Advice

[Mac_meister]

Hi had a heart attack 2 weeks ago and had a stent fitted but finding it difficult to cope mentally,getting panic attacks worrying etc foned doctors they wasnt interested...Got my 1st cardiac rehabilitation on 23rd den..................

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Mac_meister. As others have said in this forum - welcome to the club you never wanted to join. I had my heart attack and stent 3 years ago. It’s rough at the start but it does get better. I’ve lost a few pounds, eat better and exercise more and I honestly feel better than I did before the HA. It’s a real roller-coaster at the start as you get to grips with what’s happened and your body gets used to the meds. If you find you’re struggling mentally then do ask your doctor or the nurses at your cardio rehab and they can refer you. They reckon that 1 in 8 heart attack survivors suffer from PTSD so it’s important you talk to someone if you feel overwhelmed. Cardio rehab is brilliant and you’ll find it really helpful.

Good luck with it all. This is a great forum for asking any questions you might have and hopefully it will put your mind at rest while you wait for cardio rehab. It does get better.

[Mac_meister]

Thanks just finding it hard to adjust mentally,doctors not interested as shit doctors anyway lol,I had 2 heart attacks in 15 minutes at home but fort it was a trapped nerve during to a shoulder injury at work.Had a stent fitted to the back of my heart now on so many pills spray etc my job is stressful home life can be stressful as well..cant talk about it at home as feel like ive became a burden,and they dont understand I'm having panic attacks anxiety etc

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Mac_meister]

Have you tried giving the cardio nurses at the hospital a call or you can call the BHF nurses (details below). Sounds like you’re on the right meds and the Doctors won’t be interested while you’re under the cardiologist. Try deep breathing and relaxation. But do give someone a call tomorrow.

‘The Heart Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The number to call is 0300 330 3311.

You can also email us at [e-mail]’

[Yasyass in reply to Mac_meister]

Please try not to worry makes it worse I had heart attack abroad and didn’t know this forum or had any cardio help for three years was living ok then came Uk had echogram find out have ef 30-35 which I too have terrible anxiety attacks but I kp try to myself others in the forum have gone thru worse and still don’t give up so plz try not to panic even thou it’s hard

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Mac_meister

Welcome to the club

I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest exactly 11 months ago - 28/12/18, One stent fitted.

I found the first few months the hardest to cope with, battered and bruised after CPR, finding it difficult to cope with all the medicines and most of all struggling to come to terms mentally with it all.

I've re-evaluated everything in my life, given up smoking, hardly drink, changed diet, lost weight and got a lot fitter with exercise. If someone had told me last December where I'd be now I'd have laughed at them (or at least I'd try - ribs in too much pain after CPR).

If you're struggling mentally, talk to the nurses in cardio rehab, they should be able to point you in the direction of some help.

Do try and talk to your family, there's a common scenario where they don't talk about what happened to you in case you get upset, and you don't talk to them as you don't want to burden them with your problems/worries. It will be tearful and it will harrowing but please talk, the stiff under lip doesn't work in this set of circumstances

It really does get better, it just takes a number of small steps, one at a time. Best wishes for the future

[Yasyass]

U were one of lucky ones I have never smoked nor drank kept eat healthy walked most places and really did not expect to have a heart attack as bp and everything normal. So anxiety was a problem and shock and now because I have 30-35ef but feel fine but the fear is still in me but do try to live happily and glad found this forum

[Yasyass]

It’s easy say don’t panic but u will but I honest know how u feel try taking the panic out and thinking how u have a second chance in live and u r one of the lucky ones and live every day happy and u beat the anxiety not let it beat us

[Nathan53]

Hi Mac_meister - Hang in there it's early days for you I remember feeling battered and shocked when I had my heart attack and things do usually get better. Until you start attending your rehab try and find ways to relax. Deep breathing techniques can really help to stave off feelings of panic.

I have attached some links which may help to reassure you that the way you are feeling is not unusual as scary as it might sometimes feel and if you browse some of the posts here you can find encouragement from reading about other people's journey. As other have said repost with any further questions. verywellmind.com/abdominal-... healthtalk.org/peoples-expe...

