I'm kind of celebrating. 6 months have passed since my heart attack and subsequent stent. In that time I've upped my exercise levels, changed my diet based upon my own research, and reduced my BMI from 30 to 23.
During this time I have had cause to contact my GP and hospital a number of times. A couple were for medication problems and a couple of other times I wrongly thought I was having another heart attack. The hospital has also contacted me to confirm blood test results.
Beyond this it's been nada. No outpatient appointment. No medication review. Nothing. I was told how important rehab is to good recovery so I've taken it upon myself to sort myself out - but I bet many people don't.
It seems the approach is to give you a cocktail of drugs and send you away. If you nearly die again we're here to patch you up. They call that 'healthcare'.
It's not very good. I wonder whether it is normal practice or that covid has become a catch all excuse for professional negligence? Or maybe they know that economically, it is better for them if we just die?
I suspect this has a lot to do with Covid. Having said that, I did find in the immediate aftermath of my heart attack/cardiac arrest that my GP was not that interested - but that has since improved once the surgery realised that I was interested in my own wellbeing.
I know that cardio rehab is a total disaster at the moment. Back in January 2019, I had cardio rehab following up my discharge from hospital eager to get me into the health centre to be assessed and start rehab - I've said this many times on this forum that rehab is an utterly brilliant service, and I feel really sorry for the people who this year have found themselves in a situation where they can't access the "normal" rehab services.
You sound like you've got your head around what you need to do, well done. After sitting around in pain after my CPR I adopted the same attitude. Sadly I suspect that a lot of people are so emotionally destroyed after a heart attack that they just can't get back up without help and their story is an unfolding tragedy.
Thanks for your kind words. I am on top of my game and feel the best I have done in ten years. It may sound perverse but my heart attack has been the best thing to happen to me in ten years. My eyes have been opened. I do suspect you are right for many though.
Hello, reading your post you have certainly got your head around what as happened to you, and have made all the changes that needed doing. You have done amazingly well good for you. As SpiritoftheFloyd as said because of Covid-19 things have been difficult for lots of us. The cardio rehab is one thing that lots of people have missed out on. It’s a great service and the sooner it gets back on track the better. I found it invaluable.
I had my open heart surgery 4 years ago (Aortic valve replaced and bypass) so did have ‘normal’ after care that involved check with my surgeon 6 weeks after surgery and a check with my cardiologist 6 months later he discharged me back to my GP and have had a yearly medication review. Have had a yearly echocardiogram (not so far this year) this is to check my pigs valve is still putting the right pressure out!
Speaking personally I can’t fault the attention that the NHS have give me they went above and beyond. I am grateful every day from the medical team that gave me my life back.
I have read your post with much interest, I feel exactly the same ! Diagnosed with Unstable Angina 2019, before Covid, given cocktail of drugs and feel like I’ve just been left to get on with it. Last contact with Cardiologist was three line letter confirming what’s wrong and that’s it. I am trying to research things myself but the medication has changed me , don’t feel great at all, I have always reacted to medication badly, get all the side effects going, doctor does not seem really interested at all. Trying to get through each day positively but now with Covid I feel just have to get on with it.
I had my STEMI (100% blockage of RCA and arrested in the ambulance) back in February. I was on business in Oman at the time and was very well looked after by the hospital and my company - stent fitted and drugs issued, or rather purchased. I was desperate to get back to UK for rehab, but had to wait two weeks to be signed off fit to fly - and by the time I got back home, all rehab had been suspended. Then the first lockdown - took me a while to come to terms that I was being left to just get on with it....whatever it was. I really was flying solo with instructions how to do it coming from a book (or the BHF website actually). I too have done all the right things - lost loads of weight through exercise and diet, given up the fags etc - and now feel better than I have for 20 years. I’ve been very lucky to be enrolled in a drug trial, so I get monthly contact with cardiac nurses through that, but I’ve had no contact with my GP since March. I know I’m very lucky to be a survivor and that’s a huge motivation in itself, but I do feel for those who need the personal contact of rehab to help recovery.
Really sorry that you’ve not had the care that you need. I’m in the West Midlands and cardiac rehab has been great here. I was assessed within two weeks of discharge following OHS and had weekly phone calls with the physio, then fortnightly and will have my final assessment on the 16th of this month. I was sent a big folder with a progress tracker to complete daily and could ring either the heart failure team or the rehab team with any problems. My GP is also great and rings with results or follow up.
I had HA and stent fitted 6 months ago. My cardio rehab was done by phone, I feel I have missed out somewhat as people who have done it have commented on how good it is. My GP contact has also been by phone re. medication.
My cardiologist also by phone once,he stated my next Echo would be a year after my event, so I went private for one. I've just had results and am wondering to send them to my cardiologist, the technician who did scan said they are good. But I can't make head or tail of them!!!!
My stent op was canceled two days before it was booked. The wife and I had shielded for two weeks in preparation. Apart from the phone call cancelling, I've heard nothing. This forum has helped me hold it all together.......
Well with Me, I started to fell breathless and had palpitations so went to my Doctor who referred me to a cardiologist in an NHS hospital. Was under his care for several months. He did various tests and said I had no heart problems and even took me off the high blood pressure meds I'd been taking for years. I was so happy but the palpitations and breathlessness hadn't stopped but the powers that be said I'm fine so that's all that counts right??? He even put it in writing. 3 weeks later I had 4 mini heart attacks and had 2 stents fitted. I wasn't in England. I was on holiday, half way across the world in a third world country. My insurance policy didn't cover the costs and as well as being I'll, it cost me thousands of pounds so NHS ummmmmm......
Yep, they tend to fix your plumbing then drop you like a hot potato- no follow up at all apart from rehab . You should have been contacted about that after about 3 weeks. Obviously now rehab at the gym isn't happening but you should be given exercises to do at home and a rehab nurse to contact at any time. Apart from that it's all now down to your GP. NO, I don't like it either.
2020. A terrible year to be Ill. Definately empathise with your post and situation like many others. I had a heart attack 3 months ago. I had a stent fitted to unblock my colluded LAD. 3 weeks ago I had an ICD fitted. I am lucky as I think I have had some good help but also some not so good help. I think its typical of life though. Some good bits. Some not so good bits. For those of us that want to get better, we will try and find a way to do so. I think that it can make or break people and depends on the individual and their own circumstances. Let's hope 2021 gives us much to look forward too
I'm in the same boat. Pat on the back and a leaflet and nothing for seven months. I was tentatively waiting for the virus to pass hoping to could get onto some sort of rescheduled rehab.
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I’m lost, what can I do and what am I just worrying about. 
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Am I doing enough
Knowing when I am ready to drive again post-op
How do I interpret this Kardia ECG reading?
