Helena,
Yes, I had severe angina, I had no doubt I was having a heart attack. The pain was vise-like due to the fact it was caused from a spasm. I still have much anger towards my former internist, because I was going to him constantly with symptoms that he should have picked up on. I am so tempted to write him a letter and ask if he now knows more about symptoms in women.
But the anger is draining from positive energy.
One thing about today…there are a lot of medicines and after care out there. You just want to be sure the cardiologist is good. So often we have to take the assertive position and demand that certain tests are done. What I had for years was probably leading up to it and for several months before my symptoms should have been significant in pointing up a real problem.
Many of my fellow heart colleagues have so many problems, you would not believe. Today if the problem is caught quickly, so much can be done. I know people who have been helicoptered to the hospital, had bypass surgery, and later have had other procedures like defibrillators put in, it is amazing what can be done.
Prepare for the possibility of emotional slides. It is a lot to deal with, but hopefully with prayer and support you can make it through everything. By the way, there is also a website for Mended Hearts. Continued prayers. Joyatlake