Feeling abandoned

[Sparky2020]

I had a heart attack on 20th march just as the covid 19 epidemic blew up. I was in hospital for 5 days but didn't need a stent. I was discharged as having an nstemi and sent home with a big bag of pills and a wave. Now I know everything was in a state of flux and noone really knew what was happening with covid 19 but I don't know what I am supposed to be doing. Should I rest or should I exercise. I feel totally abandoned and when I look things up every opinion is different. I feel really low as I don't know why it happened, I don't drink, smoke, dont have diabetes, my bmi is 28 and I am really scared that it is going to happen again. I don't want to waste my gp's time as I am not ill.

Additional feedback: thank you all for your comments. The overwhelming feeling that I am getting is that the past few months must be one of the worst times to have a heart attack. We all seem to be in the same boat. I will be calling the cardiac nurses tomorrow and I hope it will clear up a few of my queries and alleviate my anxieties. I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply to me. Thank you and stay safe xx

[Flitchick]

Hi sparky! I had an NSTEMI in December but even with the extra three months ’ “care” I still feel I’m now abandoned. I was told to take gentle exercise for a few weeks (short walks, building up the time I was out) and then started rehab, which I only got for two weeks before lockdown. As far as exercise goes, you could try the BHF’s YouTube rehab exercises at home. Level one has a “supported” option available and it’s very gentle but stretching enough that you feel you’ve done yourself some good at the end. I also understand that you can ring the BHF nurses if you have a query.

Hope that helps

[Sparky2020 in reply to Flitchick]

Thanks very much, that does help.

[Sparky2020]

Thank you so much for your reply, it was very reassuring. I will ring tomorrow and have a chat with the cardiac nurses. Sorry to hear about your eye, I hope it recovers soon, without any scaring.

[shaunyw]

I know what you mean, unless your life is under immediate threat NHS health care is non existent right now. I had a heart attack (STEMI LAD) a month ago (Previously very fit with no risk factors) and bar the BHF leaflet and the friendly wave I have no idea what I should or shouldn't be doing. On the plus side rehab ARE arranging a telephone appointment for me in the next few weeks and gave me a few pointers to tide me over. In the meantime i'm cycling/walking a few miles a day and eating whatever. I guess only time will tell if this is the right thing to do or not.

[Harrison4]

Oh bless you phone the surgery they can talk to you over the phone, make sure you take your meds very important

But if they do affect you same thing call your GP

[Chickenlou]

My fiancé had x3 CABG 11 weeks ago (literally just as the 1st cases of Covid 19 occurred in U.K.)

He was “lucky” to have the surgery before all the restrictions etc, but like you feels abandoned since.

He had complications after the surgery but is yet to have his 6 week post op check up (which has been postponed indefinitely at the moment.)

He has also had all of the cardiac rehab program cancelled and although was emailed some exercises from the cardiac team doesn’t really know exactly what he can do and when.

He feels completely abandoned and I know he is scared that he hasn’t had the reassurance of a post op check up, we also understand tho the reasons for all of this and realise it just the way it has to be at the moment.

I hope you continue to feel ok, if I was you I would call your gp or the bhf nurses for advice as even with everything going on gps are still seeing and speaking to patients.

[russino1]

Its an odd time for many of us, who recently had a HA.

My own experience is that i ensure i have the correct medication and continue to take them.

diet wise : cut out saturated fats and eat a better / balanced diet. make some easy better choices / swaps (ie use benecol rather than butter and eat more fruit and swap in whole meal rice for potato’s etc.) also have cut back on alcohol.

i’ll still have some ‘bad’ food (home made chips / biscuits / sweets) we’ve got to let our hair down now and again 😂

exercise . slow and steady. main thing is that you don’t get massively out of breath. you should be able to hold a conversation as you exercise. may be odd moments where you work harder (walk up a hill) but general rule of thumb is to work at a level where you are comfortable

then slowly build this up over a course of weeks and months.

i’d recommend you call your local hospital and speak to the cardio rehab team. i didn’t wait for them. i contacted them. ask them for a phone appointment. they can recommend lots of things and send you out literature.

good luck

[DiscoDarth]

Hi Sparky, feeling exactly the same had a STEMI heart attack on 1st March, had a proper doom and gloom send off from the hospital and been left since. Had a phone app with cardio rehab - which was lovely but they didn’t have my scan or MRI scan results - so don’t know what I’m siting on. Have tried the build it up slowly - but seems even time I try something a bit adventurous like walk around the block I’m done in for two days. Some days I feel full of energy other days like I’ve run a marathon. Now waiting until May for a phone consultation which should have been six week check this week. Taking some comfort knowing it’s not just me - but still feel like I’m stuck here not having a clue and all I’ve got is a book about heart attacks.

[scotsrish in reply to DiscoDarth]

So many of us are in the same boat my heart attack and two stents was two months ago. What i went through was horrible especially having to be alone because of covid. Once home i thought i need to get out hiking right away but boy was i wrong. I was so weak and short of breath that barely made a block then back home. Now if i push myself i do regret it and it puts me back. I am doing some stretches and between 7000 and 12000 steps a day. Good days and bad days but i am lucky i have a wonderful spouse and this site.

[purpleswimmer]

Hey. Yes use your cardio nurse for advice. I had heart failure in January and had managed one appointment with cardio nurse and one with consultant registrar before everything went off piste. Cancelled appointment with cardio rehab but phone call consultation. I had a setback two weeks ago and really bothered with nausea/belching but have phoned cardio nurse and gp and tbf cant fault the responses. We are currently playing about with meds and timings of when taken to try and alleviate sickness.

Good luck.xx