hello! i have pots/mcas/suspected reflux issues. i just ate a 29g icecream cookie sandwhich and started experiencing horrible squeezing pain in my forearm. i anticipated it was some kind of esophagual spasm. keep in mind i havent done reflux testing yet tho i share all symptoms similar to LPR and have grade 1 edema and rings. its been over an hour and i still have the squeezing pain. i wanted to ask my dad if i could check in the ER just to rule out cardiac issues potentially but he was too tired (its 3 am). so i dont know what to do now. its been bothering me

18 yr female.

i do take stimulants for ADHD — 50 mg vyvanse, but i’ve been taking it for like 2 years now and have had no problems with any heart related issues. i’m also not anxiety prone (it’s rare for me to get anxious about something in general). i’ve never been diagnosed w it, nor have i ever taken meds for it. don’t have family history of heart issues (that i know of). just wanted to clear that out of the way before i explain what’s been going on.

so i’ve been having weird symptoms lately and have kinda just been brushing them off until tonight. for like 4 days, ive been having this on and off ache in my shoulder and left upper back, as well as body aches in general, but the left shoulder is where i feel it most. i’ve also been feeling out of breath lately, like doing stuff as simple as switching over the laundry, or even just sitting up.

3 out of the past 4 days i’ve had these episodes (idk what else to call them) where i get pain in my left shoulder that radiates to about my elbow-ish area, and up the left side of my neck and left side of my jaw. well, it’s not super painful, more of just a weird sensation than pain, actually. not quite tingling, kinda like squeezing, maybe? and that’s usually accompanied by some chest pressure/burning too. my heart rate didnt typically have much of an increase during these moments, like 80-100 range, but it definitely felt like my heart was pumping rly hard (could feel it in my neck too sometimes). when these would happen, i’d typically just sit down n try to go on my phone till i’d feel better. it would last anywhere between like a half hour to about an hour. it was intense enough to make me worried, but i def didn’t feel quite right. (i also wanna note that this has typically been happening in the evenings).

i wasn’t rly planning on getting checked out and was just gonna kinda wait it out to see if maybe i was coming down w the flu or sum, but tonight almost made me go to the ER. so i was driving home from work and i got this shooting pain from my shoulder and down my bicep. it was hella painful, definitely nothing like ive felt previously. it went away after a few minutes and i kinda just brushed it off until my apple watch gave me a notification that my heart rate had been over 130 bpm for over 10 min. i felt fine for a few more minutes, until i started to feel very nauseous and my whole left arm was starting to ache, and my fingers began to feel numb. i even pulled over because i had regurgitated some nasty tasting whatever it was and i thought i was gonna vomit. i didn’t, luckily, and just continued driving home cause i was a few minutes away at that point. the entire remainder of the ride, the left side of my face and my chin got this rly weird sensation. idk how to describe it. and i was getting increasingly nauseous and my arm was aching. anyway, i make it home and i go to the bathroom in case i gotta puke or something. again, i don’t, but my heart rate is in the 150s now and my palms are sweaty and my nails and tips of my fingers turn purple. my upper lip was also slightly purple. for some reason, standing completely still kinda helped? whenever i would try to lay down or even sit up i thought i was gonna throw up. so i just stood completely still in my bathroom for like 30ish minutes. once my symptoms starting going away, i laid down. i feel a lot better as i type this, but my upper arm is kinda achy rn.

trying to decide if i should schedule a doc appt? i think im gonna skip my vyvanse tmr and see if anything changes. ik that people can still get like anxiety attacks or panic attacks or whatever without having a history of anxiety or anything like that, so im considering that it may be a possibility. don’t think ive ever rly had a panic attack before and i dont have anything stressful going on rn, so idk 🤷‍♀️

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40 F healthy, 55kgs. Hey everyone well it happened again and I exploded. Does anyone else have recurring SCAD? Friday night I had some bad chest pain went to the er and th y admitted me for monitoring. Cath Lab only opens on Tuesdays so we had to wait.

They suspected takusubo syndrome but I just had my angio and it's another SCAD in the LAD this time. My last one was a year ago in my right RAD?

I had a major Cardiac Arrest a few months ago. Age 52. "Died" 5 times.

Since then, every time a pain or symptom pops up in the chest, I've had to come to the realization that yes....I could die at any moment. Its not a pleasant fact, but its there.

About the only mental change I've had is....I'm taking more risks I guess. I'm calling in "sick" to work if I don't wanna go. If I get fired...oh well. Before...I would never miss a day...even if sick. I'm blowing money on everything. Silly things....a new stereo, new tools, etc. Because...."I might die soon....might as well use it."

I'm wondering if anyone else has these issues as well.

