Hello I’m a heart attack survivor from May 2019. I woke up at 430 am feeling as though I had slept on my arm and felt unwell. Nothing major just felt yuk. I tossed and turned not getting comfortable and got up to go to the bathroom and was sick. (Thought it was a dodgy egg from dinner) couldn’t sleep. Had some chest tightness and as an asthmatic nothing as tight as an asthma attack. My inhaler didn’t relieve the tightness. But it did ease. Around 830am I called my gp surgery to get an urgent asthma nurse appointment as my inhaler wasn’t relieving my symptoms. The receptionist asked me if I had any further symptoms and when I mentioned my arm she suggested I got myself to a and e. Not feeling well enough to drive I phoned for a taxi but as it was school time they quoted about an hour. Plan B was asking one of my neighbours to drive me to our general hospital in Colchester. On arrival it was packed with sick people. They whisked me straight in and rigged me up to an ecg. I was having a heart attack and apparently this had been going on since 430. Onto a wheely chair and into resus rigged up to another ecg, introduced to lots of staff and had gtn and aspirin. The consultant arrived and was talking to me while liaising with our local cardiothoracic centre in Basildon. They performed an echocardiogram which showed the blocked artery. The decision was made that I would be transported. My sweet neighbour had hovered while I was being treated-at this stage she was the only one who knew what was happening (work thought I had a chest infection or asthma problem). Loaded onto an ambulance and blue lighted to our local ctc at Basildon. I made the decision to let my family know once the procedure had been carried out. All done in theatre and up on a ward at 2pm! As my phone didn’t work I had to use the system over the bed you have in hospital - my daughters didn’t recognise the number so didn’t answer. Called work and then my soon to be son in law. He told the girls and they all came within an hour or so. They told my husband who is working away and my parents who were on holiday. Tears and hugs all round. Lots of medication. The bisoproprol initially upset my system with visual disturbances, dizziness and asthmatic tightness to the chest. I’ve reintroduced it, having discussed with my gp, taking it at night to no further problems. Discharged after 5 days and further echocardiogram which shows 40% output.
Have seen the cardiac nurse in the last week who made a lot of sense, noticed my cough - changed the ramipril! I start my rehab next week with a 6 minute walking test. Had to confess to her I had been walking for more than that already to get my tablets from the pharmacy. Am looking forward to the rehab and starting to normalise my life I do feel tired and need to rest, my job as a primary teacher will have to take a back seat for now as I recover. I’ve learned to nap and have used the “calm” app on my phone to ensure I learn how to relax and use my mindfulness to support my recovery
It’s a long process which now it’s started will no doubt snowball!
Best wishes to all, my dip into this forum has been so supportive already and I’m only 5 weeks post HA.
Hospital update 
Vaccine induced myocarditis 
Third angiogram in 8 weeks and another stent!
Nausea 
No pain 
