New to group

[Taff68]

It’s a week today since my heart attack and one stent fitted been feeling great until today feeling really down today

[080311]

Hello Taff68

Welcome to the forum not a place I bet you would have ever thought you would be joining! Like most of us having a heart event comes as a huge shock one minute going along quite normally and then the rug is pulled from beneath our feet.

First I haven’t had a heart attack I had open heart surgery Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 4 years ago, but I can certainly give you a couple of heads up.

At the moment your brain is playing catch up with what as happened to you, and feeling down is perfectly normal. You have to let things settle. Let your body start recovering.

Having said that you have to help yourself, stop smoking is a must, eating a healthy diet lots of us here follow the Mediterranean diet recommended by BHF it’s not bad at all. You can find it on the BHF website along with some great recipes Try and cut out processed food try to eat food made from scratch. If you like a drink try and cut back, I have just read the last few sentences and it sounds awful but once your in the swing it’s not bad at all😩

Exercise, walking gently at first, because of COVID cardio rehab isn’t on at the moment but get your name on the list for when it starts up again, it’s well worth doing as much for our mental health as for our stamina. Being around others who have been through what you have is such a help But until then go on line and the BHF as produced some videos to get you started.

Remember your now part of the Hearties family and if you have any questions someone will be along to help or if you want to vent that’s ok we can even give you a shoulder to lean on if that’s what you need.

Take it easy hoping your recovery goes really well.

Pauline

[Taff68 in reply to 080311]

Thank you Pauline just reading that made me feel better I’m very lucky I have a wonderful partner who is already helping with better diet the new soup maker is great smoking defo thing of the past I walked miles with the dog before looking forward to slowly but surely get back to this already glad she advised me to join a group like this

[Smudgebuttonjessie]

Hi Taff68. Welcome to the hearties forum, only been on here for a couple of months but the support is brilliant. How you are feeling is normal, you will have good days and bad days for a while, your brain and body are still in shock, it needs time to recover physically and mentally, listen to your body, rest when it says so, sleep when it says so, you may find sleeping out of sync for a while, i guess you are also now on a few medication since your HA which also takes some getting used to. You will gets lots of support on here from people, never feel you are alone in this, just call out and the hearties will be there. Wishing you well in your recovery, stay safe

[Taff68 in reply to Smudgebuttonjessie]

Hi thank you I think the euphoria of survival iswearing off today I have struggled with every thing but this has been good already Looking forward to the support of you wonderful people and giving my support to others soon

[MJOR1981]

Hi Taff 68,

I am nearly at 6 months post HA, so compared to a lot of people on here still very much a novice..

it’s a bit of a rollercoaster afterwards. I was very fit before and felt I could run 10 Km a week after i got out of hospital and only had 3 weeks off before returning to work, unfortunately the high of survival dies down and the mind takes over..

I’ve had a couple of trips to A&E because of chest pains that came to nothing and some wobbly moments when anxiety has got the better of me, this group has loads of great advice and I’m sure you will be contacted by cardiac rehab soon who are amazing..

I have read far more than I have commented on here and it’s reassuring to know lots of people go through the same things mentally and physically but as long as they keep posting and you keep reading we’re all still here.. 🙌

[Taff68]

Thank you glad already I joined whilst I wasn’t fit before by any means I never spent a night in hospital or any illness now every little thing my body is telling me is sending my mind racing but I’m sure as time goes by I will understand what’s going on inside me more and more

[valezio]

Hello Taff68, you’ve come to the right place, such lovely people here that will help all they can. I hope you will feel better and adjust to your situation. I haven’t had a heart attack but have severely high blood pressure. I wish you the very best and much better days. Stay safe. much love to you xxx

[Taff68 in reply to valezio]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Totally understand where you are at and many of us have been there.

You have a choice, you can focus on the negative and let yourself feel sad. Or you can be positive and be glad to be alive and on 'extra time' which is how I like to think of it 😊.

Life is a beautiful experience with ups and downs and lots of changes. Your HA is the latest one that's taking you into a new phase in your life.

It's now nearly 2 years since I died during my HA. I've had 5 stents, I'm pretty poorly but I'm determined to suck the marrow out of my life. I work (which is hard) supporting homeless people in crisis and I'm determined that in the time I have left, I'm going to make a positive difference.

Don't let the negative side of your illness define you. Keep positive, and use your experience as a source of strength. You've experienced something many people haven't and you're now in a good position to help them.

Keep smiling, and shout up during those moments when you need help 😊.

