Is it ok to feel anxious, cautious and always on the lookout for the next problem?

[crship]

I was a 59 year old non smoker, moderate drinker, 3 gym spin bike sessions and 3 PT's a week, good diet. Flew to Australia on Christmas day to attend a family funeral. First day back in the spin class after returning to London felt chest pain. Same thing 2 days later and again on a walk the next day. Went to the GP, she sent me to a private cardiologist. He said Stress MRI. Did the MRI the following week and next morning had a heart attack. Rushed into St Georges where they did an immediate angiogramm. Stent on the left and a couple of balloons. Echo showed normal heart function. Told me to come back in a month for a look at the right side. NHS scheduled this appointment for 6 months time! Luckily the NHS team also did private so was able to have the second procedure within the month. Right hand side needed a couple of balloons but not a stent at this stage. I'm now back in the NHS system not private. Finished Cardio rehab this week. Got a follow up stress echo then cardio clinic next week. I have never gone back to the Private consultant who organised the first stress MRI as I think that continuity with St Georges team is better idea. I do however feel anxious all the time. Every twinge makes me think I'm powering up for another heart attack. Have had a couple of panic attacks that ended up in A and E. Finding it hard to deal with going from a healthy 59 year old to a old broken 60 year old. On the plus side this is clearly genetic as my father and his siblings all had heart issues in their 70's but lived into their late 80's

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

I’m sure it’s natural to be anxious about every twinge, and really there is some reason to be vigilant. But I found the balance v hard to strike. Either ever anxious about everything, or rushing about denying symptoms, trying to believe I’m not ‘broken’. A good word, describes it well, for me.

But my daughter had some wise words ‘you’re not defined by your heart, you’re still you’. This helped me get on with normal life. Not trying to get back to normal, but finding a new ‘normal’.

Hope this helps. It’s not easy.

[Chappychap]

"Is it ok to feel anxious, cautious and always on the lookout for the next problem?"

If that anxiety is the motive for a deep dive into why you have heart disease, and then powers your resolve to make the appropriate life style changes, then it has to be worthwhile even if it's uncomfortable.

But anxiety by itself, with no action, is worse than pointless as it will corrode the precious years of life you have in front of you for no benefit.

The explanation "it's genetic" may not be appropriate for you. Your father and siblings had heart problems in their 70's, but given that age itself is by far the biggest risk factor that's neither evidence for nor against you yourself having a genetic disposition. There are many possible explanations for your atherosclerosis; gum disease, passive smoking, visceral fat (even if you are slim), heavy metals, insulin resistance, stress induced cortisol, sleep apnea, pollution, nutritional deficits, etc, etc. And, despite you already having a decent exercise regime, there's always more you can do with your lifestyle.

So, my advice would be either use or lose your anxiety. Either it becomes a spring board to more enquiry and therapeutic change, or you employ self help, medication, counselling, group therapy, or whatever else appeals to move beyond it.

Good luck!

[jimmyq]

Most of the people on here felt that way at first. You have been through a traumatic experience and it will take time for you to come to terms with it. Talk to your other half and your close family. Ask your GP surgery and the hospital if there are any support groups in your area and join in with them. There may be a cardiac rehab team in your area that can give you medically supervised exercise and advice to help you through this. People on here are very helpful too.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I would agree with the comment jimmyq about cardiac rehab team.

I felt very isolated after discharge from hospital. GP surgery not much good - 10 min consultation is of no use at all.

The hospital passed my details on to the local cardiac rehab team, who contacted me to go for assessment, did a exercise tolerance test, said I was fine to go to the gym, and signed up for 12 weeks of supervised gym exercise twice a week.

I've gone to all the educational sessions, which were excellent, as were all the BHF booklets that were handed out.

The gym sessions have gradually increased in intensity and have been good, it really is good for rebuilding your confidence after HA.

The rehab team have been very supportive, always really to answer any questions I have. After seeing the hospital consultant in April, hospital sent a letter to GP saying I had Heart Failure, GP has duly noted this in Patent Access under Problems saying I am NYHA class 1. Showed the letter to Rehab people who questioned had i been allocated a HF Nurse by GP - No. Rehab have therefore in the process of sorting this out.

If anyone on here gets the chance to go to rehab (I know it's not available everywhere) grab it with both hands

[Andyman]

I felt anxious and a victim and weak and isolated even though I was getting fitter by the day and was changing my lifestyle for the better. In the end I got counselling and thus really helped me. She recommended I try Mindfulness to deal with my problems on a daily basis. Really have to say it's the best thing I ever did. Has given me the tools to combat by anxiety and PTSD. Give it a go after some counselling.

[crship]

thanks to all for your comments. It helps to know that I am not alone.

I did do the NHS rehab course of 8 weeks and finished last Monday. It helped but was also somewhat contradictory on a couple of issues. I start level 4 exercise shortly back at my old gym. Have a stress echo and follow up appointment with the Cardio in the next couple of weeks.

Again thanks to all for your comments