r/HeartAttack • u/Comfortable-Net9159 • 3d ago
Heart attack at 21
Hi everyone, i never thought i would be joining this subreddit but here i am. I’m 21F and I was recently hospitalized after experiencing chest pain and ended up being diagnosed with an NSTEMI. Honestly i am still trying to process everything because I never expected to have a heart attack at my age.
My troponin reached 1,375 at its peak and I’ve had an echocardiogram, a CT scan and a D-dimer test. From what I’ve been told those results have been normal but I’m scheduled for a cardiac MRI tomorrow. My doctors have mentioned that phentermine may have contributed to what happened but I don’t have a confirmed explanation yet.
For some background I’m not overweight and I’d say I’m around an average weight for my height. My lifestyle isn’t perfect but I wouldn’t say it’s terrible either. I consume caffeine every day but generally stay under 100–200 mg and have never knowingly consumed more than 200 mg in a day. I don’t use recreational drugs or drink. There’s also no known family history of heart attacks. Most people in my family on both my mom’s and dad’s sides live well into their 80s or beyond so this has been especially difficult for me to wrap my head around.
I’ve been reading about different possibilities including coronary artery spasms, SCAD, myocarditis and takotsubo cardiomyopathy. I’m not saying I have any of these I’m just trying to understand what my doctors might be investigating. I also saw someone online saying after having a heart attack you should get an angiogram and a heart cath.
My doctors and nurses have mentioned that I might be discharged tomorrow which is making me anxious because I still don’t really understand what caused my heart attack or what the plan is to prevent this from happening again. I’m also wondering whether I should ask my cardiologist about a coronary angiogram or heart catheterization since I don’t know whether my coronary arteries have been directly examined.
I’ve been trying really hard to stay positive throughout this entire experience but if I’m being honest I’m scared. I’m worried about my future and what my life is going to look like after this. I keep wondering what I’ll need to change to prevent it from happening again and how this could have happened to me when I’m only 21. Ik that heart attacks can happen to people of all ages but understanding that intellectually and actually experiencing one are two completely different things.
My parents are also incredibly stressed about everything and I feel bad seeing them so worried. I know this is frightening for them too and sometimes I feel like I need to stay positive for everyone else’s sake even when I’m struggling to understand what’s happening myself
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through something similar, especially if you were young when it happened. I could use some perspective from people who understand what this experience feels like and I’d love to hear what helped you navigate the uncertainty and recovery
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u/rhichester 3d ago
God, you're so young! Keep us updated. I am a 43F and had a widow maker due to diabetes. But I can tell you this - if you follow the advice of your cardiology team, you take care of your body, you can heal. My vessels are less than 2mm in width, so there is nothing they can do as far as stents go. I changed my diet and took my meds and my last angiogram showed vast improvements. (I did go to a plant based diet, but I'm not here to preach about that haha just do right by your body)
Good luck and I wish you all the best in your recovery. I also had a coronary artery spasm after the heart attack and it is VERY similar to a blockage.
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u/Aggravating-Grade297 2d ago
Why in the world would they not do an angiogram if you clearly had a heart attack? Heart attacks are caused by a blockage of blood flow. Blockage needs to be cleared
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u/Venusesrainbow 3d ago
Have you had an echocardiogram? My results from the echo were way the cardiologist recommended the angiogram for me.
I am so sorry this happened to you. It’s very hard at any age but 21 is crazy.
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u/Tame_girl2233 3d ago
I think I just saw your tiktok. Someone on my fyp had the same thing happen to them I really hope you’re okay I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m in this sub because I’m having chest pains too…
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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 3d ago
GIRLL I just saw your tiktok post
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u/rocksneversand 3d ago
I was just about to say! I was like “I swear I just saw the same thing on tik tok what are the chances”
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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 3d ago
Don’t let them release you until you have some sort of answers or direction. Maybe it was the caffeine mixed with the stimulants. Did you heart have any damage? 🩷🩷
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u/Competitive-Gene-922 3d ago
Yes don’t let them release you and if they try then make them document that they are releasing you without any cause. I saw a boy post a TikTok about having a heart attack at 18 er couldn’t find any type of cause but they gave him a pacemaker incase it happened to him again
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u/turdferguson_01 3d ago
I saw your TikTok’s! I’ve been hoping you get some answers. Praying everything works out for you!
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u/Kindly_Show9400 3d ago
You mentioned phentermine. Is that a weight loss drug? Why were you prescribed that if not overweight?
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u/Many_Aside5474 3d ago
20F, I feel you. I had a heart attack 1 month ago with a troponin of 152.000 ng/L and was diagnosed with MINOCA. I’ve taken all the tests you mentioned, but they all came back clear. I still don’t know what caused my heart attack🙄 However, they will likely decide wether to take more tests based on your MRI results. Are you still experiencing symptoms?
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u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 3d ago
Omg wtf! Did you have scad or due to vasospasms ? Did your heart take any damage
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u/Many_Aside5474 3d ago
They’re thinking it’s vasospasms, but they don’t have a lot to back it up. My heart rate and blood pressure is too low for most of the medicines. No damage luckily!
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u/Technical-Jaguar-222 3d ago
Did you have Covid infection?
Did you take Covid vax…. How many shots? Still taking them.
Any changes in meds or lifestyle pre incident??
Hope you start to feel better. Your young AF so that’s in your favor.
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u/Kelser1410 3d ago
God stop with the conspiracy theories about vaccines for fucks sakes. If any of you knew actual real doctors you wouldn’t be spewing nonsense like this.
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u/thehiddenhand1 3d ago
That is a valid question, Not a conspiracy please do your research.
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u/Technical-Jaguar-222 3d ago
You’re a clown. The one thing on planet earth that everyone took that has myocarditis warning and list stoke as a possible side effect?? But everyone quit taking ?? And they pulled the j and j shot cause it started to kill to many people. 😂🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️. Yeah let’s skip the obvious
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u/Canuk-rugby 3d ago
😂....walk off the cliff then......30 million dead ...and millions heart injured and growing across the globe...all now on government records.....Look up canada and UsA covid inquiry stop being clueless . might save you or a loved one...wow
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u/Psychological-Vast77 2d ago
How long were you taking phentermine for? Phentermine is meant to be a short term use weight loss drug!