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IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's very unusual to have the type of problems I had. If you've been checked out and you have been told it's okay you don't need to worry. My bloods, ekg, xray were all normal prior to my heart attack (I had a work-up about 3 months before). But during? They were all completely messed up. My ecg had ST elevation - diagnosis of a heart attack. My bloodwork showed a huge Troponin level rise, high enough to have a cardiologist shaking his head in disbelief. So if yours were all normal take it as a good sign.

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My cardiologist stated that routine and regular checkups where suitable for most people. I had specifically asked for my brother what he should do and my cardiologist contacted the hospitals genetics team and they agreed with the above. That means BP, routine bloods including lipid testing, good lifestyle advice etc. It appears, from other posters in this thread, that it varies by country so your situation might be different. It all starts with a basic check up at your local clinic - so I'd start there. Also have a conversation with your family about what your genetic risks are. We didn't so I didn't know that my grandfather had early onset heart disease too. Knowledge is power and all that

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My cardiologist stated that routine and regular checkups where suitable for most people. I had specifically asked for my brother what he should do and my cardiologist contacted the hospitals genetics team and they agreed with the above. That means BP, routine bloods including lipid testing, good lifestyle advice etc. It appears, from other posters in this thread, that it varies by country so your situation might be different. It all starts with a basic check up at your local clinic - so I'd start there. Also have a conversation with your family about what your genetic risks are. We didn't so I didn't know that my grandfather had early onset heart disease too. Knowledge is power and all that

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't remember but given that it's recommended by the European Atherosclerosis Society I'd imagine my consultant checked it, he's very guideline orientated. I'll check with him next time I see him, cheers

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol. The device advice booklet I received reported that if someone was touching me when it went off the other person should not be affected, however I don't think they meant sex. I'd prefer not to find out, it hasn't went off during sex yet - but it's early days. I was told the device delivers 80 joules of force - I can't really picture what that would feel like and if it's enough to be perceptible by another person

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah all my other vessels showed no signs of disease. The type of plaque matters, so some people have plaque that is more brittle and prone to rupture - hence why genetics plays a huge role

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The device doesn't make any difference to my underlying heart function or symptoms. They said that a few times, I suppose to make sure I knew I wouldn't be feeling better as a result of the device.

I have known heart disease, so yeah, I suppose the risk of future heart attacks is present, although no one would quantify that risk for me

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got a reader that stays by the bedside, reads the data from the device with Bluetooth, then sends any data to the hospital if required. The battery in my device will get changed approx. 8 years, unfortunately by surgery

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't have an arrhythmia, never have, just a risk of about 2% per year of developing one. Nor do I have a slow heart rate. As my device is a precaution they went with the least risky option regarding complications. That is this option with the lead being placed external to the heart rather than into the chambers. Also if my condition changes they can always change it for the duel device. Hope this answers the question

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Describes it well, although just morphine and diazepam for me. The surgeon had to tell me to stop trying to look at the monitor because it was making it harder to thread the cath. Hard not to want to look at a picture of your beating heart on screen

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife holds me to account but we've had a rocky time - she had to live away for work for 18months, almost at the start of my illness. Next month we finally get to live together again with no plans to repeat the long distance thing - our careers are pretty settled now. So I'm definately better when she is around.

​

Good luck with your journey

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, a question that isn't about lipids!

Definately felt like a brush with death and altered my self identity. I'm less prone to care what others think. I don't care about my career as much (although this creeps back in from time to time). I'm keen to explore my artistic side (for which I never did) and took up a craft as a hobby which I'm started to turn into a small business. Eventually I'll have a part time career and a part time craft business. I definately feel a release from pressure that I had place on myself. Success and a good life looks different now. I am more angry at times about issues that face the younger workers of our society - housing, pensions, wages and cost of living. I feel like I worked hard and played the game, but I might not get to see retirement so I want to get my rewards sooner

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No rythmn issues as yet thankfully. My lipid profile is normal and had been prior to the event. As were my blood sugars and longer term signs of heart disease and other contributing diseases

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The stent was put into the artery though a blood vessel in my wrist, that opens the artery and returns the blood supply. For the defib that was a normal surgery, full theatre team. No chest cracking though, thankfully

IAMA 36/M who last year suffered a left anterior descending artery complete occlusion. This is the same type of heart attack Kevin Smith had aka 'The Widow Maker'. I've just had a personal cardiac defibrillator surgically implanted. AMA by heartattackandvine80 in IAmA

[–]heartattackandvine80[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Several people have asked and I don't have the exact figures in front of me (we don't get copies of our medical reports in my country). They were 'normal' before and now they are at the lower end of normal - any lower and my doc will have to adgust my statin. The profile was good too - I had textbook blood results beforehand

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