Heart Attack: I Survived The Big One

[BallzDeep9]

On May 17, I suffered a life changing event. Near total blockage of my heart when a tiny piece of plaque broke loose...

I had just minutes to get to the hospital. I called 911 fortunately,

Ambulance arrived, was the most unbearable pain I've ever had... One of the guys was saying "Just Hold On", while the other hooked me up to EKG, saw the numbers and yelled "Hit the Lights and siren" I thought I was a goner... they gave a big Fentanyl shot which barely took the edge off... then I was on the Operating Table... they put me under

It seemed like no time had passed, but that's what anasthesia is like - I came to. Doc explained they 1- gave me a radioactive dye to Xray my heart 2- determined my LAD artery 'the widowmaker' was 99% blocked. 3- Inserted a cardiac stent.. which saved my life.

This is a REMINDER to others - You have minutes to act, when a heart attack or stroke happens. You could be GONE, or brain dead, unless you Call 911 and get to the E.R. Never attempt to drive yourself to the E.R. always call 911.

https://myheart.net/articles/the-widowmaker/

The Survival Rate from a widowmaker heart attack is quite low. The percentage is as low as 12% for the people experiencing this when being outside the hospital. If it happens inside the hospital, the survival rate increases to 25% as the proper services get administered to the person at the very moment.

Off Topic, Health/ Medical discussion. I am now taking Statin drugs & blood pressure medication.. along with my kratom

[swablero]

Wow. What is there to say but Thank God or Good Fortune and the health care infrastructure in Washington St
that you are still with us and escaped the widowmaker. I'll imbibe a bubble tea in your honor man.

[ChrisM]

Thank goodness you are okay! How absolutely terrifying! I'm so happy things went well for you on Friday. They don't for so many people. Tomorrow's never promised. It's a good reminder to live our best lives each day and be grateful for our blessings. Glad you're okay!!

[e_poison]

Damn, glad you are okay Ballz!!! What was the first symptom? A pain in the left arm and your chest? Heart attacks scare the hell out of me. I've known several people who have had them and some didn't make it out alive.

[herbalhippie]

WHAT?!?! As in, 3 days ago???

OMG Ballz, I am so glad you're still here!

[herbalhippie]

I had a cat scan of my chest to rule out lung cancer (had breast cancer in the mid-2000s) earlier this year and the scan showed a bit of calcification in the LAD.

I dieted 10 months out of 12 last year and lost 40 pounds but the original intent wasn't to lose weight, it was to get my cholesterol numbers in check. I did, and my blood sugar and blood pressure numbers as well. But since then, I've gained back 7 or 8 pounds and am living on carbs.

Going back on my healthy diet now.

Ballz, if you're going to take statins, please supplement with CoQ10, preferably Ubiquinol. Costco has a very good one. It's not cheap, but it's good and you only have to take one per day. Statins will deplete your body of CoQ10.

[Payshince]

Thank you for sharing Ballz, and thank God youre still alive.

It is very peculiar isnt it how Life works?
The relationships we have whether online or in person.
The people we Love.
The people we Hurt.

I just want to say I’m relieved you’re okay and I agree 100% this Kratom Family / Kratom Community would Not be the same without You.

What can you do from now on to avoid this ever even manifesting again?
Health mental and physical is beyond important and with Kratom in my life I have strived and still do to live a healthier life, it is a constant job to stay vigilant of...

Always great to see you around here.
Welcome home Ballz!

Burning some Dark Green Pinoh to your health!

Happy Burning!!

[herbalhippie]

I am going to help Ballz stay healthy.


Overnight/Bedtime Oats

1-2 tsp butter or olive oil
1 C steel cut oats
3 C water
pinch salt

Heat butter or oil, add oats and cook 3 minutes, stirring. Add water and salt and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and go to bed. In the morning, stir and refrigerate. Eat every day for heart health!

I sprinkle a little water on and heat in the microwave for a minute. I like to add a bit of butter and turbinado sugar to mine. I eat about 1/3-1/2 cup and this recipe will last me 5-6 days.

[beathappening]

Good thing you lived! Your death would have been blamed on kratom, of course.

[Haid3r]

BALLZY!!!!

omg, I honestly can't believe you're here posting on MM so soon after a thwarted widowmaker, but I'm honored that this group and all of us subscribers hold such a fond place in your heart. (Your newly rejuvenated heart, that is! )

I'm so thankful your care was swift and thorough, and that you're still here with us on starship Earth. You're right, a lot of us question whether our pain is "worth" a trip to the ER, or even an ambulance ($$$), especially when health insurance coverage can be capricious. The lesson is: GO. Familiarize yourself with the signs of heart attack, stroke, and sepsis, those are time-sensitive killers and it's not worth the risk.

