Hi I've joined to get some advice for my mum, she had a stent fitted 5 days ago after several heart attacks after gangrenous cholecystitis

[6631]

So on the 6th August my mum was rushed into hospital with chest & abdominal pain. She was so full of toxins from the gangrenous gallbladder that she was completely out of it hallucinating not knowing who we were ect, on 9th she had her gallbladder removed.

She was aloud home on 16th. By the 20th we were back at the hospital due to a numbing dead feeding left thigh with burning hot skin. She was scanned for DVT also had marker's in her blood for clotting agents. Nothing showing on the scan. They said that the bloods were most likely due to the recent surgery. We had to go back the fallowing week to repeat the tests ect which was the 27th. Nothing on scan 2nd scan bloods still showing marker's again put down to recent surgery (does make me wonder what the point of testing was if they were just going to put it down to the surgery)

28th 29th horrendous chest pain (she didn't tell anyone) 30th she finally told me & was rushed into hospital.

On the 5th September she had a stent fitted after been told she had, had several heart attacks.

Before any of this mum was disabled & had limited mobility ie short walk round bungalow would be it. Mobility scooter to shop ect

Now it's 5 days since the stent was fitted she is home, today she has broke down crying really scared as she went to the kitchen took a joint of beef out of the slow cooker, went to the bathroom & was really struggling to breath...

Her explanation was like she wasn't getting oxygen in even tho she was breathing a little gasping.

She is ok now & breathing fine.

I have tried to explain she is still recovering & that her body has been through a hell of a lot & its going to take time to get back to where she was.

She's really upset & scared as she doesn't think that the little walk to the kitchen/bathroom wasn't much at all..

I found this website in her book from the hospital & thought it would be a good idea to try put her at ease with some advice /help from people who have been in similar positions.

[6631]

She's scared they will just send her into hospital again.

I'm sat with her & she's not struggling to breath. I do think it was down to doing to much to soon,

It would be helpful if someone could say how long, if at all they felt breathless once home.

[Rosei in reply to 6631]

After my heart attack I was breathless for at least a month, that was round the house, I used to walk for ten minutes out side and was breathless because it was so cold, decided I was better off going up and down stairs until the weather was warmer, now I can walk two miles and I'm fine.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Your mother has had two major medical issues - the last less than a week ago. Depending on her age (at a guess anywhere between 40 and 90) it could be between four and twelve weeks. The BHF nurses should be able to give you better guidance tomorrow.

[Zena166]

Hi. Sorry to hear about your mom. It’s been a traumatic time for her as well as you. It’s very early days for her. She will be referred to cardiac rehab team in her local area. Although she wasn’t very mobile before she should accept the offer to attend as it’s not just about exercise but advice about lifestyle medication emotions etc. In the meantime if she struggles again then as concerned says phone 111 or 999 She may not want to go back to hospital but it maybe necessary and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also as Michael says speak to the BHF helpline tomorrow for further advice. It maybe helpful to book a time with her GP so she can get further information. It’s all very frightening to begin with but it does get easier as she gets to know and understand how her body reacts to different things. Look after yourself as well as this will be a worrying time for you as well. Take care and keep us posted. Zena

[hutch123]

Hi What heart meds have they put your mum on. A couple unfortunately can make you breathless, such as bisoprolol. A panic attack can also imitate the symptoms of a heart attack, including pains and breathlessness (I've has a couple since my heart disease diagnosis). Did your mum have any pains anywhere? If in doubt call 111 or 999 if getting chest pain, better safe than sorry. I have had to go to hospital by ambulance twice with pains after stenting and the staff are lovely and it really is better to be cautious with chest pain. Had she overdone it at all, even with lifting the joint of beef, I lifted a saucepan of potatoes 3 days after stenting and suffered terrible pains which turned out to skeletal pain. It's all new so very scary but it does get better.

[6631 in reply to hutch123]

Hi thanks for your reply,

She had no pain whatsoever, I kept asking her that.

She's been given bisoprolol, tricagrelor & the gtn spray.

She does feel a bit better today but yesterday has scared her 😣

[Twobells in reply to 6631]

I am not surprised she's scared. This and other health issues are mind blowing so your mum has so much going on in her head right now. Best advice I can give is see GP and give yourself time. You should not at this time be cooking a meal yet alone putting a joint in the oven. Light meals and simple will do until you get your strength back. She has probably had a life looking after others, now its her turn to be looked after. My recovery was slow, but I no longer put myself under pressure to conform. Her body needs to recover and this takes time. Pottering around is fine, but if she feels wobbly sit down. The drugs have side affects and there are many. If one doesn't suit the GP can change them. I use to faint and become brethless on bisoporal, now take at night just before bed stops the light heads, because you are esting. If at any point you are concerned just do 999 they really are there to help.

[bee2]

Hi, funnily I had a heart attack two weeks to the day after I had my gallbladder removed. I found Tricagelor caused me to be breathless and I couldn't even bend over without gasping. Maybe give GP a call and see if dosage can be reduced?

[Rockrider]

Hi 6631 + your Mom

Tell your mom, I had Heart Attack and two cardiac arrests, they fitted me with three stents, and i survived, when i got released from hospital i started to try !! to move around as before, big mistake, i got dizzy if i got up too quick or bent down, breathlessness if stayed standing too long, very emotional bursting into tears ( i dont usually cry), scared, etc etc, its normal we nearly all go through a post HA period, its a major event, and your mom has gone through way more than me, im 58 years old.

So please tell her from me / us, go easy on herself, enjoy the love and support of you and the wider family friends, allow time to recover, we are all very lucky to survive. Best of luck and Great karma