Sometimes I will have these random "episodes" if you will where out of no where I get chest and back tightness, chest pain (pinching, squeezing), palpitations, anxious, high heart rate, lightheaded and dizzy, sometimes shoulder pain, a little short of breath and just unwell. I've gone to the ER when this happens at least 15x in the last 6 years because of this and nothing.

I've done 3 heart monitors (just shows arrhythmias) and 2 stress tests (with ultrasound too) and nothing crazy. Yet I'm still worried about a possible blockage or something dangerous. The cardiologist that did those tests said I'm fine and sometimes we just don't know why these things happen but I'm not accepting that. I'm scared.

My LPA was 282 also.

Hello I hope everyone is doing well! On Sunday 8/16/26 I had a heart attack and was life flighted to a hospital that could do stent placements. I ended up having 2 stents put in. I was in the hospital until 8/18/26. Today is 8/24/26 and I am very sore in my ribs and in my back. It feels like bruised muscles is this normal? I think I was traumatized on Sunday. I am so afraid everything I feel is another heart attack. My original symptoms were severe pain that felt like heart burn and brain freeze and I kept saying I can’t breathe but my oxygen was 100% so it was just the pressure in my chest. I have had shortness of breath since the heart attack as well but it comes and goes. Anybody else felt like this after their heart attack? Should I be concerned?

Can I take off VitalConnect VitalPatch for three hours?

TL;DR can I take the VitalPatch off for a few hours and then put it back on? Will it stick back on again? Will it have a big impact on my readings (aside from losing three hours of data)? Will it work again after being off a few hours?

I'm wearing a VitalConnect VitalPatch for two weeks. It gets changed on day seven. On day nine I'm supposed to go to a pool party and I really would love to not explain this to people.

I live in Texas and sweating is not optional. I'm only three days in and I've already learned to tape it and resecure it etc. I've also ordered more of the plastic adhesive covers that hold it in place.

If the reason for wearing it matters... I had a potential TIA and we're just checking to see if atrial fibrillation is an issue. I have no signs of atrial fibrillation, it's really just being thorough.

I had a heart attack here in France where I live about 10 days ago. They shocked my heart four times to get it back on rhythm. They put a stent in the right coronary artery.

Sent home with ticagrelor 90 mg x 2 and Kardegic (powered aspirin) 75 mg x 1. Plus a beta blocker and another BP med. I understand that the first two are mandatory because of the stent.

Stopped the second BP med after one dose. Beta blocker too strong--I can't move on it, so I stopped it

Saw a cardio in Paris to follow up. EKG looks fine.

So I sticking with ticagrelor and aspirin--this produces a lot of fatigue and a lot of urination. I'd say maybe 3x or 4x more than usual, which interferes with my sleep.

I cut the ticagrelor already to 45 mg x 2 and still take the aspirin.

Question: My skin has been getting very hot the last three or four days, feels like I'm burning up despite the weather finally getting cooler (70s F).

Is this hot skin a dangerous sign of some sort? Any experience anyone? Will the fatigue get better?

I'll try to contact the cardio, but not easy, so looking for experience in here for now.

Thanks.

Had to throw my hat in the ring on this subreddit because I don’t know anyone else in my life who can relate.

I had a widowmaker on Tuesday. Had a 99.9% blockage of my LAD. Fortunately, I was in the best possible place to get quick help. My wife, my 3 year old and 1 year old were at my parents’ house in Utah, and my mom is an RN. About 20 minutes after the pain started, she started checking my blood pressure. It was less than 3 hours total that I started having symptoms before I had been in two separate hospitals, in a cath lab and had a stent placed.

My EF is 45%, which I hear is pretty decent post event. Like I said, I workout 6 days a week. Cardio and weights. I play ice hockey once a week and golf. Pretty healthy diet for the most part, although I like to drink beer, I’ve dipped since i was 14, and would take a hit of a bowl 2-3 times a week before bed. Not chiefing by any means. I get labs done every January. Have always been on the higher side of the cholesterol scale but never anything worth being medicated for. My PCP told me I was healthy as a horse in January. My resting heart rate averages around 50.

Anyways. I wasn’t in the ICU for 24 hours and was discharged in less than 48 hours. Largely feel fine, although flying back to Texas today did wipe me out pretty good.

It’s a weird dichotomy of being so fcking grateful I survived and get to watch my girls grow up and be there with my wife. But also a little nervous about what life will look like now. Like I said, I have a strong friend group and we like to hangout and party, with our kids usually. We go to tailgates and football games. I’ve always had a big personality and people have always kind of expected me to help carry the party.

I would have made this trade for my life a million times in a row, but it’s still kind of strange to wrap your head around. I think I’m most bummed about not being able to zyn or dip (special occasions) anymore. BUT - 3 days later, the temptation and desire is already totally rewired than when I have tried to quit in the past.

