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Original poster

In hospital w possible heart attack - what do I tell my children

28 replies

Ethina · 03/09/2025 17:13

I’m in the a&e for chest pain and difficulty breathing, and they just did an ecg which I was able to upload to chat gpt while waiting. I fully expected this to be nothing so I was totally shocked when chat gpt said the ecg ‘strongly suggests a heart attack is happening now’. While I obviously hope chat gpt is completely wrong I’m now thinking way ahead, wondering how to tell my 12yo plus two teens about this if it turns out it’s actually serious.

This feels unreal and like I said I hope chat gpt is wrong - but if it is serious, what’s the best way to handle this in my family? I don’t want to frighten or stress my children. I would have been so worried if this had happened to my mother at that age. If anyone has been in a similar situation and has any tips to share that’d be so helpful

OP posts:
Dancingsquirrels · 03/09/2025 17:17

I'd focus on being well cared for in hospital, thank goodness for NHS, importance of healthy lifestyle ie realistic but not frightening

And don't rely on Chat / AI for medical advice (although I understand the temptation)

ninjahamster · 03/09/2025 17:18

I would wait and see what the medical staff say first. Then you can be factual with your children and reassure them of the care plan.
Thinking of you.

IDontKeepChickensButBelieveTheyExist · 03/09/2025 17:18

I suggest waiting for actual Drs to give you their findings and don’t rely on ChatGPT tbh.
Please don’t panic until you have had blood tests & ECG results explained to you.
IF it is a heart attack, plenty of people go on with the rest of their lives with no issues. You need to wait for the Drs, but I hope all turns out okay for you Flowers

BeyondMyWits · 03/09/2025 17:23

I was in your position in 2017.

Had chest pain, took the bus (the BUS!) to hospital and they took me straight through, did the troponin blood test, then another one some hours later, told me I'd had a minor heart attack. I immediately went to omg I'm dying etc... they kept me overnight, did an angio and I was sent home with tablets. Eight years later and I'm still on the tablets with no further heart issues.

The kids were worried for about a month, constantly "looking after" me... but that soon tailed off. Honesty and explanation was the best way with my kids - early teens at the time.

waminty · 03/09/2025 17:27

I was just about to ask if you've had the Troponin blood test yet. That'll tell for sure. A pp mentioned it.

Don't rely on AI. Wait for the docs. Wishing you well, from a fellow cardiac patient, although it's not for heart attack.

Original poster
Ethina · 03/09/2025 17:28

Thanks everyone ❤️ just freaking out a bit as I never expected this to be anything. Waiting on the lab results to come back, and will see what the situation is after that. Definitely not trusting chat gpt 100% but obviously I don’t like what it said.

@BeyondMyWits so happy to hear life went back to normal for you following your heart attack! It must have been scary at the time. Nice to hear your children took it well, honesty is probably best.

OP posts:
HollyhockDays · 03/09/2025 17:30

I’d not rely on AI. Wait and see what the test says. A heart attack is treatable. Do you have contributory factors eg overweight, smoker, family history?

NameChange23456790 · 03/09/2025 17:31

Do not rely on AI I uploaded my daughter’s scoliosis xray and it gave a plethora of incorrect information.

Comeinupto40 · 03/09/2025 17:34

Try not to worry and as PP have said, wait for a diagnosis x

As for the children, for now, tell them you felt ill, that you feel much better now, but you’re in for tests. Don’t tell them anything more concrete for that until you have a full diagnosis, and treatment plan. At that point, you will be able to say: “The problem is X and the treatment is Y, don’t worry it’s all under control.”

Comeinupto40 · 03/09/2025 17:34

Also… get well soon xx

Firststop · 03/09/2025 17:35

Whilst a heart attack sounds serious and of course needs proper care, it often isn't. So, even if you behave had a heart attack there's no need for any dramatic message for DC.

Listen to what the doctors tell you and go from there.

Fwiw, paramedics once thought I'd had a heart attack, but apparently the ecg's of very fit people look similar, and that's what mine was, so I doubt Chat gpt can diagnose you accurately.

bigwhitedog · 03/09/2025 17:35

If it comes to it you just tell them the truth in a matter of fact way. Mum has had a very minor heart attack, the doctors have now treated me and I will get better. When my dad had his they said it was a good thing because now we knew the issue before something major happened and nothing major has happened in the 15 years since. That really helped me to hear at the time. Don't hide it from them but don't overdo it either. I hope you're okay OP.

Scarlettpixie · 03/09/2025 17:37

Tell them the truth I.e that you had done chest pains and they are running tests. You are in the best place. Don't tell them chat gtp says...

Be honest (but reassuring). It's fine to tell them it's a heart attack and what treatment you are having if that turns out to be the case.

