Who to be sitting next to if you may be having a heart attack

[Spike on a bike]

Well done Mrs @anothersam

I have had to do a bit of first aid before now, on the bus. It shocks me too, how slow people are to react nowadays but they seem very keen to get in the bloody way and have a good gawp with their phones filming away and not calling 999.

I got shouted at by a first aider at a 3 day event once. I was lying on the floor, holding the rein of a very very expensive horse, but my leg was not pointing quite the way that it should have done.
She was yelling at me "I AM A FIRST AIDER WHAT IS YOUR NAME" and "WHERE DOES IT HURT" and "DO YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS"
I tried to say that I had a broken leg and wasn't deaf when a nice chap came along to offer assistance. First aider shouted "I AM A QUALIFIED FIRST AIDER". The nice chap said, quite quietly "I am a Consultant from the Norfolk & Norwich Emergency department, please let me know when you decided you need a doctor"
I then answered 'now might be handy'

I know it's probably not funny but I am English so.......

Your story did make me laugh

On a serious note mum in law called one Saturday evening to say dad in law had collapsed and knowing he'd already had 1 heart attack I said call an ambulance I'm on my way

Made the 3 mile journey in record time to find him still on the floor but semi conscious
"Have you called ambulance ? "
"No I didn't like to bother them she said"

Ffs almost having an adrenaline overdose I called but what a palava has he this they asked is he that

Anyways eventually they say it'll be 3/4 of an hour but at least first responder from local surgery came and then a random ambulance stopped to see why the responder had stopped

So all was good 1 pace maker later and a very happy son in law

Must just say I love my in laws they are the best

 

[fossyant]

Was going to say my mates wife. He wasn't looking too well and she suggested he might have had a heart attack. He was 'nah'.

Anyway bundled him off to the GP for them to then send him via ambulance to the cardiac unit.

45 years old. On the road to recovery now.

 

[fossyant]

Also my boss had one on me. It was quicker to run to reception to get an ambulance ordered than try and get through the internal phone system.

 

[Salad Dodger]

My niece is a doctor.... of astrophysics.

Just after she completed her doctorate (or whatever the technical term is !) she booked a weekend away for her and her husband, and booked it under the name Doctor Emma -----

First night at the hotel, she was awakened at 3am by duty staff member, asking if she would mind taking a look at another guest, who was complaining of chest pains.

She learned from that experience, and now books everything as plain Mrs Emma ----.

 

[Profpointy]

My niece is a doctor.... of astrophysics.

Just after she completed her doctorate (or whatever the technical term is !) she booked a weekend away for her and her husband, and booked it under the name Doctor Emma -----

First night at the hotel, she was awakened at 3am by duty staff member, asking if she would mind taking a look at another guest, who was complaining of chest pains.

She learned from that experience, and now books everything as plain Mrs Emma ----.

a pal of mine was told you sometimes get upgraded on flights if down as Dr ao-and-so. He anticipated that after being roped in to a first aid situation, his first diagnostic question "what appears to be wrong with your laser?" might not be the specialism they were after

 

[jazzkat]

A friend is a retired paramedic. I was telling him how my father took himself to the hospital after feeling "a bit unwell" while cleaning the car and ended up staying for a triple bypass! I joked that the hospital was probably the best place to have a heart attack but my friend reckoned Doctors aren't so hot in emergency situations as they tend to over think as they aren't trained to get things done quickly.
Better than Joe public I'm sure, but I'd rather have a paramedic there and then, thank you very much.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Wish she had been around when I had the same.

I'd like to hear about your experience, only if you don't mind telling it.

 

[TreeHuggery]

I know it's probably not funny but I am English so.......

Your story did make me laugh

On a serious note mum in law called one Saturday evening to say dad in law had collapsed and knowing he'd already had 1 heart attack I said call an ambulance I'm on my way

Made the 3 mile journey in record time to find him still on the floor but semi conscious
"Have you called ambulance ? "
"No I didn't like to bother them she said"

Ffs almost having an adrenaline overdose I called but what a palava has he this they asked is he that

Anyways eventually they say it'll be 3/4 of an hour but at least first responder from local surgery came and then a random ambulance stopped to see why the responder had stopped

So all was good 1 pace maker later and a very happy son in law

Must just say I love my in laws they are the best

Similar thing happened to us - before the days of mobile phones, Mr T's dad had a heart attack, his mum didn't want to bother anyone, so tried to phone us and Mr Ts sister (we were all out)...... fortunately a neighbour had popped by, took one look at him and phoned for an ambulance..... can't believe that 2 weeks later when he though he was having a second attack (turns out it wasn't) she still wouldn't dial 999 herself ..... anyone would think she didn't like him.

