I suffered a heart attack a month ago and luckily got to hospital quickly where the clot was cleared and a stent was put in. Recovery was going well and after a follow up angiogram no other stents were required, a week ago I had some discomfort in chest and was anxious, called emergency services and was taken back in to hospital, after extensive tests it was decided it was unlikely to he heart related, Back home but anxious everytime I get any pains or twinges, just wanted to share this with others and if anyone can share similar feelings and advice I would really appreciate the support.
Take care all
Thanks
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Stamford1
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I had a heart attack 6 weeks ago and was shocked when they told me it was not the first one I had , that somewhere I had a milder one which I had not noticed but this one I did and was a bigger one
I suffer with dreadful anxiety and I mean dreadful and when they were going to put the dye in to see where I possibly may have needed stents I could not stop having panic attacks and they said to try and do it they thought I would have a major stroke or bleed to death and they were not prepared to take that chance and they also told me even though I do not like taking as many meds as I am on now that the difference between a stent and these meds was only 3% in protecting me so that is what I left hospital with a bagful of medications which I am not happy about
But back home I'm literally terrified all day every day and so down with this fear
I am trying to do things but afraid when I do because if I feel anything I go into instance panic , indigestion which I would ignore has now become a huge panic along with other aches and pains
I cry a lot and when I am not crying I want to cry
I am really struggling to and can assure you that you are not alone in the way you are feeling even though I wished I knew how we move on from this but I am sure some will hopefully tell us as they ready your post , just hoped knowing you are not alone may help
Talk to either your doctor or the cardiac nurse if you've got one already. Get a detailed explanation of your discharge letter. If it was anything like mine you'd need a degree to understand it. Get a full explanation of what happened and why and how you can avoid another. What you understand is far better than just wondering. Change you diet, don't smoke, get exercise safely , lose weight if necessary and give it time. They have fixed immediate problems. The chance of having another is low. Do the rehab exercises and as soon as they ever open do the face to face rehab so you know there's someone qualified nearby. It took me a year to get over the shock and anxiety but it will happen. You are healthier now than you were before. Just change lifestyle and keep taking the tablets. Your reaction is perfectly normal for most people.
I talk to my Cardiac nurse and have spoken with my Doctor , I seem to just get the reply heart attacks happen but I am speaking to them again and will ask
I have a phone consultation which has been delayed with the Consultant on the 15th Dec by then really I should have been having a scan but I think everything has been put back because of covid
I stopped smoking when I had pneumonia last year but admit I need to lose weight and get exercise but when I do a little walking and feel out of breath or a little twinge I go into a panic
I am watching what I eat carefully even though my diet was not bad before I feel it was the portion sizes that was more the issue which I have cut right back on , saying that I read on here that someone who was taking one of the tablets I am on they put over 2 stone on them so that worries me when I am trying to lose some weight it might do the same to me but I suppose we may all react differently to the meds
Thank you for the reassuring statement I am healthier now than before even though I really don't feel it but in time hopefully I will
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me it is appreciated x
Tell your GP you don't just want platitudes, you need help to understand exactly what happened and why; a proper explanation so you can understand it. I always feel so much better when I get an explanation. I often don't need treatment. The explanation alone helps me come to terms with it. Have you checked on the BHF main website for their recipes and suggestions for a Mediterranean type diet? I found my appetite reduced and I lost 2 stone without trying over 2 years- didn't even realise until my summer skirts fell off this year.
I am going to have to save your reply and read out what you have told me to say and I will as I will get tongue tied and forget but as you have put it I think personally it will be hard for them not to answer and you are right even though I have a vague idea the fact been overweight , not enough exercise , high cholesterol ( on statins now ) family history and a lifetime of severe anxiety which is so bad that I know when people say they have anxiety they do but mine is so bad that in Hospital they actually broke the rules with covid and allowed my Husband to stay with me even at night because they even said they had never experienced someone suffering like I do and did not know how to help so they let him be with me as he does but still you are right even with all that I still would find it helpful to know exactly what happened , I feel to be honest when I had pneumonia last year and ended up in resuscitation before I had been so ill and in so much pain that I could have easily had that small heart attack they mentioned before this bigger one , I was fighting for my life and it took every part of me to do so and would be enough to weaken anyone's heart to be honest
I will look at that diet now , would be lovely to lose 2 stone like you but I have a feeling I won't but will give it a go
Good luck. I do understand the anxiety. I was as bad as that some 30 years ago. I had a complete breakdown and was in hospital and even had oh what's it called where they zap your brain? Horrific treatment. Took me a LONG time to recover but I did. I still get anxious and have panic attacks now and then but I can cope with them. It was being taught self hypnosis that got me through it. And by the way, I wasn't trying to lose wight at all. I just used the recipes off the BHF website; cut out everything like pies , pizzas or cakes and red meat and without even thinking, I cut portion sizes. The ONLY nibble I had was two pieces of dark chocolate a day.
Yes I remember that procedure I am not sure if they do it anymore but can imagine how bad you must have been and I am sorry to hear you went through all that but great that you overcame it all as well as everything else , you must be a very strong lady
I don't eat pies and cakes and very rare have pizza as I don't like it much but I know my down fall is I like sugar in my hot drinks so I think one thing at a time but on my list is to gradually cut down the amount of sugar in my drinks that should help with the weight I hope
I am on the dark chocolate to even though it is savory things I like and I suppose no doubt they will be bad for you
I felt just like you a month post HA. I had my HA April this year with one stent inserted.
My anxiety then was massive to the extent I had a further two A &E admissions thinking I was having another heart attack only to be told I was suffering from extreme anxiety.
So I think your anxiousness is normal as I honestly felt the same as you . It’s so scary and I really felt like I was going to die and the impending doom
Feeling which was so awful.
I am happy to report months past now since my HA my anxiety has eased . I got help in the early days - anti depressants, CBT and exercise all helped me and this forum helped to know I wasn’t on my own feeling like I did .
I wish you well and I and fellow hearties are here for you if you need us,
Having read your post I am in a similar position in that I had my HA five weeks ago and my anxiety levels have been horrendous since coming home. Prior to this happening I had a long history of anxiety/panic and had CBT over the years but did not really help. I therefore will have to go on medication but understand that some antidepressants can’t be taken with all the heart meds. Do you mind me asking which antidepressant you are on and how you got on with it. Thanks for reading.
Perfectly normal. I had what you had 2 years ago and for a year afterwards, every twinge or ache had me worried sick. I'm sure everyone feels like that. You are sent home with very little explanation, hear nothing for weeks until your notes get to your doctor or the cardiac rehab nurses and of course rehab isn't happening face to face just now. If you have pain and you are worried, absolutely do not hesitate to ring 111 or even 999. Better safe than sorry. The mental affect of a heart attack is far worse than the actual attack then of course your body is getting used to a shed load of tablets, many of which will have side effects. Talk to your GP as soon as you can. Get a proper explanation of what happened and how you are likely to feel. IT helps a lot.
Many thanks for your reply, really appreciate the support, it's a lot to deal with as it came out of the blue, taking the medication, walking and very strict with my diet now so trying to be positive, once again thanks for your message.
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