Silent heart attack - Page 2

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My grandmother was told after the fact in her 50's, that she'd had a silent heart attack. She lived to be 97+ and died from CHF 10 months after a broken hip.

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

@squeaks

First of all, I just want to say, best wishes on your health and I'm sure everything will be o.k.! This happened to me over 30 years ago. I had an episode in a store -- did not even know what it was. Got sick, dizzy, was sweating, BP was very high, and almost passed out. My regular doctor at the time did nothing for me or ordered any tests. He listened to my heart and said -- you're fine -- and that was it. I started feeling better and didn't think much more of it. I was young then! I did get rid of the doctor though because his attitude angered me. A short time later when I got another doctor and he was examining me for other things and needed a couple other tests, he said to me --- you did not tell me you had a heart attack in the past -- when did this happen? I was like --- WHAT? I had no clue. Obviously, this was when I had gotten so sick and my other doctor said -- oh, it's nothing. As others have written, I guess this is not an uncommon thing. But you are under a cardiologist's care now and you will be fine!

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Effie54 · ‎09-08-2010

@On It wrote:
@Effie54 Your reply that the insurance has changed annual physicals into wellness visits jarred me. Both my husband and I had our annual visit last week. The nurse did the Medicare cognitive test and questions. The doctor came into the room and asked if we had questions or concerns.

He altered medications and made necessary changes. He listened to our chest and examined ears. I do not allow some tests on myself, but my husband is game on for anything they want to do. My husband requested a chest x-ray, but when we got downstairs it was not in the lab work orders. No EKG offered.

The building had gotten a new computer system that had lines backed up to check in, so we thought the snafu came from the change. Now you have me wondering if it was an insurance issue. The state of Texas changed the retired teachers to United Healthcare PPO Medicare plan. A little over two years ago while under Humana, I got an EKG in Dec. 2019 before COVID. Last year we did a Zoom call so no office visit or EKG under the new United Healthcare Plan. We thought it was to our advantage to stay out of public buildings since the vaccine was not yet available.

Fastforward to this January when Omicron was raging, and I requested another Zoom visit but was told insurance would not pay for it. Our problem may be United Healthcare since we have no track record of their policy under normal circumstances. We postponed our visit to March and had the in-person visit.

The insurance companies are doing the same thing as the food companies. They are merging and gaining monopolies.

I'm not sure if it's all insurance companies, or United HealthCare (which is what we have), but up till two years ago we always had EKGs, and a whole litany of tests at our physicals. I asked United Healthcare and they said it's called a "Wellness" visit. They pay 100% on that, but if we had questions, problems, etc. that there was a $25 copayment. I find this absurd! Our deductible is ridiculously high, and they're trying to squeeze $25 out of us for a visit that we actually have to go to. I know where you're coming from.

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

A little off topic but I know many Texas Retired teachers that have opted out of the state insurance and gone to Traditonal Medicare ( that would be A,B and D)

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Effie54 wrote:
@On It wrote:
@Effie54 Your reply that the insurance has changed annual physicals into wellness visits jarred me. Both my husband and I had our annual visit last week. The nurse did the Medicare cognitive test and questions. The doctor came into the room and asked if we had questions or concerns.

He altered medications and made necessary changes. He listened to our chest and examined ears. I do not allow some tests on myself, but my husband is game on for anything they want to do. My husband requested a chest x-ray, but when we got downstairs it was not in the lab work orders. No EKG offered.

The building had gotten a new computer system that had lines backed up to check in, so we thought the snafu came from the change. Now you have me wondering if it was an insurance issue. The state of Texas changed the retired teachers to United Healthcare PPO Medicare plan. A little over two years ago while under Humana, I got an EKG in Dec. 2019 before COVID. Last year we did a Zoom call so no office visit or EKG under the new United Healthcare Plan. We thought it was to our advantage to stay out of public buildings since the vaccine was not yet available.

Fastforward to this January when Omicron was raging, and I requested another Zoom visit but was told insurance would not pay for it. Our problem may be United Healthcare since we have no track record of their policy under normal circumstances. We postponed our visit to March and had the in-person visit.

The insurance companies are doing the same thing as the food companies. They are merging and gaining monopolies.
I'm not sure if it's all insurance companies, or United HealthCare (which is what we have), but up till two years ago we always had EKGs, and a whole litany of tests at our physicals. I asked United Healthcare and they said it's called a "Wellness" visit. They pay 100% on that, but if we had questions, problems, etc. that there was a $25 copayment. I find this absurd! Our deductible is ridiculously high, and they're trying to squeeze $25 out of us for a visit that we actually have to go to. I know where you're coming from.

We have traditional Medicare with a supplement but my husband got suckered into this Wellness exam by the PCP. He goes next week for it. I have to keep telling him all they can do or ask is.....and I know he thinks I'm being a PITA.

He's afraid he will be "fired" by her is he doesn't go. I personally think it's a complete waste of time. She was treating his diabetes and we decided she wasn't qualified enough so she treats nothing but common ailments.

sgraham30 · ‎03-14-2010

How is it determined if someone has had a silent heart attack? I've had 3 cardiac MRI's over a period of years that stated that I have scarring on my heart from a POSSIBLE prior myocardial infarction. Nothing has ever shown up on the many EKG's I've had done.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@sgraham30

It is my understanding an EKG has to be done within a specific time frame to detect the change in heart rhythm from a MI.

My husband suffered a major heart attack on a Thursday, and when the EKG was done in the doctors office on Monday, it was clearly abnormal, with great differences from the 2 EKGs done the week before.

If you can have a silent heart attack without knowing it, you are likely not going to be seen or tested within the time frame. Weakness or shortness of breath often sends a patient in for a follow up, which leads to the diagnosis of a previous MI. The scarring on the heart is proof positive of the attack.

Jersey Born · ‎03-10-2010

@squeaks - I will pray for you. It is shocking to learn this kind of thing at a doctor's visit. Take very good care of yourself, even if dietary changes are needed to optimize your health. We all need to add more vegetables to our diets (unless, of course, we are vegans or vegetarians). All the best to you as you undergo further testing, which is stressful enough in and of itself.

sgraham30 · ‎03-14-2010

@RedTop, how's your husband doing now? Thank you for your response. I have an appointment with one of my cardiologists this coming Monday, 04/03, I want to take him a copy of the cardiac MRI report that states the possible myocardial infarction.I've had many instances where I was short of breath, felt weak, or had excessive fatigue, never even thought about a possible silent heart attack.