 

[Fnaar]

My niece is a doctor.... of astrophysics.

Just after she completed her doctorate (or whatever the technical term is !) she booked a weekend away for her and her husband, and booked it under the name Doctor Emma -----

First night at the hotel, she was awakened at 3am by duty staff member, asking if she would mind taking a look at another guest, who was complaining of chest pains.

She learned from that experience, and now books everything as plain Mrs Emma ----.

A friend of mine recently got a PhD (in summat to do with water and stuff) ... I occasionally text him and say "Hey, you're a doctor... I have a problem with my knee"... it was funny the first time

 

[anothersam]

...she was on her way to the doctor's because she's poorly herself right now...

On the ride home she had a thunderous headache and was quite nauseated, struggling hold on for the comforts of a home to throw up in. (She made it to the car.) As she stood on the platform to change trains, probably looking quite dazed, the conductor walked by and asked how she was doing. He reported in to someone who came out to provide aid and comfort, with a followup a little later to see if she was OK.

It's good to keep your karma account topped up.

 

[Tin Pot]

I'm adding a mouth mask and 300mg aspirin tablets to my work bag.

 

[howard2107]

Don't have one in a Spanish Airport! I was travelling back form my dads place a few years ago after my mums funeral, and whilst waiting for my flight home at Malaga and having a beer, i heard an almightily crash behind me, everyone looked round as they do, and a bloke had collapsed in a heap, the crash was the bin he hit on his way down, he was about 6ft 10 and a big fella, not fat just large, his face was a proper mess. Myself and a couple of others (brits) all went to help him, the Policeman walked straight past, the shop where i got bottles of water from wanted me to pay for them, he got a proper f off, and it took the first aid team 30 minutes to show up, by which time we had him sat down, comfortable and had stemmed the bleeding, and when they did turn up the were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. It turned out the bloke was Danish, in his 70's and travelling alone. Nobody but the good old brits gave a toss about him. He had only fainted, so fortunately his condition wasn't a bad one, and his face wasn't as bad as first thought once we cleaned him up, but if it had been heart attack, he would have had no chance.

 

[Saluki]

While out dragon hunting this evening, we came across a chap, who had been assulted by 3 'youths'. He was laying, on his back, by the side of the river, near to the Cathedral. I asked if he was ok and was told to go away. I asked if he needed an ambulance but he told me to go away again. I asked if he was sure but he was. I got a couple of hundred yards up the riverside walk and called an ambulance anyway. Someone else, the other side of the river was calling the police as he had seen the attack.
Chappy was covered in blood, looked like he'd wet himself too and his eye looked very nasty indeed. Not as coherent as he thinks he was so thought a proper medic was best. The rapid response was there in about 4 minutes, the police in 2. Actually, he was a beat bobby who the witnesses accosted as he was walking along riverside.
Hope chappy is OK.

 

[Fab Foodie]

The funny (not ha ha funny) thing is, she was on her way to the doctor's because she's poorly herself right now. I guess a kind of triage went on in her brain: I'm feeling incredibly lousy, but I'm peachy compared to you right now…


A heart attack or the threat of one? I'd like to hear about your experience, only if you don't mind telling it.

