two months ago who was the picture of health. Is there any way to get a clear EKG AND x-ray and still have blockage, or would these show the blockage for sure? It was then that he told me I was a lucky man, that I had survived two widow maker heart attacks. While at a banquet, I attempted to dance and within 30 seconds, my chest started hurting, so I sat down until it passed and did nothing the rest of the evening. I even resented having to come to the hospital fastng I like my breakfasts. I had just turned 50, ran ~20 kms/week; heathy lifestyle. Results from the stress test showed an abnormality so another night in the hospital to do a resting test the next day. I think we all understood what she meant!!!! But, I am different. That is a stable B/P. I felt like I did not have sleep for days. I had 100% blockage in the lad and immediately had a stint put in. I want to start dr. Essylstyns reverese Heart Disease program. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. My health conscious active 62 to uncle was just weaned from the vent and had the aortic balloon removed today. I eat very healthy and I am just thru went my current doctor he told my husband I should have been dead a long time ago. I just had 2 stents placed in the LAD a few days ago. Call 911 or your local emergency number if you think youre having a heart attack. Luckily the paramedics were just down the road from where he was working. How long will this last? My 42 year old daughter (e-cig smoker) and overweight had chest pain on exertion, good lipid panel and normal EKG had 99% block LAD got 2 stents April 1. If you have any doubts about your symptoms, go in and get a cardiac nuclear stress test or something similar. Im so scared now, ive never had any health issues. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. They worked on him and it took 3 minutes to hospital. Hes on tramadol painkillers for his arthritis. If your hospital has group cardio counseling, godemented humormisery loves company! I woke up about 9 am again it happened. i WENT TO A GYM TO LOOK FOR A TRAINER AND HAD A HEART ATTACK. He stopped and said this isnt where we are at. I also had an ache in my neck. A widowmaker is an informal term for a heart attack that involves 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, says Stanley Chetcuti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. It does encourage me to do all I can to make even more lifestyle changes to become as healthy as I can be. You are all lucky to survive the heart attack, he did 4 years earlier. I had a heart attack June 21, (didnt know it at the time though) thought it was indigestion/ something stuck in my gullet.
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