thank-you everyone for your advice. I took it and spent another week in hospital. My blockage is being managed with medication and not a stent. I would really value some positive experiences of this.It is my first night home and although I have family close by I live on my own and feel very vulnerable and still in shock about having a heart attack.
I have only been on this site or 2 weeks but it seems very caring and supportive
Thanks
Isobelhannah
I had two stents put in after my heart attack and a blockage that is being managed by tablets as it is too small to stent.i am in week six now still feeeling vulnerable alone and confused.i feel like I am not at the level of excercise I should be and tablets making me feel like shite but there are a lot of people on here doing better than me ha ha just posting so you know you are not alone
Hello i had a HA feb 16 aged 42 and had 3 stents and still have heart disease on left side of heart being managed by meds. Ive had a few ups and downs getting the meds right but we have succeeded and i am enjoying life. I understand your anxiety, especially living on your own having nobody to talk to when you need to and feeling that you dont want to bother anyone.. Do not fear you have done the right thing and wrote on this forum. You will receive plenty of advice and help should you need it. So keep doing it no matter if you think its silly, there will always be someone to give you the support you need. Its completely normal to have these feelings and concerns we've all been there at some point and i promise they do ease off gradually. Somedays you may panic and wonder will life be the same. It will just be different and you need to give yourself time to adjust your mind to this. Remember what you have been is a huge event in your life and it is going to affect you. But the shock will wear off, it may take a while so be patient with yourself, it doesnt happen over night. Get out and about as soon as you are able, its a big achievement when you do. Take it steady and talk to your gp and rehab team also they are very reassuring.
If i may offer a suggestion.... my mum lived on her own and we got for her a support pendant. She could press this pendant if she needed help and it would go through to the nearest 999 call centre. They in turn would call mum through box installed in her hallway. This call.would come through a speaker so mum could hear them.no matter what room she was in. If they got.no reponse or she said she needed help they would do this for, they would phone the people on mums contact list or ambulance, whatever was needed. But she felt safe and comfortable knowing help was only a button away. This service was available through social services and the local fire sevice. You could check with your cardiac rehabilitation team they should know.
Also i have a samsung phone which is set up.so that if i press one of the side keys 3 times an sos message goes out to my emergency contacts giving them my location. So if they are not able to get hold of me they know where abouts i am.
I hope this has been of some help to you. Not sure how old you were so please do not be offended by the pendant support, it is a service meant for all ages. My sister would have got me at least 3 if i lived on my own and superglued them to me hee hee. We are here for you so feel free to write a post whenever you need to. Also remember to treat yourself every now and again be it a new book, magazine, new luxurious bubble bath, or sky diving [ only kidding on the last one, at least give it a year hee hee) you deserve it..... Take care
thank you so much for a really supportive reply. I intend to keep it and refer back to it next time I feel really down. I have certainly panicked and felt my life is over but it is only 2 weeks ago and you have really helped. My meds have been changed several times and it is good to know that you have experienced this. A treat is a good idea especially skydiving- NOT!
Im glad to have been off help to you. It is a time of uncertainty you are feeling at the moment. You are just at the beginning of your journey. It does have it up and downs and feeling of frustration and anger may or may not come next. This again us Normal!.... Not being able to just get on a do what you could before is soooo fustrating, i drove people insane some days trying to do things i shouldnt be doing but felt i had to take a big leap away from my H A to a normal life and prove to myself. I should have paced myself better as it comes in the end so no matter how long it takes you will get there. Though do take it steady . A lady helping out at the cardio rehab said it took her a good 18 months... what!!! I thought no way i need to be there sooner. But do you know what, once i accepted i had to adjust and work with it not against it, life glowed again. And it will for you too. Joining a gym after cardiac rehab really helped me keep track of how far i have come. Joining a heart support group is good too as you meet others locally that are in the same boat. Your cardiac rehab team can provide you with details. Go along have a cuppa and a biscuit its great. I first went on my own, anxious as i didnt know anybody or so i thought, 1 minute in and i was chatting to 3 people. So when your ready pop along to one. Hope you have a good nights sleep. Take care x
Thank-you again for your good advice and support.
Could you tell me if Carmel xl has lots of side effects as I have felt worse since I am on it
Sorry bout the spelling issues, blooming auto text!!
I was so relieved by your reply I cried. I am still in the stage of thinking my life is over. Thank-you so much for taking the time to reply.
I'm so glad my post helped. I always share kevins story as I hope it gives others hope. It's not always been easy but it's been a good 20 years & we're looking forward to the next 20 years. Please feel free to message me if at any time I can help or even just be someone you can offload to. Take care xx
This post really helped me today. I’m feeling very vulnerable and scared following HA 4 months ago. I am no where near back to normal in fact some days I feel worse than I did before.
I hope I will find my place in the world again x
I'm so glad to hear that Kevin's story has helped you. 4 months is not very long ago for you to have come to terms with your heart attack & the fear & vulnerability is worse because it is so recent. It may be too soon for you but do ask your medical team about rehab, I really cant emphasise enough how much it helped Kevin. I would also find out about support groups in your area as it really does help to talk to people who have been in the same situation & do understand how you feel. Give yourself the space & time you need, please do not be hard on yourself xx
Just curious to know what exactly is "medical management" of a blocked artery??? Drugs of some kind? How would they work??
Blocked fully left arteries
Coronary Artery Disease 
Coronary artery disease 
possible coronary artery spasm 