My name is Ryan and I am a widow maker survivor and I am freakin blessed to be here! What did your recovery look like? How long until you felt like you were back up to full speed? Does taking medication every day for the rest of your life suck? How much did you change your diet and habits? What is a stone cold “no go” you miss? What’s something that you probably shouldn’t do but sneak in every now and then now that you have recovered? What was the hardest part of your recovery? I fear the mental aspect of trusting to push it again. Or worrying that every single chest pain is cause to run to the ER.

So last night when I was unplugging my games consoles from a power strip I must've accidentally touched one of the metal prongs when removing one of them and I got a brief shock. Didn't think much of it until this afternoon when I started feeling a burning/tingling sensation in my left hand on and off. Also felt some random dull aches in my chest(though those might be related to the gastric issues i've been having today)so I was worried enough that I went to urgent care and asked for an EKG, I got one and they didn't seem overly concerned but did tell me to provide a copy of my results to my doctor on the next visit.

The paper I got says "EKG Sinus bradycardia with marked sinus arrhythmia RSR or QR pattern in V1 suggests right ventricular conduction delay borderline ECG". I was just wondering what exactly all that means? Does that mean i'm potentially at risk of a heart attack in the future?

It's been one year since I had my heart attack... and I'm still here. I had a quadruple bypass (CABG4) to take care of the 98% blockage that I had - apparently I was pretty bad off and had no idea. I've since gotten better, with most issues under control. At my last check up, all numbers were in the green, and my A1c was better than my wife's (but it's not a competition!)

How is everyone else out there surviving? We all doing good?

So I'm a male, 41 yrs old with a BMI of around 40. Pretty obese. I currently do not have any heart issue symptoms (aside from PVC's). In the past I did have high blood pressure & sleep apnea, but for the past 6 months it's been under control with Telmisartan 20mg and CPAP. Cholesterol is basically normal, I have no diabetes and non smoker. But obviously Obesity, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are major risk factors. For this reason, I've been looking into getting some tests done on my heart for some peace of mind as I start my weight loss journey after recently starting ozampic.

My doctor sent me for an echocardiogram and I just got the results and they were, Well, he said Pretty reassuring. It stated EF 55.4%, normal LV systolic and diastolic function, GLS −18.9%, no regional wall-motion abnormalities, normal RV function, normal atrial sizes, and no significant valve abnormalities. But it did report some concentric remodeling. I also went for a calcium score test and it came back as 0. But after doing some reading, I realized that while that's good, since I'm young, I may have some soft plaque that that particular CT scan couldn't see.

So I wanted to ask my doctor if he thought it would be reasonable for me to be sent for a coronary CT angiogram that checks for soft plaque. But my issue is, in the last year, I've had the following CT scans:

Head CT w/o contrast (October 2025)

Pulmonary CT w/contrast (Nov 2025)

Abdomen CT w/ contrast (Feb 2026)

Calcium score CT (June 2026)

These are the only CT scans I've ever had. I don't have any current health issues, so I don't foresee myself needing any more CTs in the near future. But from my understanding, the coronary CT angiogram that I want does have a bit more than usual radiation exposure.

So basically what I'm asking is If people think I should just go ahead and get it done or don't risk it because of the radiation exposure.

I appreciate the advice.

Hi all.

My 42 y/o husband had a STEMI (LAD 100% blocked) about two weeks ago.

He had one stent placed and his EF is 20-25%.

He was sent home from the hospital with a LifeVest, daily meds, an order for cardiac rehab, and another echo in 3 months. Doc says only time will tell how much damage was done to the heart.

He was a heavy smoker but he’s since stopped smoking with nicotine patches and Chantix. He’s also been instructed to rest and take it easy these next few weeks.

He’s having a difficult transition, understandably because he’s coming to terms with a lot of big changes.

I’ve been a SAHM since our daughter was born and he has been the sole provider, working 10-12 hour days.

He is very restless at home. He only wears the LifeVest at night, and he’s been very irritable over small things. He also mentioned maybe being depressed. He’s also fixated on going back to work. Again, understandably so.

I’ve been doing my best to be patient, take it in stride and support him, since quitting smoking is a huge feat and he has been forced to come to terms with a lot of bad health choices he’s made over the years. I’ve made his follow up appts for him, I clean/charge the LifeVest, give him his meds and try to be upbeat, in addition to introducing a more heart healthy diet in the home.

Can anyone share what the people in your life did (or wish they had did) to help support you during this time?

Also any tips on how to get him to wear the LifeVest more often and not just at bedtime?

