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Title: CH's and your heart Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 15th, 2003, 11:10pm I a question to throw out at y'all. I just had a visit from the BEAST, and something happened that has me a little concerned. About 45 minutes into it (it was another KIP 9), I got a pain in my lower chest, about at the bottom of my ribcage, that was fairly severe. Not on the same level as my head, but enough so that I was VERY aware that it was there. Before I could get upstairs to get my nitro, I passed out. I don't know how long I was out for, but by the time I came to, the beast had left, and there was only a minor discomfort in my chest. I have never had a heart attack, but I did have a blockage that they had to go in a fix. I feel fine now. Even the BEAST has left for the time being. My question is, can one of these trigger a heart attack if you have already had some problems with the ticker? Anyone else out there with a tricky ticker? Chuck |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Ted on Aug 15th, 2003, 11:19pm I'd imagine the stress to ones system from the pain could trigger a heart attack if you were so proned. I'd check it out if I were you. Might want to call the ER tonight to explain it to them and see what they say. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Mastifflvr28 on Aug 15th, 2003, 11:28pm CHRIST Chuck! Get thee to a doctor NOW. Passing out ain't right...chest pain ain't right...and heading for Nitro ain't right. You do know that nitro is the biggest cluster trigger of all times, don'tcha? Cat has heart probs...might wanna e-mail her and get some advice. Good luck, hope everything is ok! Mast |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 15th, 2003, 11:32pm Damn! I did not know nitro could be a trigger!!! I will have to find out what to use instead of that. I don't need to see a doctor now, I feel fine. Besides I have about had my fill of the emergency room! Thanks for your concern though ... Chuck |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Ted on Aug 15th, 2003, 11:38pm on 08/15/03 at 23:32:15, ClusterChuck wrote:
You might want to do some reading up on CH from the info here and at OUCH's library. Lots of jewels out there to read which will help you limit the number of attacks and also get relief when it comes. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by catlind on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:50am on 08/15/03 at 23:32:15, ClusterChuck wrote:
That is biggest ass bunch of bullshit I've read in a long time >:( You don't need to see a doc now? You feel fine now? You've had your fill of ER? The next fill you will get will be with formaldehyde!!!!!! Get off your ass and get into the damn doctor. You MUST get that checked out. Many of us have our blood pressure shoot through the roof when we are in the midst of a CH. Just because you feel ok now does not mean that you are ok! You may have had an ischemic attack, you might have been having coronary artery spasms, you just might have had a heart attack for all you know. Don't fuck around with this. You NEED to see a doc and tell them everything that happened. Svenn has had a heart attack, and he can tell you more than I can. I know from experience that you do not mess around with cardiac care even though you have CH. You ARE NOT THAT TOUGH!!!!!! (read tag line) Now unless ya wanna stay on my shit list, get your ass into the doc and tell him what happened and get yourself something in place of the nitro if you can. Don't however stop taking the nitro without discussing it with the doc. CH won't kill you, cardiac problems can. Cat |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by taraann on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:19am I 2nd what Cat said! No matter how sick of the ER you are....your health is more important than that (LIFE AND DEATH more important) |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:22am A couple of weeks ago I found a medical report which noted modest changes in heart beat rate accompanying a cluster. Authors said this reflected some shared nerve pathways which are involved with CH and the heart but said the change in heart rate was not a significant issue. HOWEVER--since you have a diagnosed heart disease, I would surely tell you doc about this experience. Be sure he understands that you have cluster. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Donna on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:23am A lot of people would rather die than go to the ER....and they do. If chest pain lasts 20 minutes, chances are very good that it is a heart attack. If three nitros taken 5 minutes apart don't clear the pain, changes are very good that it is a heart attack. When people with heart problems pass out, it is usually because they aren't getting enough 02 into the brain. People usually don't get enought 02 to the brain because their heart isn't pumping sufficiently to get it there. If you've had a bypass or a stent placed, or a balloon angioplasty, you KNOW that it can happen again. Chuck, get to your doc, please. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Woobie on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:53am Yeah, Cat... get 'im!!! Now, I know passing out in the middle of a cluster might be a good thing, and I know a lot of people here would LOVE to be able to pass out while they're getting hit.. but DAMN!!!! NOT that way... GO SEE A DOCTOR!!! geeshh... are you a stubborn SOB!!! |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Margi on Aug 16th, 2003, 10:20am Can I add something here? Chuck, if you're taking Imitrex as an abortive, it CAN cause heart problems. And nitro CAN trigger a cluster. Vicious circle, huh? Make sure ALL your doctors (neuros and cardiologists) know about each other, ok? My mother had a heart attack two years ago, while out walking her dog. Chest pain, violent headache, nausea. She just walked home and layed down, saying nothing to anyone about what she had experienced. She didn't go to a doctor until TWO DAYS later. Doctor gave her shit supreme for ignoring this - thank God it was a minor attack, but it sure was a wake up call. I hope this is a wake up call for you, too Chuck and that you do talk to all your docs about this. Passing out is ALWAYS something that should be given full attention, let alone the chest pains!!! |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Gofishgriff on Aug 16th, 2003, 10:56am I gotta agree here. Even if you feel fine today, you need to get checked out Chuck. Passing out is not normal... unless you can attribute it to too much drinkie drinkie. :) Do the right thing. You're well liked here and we'd like to see you hang around for a while. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Charlie on Aug 16th, 2003, 1:27pm Sounds kinda shitty. Better look into this soon. Ain't supposed to find yourself on the floor. Charlie |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Kirk on Aug 16th, 2003, 1:39pm To condense everything. Get thee to a Doc dumb fuck. Feeling fine indeed. Jeeze man we would miss ya. TTFN |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 16th, 2003, 6:09pm OK ... ... ... Color me chastized ... Color me sheepish ... Color me DUMB SHIT !!! I took your advice. It would be foolish to come here and not listen to your advice. It was a heart attach. But very mild, minimal to no damage to the heart. They have scheduled me for more tests next week. I did not get to see my own cardiologist. The bone head I saw said to ignore what y'all are saying about nitro being a trigger, who am I going to beleive, a Phd., or a bunch of untrained lay people? --- My answer to him was that I beleive all of you more than him, on this subject, because y'all have "been there, done that". I probably said things to him that I should not have, as he was being a bit of an ass about my new family. NOBODY talks about my family like that! It did not help that I was having a KIP 6 at the same time. He probably thinks I am some whacked out psycho, or something, but he really pissed me off! Anyhow, I will see my regular cardio next week. He is not real knowlegeble about CH's but he does listen, is concerned about the two problems, and works closely with my neuro, and she is VERY good. Thanks again for your concern and GOOD advice. I will crawl humbly back into my cage now. Chuck |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by eyes_afire on Aug 16th, 2003, 6:54pm Hi Chuck. First, a disclaimer: Don't stop taking your heart medicine unless your doc allows you to. Listen to Margi, she is right on. Now, here is what prof. Peter Goadsby has to say (he is one of the top CH researchers): "Alcohol, nitroglycerine, exercise and elevated environmental temperature are recognised precipitants of acute cluster attacks." http://www.hospital-doctor.co.uk/hd_news/hd_news_article.asp?ID=2498&Section=Feature Out of the stuff that I've read, it seems that nitroglycerine is right up there with alcohol as one of the most common precipitants. Most CH knowledgeable doctors know this. --- Steve |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Donna on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:30pm Dr. Goadsby induces ch in research patients using nitro. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Margi on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:33pm Important to note here. Clusters will not kill you. Heart attacks can. Take your nitro if you need it!! :o |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by BruceD on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:38pm on 08/16/03 at 18:09:23, ClusterChuck wrote:
Chuck, Man, Oh man am I glad you followed everyone's advice. I just read your first post and was immediately ready to lay into you too to get your butt to the doctor because that sounds exactly like a heart attack. BTW as you probably already know the nitro is a vasodialator which means it causes your blood vessels to expand. Cardiac patients take it to allow the vessels supplying the heart to expand and therefore supply more O2 to the heart muscle. Of course nitro doesn't limit its effect to only near the heart ... and vessels in the brain are dialated as well ... thus the link with triggering clusters. Also, just for your information having those three little letters along with the name doesn't mean diddly (as you know) B.S. ... you all know what this stands for (and it's not Bachelor of Science :) M.S ... stands for More of the Same Ph.D. - stands for Piled Higher and Deeper :) Takes one to know one. ;) Take care BruceD |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by taraann on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:40pm I too am relieved you went and got checked out!!!! Thank GOD it wasn't a major one!!! Keep you appt and follow docs advice! Hang int here ! |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:49pm Thanks for the input, Bruce. Piled higher a deeper is right in his case! That pompose (I know I butchered the spelling on that one) ass really got to me when he start in on this family here. I ranted and raged at him big time. I was proud of myself, though. I did not use any four letter words at all. I did kind of go off the deep end. Maybe he pissed me off? Y'all have made me feel real welcome here and nobody better start bad mouthing you in front of me! Chuck |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by goaway on Aug 16th, 2003, 7:54pm Quote:
