Fancy sharing your thoughts about exercise?

[laura_dropstitch]

Hello! Some of you may remember that last month I asked you to share your thoughts about your heart meds via the form of haiku. So many of you gave it a go (thank you!) that I was able to compile a downloadable zine from the submissions 🙌 I'm really hoping that I can make this into a monthly occurrence...but I can't do it without some help from you guys!

This month's haiku prompt is exercise. Whether you love it or hate it, whether you regularly run marathons or occasionally walk to the end of the street, I want to hear your thoughts about exercising with a heart condition. Full details (including a reminder of how to write a haiku - don't worry, it's very simple) are in the blog post here - heartytalescouk.wordpress.c...

If you want to see last month's zine, you can view or download it from the "creative resources" page on the blog. Thank you so much to all of you who contributed. I hope that lots of you will give it a go this month - it would be great to have a wide range of opinions and contributors. Towards the end of July, if there are enough submissions (🤞) I'll make another mini zine, all about exercising with a heart condition, that will be free to download and print at home.

Thanks everyone and I hope you are all doing well!

Laura

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Yay! It's great, thank you for contributing again I do think I probably exercise more than I would have if I hadn't had heart failure. It took a fair bit of perseverance to find an exercise I would/could sustain. Never imagined that exercise would be the gym... Of course, now I haven't been for nearly four months (aargh!) and don't know when I will feel safe to get back to it. Need to find an alternative I can do at home.

[Roisindhu27]

Hi everyone,new to this so short and sweet. I am 70, no physical reasons found for hbp. Taking 5mgs ramphril and 2.5mgs amlodipine. As my doctors are only available by phone it is nearly a year since I have seen them. I love to exercise, especially walking and swimming. My bp spiked two weeks ago and I went to A & E. Doctor told me as I I had no physical problems He would not have put me on meds, told me not to take Amlodipine. I have booked a phone call for Monday with my GP. Regarding this advice. Meanwhile I would love to return to exercise but to be honest when I was first told by a locum totally unexpectedly and feeling brillant, I had just completed the Camino walk of 250 miles, " that You have very high blood pressure and could take a stroke and die of a heart attack any minute" . Well I nearly did! My mother died at 50 heart attack and my brother at 35 heart attack playing football. So he left me terrified. I couldn't get an appointment for three weeks in which I was scared silly. This forum has really helped. Thanking you all.

[080311 in reply to Roisindhu27]

Hi Roisindhu27

You don’t say how high your blood pressure is, do you take it yourself at home? Have you discussed with your GP what sort of exercise you should be doing? Having a family history of heart issues have you had a discussion with GP about that?

Best wishes Pauline

[Roisindhu27 in reply to 080311]

Thank you for replying. My mam and big brother both had two heart attacks. I was 13. It impacted my life. I was there when my mam had her first attack, I did her chores for a year and watched her quality of life change I had a premonition of her death. 30 minutes later she died in our kitchen. Coronary thrombosis. My brother was my hero, at 35 he had 8 children, one at only 3mths. I lived all my life in fear of heart attack. I did everything I had to do to avoid it.. My doctors are my family doctors born into the surgery. So they know my large family. I never have had to take meds, my doctors do not take me seriously. Your fit as a flea. Is their comment. I have no faith in them. I have been unable to see my GP from last September. I have rang them but it is only locums, and they just issue repeat meds. I spike at 180 but generally on meds it sits at 115 to 140 but off Amlodipine it went to 150. I have no physical problems. It is down to stress. I have had a lot of family issues, I was working in a charity dealing with suicide and close family members have died by suicide. I believe I have dealt with and will continue to address this. I meditate twice a day and it has really helped, I walk a lot, I am whole plant based. I am a natural health therapist and practice several disciplines. The meds have affected my quality of life and I would love to come off them, but I am not stupid, I accept at this time I need them. Thank you for your interest.