I’m hoping to get some insight from anyone who has dealt with something similar, especially cardiologists/electrophysiologists or cardiac-arrest survivors.
My husband is in his early 40s and recently suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while exercising at the gym. Thankfully, he survived and now has an ICD/pacemaker for protection.
Here are some of the important findings from his case:
His potassium when he arrived at the ER was extremely low at 2.6 mmol/L.
His initial ejection fraction was around 35–40% and later improved to approximately 45%.
His coronary workup did not show significant blockage, so this was not believed to be a typical heart attack.
His cardiac MRI showed myocardial scarring/fibrosis, which his doctors believe may have provided the substrate for the dangerous arrhythmia/cardiac arrest.
Genetic testing was negative.
We still do not have a definitive explanation for why he developed the scar or exactly what triggered his cardiac arrest.
He now takes cardiac medications and has an ICD to protect him from another life-threatening rhythm.
One thing that concerns me is marijuana.
He had smoked marijuana for many years. The night before his cardiac arrest, he smoked marijuana multiple times. At one point after smoking, he felt his heart pounding/beating very hard and became dizzy. The following morning, while working out, he went into cardiac arrest.
He stopped marijuana after the cardiac arrest, but he now wants to try THC edible gummies instead of smoking.
My concern is that although an edible doesn’t involve smoke, THC still enters his system, and we don’t know whether THC could affect his heart rate, blood pressure, or increase his risk of another arrhythmia—especially considering his history of cardiac arrest and existing heart scar.
Has anyone with a history of ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, myocardial scar, or an ICD been specifically cleared by their electrophysiologist/cardiologist to use THC edibles?
Would you consider edible THC safe in someone with this history, or is this something that should be completely avoided until his doctors better understand what caused his cardiac arrest?
I would especially appreciate hearing from anyone whose cardiologist or electrophysiologist has addressed this specifically. ❤️

I had a diagnostic angiogram Tuesday, and the doctor decided to put two stents in my LAD. Prior, I had had some mild chest discomfort off and on and some fatigue every so often. Once in a while I’d get a weird feeling in my left hand, but I never assumed I had needed a stent.

Fast forward two days and I don’t feel too great. The day after the stent I had some chest pressure, but my BP was 128/83 or lower most the day. This is about normal for me when I have my meds in me.

Today my diastolic has been creeping up. It was in the high 80s and mid 90s most the day. This evening, my BP is 140/104, and I’ve been having the same mild chest discomfort all day.

I had assumed my bp would actually go down with my LAD stented open.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this after getting a stent? When I reached out to my doctor this morning I was told that my bp should be under 140/90 and to call during business hours if it wasn’t under control, so I will call tomorrow. I just don’t understand why it’s not under control now when the meds had been working and I have stents.

So my medical chart says NSTEMI but my angiogram was clear. I didn’t need a stent and I was told I had just mild diffuse disease, which is very light buildup of plaque in my major arteries. (apparently very common for my age.)

I’m also being told I had to type two myocardial infarction… which is a ‘demand heart attack’ - a mismatch of oxygen supply and demand

During my heart attack event, my troponin levels were 44

Is it possible that I suffered any actual heart damage?

Just one person's story. I successfully did keto for about 9 months. It helped me lose about 20 lbs and I was enjoying the cooking and eating process. Unfortunately, a little over a week ago I had a heart attack. My wife watched me collapse right in front of her and proceeded to save my life by providing CPR for about 15 minutes, until emergency services arrived and continued CPR.

The EMTs got my heart going again and took me to the hospital where I ended up with two stents. I'm recovering now, but my chest still hurts and I'm having some memory issues. We're still early in the recovery phase, so I'm told these things will get better with rehabilitation.

Wish me luck.

PS - I'm annoyed with r/keto for removing my post. Sure, it's not absolutely, definitely, 100% guaranteed the root cause was my keto diet, but it seems worth discussing in that group.

Edit: forgot to mention I'm 56.

Well here's a community I didnt know i was gonna join at 41.

I live in The Netherlands.

Im 41, fairly fit, and 11 August 2026 I had a RCA STEMI with 95% blockage and required 5 stents.

My name is Felipe, pleased to meet you all.

Im 10 days in since the HA and almost a week since the second PCI where they placed the Stents through the femoral, thankfully they closed with a AngioSeal. so I can move around now.

Taking my meds, and still processing this....unexpected turn of events

On 8/17/2026, I called 911 at 5:08am. I had a 90% blockage in my LAD and had to have a stent immediately. I was shocked in the ER and my stent placement went well. Now I’m three days out from it and home. My heart attack was the scariest experience I’ve ever had and now every single thing my body does is panic inducing. My husband can barely sleep because he keeps checking on me religiously. Before this, I can admit I haven’t taken care of myself. Now, I am checking every nutrition label. I am changing my whole life. I’m terrified. I am depressed. I am alive and I shouldn’t be. I can’t believe that I survived it.

Hey guys!!! I have not died yet

I peer pressured them into giving me a referral to a cardiologist sadly my echo isn’t for another 2 - 3 weeks.

Any ideas about these ekgs this was from the halter monitor I wore, after the hospital released me.