No probs, will try to keep it brief!
Was working in a very stressful business development job for a Dutch Food Research company. Flown in to The Netherlands late, got-up early to finalise a presentation, lots of Espresso and Old Holborn. Jumped on Station Bike to cycle across the small town to the office and about half-way had the whole sudden filing cabinet on the chest crushing feeling. Got off the bike and sat a while. Had a fag. Felt a bit better and went to work. Gave presentation to large purveyor of confectionary and flew home. Mentioned it to the secretary, nobody else. Put it down to too much Nicotine and Caffiene. Flew home.
Eventually went to Doc, who put me in for an Angiogram 10 weeks into the future. In the interim I had a Nitrate spray and a date in a fortnight for a stress test.
It seems I had been suffering with quite severe Angina but without the classic signs, mine presented itself like cramp in my back muscles. I felt it when tense, when smoking heavily, when going uphill on the bike, when shagging. Just thought it muscular and stress related.
Went to the stress test, the nurse wired me up before getting on the treadmill and ran a quick check .... apparently I was having minor disturbances just sitting down and I wasn't allowed on the treadmill. Told to go home and take it easy. Over the next days or so (maybe longer), I got to the point I couldn't walk with my kids to the corner shop without suffering angina attacks and having to use the Nitrate spray. One Friday evening I couldn't even sit or lie still without having repeating Angina episodes and as instructed called the Ambulance.
Kept in for observations through Saturday.
Sunday morning Cardio specialist came in early to see me with a wad of papers to sign, said he was not happy with the observations and was getting a team in there and then on a Sunday morning for an emergency stenting. I asked about the papers, he said they were consent forms regarding risk etc. etc. He said I could read them before signing but I had no choices. Without the procedure I'd only last a few more days. I was 42, 3 kids only breadwinner.
So I had it done, watched live on TV and even got a Titanium stent!
The colour returned to my face, I felt immediately alive rather than the constant fatigue that I had been feeling for months making me wretched and unpleasant to be with. I could think clearly again.
I became depressed, had Prozac and therapy.
I had Cardio-rehab at the Gym.
I quit/lost the job by mutual consent.
I found a much better job that I'm still doing by good fortune (maybe there is a deity) and it's better than therapy.
I take a lot of pills.
I really should have another check-up sometime.

I miss Cigarettes, badly, I've not been the same person since I quit, I was a much nicer person then. Prozac keeps me reasonably sunny as does being outdoors, cycling, food, good friends .... and this place - It's not perfect, but there are good people here.

The sympathy of a stranger would have been a great comfort.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

No probs, will try to keep it brief!
Was working in a very stressful business development job for a Dutch Food Research company. Flown in to The Netherlands late, got-up early to finalise a presentation, lots of Espresso and Old Holborn. Jumped on Station Bike to cycle across the small town to the office and about half-way had the whole sudden filing cabinet on the chest crushing feeling. Got off the bike and sat a while. Had a fag. Felt a bit better and went to work. Gave presentation to large purveyor of confectionary and flew home. Mentioned it to the secretary, nobody else. Put it down to too much Nicotine and Caffiene. Flew home.
Eventually went to Doc, who put me in for an Angiogram 10 weeks into the future. In the interim I had a Nitrate spray and a date in a fortnight for a stress test.
It seems I had been suffering with quite severe Angina but without the classic signs, mine presented itself like cramp in my back muscles. I felt it when tense, when smoking heavily, when going uphill on the bike, when shagging. Just thought it muscular and stress related.
Went to the stress test, the nurse wired me up before getting on the treadmill and ran a quick check .... apparently I was having minor disturbances just sitting down and I wasn't allowed on the treadmill. Told to go home and take it easy. Over the next days or so (maybe longer), I got to the point I couldn't walk with my kids to the corner shop without suffering angina attacks and having to use the Nitrate spray. One Friday evening I couldn't even sit or lie still without having repeating Angina episodes and as instructed called the Ambulance.
Kept in for observations through Saturday.
Sunday morning Cardio specialist came in early to see me with a wad of papers to sign, said he was not happy with the observations and was getting a team in there and then on a Sunday morning for an emergency stenting. I asked about the papers, he said they were consent forms regarding risk etc. etc. He said I could read them before signing but I had no choices. Without the procedure I'd only last a few more days. I was 42, 3 kids only breadwinner.
So I had it done, watched live on TV and even got a Titanium stent!
The colour returned to my face, I felt immediately alive rather than the constant fatigue that I had been feeling for months making me wretched and unpleasant to be with. I could think clearly again.
I became depressed, had Prozac and therapy.
I had Cardio-rehab at the Gym.
I quit/lost the job by mutual consent.
I found a much better job that I'm still doing by good fortune (maybe there is a deity) and it's better than therapy.
I take a lot of pills.
I really should have another check-up sometime.

I miss Cigarettes, badly, I've not been the same person since I quit, I was a much nicer person then. Prozac keeps me reasonably sunny as does being outdoors, cycling, food, good friends .... and this place - It's not perfect, but there are good people here.

The sympathy of a stranger would have been a great comfort.

Could we have that as 2 or 3 bullet points, I can't be arsed to read all that.