No way Chuck! Get it checked out NOW!!! Now MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!!! And let us know what the Doc says afterward. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Prense on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:09pm on 08/16/03 at 18:09:23, ClusterChuck wrote:
Hehe, shoulda read the whole thread...he already went. |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by goaway on Aug 16th, 2003, 8:16pm Chuck (and everyone): This is in follow up to my last post in which I "encouraged" Chuck to get checked out. In my haste to plead with Chuck regarding his myocardial infarction, I did not finish reading the posts which clearly revealed that Chuck had already gone to the Doc. I am glad that he did, and I am very glad that he seems to be OK. It occurs to me that we might all learn a bit from Chuck's experience; and not just with regard to a heart attack. In our efforts to become more informed about the beast, we read quite a lot of medical information. I know that I, for one, sometimes tend to self diagnose when I shouldn't. Sounds like Chuck might have fallen into this trap as well (at least until we got hold of him :)). Please, let's all remember our limitations when it comes to the serious things. Among us we are pretty great. I don't want to lose a single one of you. P.S. Prense-- you got me. You slipped in before I could finish this post. :) |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by hopefull on Aug 16th, 2003, 10:16pm My mother is no longer with us because she decided not to bother anyone put off going to the Dr. this was at night she took 12 nitro tablets to get her thru the night then woke to a major heart attack...she made it to the hospital only to die with in 24 hours...if she had lived she would have only been able to sit in a chair not pick up her grandkids or anything for that matter...if you have kids think of them...I'm still angry with my mom for not care'n more ...not enough to still be here...God I wish she were still here...I'd love to be able to tell her how much I love her...and one more hug.... |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by UnsolvedEquation on Aug 16th, 2003, 10:41pm I just thought i'd add my 2 cents worth ( which is prolly all it's worth ). My X was and still is a paramedic. She says even people with no history of headaches can get (and prolly will get) a nasty headache if they even come in contact with Nitro. Also, I was told that I had "an abnormal EKG" because of the amount of Imitrex I had consumed in a 24 hour period. Imitrex can definately play with your heart if your taking alot. Glad to hear that you had yourself checked out. That's my two cents worth. Take care |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Mastifflvr28 on Aug 17th, 2003, 1:19am WHEW Chuck!!! Thank goodness you got checked out!! And I didn't mean for you to STOP the nitro, I just wanted you to know it was a trigger. Maaaagie is right...clusters won't kill ya, but heart attacks can. Good job with the doc and good luck with the cardiologist! Let us know what he says. Take care, Mast |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 17th, 2003, 4:54am - - - - (meekly) - - - :-[ <sniff sniff> Catlind, am I still on your shit list? <sniff sniff> :'( :-[ :'( :-[ :'( Chuck |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by catlind on Aug 17th, 2003, 6:55am No Chuck, :) hehe. You are most definitely off the shit list now. Now you are on the needs big ass vibes, hugs and support list :) I'm so glad you went and got checked out and that you are getting the care you need :) Make sure you keep us posted on how things go :) Cat |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by judyw on Aug 17th, 2003, 7:03am Thanks for the update Chuck...reading your thread has had me up in ire and now so relieved that you addressed your medical situation...The Nitro does create a problem for clusters and MY cardiologist was adamant about it being a part of ALL my medical records...It has caused me to have B/P off the chart, and he watches that carefully...Was also as adamant as the asthma doc on my wearing a medical alert bracelet alerting others of medical conditions...due to interaction of medications...and that a clusterheadache was capable of triggering a heart attack and/or a asthma attack...Will watch for info from your doc, too...but agree with consensus here...never downplay chest pain or passing out...quicker, the better... |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by Svenn on Aug 17th, 2003, 3:07pm Think Cat told you all you need to know and do here. You can get in touch with me on msn.My login there is sthrn@chello.no if you feel like it Svenn |
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Title: Re: CH's and your heart Post by STABBINGPAIN on Aug 18th, 2003, 4:31pm CHUCK , I HOPE YOUR DOING WELL AND MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU. BIG HUG FROM ME TO YOU. KAREN/STABBINGPAIN |
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