Life with angina

[Sunday20]

Is it all doom and gloom with this type of angina or is there some light and the end of the tunnel newly diagnosed

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Sunday20

It is challenging however I have learned a great deal about what is truly important in life.

I have learned to manage my angina as best I can.

I would recommend attending a Pain management programme to help you.

I get on trains and travel away by myself.

I get on planes and fly away on holiday.

It has been a bumpy journey at times but I have also had some amazing life affirming care too.

[Sunday20 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks had a bad day today and although im trying to stay positive slowly watching my old life dissapear and entering a scary new one.How do you manage to stay positive your very inspiring

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sunday20]

The Portuguese have a saying

Saudade

It's sort of means a wistful longing for your former life and grieving for the future you thought you were going to have.

This is something that many of us faced with a long term condition have to come to terms with.

Life is different but it doesn't mean with time that you will find joy.

I have bad days too. This time of year is really tough dark days and cold I just want to and do stay in bed!

The great thing about the forum is there are loads of people who will share their positivity with you too.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hi Sunday20! A great reply by Milkfairy. When I think of the past and think of things I can no longer do (e.g. cross country running, ride a motorcycle, etc.) I recall the late great Johnny Cash song "September When It Comes"! I will cut and paste one verse:

Of those who wait for me.

I cannot move a mountain now

I can no longer run.

I cannot be who I was then

In a way, I never was

Yes, we all have memories but we cannot live in them but have to live in the present. Yes these short days can get people down especially a day like Friday when daylight barely arrived, it did not stop raining and everywhere was gridlocked. I am convi ced half the food and half the tat people buy will be landfill by twelfth night. But then today was bright and sunny and not too cold. I also found a near deserted cafe to enjoy an Americano as it got dark and the lights started twinkling!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

September When It Comes :

youtu.be/gPSwF_Lm0ss(Not working as expected?)

Technology will never catch on. It says Video Unavailable but if you then click image on left you will hear the song. Crazy?

[benjijen]

You can't live in the past. Do you have children/grandchildren? Enjoy them. Friends? Meet up with them. Take advice to deal with the angina and live life. To be honest I found retirement this year far more of an emotional problem than my unstable angina (and osteo and inflammatory arthritis and underactive thyroid). When I begin to feel sorry for myself I just think about my nephew who died at the age of 15 of osteosarcoma. It soon puts me back on track.

[Sunnie2day]

To refresh my memory, I had a quick look at your profile - glad I did! You joined last week (18th Dec) and on your 'bio' section you note you '...had a heart attack three weeks ago...' and have also been diagnosed with angina.

I've not had a heart attack. I have other, multiple heart conditions including 'angina' - they're still trying to work out which type (there are several).

Ok, right, you very recently had a heart attack and have been told you have angina - WHAMMO, that's a lot to take in especially in these very early days! It is normal to have feelings of 'doom and gloom' but the good news is:

1 - you survived your heart attack

2 - angina can usually be managed, 'stable' (aka pectoris) can be very easily managed, the other types are a bit tricky. But to answer your OP question, angina does mostly have a light at the end of the tunnel - but it takes time to be fully investigated and during the investigation it can seem horribly dark in that tunnel.

Some questions:

Have you been told you have a certain type of angina, stable/pectoris, unstable, microvascular, vasospastic? Or is your cardiac team still investigating to determine the type?

Are you on any medications (usually a beta blocker and GTN spray or tablets, and sometimes statins as well)?

If you are on meds, do they seem to be working?