25 sept. Massive heart attack. Ambulance didn’t come fir 55 mins. Very scary. Received great treatment at Portsmouth Queen Alexander hospital. Where I was on holiday. Came home waiting referral to local hospital. My poor daughter had to deal with everything. Felt very alone and burdened. Meds were burning my stomach , out of breath . 8 weeks on ive had some very low times and the last 10 days things arnt great but getting easier. My son bought me an Apple Watch which makes me feel secure. He’s also bought me a defibrillator ( which made me laugh- it talks to you...really) how my Italian husband would deal with this would be hilarious.( maybe not for me). I want to feel normal again and wonder what that normal might be. I think I’ve got heart failure but to what degree I’m just finding out. I had 2 stents fitted 25 sept and another 3 days later. It’s all a minefield which is made worse by vivid and not being part of a rehab class. I would have enjoyed that. It’s knowing what exercise apart from walking I might be able to do or just having other victims/ survivors to share with. I know I should feel grateful for being here but I’ve all sorts of feelings apart from that, I hated someone telling my husband ( a dentist) that her heart is dealt with the rest is in her mind. I felt that was so unkind to someone who had never sat around and who really was trying to get back on her feet. I asked for so little from everyone at the beginning. Well all I can say if that burning from meds , the grey pallor and the breathlessness was in my mind , I am a great actress. It’s nice to share . All the best everyone
Heart failure: 25 sept. Massive heart... - British Heart Fou...
Heart failure
Hello Fynndog,Welcome to the forum, it’s a lovely place to belong to but not somewhere you ever thought you would be!
I haven’t had a heart attack my event was open heart surgery Aortic valve replaced and bypass, this was 4 years aged 68, and every day grateful to the medical team that gave me my life back. Couldn’t understand how my body had let me down it never had before.
When we go through a heart event of what ever kind, it’s life changing, we will never be the same again, we will live our lives but not in the same way, we become more diet conscious exercise conscious. We have medication we have to take for life, checks at the GPs I have an echocardiogram yearly ( though not so far this year) checking my tissue valve is still working and pushing the right pressure out.
You mentioned about cardio rehab, I know it’s not up and running yet but make sure you are on the list for when it starts up again, I found it invaluable good for getting my stamina back, but for my mental health as well. Being able to talk with others who have been through the same experiences is such a help, that is why being part of the Hearties family here is great, there are so many members who have been through the same and can relate to you.
If you need some advice or someone to talk to there will always be someone along to listen or lend a shoulder to lean on if that’s what we need.
Hope your recovery keeps going from strength to strength.
Best wishes Pauline
Hi Pauline . You sound very positive and I hope you are continuing to stay well. Yes I guess that’s how it will be a very different life. I will have to see how to enrol for rehab. My referral wasn’t sent on so my daughter had to sort it all out. Luckily I had my first post event echocardiogram yesterday so I’m hoping it’s at least stayed the same and not got any worse. It’s all a learning curve. Fir some reason I’m anxious about the phone call with the cardiologist it seems more daunting than meeting in person. I’m anxious that I won’t say the right things and won’t explain what I’m experiencing . I suppose it’s all part of the heart attack I think it gives your confidence a knock. It was so nice of you to reply . Good luck to you and good health
Hi again, your phone call with your cardiologist write a list of questions you have. Just in case your mind goes blank😂 have that problem talking to my sons😂 or I end up repeating myself 😩Pauline
Our hospital rehab said they do something virtual??? If you check out NHS rehab online -youtube, you will find something to show you appropriate exercises at the right time. Walking is a must.
I think you have every right to feel the way you do, after all you came very close, I too found it tough and worried a lot and with every pain was a bit frightened but it does get better and over time it gets easier good luck 👍
I'm sure the comment about your mind wasn't meant nastily. ALl of us who have had heart attacks, whether mild or bad ones like yours feel as if we've been hit by a truck and find it terribly difficult to cope. It can get a long time to get over the shock ( Up to a year) and to start trusting your treatment and the meds. So that part is definitely in your mind. They have fixed the immediate problems with your heart but obviously the heart attack will have caused some damage and your meds will help with that. What he meant is that you now have to get yoru confidence back. Even though there's no rehab, you will have been allocated a rehab nurse you can ring at any time. Meanwhile phone your GP about the problems with your meds and your stomach. I assume you've been given something to protect your stomach while you are on ticagrelor and aspirin but it may not be working well. Perhaps changing from ticagrelor to clopidogrel might help. Don't put up with it. Talk to your doctor
Hi QualipopThank you for your kind words. What a comfort it is to hear from you people snd your experiences. Yes you are right about not being meant but it really was bad timing. I am in Prasugrel which I expect is a similar med to the one you said. I’ve also read about those film coated aspirin. I have a phone consultation with cardiologist soon so I will talk to her about that.
