Anxiety & depression after heart attack.

[wolfie62]

Hi everyone, recovering from heart attack, had 1 stent fitted and all seems to be going ok. The biggest problem I have is my anxiety and stress + short term memory loss which just compounds the problem. Would be really helpful if any one else has been through this and can offer any words of advice. Its beginning to get both of us down.

[Neodog01]

When I had my HA it was a completely different experience from what I expected a HA to be like, obviously it hurt and was very scary, but the psychological side was completely unexpected, probably one of the best things I did during my recovery was cardiac rehab, not so much for the exercise program, but more to meet and talk to people in the same situation as myself, it’s kinder crazy, it’s like your part of one big club, surpport from your family also helps massively, but ultimately I think recovery comes down to one thing, time, every week that passes it gets easier, every month you will forgot a little bit more, hopefully in the end it will become a distant memory, but make sure you don’t completely forget because you need the experience to grow from, or it will more than likely happen again, and I nearly forgot this forum has been worth it’s weight in gold, it has helped me loads, when I’ve been in a dark place it’s been a ray of light, so thanks everyone

[IanMK]

You’ve had a big shock that has knocked you for six, so it’s quite normal to feel the way you do. You need to share your thoughts and concerns with people in a similar situation and this is exactly the right place to do so.

Now you’ve received the right treatment after what is, after all, a dangerous event, you are in a much safer place and you will continue to be monitored while it is considered that you are at any further risk. You will be on your GP’s ‘watch list’. Mention your memory loss concerns to your GP but are you sure it is not what we all experience as we age?

Above all, try to overcome your worry, anxiety and stress which provide you with no benefits but have a detrimental effect on both your mental and physical quality of life.

Best wishes

Ian

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

The psychological aftermath of a heart attack has, by some, been identified as post traumatic stress. For me it was the shock of facing my own mortality, and a total life adjustment to be made. You’ve had the mechanical treatment, clearing the blocked artery, but the mending takes much longer.

Also a large heart attack (I had three small ones) can reduce your heart capacity, so it takes time to work out what you can now do and can’t do.

Some people are very lucky (I read their posts here) and pick up where they left off, and quickly return to normal. Good on them!

Others (I was one of them) have to discover new ways of doing nearly everything. I’m much slower to start anything at all strenuous, I have to pace things really carefully, be extra careful when I carry things, walk up slopes, or it’s hot or cold, windy, humid etc etc. Rest most afternoons, and have taken up much less energetic interests.

I hope you are one of the lucky ones and you can get back to a fairly similar life, but if you’re not, there is still a good (new) life to be discovered.

[Harrison4 in reply to Kristin1812]

Sounds very much like all of us at rehab at mo

[KEN65]

I agree with most said here all I can add is some of the med's did compound the recovery for me but I understand it was necessary, and as said time is the healer and mine is 3 years on and feeling more confident but yes it is still in the back of my mind, also this site has been brill in helping me and close family to understand what and why I am going through, just be positive in moving forward and watch the moaning :-), good luck.

[dragonheart]

easy to say but true I was the same love it's so hard and the feeling hangs over you every day I saw my gp and was put on a tablet called sertraline the difference now is great but it's normal to feel like you do the body as had a shock and so as your mind it will get better truly

[FernCottage]

I felt exactly the same but it is now 5 months and each week feels better. Cardiac rehab has given me back my confidence and I accessed free counselling offered by the GP and cardiac rehab team locally which has also been helping. I am no longer in tears and I can talk about the heart attack without bursting into tears. My anxiety was so bad that I would not go out on my own in case something happened - I can now go out am going back to work next week. I still describe my mind as feeling like "mush" but that is improving too.

Give yourself time - it does get easier and take any support offered to you. Each week I realise that I think about it less and do more. You will get there.

[Qualipop]

IT's all been said; the worry that every ache and pain is another one,the shock, depression while accepting what' s happened. CArdiac rehab under supervision will do wonders for you; just knowing someone is checking that you are not overdoing things and what you are ding is safe. I'm almost a year post HA and still get anxiety at times and at other times bad depression but now only rarely.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I'm now a few days over 6 months post heart attack. What you're feeling is quite normal. I found the first few weeks terrible, the shock of what has happened and the fear that it will happen again just wouldn't go away. I think I woke up a few times every night worrying.

When I got to cardiac rehab I finally started to put it all in perspective. You meet loads of other people who have been through it and you realise that there is a future. The rehab team are amazing in helping you to regain your confidence.