My dad had a heart attack on my 11th birthday. He was taken to hospital with chest pains and palpitations he had drugs and was shocked to bring his heart rate down. My mum was honest but reassuring. I wasn't traumatised though I was worried of course.

Similar happened to my ex when DS was around the same age. He subsequently had stents fitted. I was honest and reassuring and DS was fine. I think keeping them in the dark is worse. Your imagination can do terrible things.

Sending positive vibes to you.

dogcatkitten · 03/09/2025 17:37

Tell them it's a heart problem, but they will treat you and it will be fine.

DuckBee · 03/09/2025 17:38

My hubby has a heart condition. His ecgs say all sorts of things that clearly aren’t happening so please take a breath, think of a lovely place you’d like to go on holiday and wait for your results to be given to you by a doctor.

GoodVibesHere · 03/09/2025 17:38

I think be open and honest with your DC, and then sit back put your feet up and make sure they spend the next few weeks/months doing ALL the chores and making you cups of tea, cooking for you and being the best behaved kids ever. Milk it as much as you possibly can, I say!

mummysmagicmedicine · 03/09/2025 17:38

Bless you lovely try not to worry though I know this is easier said than done!

Wait until you have a clear idea of what’s happening before you tell them, maybe the doctor or nurse etc can help you word it to them once they figure out what’s going on with you x

worriedsickson19 · 03/09/2025 17:40

I had a heart attack at 43yrs, no previous history, no family history, kids 9 and 5. Was a total shock and took longer to recover mentally than physically. Fast forward 10yrs, I am fine, kids aware they need to be careful with diet and exercise, so all good there! TBH, just focus on getting better and enjoy a second shot at life!!!

user9064385631 · 03/09/2025 17:44

I wouldn’t say anything till you know whats going on, no point worrying them.
AI is notoriously unreliable so step away from that.

My friend, an enthusiastic smoker in her early 50’s had a heart attack that the paramedics had to use the electric shock paddles to get her going again, straight into surgery and had a stent fitted, now a year or so on and you’d never know anything had a happened. This is something the NHS does well OP, try not to worry.

myturf · 03/09/2025 17:49

I hope you feel better soon OP and I think it's best to be honest with your kids: you're in the best possible place and doctors will be very used to treating something like this, so hopefully that'll reassure them,

(And don't use Chat GPT for medical advice: you must know it's known for making up advice or not giving correct advice - uploading your medical data to it is not going to give you any information that could be verified other than by doctors, and you already have doctors on the case.)

Lubilu02 · 03/09/2025 17:51

There are an array of conditions/deficiencies that can mimic what a heart attack looks at on an ecg. Don't take a huge amount of notice on what the machine printing the ecgs says either. I've had issues with tachycardia and a few a and e visits, and it has suggested what would be a heart attack before, which completely freaked me out.

However, once a doctor had physically looked over it and put it together with other blood test results and readings, they then can then diagnose or at least rule the most concerning things out.

In terms of the kids, I suppose all they need to know is that you are OK and being looked after by the nurses/doctors.

Hope it turns out to be something minor and that you feel better soon xx

GymCat34 · 03/09/2025 18:22

I used to work in A+E, if they were concerned about a heart attack they would be treating you with medications while waiting on bloods - have they given you any meds? They need a blood test called a Troponin to confirm there has been damage to your heart (it’s raised if you have a heart attack). We used to get a huge amount of people in with chest pain and there are a wide variety of reasons for it, try not to worry you are in the best place. Maybe wait then tell your kids the truth x

mindutopia · 03/09/2025 18:33

Sorry you’re feeling poorly. I would wait until you have a definitive answer and then just tell them. I have cancer and told my dc. They were a bit like, okay. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And asked some questions. But they have been so much less phased by any of this than I have been (or Dh). They are 12 & 7. Keep it factual and give them little ways to be helpful until you’re back to feeling better again.

Original poster
Ethina · 03/09/2025 20:13

Thanks everyone, much appreciated ❤️ Troponin was undetectable so I was sent home. Confusingly (to me) the ecg did in fact suggest that something had happened, but the doctor didn’t have a diagnosis or anything like that. He referred me to the gp for a follow up scan of the heart. He said that you can have a heart attack without troponin, but looking at the context (age, weight, history, I’m a non smoker) he said it was unlikely in my case. Chat gpt wasn’t entirely wrong but like a pp said, it doesn’t have the whole picture. Not sure I’ll use it again, it was being so dramatic

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Original poster
Ethina · 25/09/2025 14:23

I’m not sure if anyone will see this but I just had a phone call from my gp with the results from my scan, which was done as a follow up to my incident the other week. I have a weakened left valve and have been referred to a cardiologist for the next steps which could be simply monitoring or possibly surgery.

I am feeling a mix of emotions right now but primarily I’m worried about my children. I don’t want to worry them but equally I don’t want to keep things from them as I believe children always sense when something is going on, and not knowing is sometimes worse.

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