Hi everyone. My name is Ben and I’m 37 and suffered a heart attack on Saturday. I had an emergency angioplasty and was released from hospital on Monday.
With the lockdown currently in place I am not sure when I will be able to get follow up GP appointments or Attending a cardiac rehab programme.
I was just looking to get other people’s perspectives and previous experiences on when exercising could start and returning to work etc.
I understand that everyone’s recovery is unique but it would just be nice to get some views from other people.
Thank you
Ben
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ben_morris
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Take your time is the most important thing, at the moment just chill as best you can.
As far as Rehab is concerned, that might not happen in person considering what the World is going through , yet I'm sure you will have a follow up via the phone.
Try to be positive within yourself, llok at the way you can adjust your life style.
Smoking stop if you do, vaping stop.
Exercise is good for the head and ♥, not yet get clearence from your Nurse.
I'm speaking from my experience, Heart Attack, stent fitted last year.
Do what I did I hot a tattoo, it's how I dealt with things, I even taken up Art.
Thanks for your reply Easyrider1 that is very helpful.
I am just worried at the moment about over doing things. I know rest is the most important thing but I feel I can do more at the moment and don’t want any future problems from rushing things.
I have tried to start my lifestyle changes. I have stopped smoking and am making a conscious effort to eat healthier than I was. I would just like to get back to exercise as soon as possible as the stopping of smoking also has me worried about potential weight gain
These are just the sort of conversations I need to have at the moment to get some perspective of what to expect and the dos and Dont’s on the recovery process.
I thought that things may be a bit more difficult or delayed due to the lockdown as you have said so I thought this community would be a good place to try for some further information. All experiences and recommendations are greatly received.
Ben did you get the BHF booklets when discharged. I received a number of books along with a note outlining that an appointment with cardio specialist would be sent out and that the cardio rehab team would contact me. Also got a weekly exercise form. Started the day after I was discharged. Also depends on you and your fitness. Would rest for a few days and let things settle. Hopefully in that time the rehab team will have been in touch.
I did get the BHF booklets and have read through them. I did get told that I would be contacted by the rehab team and a specialist but I was told that this may be delayed due to the current situation so I just wanted to make sure i do anything i can to help with the recovery process in the mean time. As you suggest I think I Will use this first week for resting and start off with small walks and walking up and downstairs as also stated in the booklets.
Also I am having problems with sleep and waking up in the early hours of the morning as your posts
They do ring a bell to be honest. I have got the dissolvable aspirin and also the bisoprol. Thanks very much for all of your advice and conversation. It has helped me a lot.
Firstly, bad luck, you are unfortunate to have suffered this so young, as did I some 20 years ago. I am 55 now, and I am pretty fit and healthy (as I have always been), and I am proof that you can survive this, both mentally and physically.
I changed my life after it happened, I decided to try to reduce the stress in my life, be a better person, enjoy the simpler things in life and so on.
In fact I will tell anybody that listens that this 'wake up call' was a good thing to happen in my life when it did, because my life improved afterwards.
It has taken many years to not think about my condition everyday and worry. But things will improve if you gently but diligently work at it. Do live as healthily as you can...... as far as exercise is concerned, do whatever ever you feel you can, bit by bit. And never miss taking your medication.
Thank you for your reply, it is nice to know success stories on the recovery process.
I am starting to try and think that this could be a positive moment in my life as, although I have always tried to keep up with physical exercise, my lifestyle wasn’t the healthiest with smoking and unhealthy eating. I feel so much better already for not smoking and I find myself thinking more about what I am eating and I am incorporating a lot more fruit and veg into my diet.
I am just unsure of how much exercise I should do in this early part of the recovery process but I understand I will get a better idea once I have been contacted by my GP/ cardio rehab team
Good to hear from you..... bin smoking, eat healthy..... exercise.... take it very easy at first.... this is a marathon not a sprint, you have many good years ahead of you!
Hi Ben, I had my HA (stemi LAD) at 50 despite being very fit etc. The specialist said it could have been very serious if I hadn't got to hospital so quickly (Luckily I went straight to A&E with what I though was indigestion to avoid the one to two hour wait for an ambulance!) At first I was surprised at how much it had impacted my fitness and was worried that the damage to my heart would leave me much weaker. Now 8 weeks later I'm cycling 7 miles every other day comfortably along with a 2 mile walk every day and mostly back to normal. if someone told me I had a heart attack two months ago and suffered heart damage I wouldn't believe them. The only down side in the recovery for me has been the lack of any proper cardio rehab due to coronavirus.
I’m glad to hear you are on the road to recovery and that you have managed to get exercising as quick as that.
I know it’s best to take things slow etc but at the moment it’s just a worry in the back of my head of how much can be done and there’s always concern that overdoing it would bring on another attack.
When were you contacted by the rehab team and did they give you exercises to do at home as an alternative to attending?
Hi Ben, glad to hear your angioplasty went well. I had a heart attack at 35 and was also stented. I was sent to cardiac rehab and in the nicest possible way I was laughed at because of my age and the fact I was running 5k every other day.
You don't plan for these things and everyone's health, fitness is different. I took things slowly at first...walks mainly, stopped smoking and ate well. I'm turning 40 next month and I've never felt fitter. It's not a race and your body will let you know when to up a gear. All the best for the future x
Hi Merrick55 thank you for your reply. Hearing from past experiences such as yours are very reassuring. I want to use this as a positive moment in my life where this has been my warning to make the lifestyle changes needed just like yourself.
I was 44 when I had a heart attack and stent fitted nearly a year ago.
I recognise the desire to bounce back. Take it gently, your body will tell you when you need to rest, it will take a while to adjust and learn (in my experience) including adjusting to the meds.
Lots of support out there, BHF, this forum, Pumping Marvellous charity on FB (closed page).
It was over the weeks and months that I noticed the progress, learnt how the meds could make me feel etc.
I was walking the dog in a couple of weeks, back at work in a month, building up. Exercise following rehab at the gym. Life is different but good, I take it easier, less hectic but still have a full life.
I have found BHF and this forum very good for the start of my rehab and its helped so much hearing about stories and past experiences of other people.
I am now able to walk up the stairs again without stopping which I value as an achievement.
My work, although not physically strenuous, could get stressful at times and I plan to have a different outlook on my job from now on as there are more important things in life.
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