I’m a 49 year old bloke who had a heart attack and wasn’t ready for it...

[GBerserker]

I hope that the title says it all.

I am interested to know if there are any support groups in and around the Windsor area for people of my age.

I’m also writing a blog of my thoughts, feelings and experiences which is in part to help me deal with it and come to terms with what has happened, but also to provide support to others who may be going through the same experience.

My blog is 9daysinoldham.com

[Mjd7568]

Have you been along to any rehab exercise classes, I’m not sure if they are offered everywhere but I would definitely recommend if they are, the rehab nurses at the exercise classes would be able to let you know of any groups in your area plus they are always at the end of a phone line.

[GBerserker in reply to Mjd7568]

Thanks for that. I’m trying to get on a rehab class but my local hospital are being less than communicative about them as I was treated way out of area. I’m going to contact them again today.

[jimmyq]

Read your blog. Spot on! It is a good idea to do it, to help you come to terms with it. It has been suggested to me but I have not done it.

Anyway, if you are considering life style changes, I recommend you watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It gives lots of medical evidence about the causes of Heart Disease, mostly from a study of 800,000 Chinese people. I could say more but "Spolier Alert"! Suffice to say that I found it very helpful.

Good Luck with your heart and blog!

[GBerserker in reply to jimmyq]

Jimmy, thanks for the advice about the film, I’ll hunt it out. Thanks for reading the blog as well, it’s more for me at the moment to get my head around it but if it is useful for someone else I would be chuffed.

[Zena166]

Hi

Great blog. Thanks for sharing. I write poetry to express my thoughts feelings and my soul! It helps doesn’t it. Keep pestering for rehab you may need your GP or the hospital where you had stent put in to pester. In terms of support group the BHF have a site which lists per region where there are groups to join. Keep strong

Zena

[GBerserker in reply to Zena166]

Zena, my apologies. My autocorrect got carried away in my response to you below. Please excuse me calling you zebra

[Zena166 in reply to GBerserker]

No need to apologise. Trust me I have been called worse!! 😂

[GBerserker]

Zebra, thank you so much. I’ve tried the rehab guys again yesterday but that just have a very effective answer machine that I am becoming great friends with. I’ll try some alternative routes next week and I’ll at the BHF site. Good luck with the poetry. I’m finding the writing quite therapeutic at the moment even if just to get my head around what has and is happening.

[Hidden]

Hi

Great blog and I'm sorry your local place is being a little kess than supportive. I have to say that my local North Hampshire place have been fab. I had my MI in Cornwall and they contacted the NHH before I left. Within 2 weeks I'd been contacted and allocated an appointment with a consultant cardiologist, then into rehab. I have found the Basingstoke and Alton cardio-rehab team to be superb, have now finished rehab and go to their gym several times a week.

My point is dont give up, just keep pushing for that rehab place, they are well worthwhile. Nag the cardio team and your GP.

Keep up the blog its an inspiration.

[djw79]

Hi read your blog very good iam 38 years old had my heart attack on Jan 27th had my angiogram 7th March and been told will be getting 2 stents fitted was told could be up to 12 week wait on all meds and spray for mean time but the wait is really a pain and often have panic attack that its going to happen again my cardio team just say oh your on right meds my chlorestoral was high

[GBerserker in reply to djw79]

Thanks so much for your reply and for the blog comments. Sorry to hear that you are having to wait for so long. I had my heart attack, had my angiogram and stent fitted all within 10 days. Keep the faith with your cardio team, they really do know what they are on about. Best of luck!

[djw79]

Yeah I was at my work then all of a sudden pain in my jaw back of my neck I work in care so the nurses took my bp it was fine went to hospital just to get checked out took my blood and told me at 6 in the morning that I had a heart attack couldn't quite believe it really spent 3 days in got a scan tread mill then waited 3 weeks till I got angiogram which I need 2 stents then told about the wait so hopefull be soon glad your on the mend

[GBerserker]

I’ve finally made contact with the local Cardiac Rehabilitation team despite my doctor’s surgery telling me there wasn’t one locally. I’ve been really surprised by how hard this has been. Something that should have been pretty standard. I’ve also kept going with my blog. My latest piece is about what the symptoms are of a heart attack and how my misconception led me to ignore the signs. If you would like to please have a look at 9daysinOldham.com it’s called ‘Picture the man when the heartbeat stops...’