Heart attack

[Debee28]

Hi, im 47 yrs old and last week suffered a heart attack. Totally in shock still but after angiograme and stent, I am now home with no damage to my heart. Just wondering if there is anyone else same ish age or how people cope afterwards.

[banana1982]

Hi, My Husband had a HA at 41, 3 stents and lasting damage to his heart. He spent 8 days in hospital, the first few weeks were awful, he felt like it was the end of his life as he knew it. Nearly 5 months on and things get easier and easier we do park run each week and he walks 4 miles a day Monday to Friday.

I'm not saying it's all wonderful but it does get better slowly and your confidence will grow again.

Take any offer of help and look at cardio rehab that really helped my Husband.

Some days will be better than others so don't put too much pressure on your self and really take time to look after yourself, if you have a partner keep talking to them as we worry too.

Take care

[shopman]

There is life after the event. I had my first HA aged 44 years, since then I have had a quad bypass and 3 procedures for stents. Last year I drew my State Pension and have been able to enjoy my grandchildren in the intervening years. First HA happened at 5-30am Xmas Day 1997 and the joke still runs through the family as to whether I will be around each year.

[COYW]

Brilliant that you have no damage. You can now go forward very positively. With excellent nutrition, exercise and some drugs 😀 you should have a great future.

[NorthantsSteve]

I had the same nearly 3 years ago age 55. It was a real shock to me too but but now feel better than ever. It took a while to feel OK but I’ve lost a few pounds, eat better and exercise more. Do join Cardio Rehab when you get the chance and stay in touch with this forum. If you’re anything like me there’ll be some bad days in the early stages. And there’s lots of us that have been there. Good luck.

[fedupoffeelingtired]

Hi Debee28 I'm 47 and was taken into hospital on 28/8 after a heart attack. After lots of different tests I had an angiogram and one stent and a small amount of damage to my heart and was discharged yesterday with the biggest bag of meds I have ever had. I feel such a mix of emotions I am struggling to accept what has happened. A nurse from cardio support called me today, I think I need her help so much. One thing I'm sure of, I never ever want to repeat the last few days ever again.

[Calliope153 in reply to fedupoffeelingtired]

It will improve. The bag of meds semi floored me - I had never taken much more than an aspirin once a year for years. It is such a shock when the HA happens out of the blue. Do the rehab, do the exercise and change your diet. There will be down days but it is a slow and gradual improvement. The biggest lesson I learnt was don;t push yourself too hard at first - I did and it put me back in bed each time for a couple of days as I was so exhausted and nauseated. The tiredness does lift after a time. We're all different so recover at different rates. Not wishing to repeat what happened is what keeps me doing the daily exercise - it's a great motivator. Like you I had one stent and a small amount of damage to my heart. I am now on 4 pills a day and feel much better - my HA was eighteen months ago. Find something you enjoy and provides some escapism - I read and have read over 300 novels (a lot of murder mysteries which rather worries my partner, Kindle Daily deal better than buying a newspaper) but for some people it is boxed sets or music. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[fedupoffeelingtired in reply to Calliope153]

Thank you Calliope153. Realising that the way I feel at the moment is normal has been a relief. I admit yesterday I cried my eyes out, mainly to get it out of my system. This morning I was awake by 6 made myself a cuppa and sat in the garden. Listing to the birds and the world waking up. I thought I'm not ready to go yet, I'm going to get thru this. This is going to be the first day of the rest of my life. X

[MumaLines in reply to fedupoffeelingtired]

A Big Hello Debee from another fellow Hearty ❤️ During and after the event you will be feeling so scared and alone even when others are around you. They have performed a miracle for you and given you a stent to keep the artery open and let your blood flow through. No damage to your ❤️, fantastic so you open your eyes every morning and say to yourself I feel frightened, tired in head, body & soul but I’m alive to sit in the garden and listen to the rest of the world wake up. Your here another day the same as all of us “Hearties”, ok. We too know the feelings you are going through so talking to others and watching them at Cardio Rehab is so good. When you finish there you will have a need to talk to others so stay on here for a start.

I had a pain in between my shoulders and had no idea I was having a HA until the pain was unbearable. Rushed to Basildon Cardio Therasic Centre and was so shocked and frightened. They kept me stable for another week and when I was strong enough had a Quadruple Bypass. Everyday after I thought I was still going to die and was so scared even with a huge Med Team and family by me. There is a lot more after that but my point is you will have extra meds to assist your heart and body. You have life and soon you will start to feel better than ever.

I look at my scars every morning and remind myself that they performed a miracle and I’m still here to love my darlings around me, lost some weight and feel a cool chic at 59 so LIVE YOUR LIFE now, stop stressing and do what makes you happy 💕MumaLines💕Jane in Colchester x

[Mitchman100]

Hi, I was 47 when I had a heart attack, 7 years ago, also with a stent. It is a shock and makes you reassess everything. I found the physical recovery vital so please take any cardio rehab on offer, I've been doing it nearly 7 years now and am fitter than I was before. Look it's not easy , I'm not going to lie but it will pay off , and you will adjust to the medication .

