Don't know about any other women, but speaking personally, I can tell you that my initial symptoms were a clammy, cold sweat-type feeling, heaviness in my arms, and a feeling of exhaustion. The chest pains came later.
This actually happened during a treadmill test as part of a job-related physical, with a doctor and a nurse right there in the room. I was also hooked up to an EKG, which didn't show any unusual activity.
I told the doctor and the nurse that I wasn't feeling well, but they insisted I was doing fine. The doctor told me I was too far back on the treadmill, and to step a little closer. He then increased the speed and the elevation.
After about ten minutes of this, I told them I had to stop. They informed that that this was OK, I had passed the treadmill test, and that I could lie down and rest for a few minutes, then I could proceed to go to work.
A few minutes later, they decided to get me up to send me on my way. At that point, I felt knife-like stabbing me repeatedly in the chest. Naturally, all hell broke loose.
Next thing I knew I was in the ambulance on the way to the ER. I went into ventricular fibrillation and had to be defibrillated TWICE in the ambulance. Thank God for the EMTs - they will always be my heroes.
I was 47 years old, non-smoker, and in excellent condition. The angiogram showed that I have a congenitally malformed left anterior descending artery. The cardiologists advised against a stent, because the wall of the artery is too thin.
The treatment protocol for the past 14 years has been medication, and attention to lifestyle.
No, I didn't sue.
I'm grateful for every day that I have.
That's scary.
Thanks for telling about your own experience. I found the page about women's heart attack symptoms that was linked on an earlier FR thread. By the way, did you have "feelings of impending doom"?