Hi everyone im 36 and yesterday I duffered a heart attack. Has anyone else had this at this or similar ages?
I feel like Ive landed on a treadmill of doom i cant stop and all i have done today is break down in tears i feel pathetic lost and useless😢 sitting in hospital as i write this with a room full of all the people i love and i feel completey alone😢 every niggle or cough i think its happening again. Has anyone got any advice please tia
It’s understandable that you feel that way- it’s a big thing to go through. My brother had a heart attack at 36. He had stents and made lifestyle changes and 9 years later is still here to tell the tale. Be strong, follow the advice and know there is a life to live post any heart problem.
My Gran had a HA in her thirties but was not found in time. You have been fortunate and, with good care, a long life awaits you.
Oh Dave , so sorry to hear what has happened. It is absolutely awful and whilst I’m slightly older, mine was out of the blue with no significant problems prior. I also spent my first day in tears.
If you read through the posts on this forum you will begin to see that this reaction is not uncommon and there is life post heart attack. Keep yourself occupied/amused reading through the posts. Most of us have a keen sense of humour as it is not all doom and gloom.
Most of all don’t be afraid to share how you are feeling with your family and friends. As well as telling the nursing staff/doctors how you are feeling.
Plus we are here for you too ! 🙂
I had a heart attack about 4 months ago at 39, so I know exactly what you feel like, it’s been by far the hardest event I’ve ever had to deal with in my life, for me the first few weeks weren’t that bad, telling friends and family about my experience, as though I was talking about somebody else, but then reality started to sink in and I realized how lucky/unlucky I’d been, lucky I’m still here, unlucky to be a heart attack survivor at 39, I really didn’t see that one coming, then I started to think if I’d had a HA at 39 and there was damage to my heart, then how the hell was I going to get another 30 years out of it, I thought maybe I could scrape another 10, but that means I wouldn’t even make 50, in this day and age in my opinion that’s way to young to be kicking the bucket, I was guttered, couldn’t sleep because of anxiety, couldn’t concentrate, the only slight bit of happiness for me was reading posts on this forum, hearing about people fighting the same battle as myself, a battle that no one can understand unless it’s happened to them, during this time I was still having tests, a stress echo, a hoilter moniter, then waiting 6-8 wks to finially have a cardiac mri, so the cardiologist could see what damage was done to my heart, I was in a dark, dark place, but then a neighbor of mine who we’d known for 20 years, who’d been suffering/living with cancer, was told she didn’t have a lot of time left, I’d seen lot of her over the last few years, she was lovely, but one thing that I’ll always remember about her was the way she faced the end, she never moaned, never felt sorry for herself, you’d see her out and about still appreciating the little things in life, always smiling, she was a very strong, courageous woman until the day she died, leaving behind a 7 year old daughter, sue was only 47, so as I was just about to start writing my last will and testament, feeling really sorry for myself, my misses said, she didn’t think that if I was going to go out I’d be going out like this, a blubbering emotional wreak, how are your kids going to remember you, how am I going to remember you, scared out of your mind, not half the person that sue was across the road, she took it on the chin, no complaints and with dignity, well that kind of registered with me for the first time, I thought that with lifestyle changes I’ve still got a chance, sue never did, for 39 years I’ve been a strong husband/father, I’d worked hard, my family and friends have always respected me, so why wreck it at the end and go out weak and afraid, so I pulled myself together, stopped sleeping in my clothes, basically I man’d up and decided to go out on my shield, I went to the doctor, explained to him I was struggling and was prescribed ptsd medication, I started walking again to get the heart pumping, made myself think only positive thoughts, pushing out the negative ones before they started to grow, and like I’ve said before time is the ultimate healer, day by day it got easier, I started doing cardiac rehab, now nearly 5 months later I’m feeling a lot better, it will get easier, just take your time, and use all the help available to you, the best of luck to you my friend👍🏻
It is a much better reaction to be emotional. It's bottling up your fears and anxieties that cause the problem. The heart is a series of muscles. Muscles get strained and damaged and your body accomodates while you heal. My husband had heart attack years ago and tbey said tests showed he'd had one before ( he didn't know) but his heart had developed lots of small blood vessels to cover for the artery that was blocked. He is 75 now.