Best of luck

[Foxtrot07]

Hello Debee28. I'm 49 and suffered an ha in January. Mine too was out of the blue. I also had a stent put in. To say I was shocked is an understatement.

It took time for the meds to settle and to be honest I still don't think I've got my head round it. I've just been signed off by the cardio team, but am still doing the rehab fitness classes, which I thought was a great help.

I've since found out I've got a double compound fracture in my back, which I don't even know how I did or how long it has been there, but I'm back in work on light duties which is a good thing. My advice is to not dwell on it, go out with friends for a walk or coffee and speak to someone if you need to. Pity I didn't take my own advice at the start 😂😂. Feel free to message me any time

[Kazzie68]

Hi Debee, I had a heart attack in April 2017 aged 48. I too felt somewhat overwhelmed to start with and petrified it would happen again. Fortunately, that early panic faded as I completed the cardio rehab sessions and had good results from a nuclear scan. If I'm honest, the anxiety still sneaks up on me now and then but overall I'm feeling really positive about the future and just thankful I'm still here! Take care and make sure you take up any offer of support offered by your hospital - be it cardio rehab, cholesterol clinic, psychology dept, see it as a support network to help you x

[Phil_London]

Debee,

As you can see from the responses, your far from alone and we are all here as cardio support for each other, it's a really good and supportive site, I read it some days just for peace of mind that it's not just me who is going through a variety of symptoms.

As your reading from most posts, time is the healer, following experts advise and Cardio Rehab as so many have said is a must, to excersise under supervision brings great comfort in a room of people who have been through the same with a variety of ages.

You are going to find good days and bad, some days you get scared, your chest feels strange, you think your breathing strange, why did that walk tire you more one day more than another and so on, the bad days get fewer, the good days increase and get better but it will take time, feel confident that technology and the NHS are now excellent and really care, if you have an issue be it physical post stent or mental, they are a great support. I am three months post An NSTEMI HA, like you fortunately no heart damage, I'm 52, back to work racing from meeting to meeting faster than colleagues, last Saturday I finally restarted the 5K park run, slower as a start but I did it, it gets better.

One last final point is that you will notice every ache, twitch, pain and cramp in your chest, it's how your brain works after your HA, it's rare that it is another HA and it the words of the advise I was given, you will know it if it is another HA, but you will be unable to help yourself worrying, I went back in 3 times in the first two weeks as I had pains, but all came back negative, just the worry in the early days, and even now 3 months on I still feel my body and pains and think oh no!! but it is mostly the medication and your body settling in with the stent , physically and mentally.

One best comment made to me by a doctor when I asked how much can I do as things settled for me was that, the plumbing is fixed, the stent is going nowhere, it will not move, do as much as you feel you can and thus, I'm lighter, faster, fitter, run and cycle, life will for you go back to normal and you can enjoy, but it takes time, the first month will be hard work for you but be reassured, it gets better. Take care and write if you need as often as you need for answers and peace of mind.

[Debee28 in reply to Phil_London]

Thank you so much for your reply, just to hear that I'm normal is such a relief. I have found the replies so honest and comforting.

[Vanclomp]

Hi I’m 74 glad to hear your on the mend. My problem is very recent and trying to get the right medication is a question even the doctor said what do you think! He didn’t seem know. Anyway we both came up with an idea and now having 3 blood tests. Best wishes.

[Hidden]

As everyone has said there is a huge amount of hope. You are lucky that your heart is OK, so now you can go forward and make the most of your second chance, which to me, is very much about lifestyle changes. Most people are guilty regarding eating the wrong things, or too much, and not doing enough exercise or letting life in general become too stressful. Your plumbing has been fixed, now it is up to you to make the most of that, and to make sure you do everything you can to try and make sure you don't get any more blocked pipes. There is controversy about what exactly causes the problem, be it cholesterol or the wrong carbs or whatever, so all you can do is get your diet as clean and healthy as possible - most people have been guilty of eating too much and also the wrong things (become a veggy!!). And lastly, I would urge you to research the drugs you have been given and question if they are all necessary, as I believe we are just given a "blanket" prescription and that some of them might not be suitable or necessary depending on your lifestyle and exercise levels - remember the NHS does not really have the resource to treat us on a subjective level, like others on here I am now down to just asprin and a statin from the 7 or so initial meds. Good luck!!

[Qualipop]

Same here, older than you but sudden HA completely out of the blue. 3 blockages, two stents. Apart frometh shock,the first week I felt wonderful but then the side effects of tablets kicked in. Do be prepared for that and if you feel bad, see your GP to get the culprit changed. It's very common and there are alternatives (and you won't be on all of them forever. Do expect bruising from the ticagrelor. You will soon be offered cardiac rehab. Do take it. It does wonders for your confidence and fitness; change your diet. The BHF website has advice and stop smoking if you do. You've had the warning and survived it. Make the changes and enjoy the rest of your life.

