Struggling with coming to terms with having a heart attack.

[CYHSY]

Hi, four and a half years after having a heart attack i have had a medical examination i have been told i have depression and anxiety, im now taking medication for this and would like any advice on how to cope . Thanks.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi CYSY

You are not alone, many of us whatever our heart condition do from time to time also live with anxiety and depression.

I am sorry you are feeling this way at the moment.

Have you spoken to your GP about what help is available to you such as counselling ?

MIND maybe able to help guide you to access the care that will suit you best.

mind.org.uk/

The BHF website has some information too.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Also perhaps talk to one of the Cardiac nurses on the BHF Helpline.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[CYHSY in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you Milkfairy for your very welcome advice.

[Khonkaen]

I have no idea of your situation so forgive me if I am barking up the wrong tree. I get depressed when I think about my condition, "why me? and all that nonesense" so I get on a do something.

At the moment I am into research relating to my illness, specifically diet. When I get back to Thailand in a few months I have a whole bunch of people who need my help and that is incredibly rewarding. Now I don't think I am a great person, a philanthropist for doing this, I do for self gratification, it makes me feel good and my problems disapear in an eyeblink.

I teach poor kids English who would otherwise never learn, I fix things for people, help my wife's big family. My wife is a Buddhist and there is a lot to learn for that phylosophy, note it is not a religion.

"The devil makes mischief in idle minds." Okay I changed it a little, but get busy living.

My father saw many of his pals killed in WW2, so he lived another 60 years on "borrowed time" as he put it. You have had 4 1/2 years, with many decades more to come.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

Hi Khonkaen

It is great to see your positive hopeful optimistic outlook to your new life following your heart attack.

However clinical depression is a serious illness that needs to be treated appropriately by sometimes medication or counselling with a Clinical psychologist or Psychiatrist.

The BHF's recent survey showed that many people with heart and circulatory problems need emotional and psychological support to help them with their feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety.

bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-...

[Khonkaen in reply to Milkfairy]

In the past doctors have been far too quick in pushing pills, my mother was on valium for 10+ years along with half the country, until bells started ringing.

The first approach should never be pills pills, always a last resort and my answer is a non damaging option with big rewards, as opposed to side effects. Not for everyone I grant you, but everyone should try and it works for millions around the world.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

I agree pills should not be the first resort.

The link I sent originally discusses several stratergies to treat depression, Mindfulness meditation, exercise, group sessions and counselling as well as medication.

Mindfulness meditation is recommended by NICE guidelines as it has been found the be an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

However Clinical depression needs treating appropriately.

It is a medical emergency too when someone has thoughts and the intention to harm themselves.

A person may feel they do not want to take an antidepressant because of a sense of shame brought about by the judgement of others about their depression and how it should be treated.

[Khonkaen in reply to Milkfairy]

We are all offering alternatives. That was my 2 penneth.

[CYHSY in reply to Milkfairy]

My step daughter has just borrowed me the "Mindfulness" book so i'm going to give it a read and see if it helps, i have never tried meditation but am open to anything that may help my situation.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to CYHSY]

I hope it helps and you feel more at ease soon.

[Tj1960]

Hi. I’m in similar situation. I had heart attack which has put my life totally on hold. It was nearly 18 months ago now. Have been told by 2 cardiac consultants that I will never recover and I need to change my life style. It is hard to take in. I was a truck driver and I’ve lost that license so no longer able to do the job I’ve loved for 40years. I am now unable to just about anything energetic,even cardio rehab. I’m now sat at home on all the benefits that you can get and just been told I am entitled to a blue badge.

I look back and I wished that they hadn’t resuscitated me because I have no life,BUT, I have a lovely and caring wife and 2 very different and fantastic wonderful sons whom I adore.

Sorry for going on a bit,but they are what keeps me going.

Huge hugs for you.

[Gazza01 in reply to Tj1960]

Walk walk walk.

[Tj1960 in reply to Gazza01]

I don’t think you know how badly effected I am. I cannot go for walks as I just collapse due to very low blood pressure and abnormal heart reading which tend to lead to an admission to hospital.

I have just been awarded the max mobility on pip,which I might add, my cardiac team filled out. I am not proud to be on benefits in any way shape or form. I would absolutely love to be fit and able work again and support my family.

[Lezzers in reply to Tj1960]

It's not easy for you Tj1960. I'm so glad you have your lovely wife and fantastic sons to support you and I'm sure they're more than happy that you were revived. My husband was also resusitated and now amongst other things he has mild cognitive issues due to the lack of oxygen. He does brain training with puzzles etc, would something like that help you to keep occupied?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I feel a bit like an outsider looking in as I was just happy to be alive and free from angina and breathlessness post bypass.

