Overwhelmed

[Vonnie233]

Hi I live in France,on Monday I had what I thought was indigestion turns out to be heart attack..I am totally overwhelmed by what's happening,I am scheduled for angiogram on Friday, I feel terrified at the moment, trying not to stress but so much is happening

[Gail1967]

It’s absolutely normal to feel overwhelmed. You just have to put your faith in the professionals. Having been through what I thought was indigestion from eating chocolate I went on to having an angiogram. If it wasn’t for this “little episode” I wouldn’t have known there was a bigger thing waiting to happen. I am so grateful that a little fizz allowed my heart to be fixed- rather than having a major trauma to get to this point. Good luck with the angiogram and whatever the outcome know that you will be looked after.

[shopman]

Hi Vonnie233

I can understand where you are coming from particularly if you are going to have to undergo these procedures in a foreign country & different health service. The good thing is that even in France this should be a fairly common procedure carried out quite regularly every day.

I assume if you live in France then you understand the language quite well. Give a thought to asking if you can see the procedure as it happens - it can be quite fascinating and before you know it all over.

There are 2 different preferred entry points - through the groin or through one of your wrists. You will feel very little while it happens and dependent on which entry point is used will decide on what happens after. If through the wrist then a pressure cuff which may feel very tight but the pressure is gradually reduced over a few hours. If through the groin then you usually have to lie flat on your back and unable to move for a few hours - makes it awkward if you need to pee.

Ask anything you like as there are lots of us here who have had this procedure - some including myself on multiple occasions. Good luck and keep us up to speed on progress.

[Lezzers]

Just a quick post to say the French health system for heart conditions is 2nd to none. You will be well looked after there. Please try not to stress too much

[Nomorechocolate23]

Hi !

I know it's a shock . It's perfectly normal to feel like that . I think it's because it's because it's so unexpected . I also found out that I had a heart attack and didn't know that I had one . So I know what you're going through.

The main thing is that the doctors have discovered it and are treating you accordingly . An angiogram is a routine procedure. It doesn't normally hurt at all. Sometimes they offer sedation if one is anxious but I don't know the procedure in France. I'm sure it will all be fine .

You are entittled to worry as it is a shock but try not to . Think of yourself as lucky as it has been caught in time. Try to do things that relax you. If you are lucky enough to have a close friend , talk to them as well as going on this Forum.

Take care !

[Maisie2014]

Bonjour Vonnie233. Il va bien en France. Bonne chance.

Don’t worry you’ll be fine love. Good luck.

[Vonnie233]

Thankyou

[sos007]

Anxiety is often caused from a feeling of not being able to control your situation.

Your health is a function of dietary and lifestyle choices.

Sugar and refined carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, bread and potatoes are major contributors to heart disease. Start by cutting those things out.

Get a Mediterranean Diet Cookbook and focus on legume and vegetable recipes. Salmon and other cold water fish should also be consumed 2-3 times per week.

Walking daily for at least 20 minutes and working your way up gradually to 60 minutes will also help.

Ask the doctors if they can relieve the situation with stents instead of bypass surgery.

If you want to avoid medical interventions you must make a commitment to reform your diet and lifestyle. I had bypass surgery in 2015 with 4 stents following the surgery. I reformed my diet and lifestyle and have since stopped taking meds and lost 40 lbs. Now I'm in perfect health.

Good luck.

[helixhelix in reply to sos007]

I have lived a healthy lifestyle for many, many years. Great diet, daily exercise, proper sleep, no smoking, good BMI, low cholesterol, fine BP, etc, etc, etc. Sadly it’s not as simple as that. Health is influenced by diet and lifestyle, but you can’t avoid or cure everything that way. So I don’t dump guilt on myself or others.

[sos007 in reply to helixhelix]

Are you and Vonnie233 the same person?

[helixhelix in reply to sos007]

No.

[sos007 in reply to helixhelix]

So why are you replying to me?

[helixhelix in reply to sos007]

Err...this is a forum. Anyone can reply to anyone. That’s part of the point of a forum.

[sos007 in reply to helixhelix]

Okay then, here are the facts - 70-85% of human diseases are dietary and lifestyle related.

"This indicates that fractions of cases attributable to genetics plus shared exposures tend to be modest, with three fourths of the phenotypes having PAFs lessthan 25%."

Source: researchgate.net/publicatio...

So while you can't cure everything with diet and lifestyle, good health BEGINS with dietary and lifestyle choices. Especially heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other metabolic diseases:

"A general conclusion is that reducing identified, modifiable dietary and lifestyle risk factors could prevent most cases of CAD, stroke, diabetes, and many cancers among high-income populations (Willett 2002). These findings are profoundly important, because they indicate that these diseases are not inevitable consequences of a modern society. Furthermore, low rates of these diseases can be attained without drugs or expensive medical facilities, an outcome that is not surprising, because their rates have historically been extremely low in developing countries with few medical facilities. However, preventing these diseases will require changes in behaviors related to smoking, physical activity, and diet; investments in education, food policies, and urban physical infrastructure are needed to support and encourage these changes."

Source: nap.edu/read/1365/chapter/5#58

The purpose of this forum is to help educate those asking questions about how they may help themselves, not to molly-coddle them.

This isn't about dumping guilt on anyone, it is about education. It is also about taking responsibility. Until people start taking responsibility for their health and begin with improving their dietary and lifestyle choices, they will not give themselves the chance of resolving or mitigating their medical conditions.

[helixhelix in reply to sos007]

Sure, education is important, but you made big assumptions about Vonnie233. It seems she has been a life long vegetarian and is fit and healthy? Did you ask any questions first before you started opining?

I am a strong advocate for lifestyle changes and self management of one's health. But personally I don't find one-sided lectures are helpful. There was a great, positive post just before this one from DGJ33R talking about his recovery and lifestyle changes. I found it motivating and encouraging, and made the point in a really helpful way.

[sos007 in reply to helixhelix]

Vonnie233 can advocate for herself. Being a vegetarian does not necessarily equate to being healthy. Did you ask any questions about me or did you simply find this an opportunity to admonish those who are more frank in their responses?

Nonetheless, this is why I only respond to questions posed and don't interfere in other people's interactions. I don't have time for all this - I am trying to share my personal experience with overcoming heart disease - if that offends some people's sensibilities than so be it.

[helixhelix]

I’m also in France, and off to have an angiogram shortly. No actual heart attack, but various symptoms. And scintigraphie showed potential problems, so off to the cath lab I go.

Yes I had a few moments of fright, but am feeling ok about it now. And hugely comforted by the fact that the healthcare here is good. I hope your angiogram went really well, that they identified the problem and fixed it and you are already at home recovering. I like my cardiologist, and when he told me and it was obvious that I was freaking out he said “don't worry” in English but with his thick french accent which just made me laugh. So I’m hanging on to that.

[Vonnie233 in reply to helixhelix]

Hi I had to have two stents fitted,it's still all scarey but trying to stay calm

[helixhelix in reply to Vonnie233]

Well at least that’s over now, so you can concentrate on getting back in form. Generally health wise I am more confident being here in France than the UK. Much tho’ I loved the NHS it does seem to be suffering.

[sos007]

Agreed. The medical community is still dispensing dietary advice that is flawed.

John Yudkin identified sugar and simple carbohydrates as the cause of coronary artery disease 50 years ago, but was ridiculed by the more marketing savvy Ancel Keys and was dismissed as a quack.

Article of interest:

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...