Hi I’m new here, it’s a learning curve that’s for sure.

[VelvetSky]

Hi, I am new here. I had a heart attack 3 weeks ago and had a stent fitted. I have been in and out of hospital and I’ve subsequently had another blood clot in my heart and am now on Warfarin. I feel extremely ill and frail now I am at home, I was energetic and well before all this, for how long, if ever, will I feel OK?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! It is early days yet so no need to worry. Cardic events are both physical and emotional with recovery also being dependant on the severity. Before my bypass I was given, what I now realise were, very optimistic timescales. However, angina and breathlessness meant 20yds was a mini-marathon and I had to rest up twice going upstairs prior to surgery. Have you been offered rehab? When I went I realised my recovery whilst slower than some was faster than others. For the moment take it a day at a time!

[VelvetSky in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Michael, thanks for the welcome. The Warfarin nurse has phoned and I can stop the injections tonight, hurray! Just wish I didn't feel so sick and wobbly all the time. My son has come by and has changed my bedclothes, what a treat!

[Sususulio]

I didn't have a heart attack but an emergency procedure to fit a stent and it took me a while to build up any physical (and emotional) stamina. You will feel OK again but it's early days and you have have been through trauma. Start small and gradually you will see an improvement, a walk to the end of the path, nearest lamppost and back etc. We all have found adaptation to medication another thing to get used to and this is a great place to share any concerns, go at a pace that suits you things will get better.

[VelvetSky in reply to Sususulio]

Hi Susie, thanks for the welcome, The Warfarin nurse has telephoned and I don't have to inject anymore, and can stop the Aspirin as well, and I can go down to 4mg, hurray! A small step in the right direction.

[Sususulio in reply to VelvetSky]

Absolutely - I took warfarin for a number of years, just see it for the help that it is and the protection it affords you. It is all a rollercoaster but your previous level of fitness will help just take your time, we have to learn to be ‘patient’ patients sometime!

[Clerkenweller in reply to VelvetSky]

I had a stent in November. When told on discharges that I must get up and walk trying to do 3 minutes on the first day I laughed. Boy was I wrong. It takes weeks to adjust to the meds and gently build strength and stamina but you will get there. And as someone else said if possible get to a cardio rehab class in a few weeks.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome.

So sorry that you're feeling so down. Firstly its quite common to feel this way. Secondly yes it does get better, I'm 15 months now since HA and stenting and I feel sooo much better and fitter.

Thirdly its now your time to recover so do everything they tell you, take meds regularly, stop smoking and lose weight if you need to BUT most importantly if they offer you rehab please, please, please take it. There they will get you excercising again and you can chat to medical staff plus other people who are in the same place as you.

Lastly you will have down days, as my Cardiologist said, physically the NHS is great at making you well, mentally it is less so. Remember this forum has lots of helpful advice and the members here are always willing to help where they can even if its just to lend a sympathetic ear, also call the BHF helpline, they are really good.

Good luck with your recovery

D

[TinaC1]

Hi I am 4 months post heart attack and stent fitted. As above the meds took a while with me to suit and a few adjustments were made. I found cardiac rehabilitation so good and miss going now but I am trying to get to local gym.

Take your time and make small steps, at first I was scared to walk to the end of the road. I still get worried it will happen again but I'm trying not to think about it so often. Take care.

[VelvetSky in reply to TinaC1]

Hi, thanks for your reply. You are right, I am frightened to walk to the end of the road. It is nearly four weeks on now and I drove for the first time to the corner shop yesterday, I felt more confident to drive than walk. There really isn’t much follow up here and I feel so sick and dizzy on the meds, I feel there must be some adjustment, will try and get a GP appointment tomorrow, usually takes 5 weeks though.

I have been offered rehabilitation but need to keep hospital appointment on 5th March first. I don’t drink or smoke, not overweight, in fact have lost a stone in the last three weeks apparently there is a strong genetic cause for heart problems.

I live alone after nursing my late husband for many years and I have always been the coping one. I must admit I get frightened at night every time I get a chest pain or short of breath but try to put a good face on it so as to not worry my family. I find it very difficult to sleep, I’m awake half the night. I wish I could sleep all night then the worries wouldn’t crowd in in the early hours. I must admit I don’t feel physically any better than I did at the beginning which I find worrying, all the advice says you will slowly improve day by day.

I try to be pro active, I’ve got one of the call alarms to wear, I’ve got a key safe and neighbours have keys. I am going to book an agency to clean my bungalow, it’s just beyond me at the moment. I just think Why Me?

[Candlewax in reply to TinaC1]

I’m so with you on this TinaC1. I had a sudden Heart Attack 8 weeks ago and had 4 Stents fitted. Some complication afterwards but the settled. Frightened to move afterwards. I now attend Cardio Rehab twice a week ant they have totally given me back my lost confidence. I am due to stop in June but I have requested a referral to to a gym which caters for people like us. PHASE 4 it’s called. The trainers have been instructed to know how to work with us. It’s group work too so you will be with others in the same boat as yourself. There is no joining fee and it is really not very expensive ( about a fiver) Check out you local gyms. By the way I was not a gym goer nor ever wanted be, but I’m going to this.

[TinaC1]

Hope you start to feel much better soon take care x

[David618]

HiNot an expert by any means and still learning myself, but you are at a very early stage. Things will get better and you’ll start to feel stronger as time passes, for now just rest and follow what the experts advise.