Change of lifestyle

[Fulllife]

Six weeks on from HA whilst in Spain and having two stents fitted. Think I was in shock for a few weeks but now getting on with change of lifestyle - healthier eating, exercising more and beginning to feel so much better. Have lost a few pounds and delighted at being able to get into clothes which I have not worn for a few years. At 58, after initial shock, I just feel so glad to be alive and grateful that I have got another chance at life!

[Sunnie2day]

Thank-you for this - HA and stents are scary even for the bravest of us so reading a success story like yours is such a boost! I've not had either but there was some concern last year I would need at least stents and reading posts like yours others have posted made all the difference for me as I steeled myself for the possibility.

Are you still in Spain or are you back in the UK?

[Fulllife in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks Sunnie2day. Don't feel particularly brave but have accepted that this is how it is now and just glad to be alive and appreciating life. Back in UK now and so thankful for our wonderful NHS - was in isolation for 2 days whilst waiting for results of Covoid swab - they were wonderful. Take Care.

[Applezebra]

Same here. 6 weeks on from HA and two stent procedures. It was a little rough the first 4 weeks. I didn’t anticipate that the recovery would take so long. It often felt like my heart was doing “weird things” and I was hyper focused on it and every other feeling in my body. I did not have any stamina at first and got winded very easily. The last two weeks my stamina has been increasing and mentally I can see that I’ve improved a lot and will soon most likely be better off than before the HA. I still have the occasional “odd feeling” in my heart which causes some anxiety, but the frequency of those episodes is way less. It used to be all the time. Now it’s once every couple days. Eventually I bet that’ll go entirely away. Physical healing just takes time, and as the physical healing takes place, so does the mental healing.

[Fulllife in reply to Applezebra]

Same here. Was conscious of every feeling in my chest initially and definitely anxious but aware that have to overcome this. Thinking now that every day is a bonus and determined to make the most of things - and yes do have to adjust mentally - it's that shock of having to face your own mortality and really come to terms with it. Have started doing things I have not done for years - cycling (much quieter roads), and even a couple of early morning, very slow jogs. Have completely changed eating habits and hope I'm good for a few more years. Due to go back to work next week so will see how that goes. Take Care.

[Applezebra in reply to Fulllife]

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like we went through the exact same mental stuff and still working out some of it. It’s reassuring to hear I’m not the only one to experience all the anxiety. I broke down in tears almost every day for the first few weeks after, and that is not like me at all. I’m working out on a treadmill daily and that’s helping a lot with my confidence which was basically nonexistent when I first returned home from the hospital. I’m self employed and just started spending some time engaging with work outside my house again. Taking that slowly and it’s felt good to get my mind on something other than myself and how I feel every second.

[scotsrish in reply to Applezebra]

Same here emotions have been up and down since my HA and two stents April 3. I always hiked and ate mostly healthy but now i am not sure about anything. All this Covid stuff going on and it is hard to see or get back to a normal life. Plus all the meds they put you on might be to save your life but for someone like me who is quite chemically sensitive and barely ever takes even tylenol it is hell being on 6 very strong pills a day. I am grateful for this site for inspiration and much needed information. I am from Canada and was released from the hospital the day after surgery with my prescriptions and no follow up with a Cardiologist or Internist or any information. Only my GP by phone.

[Applezebra in reply to scotsrish]

Likewise to all that. I could have written your last post, word for word. The beta blocker I was prescribed gave me insomnia, which was affecting my whole mental state, so my doctor recommended I stop taking it. That did help the sleep but then I started having some heart “flutters” so he recommended I take half a pill as needed when the flutters hit me. I’ve done that, and it does help the flutters, but brings back the insomnia. It’s obviously a delicate balancing act that can only be figured out by trial and error because even though our bodies are all extremely similar, they are different enough that there unfortunately isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to medication. At least that’s my conclusion. This has all had to be done over the phone, typically waiting 3 or 4 days to get my turn to talk to him. Like you, I was released from the hospital without much of a clue about anything and felt really lost once I got home and the drugs totally wore off. I’d had a heart attack as well and was on morphine to help with the chest pain for about 12 hours, and then whatever drugs they gave me during the stent placement.