If you can get to rehab do go, it will make such a difference. I know it's difficult but you need to try and not worry about it, worrying won't change anything and the stress is not good for your recovery. These feeling will day by day slowly recede. Best wishes

[isobelhannah18]

The anxiety, stress and low moods coupled with fatigue were completely unexpected after my H.A. and it seems like it's a long slow process to improve. However when I read a post like yours and look back over the last 8 months I realise that I'm much less anxious,my mood is better and I'm much more positive. Cardiac rehab. really helps. You will improve; your mood will lift and you will start to feel more positive. Don't be hesitant in asking for help from your G.P.

[sos007]

I did not have a heart attack.

I had a triple bypass in March 2015 followed by 2 angioplasty procedures that added 4 stents to my coronary arteries.

The first few months following the surgery and stent fittings were anxiety filled. After making major dietary and lifestyle changes, I lost 40 lbs to normalize my weight.

As this occurred, I weaned off of all the prescribed medications as my blood metrics normalized.

The surgery for a coronary bypass cuts through the sternum and chest muscles with a saw.

The recovery from this periodically results in unusual and phantom aches and pains in the chest area. It is difficult to know whether the pain is internal or in the muscle area of the chest.

The anxiety has mostly dissipated now, 4 years later, but I take a supplement called Lysine, 1,000 mg after each meal. This amino acid increases seratonin in the brain and helps to reduce, and possibly, eliminate the anxiety.

Having permanently changed my diet and lifestyle and confirming my health with a blood test every quarter, my anxiety is virtually gone and when I get the phantom pains in the chest, I no longer worry about it.

I exercise vigorously on a daily basis without incident. I worked up to this level slowly within 12 months of my medical procedures and have continued to expand my physical challenges to increase my capacity for exercise.

I'm a male age 57 now and am in the best shape of my life.

Nothing renews your vigor more than exercise and a healthy, nutritious, diet that avoids processed foods and all forms of sugar.

If you haven't already done so, commit to changing your diet and you'll never look back.

I encourage you to watch these videos:

youtu.be/olEMIohTgzQ(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/klnYh7SZRic(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/K3ksKkCOgTw(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/ZSpB-j5DL9E(Not working as expected?)

Good luck.

[Hidden]

I'm going thru cardiac rehab (as a prevention) and besides monitored exercise there are a few classes. One class is on STRESS. In the class just about everyone talked about they're level of stress, anxiety and or depression. It's pretty common to go thru this. The cardiac rehab class is great. I'm slowly building my strength and the exercise will turn into a routine. Can you access anything like this?

[Hidden]

Also keep track of your meds. Coreg gave me chest pain and depression. Talk you your doc or physician assistant A LOT. Don't let them "dismiss" you 💜💜💜

[BAGS17]

Quadruple CABG two years ago, necessity diagnosed prior so no HA. I undertook massive amounts of research before procedure and felt totally prepared, procedure was perfect, recovery post op could not have been better, only 4 days in hospital post op, community cardiac nurse and family could not have helped more. I'm a very organised, analytical and optimistic person so had planned every step with the help of cardiologist, surgical and post op team including physio's

However, nobody mentioned the psychological impact that can happen to some people and as a result I was totally unprepared for this. In my case it was not a result of coming to terms with mortality as I had addressed this as part of my pre op planning. I am unable even now to explain the tearful sessions that would suddenly occur and I am particularly unable to explain, what I now understand to be depression symptoms, at times actually feeling suicidal. I'm the first to admit to scepticism around psychological issues, I have always been in the 'pull yourself together and get on with it' school of thought so I struggled to come terms with what was happening to me.

However through cardiac rehab classes I met a cardiac nurse who specialised in mental health with whom I had some one to one sessions and was helped to put some context around my issues. This also introduced me to 'mindfulness' techniques which I found particularly helpful. Two years down the line and 100% recovered, leading a full, active and healthy life, I still use these techniques on occasions. Not every Health Authority offer this specialism so I was possibly fortunate, but I recommend that you explain symptoms to your cardiac rehab nurse, they will have come across them before and can guide you to the appropriate help.

Don't know whether my experience is of any help but I wish you well.

Good luck my friend

[Hidden]

Hi Wolfie. I can relate to what you've said. I had my HA with 3 stents 11 weeks ago. Since then my memory has been poor. Words, names, memories all fail me. My personality has also changed in many ways for the better. I now like music I hated before the HA. I have a serenity that I've never had.

I spoke to my gp about it. We have a 9 month waiting list for professional counselling... She did mention that it's possible with my having been dead for 2 minutes that my brain has been affected. I've also read studies that confirm the cerebral cortex can be affected.

All in all though, the changes are for the better.

If you want to have a chat, I don't mind letting you have my phone number, as it's a big thing all this 😊.

Keep smiling.