Rest up and get strong, Ballz, I'm glad you're still on the sunny side of the soil!

[BallzDeep9]

THANK YOU, to everyone for your kind thoughts. I'm VERY lucky and happy to be ALIVE today.

Your death would have been blamed on kratom, of course.

Maybe. I'd had angina symptoms, before, I got Nitro pills a couple years ago.. Never had to take 'em. So on Friday when I took a Nitro pill, and it didn't DO much.. I thought OK, there's a problem. Maybe I should drive to the E.R.?

IF I would have tried to drive.. I NEVER would have made it.. I would have blacked out & died on the 8 mile drive through traffic. Possibly going over the center line? Following that, Autopsy would have revealed kratom.

What was the first symptom? A pain in the left arm and your chest?

E. I'd had mild chest pain, what they call stable angina, for awhile.. after exercise. This was a stronger pain, No exercise. Getting sharper over about 2 minutes along with some numbness in the left arm.

My blood pressure was never too high. But over the winter, I got lazy and stopped checking it.. as often. This could have been prevented, IF I'd listened to my body more, and started BP meds. Also family history, former smoker, risk factors...

In the Cardiac ICU, they spend a LOT of time reviewing meds, and your NEW (expensive!) meds... I'll be taking a cocktail of blood thinners, anti coagulants, and statins, for 1 year. I have a long history of prescription opioids - As we know, doctors are NOW refusing to give opioids.

I reminded the Doc, that I've had: Norco, Perc, history for years and never a "problem". They would not even, give 1 for pain after a heart attack !! Finally they agreed to 1 Tramadol to help me sleep. Only after I complained about the weak Tylenol.

I discussed kratom with Doc. Next day, said she'd researched it, and talked to a colleague about it. She could find NO contra indication for heart meds.. She recommends "weaning yourself off kratom".. that's IT. Moderate coffee drinking is OK.

[Haid3r]

She could find NO contra indication for heart meds...

When the dust settles from the emergency, I'd be curious to know if your MD has an opinion on kratom for cardiac patients, now that she's researched it. The papers I've seen (few, admittedly) indicate that kratom has a palliative effect on hypertension, even lowering blood pressure.

(Also, a few chuckles from me that coffee is fine... but kratom? OMG Wean yourself! )

[gumbyke1]

I just saw this post while...wow. So glad you beat the odds Ballz, this would be a different place without you.

[acejestyr15]

Well damn, Ballz!! Extremely glad that you were so quick to act and so incredibly blessed with great treatment, as other have said, this would be a much different place with ya..... The Widowmaker is most definitely no joke and I'd say you have some amazing luck on your side to be talking about it so soon after the fact!!

I am also very happy and thankful for people like herbalhippie who are educated and kind enough to suggest some heart healthy recipes/remedies.... goes to prove how awesome this community and for the most part the Kratom community as a whole is!

Rest up Ballz, don't over do it or anything too soon! Goes to show that ya just never know what's around that next bend of our lives....

[herbalhippie]

I'd had mild chest pain, what they call stable angina, for awhile.. after exercise.

Stable angina is chest pain or discomfort that most often occurs with activity or emotional stress. Angina is due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels in the heart.



I need to go talk to my doctor.

[Pete2000]

Wow! It's great that you had the presence of mind to make those right decisions. And thank you sharing the details, could very well help save someone else's life.

If it's any consolation, I know several people who were working on a project with Kevin Smith before and after he had his widow maker last year. They all say he came back a new man. Looking great, feeling great, tons of energy. Hoping the same for you!

[Hamsamick]

I'm glad you're ok.

I've had 4 heart ablations for A-fib and tachycardia, and haven't had any problems and very rarely need any heart meds since i started using Kratom almost 2 years ago. I was just telling this to my cardiologist recently, but he said he doesn't know enough about it to offer an opinion. But he is a "if it works, go for it" kind of guy.
I have chronic pain and my heart definitely reacts when the pain is bad or i'm sick, so i have to do my best to stay healthy and manage my pain.
I've had every type of pain medicine at one time or another, and Kratom is by far the best as far as how my heart reacts.