Whilst a degree of depression is common post a cardiac event I sometimes think that other events are the trigger apart from the actual event. This could be job, money, realising you are mortal, etc. Someone I know got very depressed after a family loss and could not get over it. After a year they were referred to a "talking therapy" and are now making progress. It appears the depression was not directly related to the loss, sad though it was, but it triggered repressed memories of decades ago. Things often are not simple!

[Gazza01]

Hi. Presuming you can get the OK from your GP to exercise. That will be a good way out of your depressive state. If you feel physically strong then your mind will follow. Start by walking. Increase the length of time and briskness of your pace over the weeks and months until you can pretty much March a good couple of miles. You'll be covered in sweat and feel good. The walking will burn off that adrenaline that comes with anxiety.Will get your weight down a little and give you a total boost with better blood flow and lower blood pressure and for each month you exercise your heart rate drops by one point. I had emergency open heart surgery two years ago after collapsing in the street with a blocked aortic valve. I now have a cow valve keeping me alive.

Afterwards I could not walk for more than a few yards and after a few months I started to have panic attacks which turned out to be from the trauma. So I had the talking therapies etc which helped me get it all out and I had a good cry. But it was exercise that really made the difference. Now I exercise every day outdoors on dry days and indoors I have a treadmill in the bedroom I get on there and do high interval training. basically fast walking with jogging in between for 30 mins. Then 15 mins of yoga stretches and breathing. Put a little music in your ears and enjoy. It will change your life. After a while you won't be happy unless you do a little exercise. It's very addictive. And will stand you in good stead for the future. I have to have heart surgery again in another 8 years or so and I'm determined to be in the best state I can be when the time comes.

Have a look at this if you want to see what's possible. Ok sir Ranulph is a genuine super human but the only difference is his will and determination which knows no bounds. HEART ATTACK IS NO BAR TO RUNNING 7 MARATHONS IN 7 DAYS

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It might not be a feat which would interest the world’s fastest marathon runners, Paul Tergat or Paula Radcliffe but it is still worth recording and admiring the tenacity of British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes who ran the New York Marathon on Sunday, completing his historic challenge of running seven marathons in a week.

Fiennes, who had double-bypass surgery just four months ago following a heart attack, finished the 41.5 kilometre (26 mile) course in just over five hours, 25 minutes.

The adventurer ran each of the seven races with his friend and medical adviser Michael Stroud, 49.

The duo also completed marathons in Sydney, Singapore, Chile, Faulkland Islands, London and Egypt before taking on the New York race, the only organized marathon of their quest.

They ran the marathons over six continents, missing a chance to slog through Antarctica because of bad weather.

The 59-year-old Fiennes said his biggest test was marathon number 4 in Singapore because of the tropical climate. With temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit),

Fiennes barely finished and afterwards said he was "pretty stupid" to take up such a dare so soon after undergoing a double-heart bypass operation.

But ultimately he wasn't going to let a near fatal heart attack derail his plans to run seven races in seven days. He is nevertheless promoting his latest adventure, dubbed

Landrover 7x7x7 Challenge, as an inspiration to fellow sufferers of heart ailments, intending the marathons to raise money for research on heart disease.

Fiennes was the first explorer to complete a tour of the world on foot and then sailed between the two poles in 1982 before crossing Antarctica on foot with Stroud in 1993.

Apart from the 293 kilometres (183 miles) of pavement pounding, Fiennes clocked around 72,000 kilometres (45,000 miles) in air travel to complete his marathon challenge.

Agencies

[CYHSY in reply to Gazza01]

Wow, started on the rowing machine, a little on the treadmill listening to great music. i feel good. I need to stick to this.

[Gazza01 in reply to CYHSY]

My friend it's the way to go as long as you have the ok from the GP. There's no adrenaline in a tired body. Don't over do it. You've got all the time in the world to build it up. You should try some pranayama breathing too. It's yoga breathing. Like being stoned. But legal and great for anxiety. Check out YouTube for something like pranayama for anxiety. Go at your own pace and build from there. And maybe do some light yoga stretches for beginners before and after your workout. Will only take 5 mins each end but will loosen you up so you dont pull too many muscles. Good luck. Fit body. Fit mind.

STAY STRONG

[CYHSY]

Thank you so much Gazza01 for the advice .