[Ader42]

Hi Mac, I had my HA about a week before you. I had 3 stents in one artery, the LAD! My first rehab appointment is 4 days after yours. So you’re winning there

You don’t state your age, I’m 51. Earlier this year I was regularly rowing 12k in one sitting, walking 8 miles or cycling 12 miles, was eating healthy etc. So I’m trying to find out what might have happened, to cause the plaque that ruptured. is it genetic etc.

A week after my discharge I rang the doc to try and arrange a discussion, they said they’d get the doc to ring me but instead the doctors assistant rang me to tell me the doc would ring me 3 days later at 7.30 am. I got up early but the doc never rang.

A week later I get a call saying a nurse wanted to speak to me about my discharge, that’s tmrw.

On top of that the docs wouldn’t have arranged my 2 week blood test that the hospital said on the letter to the gp that I needed if I hadn’t read the gp discharge letter and made them give me an appointment at the right time. It was also a real fight to get all my meds in time for when the hospital discharge meds ran out.

It seems all gps want to do is prescribe statins and forget about us, so we have to inform ourselves I’m afraid. I think the research I’m doing is helping me psychologically to ensure I do everything I can, as I want to see my son grow up get married and have my grandkids.

Stay strong, I know of someone who had a stent fitted at around my age, and he’s 96 now and still with us.

[benjijen]

When you begin rehab you will find many feel as you do, but you will be with like-minded people who understand. There will also be nurses you can speak to. I found the best bit was to carry on with Stage 4 rehab as it's more relaxed. I've been doing that for two and half years now, some have been going for 20+ years! Some of us also go to a cafe after class so we all have time to discuss our problems (as well as putting the world to rights!!) Well worth to keep going to stage 4. Good luck.

[Khonkaen]

I had my HA and stents fitted 8 months ago and it does get better, the worry was a surprise to me, but I kept looking at the paperwork. If it says you are okay them be assured you are ok. There will be panic attacks and you should have some anxiety/sleeping tablets for those times which work very well.

What you need to do is read up and work out a diet that suits you and gives you peace of mind. Try to cut ALL processed foods out of your life. Buy good quality ingredients and eat either raw or cook them well yourself. Avoid deep frying, indeed keep oil intake to a minimum and make that oil, EV olive oil.

If you get to understand that your heart is fixed and that your diet will keep it that way, it will reduce anxiety and that is good for your heart in itself.

It goes without saying no smoking and moderate your alcohol consumption, if you are overweight your new diet change should help all on it's own, so instead of hard dieting if it makes you unhappy, but get plenty of exercise.

Finally my cardio has no bedside skills at all, completely useless, the nurses have those skills and your rehab should sort you out and have you well in no time.

Golden Rule:- Be kind to yourself.

Many of us have been there and are fine and dandy, but it takes a little time. Bonne Chance

[Surreychica_1]

Have you got time to do some guided mindfulness. There are some great ones on Youtube which have definetely helped me. I do it for 10 minutes a day mostly in the evening before I go to bed but it doesnt really matter which time you do it also there is one for stress which lasts for 5 minutes. youtube.com/watch?v=PpeJkCd...(Not working as expected?) youtube.com/watch?v=L1QOh-n...(Not working as expected?) These have helped me a great deal. So sorry you are so worried. When I first started to take Bisoprolol my pulse was often 48 but that has changed and now it is 55 or so. You need a slow heart beat after a HA. I took mine at night at first because they can make you a bit dizzy, however now I have got used to them I take them in the morning.

I totally agree though, it is awful with the doctors. I didnt have one conversation with any of the tree I saw, they took no the slightest notice when I tried to explain new symptoms or asked questions.

Try not to worry.

[daveofpensby]

I think all of us you have had heart attack where in exactly the same position,scared panicking at times I certainly know I was, but once you get on the rehab programme and talking to people you will steadily build up your confidence and things will settle down, just take it easy one step at a time you’ll get there good luck

[Purplemaze]

I’m lost in all of this. I can’t figure on what’s normal an what isn’t. I’m 2 weeks out after heart attack an one stent in place. I still have chest an shoulder pain so they did another heart catheter 2 days ago an told me everything looks good. But with continuous chest pain I still worry.

[Hidden]

My father was the same wich is the reason his anxiety started..he was always worried about being left alone, the fact he had a stroke and had a stent freaked him out more like it was the end of joy on his end..this was about 3 or 4 years ago. Now hes doin better but suffers greatly with insomnia.....