Sunday, March 4, 2018

Oddball symptoms

There was a man raking leaves in his backyard who decided to go inside and rest for awhile. He picked up a book and settled into a comfortable chair to read, suddenly he began to have pain behind both ears, a pain described as cold ice picks being shoved into both of his ears, when he could no longer stand the pain, and being prone to migraines in the past he went and took a hot shower, and planned to lay down with a pillow over his head to rest until the pain went away...

A woman with a toothache, went to see her dentist complaining of a terrible pain in an upper molar on the right side of her mouth, after an examination and completely going over the x-rays of her mouth there was nothing found to be wrong, but the pain was still there...

A man doing a treadmill stress test at his cardiologists office suddenly gets a leg cramp in his upper thigh and asks to stop for a minute, thinking it strange that his muscle cramped up after barely starting his walk on the treadmill...

What do these three people have in common? Some of you already know the answer, but for those who don't I'll give you a minute to contemplate the three scenarios, and I want you to know, all three situations really happened...

Ok I guess that's close enough to a minute so here goes.

All three of these people were having a major heart attack, yes I said major, there was no chest pain, no left arm going numb, and no falling out on the floor.

Cartoon red heart wrapped up by a stethoscope.
Pay attention to your heart (Photo Source)
The first man was me. This heart attack was On the ninth of January 2014, Ray stopped me from taking a nap and took me to the emergency room instead, there I got to ride in a speeding ambulance with lights and sirens blaring to the Cath lab in Palm Springs, California where a blood clot causing a 100% blockage was removed, and a stent was installed, the Cardiologist said "I'm surprised you made it here, you should have died at home!"

Less than a year later the artery that contained this stent completely plugged up, plugged to the point that it could not be repaired during my open heart surgery. I had suffered another heart attack! One they call a Silent Heart Attack and now my only option was bypass surgery which repaired everything except for one area of my heart which is now nothing but a mass of non working muscle, this lead me to having a defibrillator installed due to the low ejection rate that my heart now produces... Now I have a new lease on life and also a safety belt that we call "The Bentley" installed in my chest, waiting to give me a shock if need be, seriously folks Life is Good.

The woman after leaving the dentists office went to the emergency room where she too was found to be suffering a major heart attack. She survived her cardiac episode as well, in spite of her non textbook symptoms.

The man on the treadmill obviously was in good hands at his Cardiologists office, his heart attack was spotted as soon as the leg cramp began, but had he been anywhere else when he got this cramp in his thigh, who is to say what the outcome could have been.

Weird symptoms? Yes, Textbook symptoms? Not even. So how do you know if you are having a cardiac event?

Symptoms of a heart attack can include; Pain or pressure in your chest. This pain or discomfort can travel to your back, down your arm or up the side of your neck into the jaw. You can feel like you are full, have a feeling of heartburn or indigestion, you may have a choking feeling and actually get sick to your stomach and vomit, these are just a few of the symptoms that you can have.

Symptoms of a myocardial infarction, coronary occlusion, or a heart attack in men is described as a crushing pain in the chest, but sometimes women describe their symptoms more like tight muscles, stress, heartburn, or even asthma like symptoms. A woman's chest may feel tight with unexplained nausea, cold sweats or unexplained dizziness and shortness of breath.

These are some of what they call the textbook symptoms and it is important that we pay attention to any of these and take action quickly! Delaying getting these symptoms checked can be deadly! The sooner you get help the better your chances of survival are. Get yourself to the ER or better yet call 911 or your emergency medical services.

Now there are oddball symptoms like my ear pain, my cardiologist tells me that I am his poster child for strange symptoms, and every visit rather than first ask me if I have had any chest tightness he asks "How are your ears Jimmy?" and my answer to this question is what lead to my latest stress test.

In addition to everything we have talked about for heart attack symptoms, be sure to remember the oddball symptoms also.

