I did not have the elephant. - Page 4

LTT1 · ‎03-09-2010

@Noel7 wrote:
Heart Attack Signs in Women
Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

American Heart Association

Reposting

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@tansy wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
@chickenbutt wrote:
That's trippy! I didn't know about the jaw pain thing (or actually most of the ones in Noel's post, which I experience regularly...oops!).

Every now and then I will suddenly, out of nowhere, have the most intense jaw pain and I just figure maybe I was clenching and didn't realize it. It never lasts all that long, though.

Anyway, best wishes that everything is ok!
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@chickenbutt

You know, it really is true that as women, many or most of us push through and just keep going.

My first attack, I thought it was heartburn, really bad heartburn. It took awhile until I keeled over. The second time it was my ribs that hurt on one side and I thought it was costocondritis. I really got a talking to from the nurse, I thought she was going to slap my hand with a ruler, lol.

Go, get a checkup, get a scan maybe.

Out of curiosity, @Noel7, was your rib pain on the right or left?

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Hi @tansy

The first day it was on the right side, the second day it was just on the left side. By then it hurt more than costo so I went in, feeling silly for going, later glad I did.

It ended up being three things at the same time: heart attack, pericarditis and water in the heart sac, a lupus attack on the heart. Those with lupus are 50 times more likely to get a heart attack than people who do not have lupus, and pericarditis is common along with it.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

You're right about the elephant on the chest. My husband didn't have that for his either. We realized that later. Thanks for the reminder though and we should refresh our memories as to what might be going on when you have a heart attack, or a stroke. An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure!!

Your age? I think some people think they are too young to have this happen. I think it can happen at any time. If you don't mind. @newberry

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

@newberry wrote:

So ladies....... pay attentiion to feeling off and not just not quite right. Not feeling like yourself and just not feeling on top of your game can actually mean something serious to us and our health. Female symptoms of a heart attack are not always the elephant on the chest. I did not have the elephant. No clammy skin or shortness of breath at anytime. Jaw pain, shoulder pain or tiredness can be signs of a female heart attack. Get checked out and be safe

I highlighted this too, since my MIL before she found out she was sick, had remarked, "I just wish I could feel good again". It turned out she had a torn aeorta, and had to undergo surgery with a 50/50 chance. She never got better, and went down hill from there. That was back mid-90's. So newberry is absolutely right that if you're not feeling quite right, get it checked out.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@newberry wrote:
Funny thing happened to me last week. I had jaw pain took a Motrin and felt better. Went to a regularly scheduled doctors appointment the next morning. Told her about my jaw pain she checked out my ear to see if it was an earache. Nope looked good so she suggested and ecg. Had that done and BOOMB It showed a possible heart attack. Called my cardioligst and got an appoint and just went to the cardio yesterday and by looking at the ecg results he said yep I have had a heart attack. Next week I go back for an echo and tredmill test to see about damage done. I must say I feel good. Have no idea when it happened. I just went up 5 flight of stairs the week before with no problem except my knees said ouch and don't do that again to soon but no shortness of breath or any distress.

What I find the most scary of all of this is I had a heart attack and did not even know that is what it was. I probably went ouch, got up off the couch and went and cleaned the kitchen or bathroom and didn't even give the "ouch" another thought. When you get to be my age we have a few aches and pains don't even think twice about doing anything but taking a aspirin or Motrin. Being women we go about our life doing our jobs and attending to our families and not really paying attention to our own health. I just wanted by writing about this to to remind everyone here that women's symptoms of a heart attack can be very different than the ones we hear about for men.

So ladies....... pay attentiion to feeling off and not just not quite right. Not feeling like yourself and just not feeling on top of your game can actually mean something serious to us and our health. Female symptoms of a heart attack are not always the elephant on the chest. I did not have the elephant. No clammy skin or shortness of breath at anytime. Jaw pain, shoulder pain or tiredness can be signs of a female heart attack. Get checked out and be safe

I hope you you are feeling better. Your thread will help bring light to the fact that heart disease in women presents differently.

Best wishes to you and keep us posted how you are recovering....

meallen616 · ‎01-10-2013

For posting your story,

Bird mama · ‎03-12-2010

@newberry

I'm glad you are okay.

There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

This is all very scary!

I knew about the jaw pain but over the last few years when I did have severe jaw pain it really was a bad tooth infection.

However it seems that almost anything that may be off or a bit painful from your jaw, to your shoulder, back, stomach or down the arms can be a sign of an attack.

Lately I've been having a few issues. Just a few days ago I was having pain in my upper back and every time I took a deep breath it hurt. It almost felt like I pulled a muscle but I hadn't done anything that would indicate that. However the next day all pain was gone and I felt great...better than usual.

Now however after reading about your experience I am worried. I should make an appointment with my doctor but I've been trying to find a new one since I don't care for him. I'll go since I need to see him about my blood pressure meds anyway while continuing looking for a new one.

Since you did have an attack what did your doctor suggest for now? What were you told to do? Thanks for your post!

ETA: I just made the appointment for a blood pressure check & EKG. Thanks for the wake up call!

golding76 · ‎05-19-2012

Thank you so much for this account of your heart attack, newberry. I am certain you have potentially saved several readers today. Best of luck to you, and I hope this experience is the only message your heart will ever send you.