But that's me, there's many different types of heart disease, and we all react differently to different things.
The only certain thing for all types of heart disease.....is diet and exercise, and keeping any eye on cholesterol levels.

Be well.

[Oletimer]

Thank god, you survived the big one!! That had to be a terrifying! ! I would think you'd have to be on the meds rest of your life,, if you had blockage in heart, you could have atherosclerosis in other parts of body as well, ,I have high cholesterol and BP, been on BP meds for several years, and I have been on statin for almost a year, ,my carotid arterys are about 70% blocked,,and a mri of abdomen showed atherosclerosis in aorta,,below heart,,,so I will be on crestor forever, ,I'm not a dr., but if you had blockage in heart,,you could have it in other places,,,hopefully Not!! Thank god you called 911,,,,I seen too many heart attack /stroke victims when I worked in the CVICU, ,you are a lucky man!

[BallzDeep9]

I would think you'd have to be on the meds rest of your life

I've had cholesterol on the Average to Low side. My HDL the "good" cholesterol was low.. a risk factor. But one reason I got lazy about checking BP etc was, it was never really high. But.. we ALL have plaque at Age 60, Doc said my BP could have worsened quickly, over a couple months.. I had been a slob over the winter, def enjoying my kratom, but eating lots of sugar and Ice Cream.. I'd been a little de-motivated.. Stress, lack of exercise

You're right. I'm now taking 2 BP medicines, Lipitor the Statin drug, Anti coagulant, and Brillinta.. the new platelet drug, seen on TV ads with "Biggest Loser" personal trainer Bob Harper. My widow maker wasn't quite as bad (He was dead, shocked 3X in a Coma.) but yeah.. my future is lots of expensive meds. Here's Harpers video from 2 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssev2xaG0qE

[beathappening]

I was taking lipitor (atorvastatin) and it significantly affected my kratom effects. It made it take much longer to kick in (1.5 - 2 hours) as well as a general dulling of effects. It also made me more susceptible to wobbles, but it did however seem to extend the effects I did feel...it was easy to go 12-16 hours between doses. I couldn't figure out why it was taking so long for kratom to work for me for the longest time, I thought it was other medications, but then I stopped the lipitor and it was like taking kratom for the first time again. Since then, I've lost 70lbs. so I don't need to take it anymore, fortunately. Ymmv.

[herbalhippie]

I would think you'd have to be on the meds rest of your life

I've had cholesterol on the Average to Low side. My HDL the "good" cholesterol was low.. a risk factor. But one reason I got lazy about checking BP etc was, it was never really high. But.. we ALL have plaque at Age 60, Doc said my BP could have worsened quickly, over a couple months.. I had been a slob over the winter, def enjoying my kratom, but eating lots of sugar and Ice Cream.. I'd been a little de-motivated.. Stress, lack of exercise

I jacked up my HDL by eating a salad with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette every day, taking wild salmon oil and flaxseed oil capsules every day and eating salmon a few times a week.

Sounds like your winter and the last 4 months for me are about the same.

[The Relaxed Guy]

Glad you’re OK, mr Ballz.

Your posts have been incredibly helpful to me in the time since I’ve joined this site. I’m very thankful for your knowledge and the help you’ve provided to the Kratom community.

[BallzDeep9]

I was taking lipitor (atorvastatin) and it significantly affected my kratom effects... YMMV.

wOw beat I sure hope that's not my case. Just did a near total, re-set of my tolerance.. Lucky, I'd been tapering down the past month. Less is More, definitely working for me.. Last Fri my heart attack day, I'd had two servings @ 2.5 or less.. Paramedic gave me I think he said, 100 mg of Fentanyl (but that comes in many forms, idk what type of Fent?) Anyway on Sat in the ICU had some mild wd and RLS.. got Tramadol to sleep. Sunday was fine.

So at this point I'm @ 5 days on my new drug cocktail including the Lipitor.. A tiny 2+ gram dose of Red-Bone kratom today was great. Energy and euph, of course we know lower amount = more uplifting etc. I'm sleeping good.. Doc said something about, it would take a couple weeks for the BP meds to really kick in (Metrprolol & Lisinopril.) As before.. with Metoprolol I expect I'll feel tired all day. You see old people shuffling around like zombies - Its the BP meds

Which means I'm gonna stick to "Less is More".. my days of 8g serving, are gone. Looking back, I feel silly taking that much.. Made me tired, dull, and raised tolerance, to where kratom wasn't working. But we'll know more in a month.