Some people have ear and molar pain, and even leg cramps. But seriously anything unusual that is not normal for you should be checked out. It's much better to get checked out for nothing than to ignore a cardiac event and to never wake up at all.

32 comments:

  1. Wow, now I'm thoroughly scared. But seriously, this is an important cautionary tale you've written! How lucky you are that Ray was there to insist you go to the ER.

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    1. Jean we all tend to ignore symptoms that can potentially be serious, and sometimes it takes someone like Ray to make you notice that it is serious. I thank God that he was there.

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  2. Who'd a thunk it? Ear pain, tooth pain and leg cramps. Now I will be suspicious of anylittle tingle that seems out of the ordinary.

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    1. Delores, this is just a reminder that we are not all textbook cases, I relate completely to what you said because any unusual twinge scares me to death now.

      Seriously I just want everyone to pay attention to anything unusual to your body that lingers, because it could be something serious...better safe than sorry.

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  3. I have survived 3 heart attacks since 2003 and have 5 stents. The day before my first MI the doctor had given me a complete check up and pronounced me in perfect health. Good thing Ray knew because doctors don't even know sometimes:-)

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    1. Very true statement Annie "doctors don't even know sometimes:-)", doctors can only diagnose the symptoms that are present when they see you, if nothing is going on then you get a clear bill of health when something serious can be hiding below the surface so to say.

      With 3 heart attacks and 5 stents I am preaching to the choir here, isn't what they can do with stents amazing this technology really impresses me.

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  4. I have every one of the symtoms! Seriously. The doctor sent me all over town to every specialist around to check for anything it could be. Nuclear Stress test, Hida scan, xrays, endoscopy....you name it, I had it done. Heart was rulled out first then they tested me for everything else. NOTHING was ever found and I STILL have these symptoms at least once a week. I would never know now if I was having a heart attack but I try not to worry since my heart has been ruled perfect. I told my husband that if I die, to make them do an autopsy.! Lol.
    Im glad your ok!!!!
    Lisa

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    1. Lisa, I think about you and the symptoms that you are having often, has your cardiologist ever suggested an Angiogram to go into your arteries and check for a blockage? This test goes in to check the hearts blood vessels through either your wrist or groin, and a stent can be placed at the same time if needed. This is a very good procedure and I wouldn't be scared if they suggest it.

      Your symptoms are telling you something, I just pray that someone can find the answer for you soon.

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  5. I'm glad you're okay too and thanks for all this information. I didn't know most of it. I'll be on the lookout if any of these things happen to me or hubby.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. Thank you Sandee, I felt that it may be helpful to share some of this information with everyone, before my first heart attack I thought all the symptoms were supposed to be textbook, but now I am finding out that in addition to my oddball symptoms that a lot of folks never have chest pains either. It's good to pay attention to anything odd happening with your body that is out of the ordinary.

      Have a wonderful Sunday my friend.

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  6. It's good to get this additional information because the ads and literature do not talk about this. I'm glad you had Ray there to speak up, and that you're doing better after such a scary series of events. It's amazing what medical science can do, but sometimes a person needs some luck as well. Thank you for sharing this. It could save another person's life (or more than one).

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    1. Jenny, If only one person doesn't make the mistake that I almost did, then I will be happy. Knowledge is key to preventing overlooking the signals our own body's give to us. You are so right sometimes a little luck is sure helpful.

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  7. Thanks for that public service announcement. And thank Ray, for not letting you have a nap!

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    1. I am very happy to provide it Val, and I am also very happy that Ray didn't let me take that nap also...

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  8. Good information and glad someone got you quickly to the hospital. Did you have other signs such as elevated blood pressure or cholesterol? I have known enough physically active folks have heart attacks that it does scare me. Take care of yourself!

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    1. My blood pressure and cholesterol have always been good, actually my BP was always on the lower end of normal, once the pain started my BP obviously spiked but before that it had never been high.