I like the truck analogy , it is such a good description. Another person said she’d had HA come out if hispital with a big bag of tablets thinking what the hell do I do now. Complete sr se if abandonment. It did feel like that. Thank his for my daughter who fought my every corner.
Being shell shocked I hadn’t realised the cardiac rehab were there, I had had no referral. Eventually I dud contact them but again I don’t think any if us realised at the time what any if these bodies of people were supposed to be doing for us not having been explained. I’ve had a lot of reassurance reading everyone posts here abd I gave begin to see how normal my reactions have all been. Thank you again for caring enough to write. Kind regards Fynndog
Yep exactly how I felt; "We fixed you, now go away". No explanation, rehab not even mentioned. I had to get ticagrelor changed very soon after discharge but GP hadn't even heard from cardio by then. The discharge letter I was given needed a degree to even understand it. It really is bad the way they just dump you. Yes help does arrive eventuality but we all need it from day one. I wouldn't put up with he stomach problems, talk to your GP. It's well known that the blood thinners cause stomach pain. I use a dispersible aspirin. I leave it in a glass of water to dissolve then take it immediately before lunch. I don't have enough breakfast to take it then. I found the coated ones didn't help at all.
Hi qualipopYes I think we should have been given a bit more support. I might even have had it if I’d lived near Portsmouth , they were very hands on. But yes the bag of tablets looked like something I needed a cross and a string of garlic to defend myself from. I will take up the med problem with the cardiologist. I’ll try the aspirin like you said. Thanks
Welcome to the Heartie club. I joined unexpectedly in July following a HA that came from nowhere - I'm 51, male, was getting up that Sunday morning to go running with the group I'm in. My instinct made me act almost immediately to call for help, London Ambulance Service was with me in four minutes - maybe that was just luck, I was taken to Barts Heart Centre where they fitted one stent. All blood metrics were normal so they can't explain why my LAD artery got blocked. Apparently my HA was a "big" event and I'm lucky to be alive. I went through what you describe, I've accepted what has happened and it's something I now need to live with - this is my way of moving on from it. I've put the work into the online and app based rehab programme (the gym at the Royal London remains closed), and have a positive outlook. The support of the rehab team, Cardiology at Barts and my GP has been fantastic. Again - maybe I'm just lucky because I read some others' experiences on here are not quite what I've experienced. The meds haven't affected me so far - I think they probably would have done by now if they were going to. I've got over the 'night fear' and have learned to trust the experts and stick rigidly to the medication plan. I've got over a few apprehensions eg flying (flew to the USA a couple of weeks ago to sort out my Dad's holiday apartment where he died in March...), did my first hike which I took easy, and so on. Just need to listen to my body and know my new limits. Not quite back to running yet, but I'm positive that will come in time. I hope this helps, Graham.
Hi heartbear. With such a positive attitude I dint think anything will stop you. Very lucky to be picked up in 4 minutes. My 55 min wait has left me with heart failure. As I’m only just getting to terms with the HA I’m finding myself sad / angry about being left so long and then a25 min ride to nearest hospital. Apparently the Ambulance Service had 23 call outs that night. A week after the event and back at home I had to call the ambulance again . It came in under 5 not only the ambulance but a min later a first responder came too. If only it had been on the night if the event.Nothing can change the outcome and I have to move in abd I will but it won’t happen in a minute.
You are very brave travelling all that way and I’m glad the outcome was good. You have found your confidence very quickly, I thought I’d fine well walking my dog on my own for the first time a week ago haha.
Does anyone have any advice on dairy substitutes. Meds have caused burning acid reflux. I’m on 30mg lansoprilol twice daily. I tried substituting soya for dairy milk but milk seems to line my stomach better. I’ve understood dairy is not good post H/A
Heart failure and mental health
Severe Heart Failure 
Heart failure 
chronic heart failure
Awaiting diagnosis of Heart Failure