[Khonkaen]

After a heart attack the is always damage to the heart, but the faster action is taken the better. I am older than you, but had mine only 4km for a heart hospital, where they wisked me in and treated me. So I assume damage was minimal. I was unable to get any aftercare, which I think is essential, so make sure you get in there and understand what is likely to happen. To me "information is power" So 5 months in I am still climbing the learning curve,

I spoke to a cardiac nurse yesterday on the phone, the most useful conversation to date and she said timescales vary a lot, she assured me that in less than 6 month the body is still adapting. Diet and fitness are crucial to speed recovery, avoid further treatment and many have told me the first year is the worst.

However, you are young and damage to your heart is low and you may go through this problem free and I hope that is the case, The main thing is that you will make it and it you dont smoke or drink too much and especially eat a healthy diet....plus exercise you will live to a grumpy old man....or hopefully a greatful one.

[Hidden]

I was 54 and it came out of the blue 5 months ago. Shock part lasts about 3 months. Enjoy life,. With myself it's been one of the best things that has happened to me.

[Scout2017]

Hi Debee - I'm 49, I had a HA (leading to a cardiac arrest at home) in February and now have a couple of stents. Like you I was lucky and had minimal damage to the heart muscle. I've found this group incredibly helpful. 7 months on I've lost a lot of weight, made some lifestyle changes, changed my role at work to reduce stress etc. I generally feel great, but I still get residual pain from cracked ribs and soft tissue damage around my sternum - especially if I've done some high impact exercise (trampolining on Sunday wasn't a great idea) which lasts a couple of days and which worries me sometimes in the middle of the night. You'll get lots of advice on here, nearly of it good though don't forget we're mostly amateurs. I would add what a particularly fantastic cardiac nurse (thank you Pat) told me as I was discharged from Ashford - you were really lucky, they've fixed the plumbing, go back and live your life.

[Ianc2]

low cholesterol is not necessarily a good thing - it's the amount of added sugar, hidden sugar and the carbs that you eat that clog up your arteries. There is a lot of disagreement about low fat /high carbs and high/fat/low carb diets at the moment. Stopping your arteries from clogging up again is the name of the game and there is plenty of conflicting evidence to wade through.

[daveofpensby]

Hi Debee

I was 44 when I had heart attack 25 yrs ago (didn’t have stents then)

I was off work for 3 months couldn’t drive for 6 weeks

Same as you I was in shock go to the rehab course in due course that helped me tremendously, I found I lost my confidence and scared to do things, but slowly you’ll start gaining your confidence and you’ll be back to your old self

Good luck

[Harbourside]

Hello Debee, I was 44 when I had a heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest at the end of January this year; I've had one stent implanted and slight damage to my heart. I used to take around 10 pills a day to begin with and am now down to 5. I know how difficult the first few weeks are but please remember, this is temporary, you WILL start to feel better. Whilst I expect you too will feel nervous about starting cardio rehab, it is very much worthwhile (and remember, a cardiac nurse is always in attendance, so as well as providing reassurance, you can ask any questions that arise). I'm a good 20 years younger than my 'classmates' but have made some great friends and have a laugh (which is also important!). I'm now continuing cardiac classes with a local heart support group. I wish you a swift recovery.

[SLondon]

I had my HA in January, 45, I was the youngest on the ward by 20yrs and the only woman. I had a couple of stents fitted. 8 months on and I sometimes forget I even had a heart attack. It wasn’t like that to start with. Rehab was my saviour, and I highly recommend it. My main on going symptom is tiredness. It’s improved a lot since Jan but I still get tired if I’ve been working hard or out. Take your recovery at the speed you feel comfortable at. I put back going back to work a couple of weeks as I started to panic that I couldn’t cope. Work were great and those extra weeks made a big difference in my confidence.

[Ianc2]

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[GillianCr]

Hi, I am 49 and had a heart attack two weeks ago. Angioplasty repaired blocked artery. Feeling shocked, exhausted and a bit lost- not knowing what's ahead. I've been out walking but still feel lightheaded and constantly tired. Hoping to find people in similar situations to share with and support.

[Debee28 in reply to GillianCr]

Hi Gillian

I'm 6 weeks post HA and am waiting for another stent. Walking daily but get very tired doing simple things.

I have good days and bad days when I have no energy and trying to get my head around what's happened.

Your doing well if you are walking already.

Debee

[tortoiseowner]

Hi, I was 47 last year when I too had a heart attack. It is a shock and I have found getting support for our age group very hard. Due to work I don't get time and struggle to get fitter. It is a struggle but slowly you will feel more normal. It takes time and an understanding family, although being asked if I am OK everytime I look tired can be a bit wearing! Just try to slowly return to your normal rhythm and routines, but try to remember what you were told regarding your recovery and stopping it happen again