Give yourself time to assimilate the news. When you are feeling better get on The BHF website and learn all you can. Every so often give yourself a day off from saying "fine thank you" and maybe if you don't have a mate to talk to, or even if you do write down how you feel. When you look back at your" diary" you'll see what is normal for you and how you are getting stronger. Good luck
Thankyou everyone I woke up at 6am this morning bp check lol and I feel my perspective has to change Im alive . Im gonna live and im gonna take it and run with it.... well il trot first I will keep coming back here thankyou all
Morning Dave. Glad you feel brighter this morning. My husbands heart attack came out of the blue and though he has coped well I haven’t especially at the beginning. He walks 4 miles plus and goes to cardio therapy stage 4 x 2 weekly. Once you are able please give it a go as I know it made a big difference to him. Keep fighting and wishing you well.
I can see my wife struggling also she is in total shock. I get it its threw our lives upside down for the moment. We were supossed to fly out on holiday on the 21 july probably wont happen but im gonna aim for it as part of my recovery and hopefully my wife will see we can get back to normal and enjoy life x
Did you have stents fitted. We had to wait six weeks after his last procedure to stent more blockages before we could get insurance, as company we were with would no longer honour our policy. Speak to cardio team in hospital re your holiday.
Good for you Dave!
You’ve had a shock - but you’re still the same person! Listen to the medics, take your time to process it all, make a plan and mark your progress. Involve your nearest and dearest and don’t keep it all to yourself.
Yes, you’re very young for this to happen but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your life back again.
All the best to you and your family.
Good for you Dave. You’ll have bad days and good. You’ll get there.
Hi Dave, I’m a fellow Geordie Dave 👍🏼. I’m 48, STEMI 9 weeks ago and coming to the end of my phase 3 cardio rehab! For the first 6 weeks post HA, I went through every emotion known to man! I would be lying if I said I was over it and my mental state was perfect as I do still have my down days but they are less and less. This site is great, peoples stories inspire me to tonlook forward and not back! I believe the lifestyle changes I am in the process of making will allow me to hit my government pensionable age (though that keeps changing) at least, and I want to watch my son and daughter marry and make a succes of their lives, I know they will! I’ve stopped looking back as much now and try to concentrate on looking forward! I was morbidly obese now I’m just obese but will soon only be overweight, I done no excercise ever I’m running about 3km 3 x a week, targeting a park run in a few weeks and doing rehab in between twice per week! I’m enjoying my life again, which is the most important thing! This HA malarkey flips your world and don’t be feeling your emotional state is wrong, it never is, but you can change it by concentrating on your future! You’ve had your warning shot fired, as long as you act upon it you should be fine 😁👍🏼!
Dave
Good on you mate im currently waiting to be transfered to the Freeman for angiogram. But on the plus side my echo came back today and heart mucles and valves are all good no damage so im over the moon about that. I know the next few weeks are gonna be riddled with anxiety and fear at every move but im just gonna run with it. I think i will ask for some support from my rehab nurse to help keep me motivated and on track . We will all make it im sure. So pleased i found this page.
Hi Dave. You are still in shock. Your emotions are on a rollercoaster so it’s scary. As others have said it’s a process that we go through not very pleasant but you will come through it. Embrace rehab. Work at lifestyle changes. Don’t hide your emotions and ask for help if it gets too much. Eventually the good days will outweigh the bad days. Also hold onto the fact that the Freeman is one of the best cardiology centres in the country and globally. I fought to be transferred back here after having a HA whilst on holiday in this country. The team there is amazing. Also immediately post HA when I had chest pains that I couldn’t work out whether it was happening again I was seen both at the RVI and Gateshead. Both cardiology and A&E teams were outstanding even when it turned out to be muscular!! So we have excellent support here in the Northeast. Stay positive and focus on your recovery. Be kind to yourself. Take care. Zena
You know Dave it is a hell of a shock, once you have your meds that support the heart you will start to feel better, at this stage in hospital I could barely walk 10 steps or take a shower mine was 14 weeks ago, but chatting to people on the ward, when home taking it easy after stent fitted, then going to cardiac rehab which has definitely helped in building up my strength ( Drs also found I have an over active thyroid) weekend before last supporting my son in the Swansea half marathon, I did my own personal little marathon and by the end of the day had walked over 9000 steps, a few days rest followed recharging my batteries but confidence is growing 🤗
Dave.
