I'm self diagnosing here, but I've been having these vague feelings of pressure since my AVR surgery last May. A few times per week I would have these, and feel a slight pressure and uncomfortable anxious feeling (best description, like running your nails down a chalkboard).
A few nights ago while watching a movie with my kids, I suddenly started having the feelings and got up and out of the room. Usually walking around or stretching helps a little, but this time it got worse. At about a 5 on a 10 scale it started to hurt. A dull ache in my left chest projecting through to my back and down both arms. My arms became very weak, to the point I wasn't sure I'd be able to dial the phone. Within munutes it escalated even more up to about a 10. At this point I had trouble talking, not because of loss of breath but it just really hurt!
911 was called, but by the time the paramedics arrived the feeling was mostly gone. I elected to go to the ER anyway. Spent over night at the Hospital, they drew blood for testing and put me on heparin. All enzyme tests came back neg for a heart attack. But my EKG did show changes from the last one I had there (before my AVR).
I will follow up with my cardio, in fact I may be admitted to Brigham and Women's tonight or tomorrow. Waiting to hear back now.
Anyway, just doing a little research on the web and Prinzmetal's fits the bill IMO.
Any and all opinions are welcome!!
Thanks, Pat
A few nights ago while watching a movie with my kids, I suddenly started having the feelings and got up and out of the room. Usually walking around or stretching helps a little, but this time it got worse. At about a 5 on a 10 scale it started to hurt. A dull ache in my left chest projecting through to my back and down both arms. My arms became very weak, to the point I wasn't sure I'd be able to dial the phone. Within munutes it escalated even more up to about a 10. At this point I had trouble talking, not because of loss of breath but it just really hurt!
911 was called, but by the time the paramedics arrived the feeling was mostly gone. I elected to go to the ER anyway. Spent over night at the Hospital, they drew blood for testing and put me on heparin. All enzyme tests came back neg for a heart attack. But my EKG did show changes from the last one I had there (before my AVR).
I will follow up with my cardio, in fact I may be admitted to Brigham and Women's tonight or tomorrow. Waiting to hear back now.
Anyway, just doing a little research on the web and Prinzmetal's fits the bill IMO.
Any and all opinions are welcome!!
Thanks, Pat
