1 Year Since my Heart Attack (SCAD)

[Marie3811]

Hi All

I just want to say it’s been one year since my unexpected heart attack and it has been quite a journey to say the least! But I am so thankful that I am still here and have learnt so much over this year that I never thought I would know. I am going to write a blog that I hope will inspire others and help them when they may have felt as I did! There is light at the end of the tunnel. This app has really helped me having support from others in a similar position 💖 just want to wish you all well and thank you so much for all of your kind words and support. This year I hope to get stronger and may transition further due to the cardiologists changing my medication I’ll keep you all posted on progress.

[DaveyG71]

Brilliant Marie.

I’m 5 weeks post STEMI, still got anxieties and depression to cope with have up days and down days but it’s great to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel. I want to get back to being me and living a normal life ASAP! I look at people enjoying themselves friends and family who have been away on short breaks and having fun in hot tubs and having a good drink etc! I look at this with envy now and have the horrendous feeling I’m holding my wife and kids back who have been brilliant at trying to keep my spirits up.

I have always loved life and tried to live it to the max! I just want some normality back and reading about you helps me realise I can get back to almost where I was (without the junk eating and sitting on my ample butt)

Thanks

Dave

[Marie3811 in reply to DaveyG71]

Hi Dave nice to hear from you There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. I was depressed too thinking why me??? You go through loads of emotions and it’s important you stay in contact with those who have experienced something similar. Attending the rehab programme was also a huge benefit. It’s so nice and encouraging to hear you have a family who love and support you and you are definitely not holding them back as this wasn’t a choice why this happened to you. You will get back to you again. The hardest thing is timing; I would ask myself when? But you will get there. Support groups have also helped me I can provide the number where you can meet like minded people and share stories which uplift you and you realise wow 😄 I’m also hoping to do some work with the British Heart Foundation Thanks 💖

[DaveyG71 in reply to Marie3811]

Thanks Marie, I appreciate your positivity.

Dave

[Zena166 in reply to DaveyG71]

Hi Dave apologies to Marie for responding to you on her post. Just wanted to say that your good days will outweigh your bad days in time. In the meantime be kind to yourself focus on you and your needs. Take each day at a time and find at least one positive from every day and build on it. My immediate time post heart attack just walking to the front path I viewed as positive now I do my 30 minutes walk each morning no problem. Cardiac rehab will give you much more confidence and help both with the physical and psychological healing. Your wife and kids love you. You are not holding them back but we often think that about our loved ones. It’s our thoughts not theirs. So stay strong and positive. Sending hugs. Zena x

[DaveyG71 in reply to Zena166]

Thanks Zena really appreciate that. If I could feel as good mentally as I did physically I’d be happiest bloke on planet.

Thanks for the kind words

Dave

[Zena166]

Hi Marie lovely to hear you are doing so well. I think a blog is a great idea. I found writing poetry helped me. As you say it’s a journey! Not one that we have ever thought we would have to take rather one thrust at us. However positive thoughts is really important. I have said this before and will say it again apologies to those who already know it my mantra which is engraved on my wonky heart is ‘I cannot change my past but can control my future ‘. Really important as you are doing to keep driving forward and as you say learning from your experience. I hope your change of medication also helps improve your progress. Take care. Zena x

[Marie3811 in reply to Zena166]

Hi Zena totally agree with your mantra and positivity is the key to help recovery and supporting each other! I’ll post the blog when I have completed it best Wishes x

[Chappychap]

Good for you, it's great to hear from people that are moving on with their lives.

Hope your recovery continues just as strongly in the future.

[Marie3811 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks a million much appreciated

[Janma123]

Hi Marie,

Well done, that’s great news. My hubby had a HA in 2007 and another followed by a quad bypass last April. We both found that reaching the first anniversary gives you a big boost and starts to consign it to the past!

[Marie3811 in reply to Janma123]

Hi Janma thanks for your message hope your hubby is done well and the year milestone feels good best wishes 💖

[Edsonmontibeller in reply to Janma123]

Hi, you ir you hubby now ?

[Janma123 in reply to Edsonmontibeller]

We are both doing ok thank you. Hubby is now 3 years past his OHS and it’s almost 3 years since his stroke. He’s now 72 and still able to drive a digger or tractor for a few hours if the mood takes him!! His balance isn’t good so he won’t walk far but ok otherwise.I find it hard sometimes, particularly over the last year as I would like to go for walks but he’s not able to.... but he’s still here and life rolls on!

[Edsonmontibeller in reply to Janma123]

It’s a pitty this decease exist. :/

[Hidden]

The blog is important for you and for others. I've done a lot of volunteer work at rehab here in Oz over the past 13 years and it has helped me make sense of what happened to me (now several surgeries) and I figure if I've only helped one other person it is worth while.

[Marie3811 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for a message and it’s great to hear what you have been doing to help others and yourself keep up the great work best wishes

[kizza67]

It's my 1 year since SCAD next month I hope you do a blog it would be great to read. Do you take much medication still and do you get any pain as I still seem to get a lot of pains in my chest??

[Marie3811 in reply to kizza67]

Hi Kizza thanks for your message and well done on achieving such a great milestone apart from the pains in your chest. I think you need to report this as a matter of priority to your doctor and cardiologist so they are fully aware and conducting the necessary scans and tests and providing you with medication if that is what is needed. I am still on Asprin, Clopidogrel and a stomach settler tablet. Are you still on medication? I will see my cardiologist in July and they may take me off clopidogrel but we shall see. If and when I get pains I always report this. I will keep you posted on the blog thanks it will be good to share. May I ask how your SCAD occurred? I know its spontaneous but for me it was really shocking and difficult for an original diagnosis best wishes Marie

[kizza67 in reply to Marie3811]

I was on lansoprozole aspirin Atorvastatin bisoprolol clopidogrel rampril and isosorbide mono nitrate but when I saw the scad consultant in Leicester in February she took me off everything apart from rampril and bisoprolol and she said I could could get pain for up to 2 years but I don't feel this often can be normal I think I will mention it to doctor my scad was completely out of the blue one night at work I felt really odd couldn't lift anything and arm was feeling odd so I went to A and E they did some bloods etc by the time the doctor came to see me I felt better I was so shocked when they said it was a HA as I am fit and healthy and only 52 I was taken on blue lights to papworth then had an angiogram that's when they said it was a scad it has been difficult to get my head round as they can't tell you why it happens as you know

[Marie3811 in reply to kizza67]

I was also on Tildiem there where so many!!! This reduced my blood pressure I believe but I’m not taking that one anymore. I think you need to defiantly go back and see her and book an appointment with your GP as a matter of priority to check all is ok. The same I was completely fit and healthy and I was 34 at the time so came as an absolute shocker, there is no real diagnosis as to why it occurs so the more of us providing info on symptoms hopefully this will help others know the learning signs and the cardiologists to find the reasons for so we can understand the warning signs best wishes and please keep me posted on how you Get on