Thanks everyone. I'm gonna search Reddit, for Lipitor etc. I remember there's been discussion about kratom w/ BP meds.

[Oletimer]

I'm curious what you find,,, I know you were talking about kratom, ,but it just crossed my mind about the phenibut thread,,,I was hesitant about it, ,had a bad feeling, ,then I got a pm from a fellow member, ,advising me it could be a showstopper for me,,,then I thought of you,,,I just wanted to share that with you, ,I worry too much, i know

[beathappening]

As far as fentanyl, I think it would be 100 mcg (micrograms). 100mg of fent would kill many people. The patches they have come in strengths of 25/50/75mcg which denotes how much is distributed transdermally per hour. So even 100mcg IV at one time is a heavy dose.

I remember not finding anything about lipitor and kratom when I looked, which was surprising, but I did find stuff about BP meds, specifically propranolol/inderal. In fact there's a old thread here that discusses it.

[herbalhippie]

then I got a pm from a fellow member, ,advising me it could be a showstopper for me

Do you mean that someone was advising you that you should use phenibut?

[Oletimer]

No! !The opposite! I have never tried it, ,but I expressed a bit of interest, but was very hesitant due to many reasons. A very respected member more or less gave me very good advice that it would NOT be something For Me,,and I am grateful for that,, thank god for this forum,,,

[herbalhippie]

Oh ok. Good.

[Inland Botanicals]

Oh my gosh what?? WOW so happy to hear you are ok. That sounds incredibly scary and I can't even imagine what you were going through during those moments. Thank God you're alive-this place wouldn't be the same without you.

[Transformato]

OMG I have not logged in here in a while and I read this.
I am so glad that you are still with us.

To say that you would have been missed is an understatement and that´s just coming from someone who stops by on random occasions.

- and I think how often I do not even have my phone with me or itś' malfunctioning.
Glad yours wasn´t
I gotta fix this situation now.

[Transformato]

BTW - herbalhippie knows what sheś' talking about re: CoQ10. It is very important, Lot´s of studies on this one so your research won´t require a ton of work to get a clear picture I don´t think. I hope you will look into it.

I use it now, in a 3 in 1 combined with Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and Acetyl-L Carnitine (ALC). I defied the Rx for statins thus far but Iḿ ahead of the deficiency concern if I start.
All 3 had been on my short list but bought separately were rather costly. This combo solved that for me and improved my energy, blood pressure apparently, much improved mental function - relieved depression which I was not expecting.. ALC is what did that I think.

So thatś a thought but the CoQ10 with statins - I hope you will check that out if nothing else.
Your recent experience has given me a lot of food for thought as well.

[herbalhippie]

I won't take statins, which is why I dieted my butt off (literally) last year. Doc says "Lipitor". I say "No. Dietary changes".

Good book if anyone's interested is The Great Cholesterol Myth. It was suggested to me by my daughter's bestie who is an RN.

[bubbles]

Fuck, ballz, that is fucking scary. I am so sorry that happened to you and I am beyond happy that you are ok.

[GrannyJ62]

Omg I m so glad you made that call.Its Amazing that you made it so many dont .I've got to say I appreciate you and I'm so glad your aware and willing to make changes
How Scary .Just want to say thanks again for everything you do your touching a lot of people in your journey.Take Care and God Bless

[pray4peace4]

Wow! Glad it worked out. Been there. I had my heart stopped on my front room floor by the EMT, 20 seconds of no heartbeat. then zapped me back. I'm never gonna forget that. Modern medicine is such a blessing. The blood thinners work really well. BP meds are gonna take getting used to. Hang in there!

[thesonsangel]

SO GLAD GOD TOOK CARE OF YOU MR Ballz! Don't really know you but your posts have helped me and I appreciate them. I just lost my brother-in-Love to a massive heart attack 1 1/2 weeks ago at age 60, would have been 61 next month. Horribly sad and way too young; guess God needed him in heaven! Glad you are now taking care with healthy eating and exercise sir! God bless you and yours!

[LisaLis]

Wow! I just came across this post in my search. That is crazy Ballzdeep!! We learned about the "widowmaker" heart attack in nursing school and you are seriously lucky to be alive. Thank God you were smart enough to call 911! These guys literally saved your life! I fear this so much because my cholesterol is high but I do NOT want to be on statins. Another thing I learned in nursing school, how terrible these drugs are. IF they put you on one drug you start to have side effects which puts you on more drugs and it spirals...... No thanks!