I completely understand where you are coming from with you thoughts and feelings about this.
I am 54 and now 11 weeks past HA.
I've been through all the emotions that you can go through with something like this and let's be honest, who wouldn't.
When you think that this had been an assault on the biggest and most important organ in your whole body, and its an awful feeling.
Trust me when I say that your darker moments are, unfortunately, not over with. I know that sounds extremely negative, but you just need to be aware that you have to be able to get things right in your own head about what has happened. And, you now have to get used to the fact that you are, for a good while, going to be analysing every little thing that is happening with your heart. You will experience little pains and niggles in your chest, and possibly even palpitations and arrhythmias at times.
You have the cardio rehab to go through, and for your first few weeks you will feel exhausted.
Your body will also have to get used to the large amount of medications that you are going to have to take for the rest of your life. Some will suit you straight away, others, you will have to have altered, so that they work better for you.
But, and this is a massive but, you will start to feel better. It's going to take time. Make that time work for you in the most positive way that you can for you.
Whenever a little complication arises talk to someone. Share you thoughts and emotions with them. And when it becomes necessary, keep going to your doctors. Make a noise and be heard. Talk to your cardiac rehab nurse, daily if you need to.
But, stay strong. Know that you are alive and be thankful for it. There is always someone that is in a much worse situation than you. Be patient and kind to yourself.
The tunnel that we travel in is long and dark. I'm in it with you. But there is that light at the end of it and it will, I promise, get bigger and brighter.
Stay strong my friend and I wish you all the very best that I can for a full recovery and much happier times.
Hello and welcome to the forum! Lots of good advice from others so nothing really to add.
I have though posted before about a school friend's mother but with the flow of posts and replies it is hard to find. Over forty years ago she suffered a heart attack. In hospital she was also diagnosed Type II diabetic. However, she is still around, and quite active and with it for someone in their early/mid nineties. She only gave up dancing a few years ago but still meets friends for afternoon tea. Over the years she has needed medication tweaked as the body gets less able to cope with the breakdown products in old age. Otherwise she just follows the guidelines and enjoys life!
It's funny we all think it won't happen to us but at 36 I can imagine it's such a shock. But you have survived. Time to move on. Listen to what they tell you. Take the pills. Change whatever they think is the cause.
We all feel that every twinge or niggle will be the next one. Keep your spray close at hand.
Do all in your power to never let it happen again.
If you get depressed ask for counselling. It's not a thing for losers it's for us when we can't see the forest for the trees and you mind is not coping. It was best thing I ever did.
You have been given a second chance grab it and go head long into it. And good luck.
And remember to take pride in your own achievements when you get to the point that you realise you are a far stronger human being than you ever gave yourself credit for before.
*you are not alone - what you feel is normal*
Dave.. with you mate.. we all are.. time to learn some new stuff.. take the rough with the smooth .. use this place to say what you feel even if it’s bad.. take time.. try not to punish yourself.. it’s very easy to do.
We are still here .. some times you may wish you wasn’t I think that’s also normal .. the brain deals with things in weird ways..
Share here.. don’t bottle it up
I was a little older at 41 but know how you feel about life being over.... I had 2 stents and 6 pills a day and thought that would be me. Luckily I had the chance to go to rehab, that saved me 
they showed me I can push myself and helped with lifestyle changes ie smoking eating rubbish etc. The fear of having another attack with pass with time, I got took up a&e twice but it was nothing both times and the dr never moaned and told to keep popping in if I thought was happening again. Now I understand more how things feel in my chest, i never gave it a 2nd thought before my attack.. Don’t think too long term at the moment, just try and go with the flow and let the drs do their stuff. Hopefully you get offered rehab 👍🏻
sorry to hear this dave my best wishes (just diagnosed with hf)
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