Nitroglycerin...

Schwarzer Ritter's Avatar
Three weeks ago I had a "cardiac episode" that had me in the hospital for five days. I was given a bottle of nitro and told.to use it as needed. What does that mean? One under the tongue for pain? Chest pain? Arm pain? I have a high pain threshold. I haven't had any pain yet just some discomfort in my chest. I took one...I think it worked. Anyone have any insight?
pmdelites's Avatar
duh!! ask the doctor from the hospital or your medical professional.

yep you can web research it and ask guys on a provider info/review board, but seriously, would you trust any of us with your life???
Schwarzer Ritter's Avatar
At 9 pm...

They have bigger things to worry about.
Did you get an intense headache and blurring of vision? The nitro is to be taken as an EMERGENCY when you experience extreme symptoms and EMS has been called. They usually don't give it to you until you are discharged.


A more moderate measure are small stainless steel fobs with a gasket that hold 6 full sized aspirin. Chew three and swallow with water, repeat in 15 - 30 minutes.


I have a fob for a full bottle of nitro pills but the thing is pretty good sized and always gets flagged in my carry on luggage. I'd rather haul it out and let a TSA officer inspect it than put it into my checked luggage and have it lost.


Do you have a Medic ALERT ID? Mine has name, DOB, Blood type, major illnesses on the front and major meds on the back, all on a Stainless Steel dog tag that I put on a breakaway piece of gutted 550 paracord.


This isn't my first rodeo....


P.S.: If they gave you a bottle of nitro while you were still in the hospital, you might want to check yourself into a different hospital with a well regarded Cardiac Care unit...
I asked my gen prac and my cardio doc, can I take nitro while on viagra, both said no, try and make to ER
Schwarzer Ritter's Avatar
Did you get an intense headache and blurring of vision? The nitro is to be taken as an EMERGENCY when you experience extreme symptoms and EMS has been called. They usually don't give it to you until you are discharged.


A more moderate measure are small stainless steel fobs with a gasket that hold 6 full sized aspirin. Chew three and swallow with water, repeat in 15 - 30 minutes.


I have a fob for a full bottle of nitro pills but the thing is pretty good sized and always gets flagged in my carry on luggage. I'd rather haul it out and let a TSA officer inspect it than put it into my checked luggage and have it lost.


Do you have a Medic ALERT ID? Mine has name, DOB, Blood type, major illnesses on the front and major meds on the back, all on a Stainless Steel dog tag that I put on a breakaway piece of gutted 550 paracord.


This isn't my first rodeo....


P.S.: If they gave you a bottle of nitro while you were still in the hospital, you might want to check yourself into a different hospital with a well regarded Cardiac Care unit... Originally Posted by Anonymous01
Thanks for the information. The bottle actually says "as needed". I know I have a high pain threshold so I'm never sure if something is really painful to regular people. My "episode" was afted.dragging downed branches out of the yard. My chest felt strange, not for the first time. My stomach felt uneasy, not for the first time. My left arm became sore, that's a first! I drove myself to the hospital expecting an EKG and a return home. Three hours later I was transported by ambulance to a cardiac unit. A few hours later someone told me that enzymes said I did not have a heart attack. Four days later I was released with my little bottle of pills. They found blockages and now I'm looking at a triple.bypass.

I felt odd lat night but not in pain, I was wondering if now was the time.
Yssup Rider's Avatar
Really? Hope you found some information you can use here!
Schwarzer Ritter's Avatar
This is not to replace research or professional advice which I am getting both.

I'm looking for opinions based on experience; first person or second hand. Third person is less than reliable.

I'm curious about discomfort and recovery time. Best estimate is six to eight weeks of down time followed by a month of very restricted activity.

I've been reading about stints but other problems indicate by pass surgery is the best option. Don't hear many people talking about their stints.
I never had pain. I began to perspire like I walked out of the shower with my clothes on. Then I had trouble getting a full breath of air (just like Covid), then I laid down on the living room floor and everything turned to black.


There are no "normal" symptoms. My older brother went in for his annual checkup. Then he heard sirens arriving at his MD's out-of-hospital clinic. Then the EMTs walked into the examining room and put him on the stretcher and took him in for quadruple bypass surgery. Over 11 hours on the surgical table.