Anxios

[BulleyJude]

Recently come home after having a stent. Feel very anxious at night and hard to relax and sleep. Does everyone feel like this.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi welcome to the club.

Yes, what you're experiencing is completely normal.

I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest 16 months ago, one stent fitted. The first 2 months I was all over the place, anxious all the time, but especially at night, couldn't get to sleep, afraid to go to sleep, couldn't stay asleep! Completely preoccupied with what had happened and unable to concentrate on anything. It just takes some time, and as regards how long, we're all different, to process what happened and then carry on, but it really does get better. Best wishes for your recovery.

[Rose54]

Give yourself time those feelings do get better as time goes on

[Rbrealey]

Welcome to our club

This is completely normal, we’ve all experienced anxiety in some form, it’s quite a big thing to process. Everyone finds their own coping mechanism, for me it was distraction. As soon as I felt anxious I would go for a walk. This not only calmed me down but showed my over active subconscious that I was fixed as I could exercise and not get heart pain. I wouldn’t leave the house without my GTN spray for about a year though! Now I forget to take it with me.

You will get there x

[Andyman]

Yes we all feel that. It over 8 years for me now but I still get bouts of anxiety. I use Mindfulness to help control my anxiety and at the beginning sort a counsellor to help me deal with this change in me. I had 8 session and it really helped. Don't be afraid to ask for help if it get too much.

[Changeling43]

I can’t speak for everyone but I have certainly suffered with anxiety at every single twinge I feel. I had some really good advice on here but also, speaking to my GP over the phone has helped. I have been doing all the rehab programmes and find that when I exercise it felt very good and any pains were gone. If you can exercise with no pain then you are more than likely going to be just fine. Also, if it doesn’t feel like the pain of a HA then it is probably related to the fact your heart has been ‘messed around with’. Sometimes the anxiety can also lead to a raised heart rate so try to keep busy physically and mentally.

Good luck.

[Applezebra]

Oh yes. I’m 3 months post heart attack and stents. The first month was horrible for anxiety and insomnia. I thought every little ache and pain was the end of me. It wasn’t. The second month was a little better once I started exercising. It felt good to start getting active again. The anxiety was still there. Now in the third month I’ve also started meditating every morning using the “Calm” app and I’m feeling even better. Anxiety is much less and sleep has improved. I feel like everybody goes through it to different degrees, and it just takes time to process it all mentally. Each week I see improvements in myself but some days are still rough. Hang in there and just frequently take notice of how far you’ve come since returning home.

[BulleyJude]

Thank you so much to everyone for your replies really does help. Next question is I want to burp a lot too the time , I’m assuming it’s the pills or lack of exercise at the moment . Also when do you really know when you need the spray. I have used it once as my chest felt tight but not sure if it was just beacause I was a little anxious which then made it worse.

[Qualipop]

I couldn't sleep after my heart attack and two stents, had to have the light on at night, not helped by one tablet that gave me hallucinations. Every twinge ( and as I have severe spinal pain there were many), gave me panic attacks. With severe side effects too from many tablets it took me almost a year to get over the anxiety.

[BulleyJude]

Thanks

[isobelhannah18]

Definitely! Every twinge was another heart attack and it was an emotional, anxious time for months. I eventually started to calm down and 16 months on I'm much less anxious but it doesn't take much to trigger the anxiety again. The difference is I can now talk myself down. You will start to sleep and feel less anxious. I find this forum is fantastic for advice and support.

[scotsrish]

As all others are saying what you are going through is very similar to many of us. I am a month and a half HA and two stents. In the begining i was kind of in shock, dealing with harsh side effects from meds, angry, anxiuos, tearful and afraid to die or be alone. It gets better and it really helps to come here and exchange notes. Makes it all a little easier to deal with.