[EwaUK in reply to Hidden]

Great reply! It made me feel a whole lot better and much more positive and I'm not the poster. Had my HA 16 September 2020 and it totally rocked my world and I have never ever felt so down so low and everything seemed pointless. This group pulled me up and even though I still have bad days I just come on here and read positive words like yours and hey! everything is good again. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to EwaUK]

Thank you too. Your comment has lifted my day 👍😊

[Stamford1]

Hello and sorry to hear about your heart attack, I had the same thing in October and also had a stent fitted, stay strong and things will get better for you, I had the same feelings as you and another visit to hospital after worry about some pains post HA and stent but nothing to worry about, the stent takes some time to settle in, stick with healthy diet, exercise and medication!

Take care

Jon

[Taff68 in reply to Stamford1]

Thanks Jon today is good day enjoying the sun shine and the new healthy eat all the best for your recovery

[petetop]

HiI had one stent fitted on 7th Nov. First week or 2 emotions and feelings a bit all over the place.

Some days felt great and others like you feeling down. Some days I would feel good then all of a sudden run out of energy .

Gets better, now 2 months later do 1/2 an hour on excercise bike every day, but still sometimes fatigue just kicks in.

Spoke to rehab people and they say it's all normal, your body did take a knock and takes time to recover.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Taff68 in reply to petetop]

Thank you sounds as if your recovery is going well

[MRK-3]

I know how you feel I had a HA on the 27th December and 2 stents fitted on the 28th, I am like you feel very down in the dumps and exhausted but my doctor told me to just sit on the sofa and rest for a month and not to go out in these very cold temperatures so that is what I am doing. I do hope you feel better soon. x

[Taff68 in reply to MRK-3]

Thank you hope your feeling better as well I have been told to wrap up and walk 10 mins a day which I enjoy funny the things I look forward to now

[Spangle14]

Welcome to the group. You're in the right place! I'm sure that it is perfectly normal to go on a roller-coaster of emotions after such a huge event in your life - you've had the feelings of relief that you're okay and have had the treatment that will help you, followed by the realisation that your ticker ran into a worrying problem. Keep on talking and don't keep these things to yourself, that's what we're here for. You have survived, you are still standing and you have lots to look forward too. All the best

[Taff68 in reply to Spangle14]

Thank you all the best to you too

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Taff68,

Welcome to the forum. As others have said this is the right place to express what you are feeling and somewhere where you you will get a sympathetic ear from others that have been through a similar experience. None of us expected to have an issue with our heart and the emotions that inevitably come with it.

You will have low periods, we all do, but they pass. I would encourage you to remain positive and look to the future. I did and was back walking the hills in southern Scotland 3 months after my HA feeling better than I had before it.

With best wishes,

Gerald

[Taff68 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thank you Gerald lots of first for me e.g. my first support group but it certainly helps I’m lucky to have a wonderful partner and not to have to worry about work so I can spend the next few months on my recuperation so like you I can get back to walking the wonderful coast line down here in Cornwall

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Taff68]

Excellent. Our daughter lives near St Austell and we regularly go for walks when we are down there. Your body will let you know if you've overdone it.... take it stage by stage. I was fit before my HA, so it was quite easy to get back my fitness afterwards. As I said, keeping positive is a major help with recovery.

I had a triple bypass the year after my HA to solve the longer term issue of my arteries narrowing. I was back on the hills 3 months after that, though with the op initially I had to be careful carrying a backpack. I'd be out there this month if it wasn't for lockdown.

All the best,

Gerald

[Taff68 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Wow Gerald wise words when your next in Cornwall try the IWalk Cornwall app lots of wonderful circular walks on there I’ll be fit and ready to do them again once lockdown is done it’s good to have a goal and that’s mine plus the expensive holiday I’m having now the fag money that’s going in a jar 😀

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Taff68]

Many thanks for the tip. Our daughter introduced us to Goss Moor last summer which made a change from the coast. Plenty to see and do down your way. Take care and keep safe. 😀

[Misstibbs]

Perfectly understandable it’s a big shock I had the very same as you exercised all my life low weight BUT you can’t choose your parents! It’s almost denial but that hopefully will lead to acceptance then move forward positively- you’re alive and have everything to live for good luck 🍀👍

[Taff68]

Thank you I have to admit in my case it was self inflicted but acceptance is the first step on wards and upwards from now on best wishes to you too with your recovery

[ItsEllie]

Hello Taff68 it’s nice to have you here in this group with us.

[Taff68]

Thank you it’s nice and not nice to be one here lol