Are you starting to feel any better? When you compare how you are doing to the day you cane home from the hospital, do you notice improvement?

[scotsrish in reply to Applezebra]

Hi there to you too, you did not mention when you had the heart attack and stents. My surgery was without pain meds except the freezing in my arm and gravol during. It was very rough and painful and apparently that was mostly because my arteries were small and narrow. I am a small woman 5'3 and 116 lbs so what the heck did they expect? I had no pain meds that day or the day i left however morphine was my saving grace when i was hellicoptered in emergency and through the night awaiting surgery. I am just over 3 wks now and will finally talk to a cardiologist by phone in two days. I am on asa, bisoprolol, antoravastatin, ramipril, ticagrelor and tecta. The side effects are dizzy, stomach cramps, depression, anxious, palputations, trouble sleeping, sweating, trouble getting deep breath, lack of energy. I don't know which is causing what because they are all nasty BUT the intensity of the side effects is lessening and i am seeing a light in getting through this. I am taking more on around the house and pushing myself in a brisk walk for 45 min per day. I think it is best to keep the communication like this open and to push yourself a little further every week if anything just to fight back the fear of it all.

[Applezebra in reply to scotsrish]

I’ll send a longer reply later as I’m busy right now. Just wanted to tell you mine was 8 weeks ago. I had all the same side effects you are having, and still have a few. It really affected me mentally too. I was a wreck the first 4 weeks. But it gets better every day. You’ll notice improvements. There is light.

[Fulllife in reply to Applezebra]

Can relate to what youre5both saying. Think I was in shock for a couple of weeks and it does take time to adjust mentally. Was not comfortable with the amount of medication I now have to take or eith the thought of 'having something inside me which shouldn't be there'. Also anxious initially of something happening again and hypervigilant re any feeling in my chest. Have gradually built up exercise from short walks to longer walks/ short and slow jogs and taking advantage of the quiet roads to do some cycling. Eating much healthier and have dropped about 9 lbs - another 9lbs to go to be at ideal weight. Really believe now benefits of physical and mental adjustments beginning to pay off and just so thankful to have been given a second chance. Started back at work yesterday (NHS) and as with lots of people knowing I now have an underlying health problem and in late 50s more concerned about current situation than I once would have been but still here and taking one day at a time.

[scotsrish in reply to Fulllife]

Just over 3 wks and still in shock and nervous . It was 8 months ago was given stress test, blood etc. and was told by Internest nothing wrong with my heart and would live a long time. More than anything i will speak out for women as they do suffer from different side effects from heart problems. I among many am lucky to be alive after being sent home twice from ER with bad gerd. Most importantly is that i was symptomatic way before with fatigue, bad indegestion, crazy palputations, nausea, short of breath, sweating, etc. I am working on also trying to find my new normal and sorting through the good, the bad and the ugly in these meds i now have to take. Of course throw in the horrors of covid and having to constantly distance even from loved ones makes everything that much harder but we will one day brag about how strong we all were.

[Trog1]

I’m so with you on that. Last year at 58, after being told after hospital tests only six months earlier, I had ectopic beats and there was nothing wrong with my heart, I was rushed into hospital where they found I’d had an Nstemi HA due to a genetic disorder which I had no idea I had and had caused severe artery damage (which is why my heart hadn’t shown damage) and had to wait in hospital for over two weeks for an emergency triple heart bypass. Finding the hidden genetic disorder answered so many questions regarding early death of other close family members and also allowed NHS to find and treat a next generation family member who has it. Except for some shock anxiety and AF for which I am treated, I follow all advice, further improved my already healthy diet, have lost 2.5 stone and exercise daily. I feel so much fitter and it is so wonderful to be able to walk uphill, attend simple cardio sessions, exercise etc, without getting out of puff which is something that my undiagnosed condition had caused without my knowledge. I feel I have been given a new lease of life and intend to take of advantage of that. Despite at the time feeling it was “just my luck” I now realise just how lucky I am that we have such an amazing, supportive, patient and fabulous NHS and when I go and clap and shout for them every Thursday at 8.00pm I am also thanking them for what I already knew we had.