Heart attack??

[Christine Shelton]

Hi, I have written to you earlier and appreciated your response.  However, your answer made me think of another question.
Here is my situation:  I have 4 abnormal ekgs...One suggests that I am having a possible heart attack.  Nothing is done and finally a year later, I am referred to a cardiologist.  He mentions that I MIGHT have had a heart attack, so he does a cardiolite stress test and a echo.  Both come back normal.  And he does that where the machine goes around you and you lie on a table, don't know what it is called.  I have had a ekg since then that was normal. Question1: Can you have a heart attack and echo and stress test and whatever the other one was still be okay? He said something about the 12 lead EKG showing q waves in lead 3 and AVF. 2. What could this mean except a heart attack?  and 3. what is q waves and AVF mean?  and last but certainly not least 4.  Could the above abnormal ekgs be caused by a hietal hernia and or gerd.  5.  Could there be any other reason?  The only reason I ask is because when I am getting this chest pain, I am now trying to ignore it and if it is serious I don't need to do that.  Thanks.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Christine,  

The ecg tells us about the electrical patttern o fthe heart and from this we infer things about heart attacks.  In your case the ECG was misleading and it sounds as though there was no heart attack.  this may very well be GERD.  But re adress these questions to your internist or cardiologist to be certain.

[Christine S.]

Sorry I also meant to ask if the GI problems listed above could also cause pacs. (Sorry question 6).  Thanks again

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks for the clarification.

[Annette]

Christine, I have GERD along with this, I have esophigitis gastritis and a haital hernia! They have me on PRILOSEC and they say it can take up to a year to heal for a while everyday when I would eat I felt like I was having aheart attack! Still to this day I think I'm having one but aside from my Mitral Valve Prolapse my heart is NORMAL! You might request them to do an endoscopy, if you havent already had one! How old are you if I may ask? You can email me if you like!

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks for your comments

[Christine S.]

Annette, I would be more than willing to email you, however, I don't have your email address so you can email me at his-winter-***@****

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thank you for using this forum.