Tough Times

[Leoniejade]

Does everyone go through really hard patches of trying to deal with what's happening to them ?

[Bazza1234]

Depends on just what you are talking about - I have recently lost sight in one eye due to a retinal artery related condition - that has come as quite a shock, didn't see that coming at all!! . But in relation to my discovery of my heart related artery condition, it has not come as a shock as I have always known that sooner or later I will die of something or other. This fact is all the more reason we should not sweat the small stuff and live fully each day that we have.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Bazza1234]

You have my sincere sympathy. I have been diabetic for over half a century and it's one complication (blindness) that sends a shiver down my spine!

[Bazza1234 in reply to MichaelJH]

Fortunately I don't have Diabetes - I have what is called a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion which is basically a blockage of the main vein that supplies blood to the retina and takes exhausted blood back to the heart. This condition is associated with a plaque blockage of the adjacent Central Retinal artery - I have had 30 years of very elevated cholesterol levels which I now have under control ( but too late for this eye and elsewhere)

[jimmyq in reply to Bazza1234]

This happened to me at Christmas. My left Carotid Artery became blocked. I have lost the central sight of my left eye but still have peripheral vision. My right eye is OK. I hoped the sight would come back but not much chance of that now.

I have been sorting my arteries out with a whole food plant based diet (WFPB) which appears to be working. My BP, cholesterol and pulse rate are all down and I am gradually coming off the drugs. If you are considering life style changes, I would recommend that you watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix and YouTube. It is about global medical heart research and the findings, including a massive study of 800,000 Chinese people. You might find it helpful, I did. It's the reason for going on the diet.

[DebbiB28]

Yes any diagnosis can be a shock and then the waiting adds to the anxiety. Even though you may have lots of support I find there are dark and lonely times. I think you just have to go with it and expect some anxious days and symptoms it can bring. Good luck.

[Stu888]

Yes the anxiety for me is now worse than the original diagnosis of mild heart attack I had. I guess it depends on how unexpected the illness is, for example if I had been in my seventies then fair enough but in my forties and having never smoked etc. Also some people can deal with things better than others, unfortunately I’m not one of those. If you have anxiety I’d recommend seeing your doctor. Maybe others on this site have good advice too?

[Jasppip]

I think nearly everyone finds it hard at first it's been 12 weeks since my HA and I still have bad days I'm 51 and no way did I think I would have a HA it's been a real shock so don't be hard on yourself you will get there

[Hidden]

Similar position to Jaspip... and still have days where I relive what happened and think about what could’ve happened. Have been seeing a counsellor through Cardiac Rehab and it does help. Unfortunately haven’t got the same outlook as Bazza, perhaps if I did I wouldn’t feel how I do .... but we are all different and subsequently deal with things differently! ❤️

[FeetheBookworm]

It was a huge shock to me. I didn’t even know the difference between heart failure and heart attacks (which my father had and subsequently died of).

My dogs have helped as they are always with me - sadly lost my oldest OES Sunday night so just the younger one now. And of course my family.

I read a lot and have upped the levels of exercise by joining a gym to do cardio workout. The trainer who planned my workout liaised with my HF nurse to ensure she was happy with what he suggested. So getting fitter and also do some work from home with occasional visits to work. Need to keep the brain working!

There may be help available if you feel that would help in the way of counselling if it’s offered in your area.

Hope all this helps - don’t forget we are all here for each other.

Fiona

[Lin_279]

Hi all, this is all pretty new to me too 4 weeks ago I was ok just having pains n chest and arm thinking I had a hernia then had a CT scan and was on wat to St Thomas London for bypass surgery. Luckily i ended up with an angioplasty long stent instead but still total shock. Still thinking why me . How.? I’m quite healthy never smoked. not too much over weight etc but seems mine is just down to genetics and unfortunately coped me at an earlier age.

[Picass in reply to Lin_279]

I am on week two of my stent can you tell me how you are feeling to give me a bit of hope I feel awful at the moment I still have pains in my chest and cannot walk far

[Dockdog]

It can be very depressing to know you have a specific condition that may need major surgery, on the other hand what can be very worrying is to have an extremely rare condition that stumps the doctors. In that situation you can be searching for a diagnosis for several years. and as your condition deteriorates so does your normal optimistic spirit that you will eventually recover and you become quite fatalistic. I recall once saying to my GP as we found yet another specialist did not find the answers in his tickbox system, "Don't worry, I know they will find out what it is -at my post mortem!" He looked shocked but that is as depressing as it can get. Whatever, do not give up, keep striving for a diagnosis or if you have one already take confidence that we have some incredibly brilliant cardiac surgeons in the NHS and there can be a great outcome for you. Even if the outcome is not as brilliant as you would wish, normally the level of treatment and support is very good to enable you to have the best outcome possible. You will have highs and lows but finally recover a good life balance. Take care and all good wishes!

[Maxijazz1]

HI LeonieJade. I felt/feel exactly the same as you. I felt so alone but since finding this site I have been uplifted by so many of the posts. It is hard to feel positive all the time and I feel dark days are part and parcel of illness. Some are stronger than others and although we all appreciate the amazing work of the NHS it is not always so easy to escape the hard patches. Counselling through the Cardiac Rehab team helped me. Maybe this is an option . I can only wish you all the luck in the world and remember that you are not alone. There are many of us out there.

[Foxyhole]

Yes I know what you mean, good days and bad, just keep positive and try and not focus on it.

[Qualipop]

It came as a massive shock even though my mum had heart failure and died at 67 and I just turned 70 and used to smoke 40 a day. You just don't think it will happen to you. I did suddenly start to get very worried on my birthday and had a feeling something was going to happen but I imagined everything else BUT heart attack. It's only been 6 weeks but I need another angiogram on a 75 blockage. It's when I read of someone having another heart attack after having stents that I get really worried. My mum had 3 before the final one but they never fitted stents and she was only given BP tablets. It has been a huge wake up call. I've stopped smoking ( until I get a really bad down day when I get desperate); changed diet and am trying to exercise more which is difficult as I use a wheelchair/ scooter. When I think of my son who hasn't yet got a partner and the family he craves, I can't bear the thought of going before he's settled and happy. It really gets to me then.