Hi Timo,
Ignore my first post re Steve's heart attack. I didn't have things in the right order and the Doctors in the hospital didn't find out that it wasn't a heart attack . Steve's Rheumy was the one who discovered the real problem.
BELOW is the real story of Steve's so called heart attacks a few years ago..
Steve had his first "heart attack" a few hours after he went to bed. He woke up with major chest pains and had difficulties in breathing. His wife quickly called the ambulance and a few minutes later, a couple of paramedics came rushing in and carted him off to the hospital. The Doctors checked him over thoroughly but his symptoms started to lessen and his breathing and pulse rate came back to normal.
A thorough check up of his heart showed that it was in good shape and no signs of heart problems. However, a week or so later, the same thing happened all over again as he was sleeping in bed. Ambulance and Paramedics and another rush to the hospital. And again, no signs of any heart problems were showing at all.
The heart Doctor couldn't figure it out and Steve went to see his Rheumatologist to see what he could suggest to do. After an MRI and several other tests and the report from the Heart Doctor, the Rheumatologist started to look at the problem from a different view. If the heart isn't the problem, what else could it be?
The Rheumy tracked it down to some calcification build up on the Vagus nerve exiting the spine and compressing that part of the nerve that travels to the heart muscle. Whenever the nerve was compressed too much, it would send the wrong signals to the heart muscles and they would react as if a real heart attack was under way. Once this was confirmed, there were two choices on how to deal with it.
Surgery was a possibility but likely too risky. Removing the calcification from the Vagus nerve could threaten the other vital organs that the same nerve travels to.
The second option was to take a Flexeril tablet whenever he feels the onset of any heart restrictions. Steve chose this option as there was no assurance that the surgery would work.
I imagine that finding an ideal sleeping position may also help to prevent this from happening.
Every once in a while Steve does get enough of a signal that another "heart attack" may be starting and pops a Flexoril and the feeling goes away. He also can sleep now with a greater peace of mind knowing that he isn't having a heart attack and probably won't, (if he keeps his weight down) Just kidding Steve in case you are lurking.
So Timo, you may want to run this past your Doctor so he will know that there are ways that a heart attack can be very well imitated by something far less serious but just as scary.
I feel better knowing that my son is not being rushed to the hospital again for a false alarm.
George
