Just had heart attack

[charliestel]

Hi there .i had a heart attack on 29th April.1 week tomorrow.i got a stent fitted on tuesday.and at the minute my head is all over the place.one minute terrified.next minute quite acceptinh.i dont know how to deal with this.

[Zena166]

Hi Charliestel. Sorry to hear about your heart attack. You are still in shock. 10 months on and I still have bad days. But the positive feelings now outweigh the negative ones. It’s hard to take in initially as it’s so unexpected. Cardiac rehab will be good for confidence building and to answer questions. You will be offered that in the next few weeks. Follow the heart manual and it will give you help in doing gentle exercise starting with a couple of minutes and building to 30 minutes. BHF have excellent resources online as well as a helpline. Talk to people about your emotions- they will be all over the place and that is to be expected. If it’s too overwhelming then ask to be referred to a counsellor or health psychologist. I had both as my rollercoaster ride left me feeling quite overwhelmed. This forum is great all of us are/have been going through something similar. I didn’t know about this until a few weeks ago. I wish I had known about it last June. The people are great and offer support and help. Hope this helps. The further I got away from my event the more able I am to deal with it. So stay strong and take care. Zena

[David-75]

Hi Charliestel, To echo Zena - your feelings are pretty much the standard response (for all of us) to such a traumatic event. As you point out - it’s the timeframe - just over a week ago you had no idea about all of this. Now you have had a heart attack and most importantly, have been treated and now on the road to recovery. In and out of hospital and get back on with it within a week!, I am about eight months past mine (5stents and fortunately only slight damage) and I am still sometimes almost in denial that it all happened. I echo Zena in stating that you should ensure that you should find out what is available in the way of professional support - counsellor, psychiatrist , support group etc. I have found it invaluable to talk to talk to someone outside of my family/ immediate friends circle - especially those that can help you through what my counsellor has likened to a bereavement- which normally can take some time to move forward from ; even up to a couple of years. Which brings us to time again.... this happened only a week ago!, at eight months it is a lot better for me and I hope in another few months it will be even better and I will be more in the ‘now’ rather than my mind wandering to the what if’s etc. There is a good chance it will be the same for you. It is a different world, there is a new ‘normal’ - I have up and down days - mostly up now but I have quite a bit of anxiety about having a young child and not being there for them (that’s my emotional trigger if I dwell too long!). Do the exercise, look at your diet, do some further research if that helps (but limit google searches!- too much scaremongering) ,take the medications, give yourself time and space , try not to worry- I find some meditation useful for this ( a phrase eight months ago I never thought I would say - ha!). Look after yourself. Life will be good for you again - but one day at a time. I hope you can get out int this sunshine... it looks beautiful outside my window at the moment... all the best for a speedy recovery.

[Hidden]

I found the rehab helped me to get my head around things. Chatting to others in the same situation and realizing the worries and negative thoughts are common place and just part of the process of coming to terms with things,

[kc1953]

Charliestel,

I’m sorry to hear of your heart attack. I had one about 7 weeks ago and had a stent as well. What you are feeling is very normal. It takes a while to wrap your head around things, but things will improve. I took a few days off work and then went back. Within 3 weeks I started cardiac rehab. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this program if it is available. It not only improves conditioning but gives confidence. Also, focus on eating a heart healthy diet and losing weight if you need to. These are not just nice to do, they are your job. Life depends on it. Take care. You are going to get through this.

[Mjd7568]

As everyone else has said the way your feeling is perfectly normal and will improve, the rehab classes are great and help you to build confidence but above all knowledge, its easy to worry about things you don’t understand so make sure you ask lots of questions.

[gunnerred67]

Hi Charlie I had the same thing same day same outcome. I do still get anxious especially if I get pain. I have a great supportive wife who won't let me dwell on it.

[Helen_BHF]

Hi charliestel - really sorry to hear that, how are you doing? If you'd like to, you can contact our heart helpline team and speak to one of our cardiac nurses. Contact details here: bhf.org.uk/heart-health/how... They can provide support and information if you need it. Hope this helps.