      I do have other risk factors though, type 1 diabetic since I was a teenager and family history of heart disease, they say that you can't outrun genetics.

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  9. I think many of us have the image of someone suddenly clutching their chest and collapsing, short of breath. But you're right, there are other, less tell-tale symptoms. I'm so glad that Ray was on top of things that day!

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    1. Abby, I too always thought that same thing about heart attack symptoms, clutch your chest and fall to the floor...I never had any of those, heck I was in shock when the doctor at the hospital told me that I was being transferred to somewhere that could help me, I really thought he was joking.

      Yes Ray thought ahead on this one for sure, he called Cindy to take off work and to meet us at the hospital and off we went without any other delays.

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  10. If it isn't normal (for you) get it checked out is excellent advice. And I am so glad you were deprived of your nap.

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    1. EC, this is the best thing to do in most any situation, if it isn't normal for you get it checked out, I can't stress that enough, Thank you my friend I am so happy that I missed that nap.

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  11. If I went to the hospital for every oddball pain or ache I have, I'd never leave. I'm going to worry now every time I get a twinge anywhere. Of course most of my twinges are completely normal for me, I've had them for years, so eventually I'll stop worrying.

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    1. The normal ones I wouldn't be any more concerned with than usual, but anything new and persistent or any of the textbook symptoms I'd take seriously.

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  12. There's a saying 'only the good die young' ... now that I have reached such a great old age perhaps I'll be spared a heart attack and have something else take me. Seriously, I am pleased you published a few warnings for us bloggers.

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    1. Good morning Valerie, "Only the good die young" that means we are going to be here for a while yet ha ha. Yes mam I got on a roll with these last few posts talking about heart disease, I figured the best way to finish it was with a few things to be aware of about heart attacks and how they can sneak up on you. I promise that I'm not going into risk factors and all that stuff...

      Thank you my dear friend I am seriously happy to share what I have learned with you all.

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  13. My goodness, I'm so glad you posted this, and what a tragedy it could have been for everyone!!!! You are definitely a walking and breathing miracle, and HUGE hugs to Ray. Your symptoms and the other two are definitely not what we think of when we consider a heart attack, but each person is different. You made me cry with your romance with Cindy, but now I'm crying tears of joy that you are with us to tell this very important story. Hugs...and Happy Monday! RO

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    1. Ro, You hit the nail on the head when you said each person is different, and with that said I truly believe that none of us are textbook cases in anything, textbook symptoms are a good guideline but we always have to expect the unexpected.

      Yes I was really blessed to have Ray here with me at that time, because it's clear that I missed the symptoms as being serious, we have lost so many people who could have been saved in similar situations, I'm just happy to be here and to tell this story in hopes that someone will not make the same mistake tha I was going to make.

      Happy Monday RO!

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  14. OUTSTANDING post Jimmy!!!
    Thank you so much for these informations which amazed me to great extent!

    i have so many times the normal and abnormal symptoms though still did not have any heart attack(by the grace of Good)

    after gall bladder surgery i feel breathless while cleaning and it seems as next breath will not be coming to me .i take break and make slow ,feel so helpless but medications are not helping for this problem ,doc says it will take almost more than 1 year to feel normal after surgery

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    1. Thank you Baili, I am honored by your kind words. It does take a while for you to heal after any type of surgery, I am sure a year to feel normal again after your surgery is about right. I know they told me that after my heart surgery to expect a year to pass before my breast bone would be fused back together completely.

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  15. Oh geez! I have so many everyday aches and pains that I might not even notice a new one! I don't get headaches at all though. So that's a good thing.

    Thanks so much for info Jimmy! I had no knowledge of these "oddball" symptoms. Sorry you had to go through all of that, and happy that you survived it all.

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    1. Thank you Pat, I hope that you don't have any of these oddball symptoms or any symptoms at all. But if you do have anything unusual for you happen get it checked out Buddy.

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