Will I ever feel better?

[FiftyNotOut]

After a STEMI heart attack in April (Troponin peaked at 92,000), I thought I was doing pretty well. Back at work full-time, exercising, it was all going fine. I’m “only” 50 and have teenage kids who want to do more than I’m able. Previous to the HA I was pretty well, despite having dilated cardiomyopathy - this is v mild and isn’t thought to be an influence in the HA. My arteries are clear and I didn’t have a stent - I’m under three cardiologists who are all stumped as to why I had a heart attack.

But a “day” out with my mum on Friday has totally knocked me for six. I just couldn’t cope and suddenly felt panicked that I’d done too much and was about to have another heart attack. We’d literally been in the Royal Academy for five minutes when I just had to get out of there.

My energy levels are generally pretty low. My BP is around 95/65 and resting pulse 64.

I’m on ticagrelor, aspirin, lansoprazole, avortastatin (40mg) and ramipril.

Am expecting too much of myself three months on? Wondering how others who have been through similar things have been in their recovery.

[Hidden]

I've been in hospital three times with HA and angina troubles over the past five years, each time there have been people in there who have previously had heart attacks who have been back in hospital suffering from "anxiety"/ " panic attack' issues when they thought they'd suffered another HA.I know from my own view point that you have good days and bad days, it's only a few months since you suffered a major trauma, you are still healing both physically and mentally, the advice everyone gives to me is "give it time", I'll pass that advice onto you.

[Hidden]

I had a stemi in April as well two stents fitted , on the ‘ normal range of meds given plus spironolacpone’ . Some days I feel ok others not so much , I still get pains and last night was the first time since I had the heart attack that I used the spray , reason being the tightness in my chest felt like the beginning of another heart attack, I took my blood pressure which was normal and so was my heart rate . Plus I woke this morning feeling ok . A few weeks ago I was out doing the usual Sunday stuff , Tesco boots etc and I hit a wall kinda like you did , I just couldn’t go on . I realised after bringing it up on this forum that I was infact doing too much . So now instead of trying to fit everything in on one day I do it over two . I don’t have teenagers and I’m not working either , so holding down a full time job plus running a home and teenagers is a lot . What I have found out is that people get a bit of a shock when you say you suffered a heart attack but in the same way, you look exactly the same and some people expect you to be as you were before . You are not as you were before , you and your body need time , and luckily we survived so we now have time . So please take some time for yourself and recover first body mind and soul before trying and doing everything else .

[FiftyNotOut in reply to Hidden]

I was hoping you’d reply as I remember you had a similar thing at a similar time. You’re absolutely right that because I look the same people expect me to be the same - and I guess I’m also guilty of that and just expecting too much of my body at this stage. It just really brought me down. We’re not going on holiday this summer, for the second year running. It’s partly pandemic - but also partly me, that I know I couldn’t cope. I feel so guilty for my sons that they’re missing out on things ☹️

[Hidden in reply to FiftyNotOut]

You can message me at anytime at all , that would be nice to swap our horror story’s despair and have a few giggles as well , I’m actually naturally funny 😂😂 . Don’t feel badly because of not going on vacation your kids would rather have you than any holiday . I’ve never understood the Uk obbession with holidays , folk save up all year thousands of pounds to spend it all in the space of two week . It’s mental to me . Look , I know it’s hard you feel they are missing out but trust me they are not , they still have you and they are going to have you for a long while yet , plus there is always next year and the many years after that . This time and this year is souly yours . You matter . They need you . They are teenagers they will be happy enough with a full Fridge and endless pocket money.

[FiftyNotOut in reply to Hidden]

Thank you x

[richard_jw]

I had a stemi last august also with no stent. They gave me 2 anti platelet drugs (aspirin and clopidogrel) a Beta blocker (bisoprolol) Ramipril and Lansoprazole. Both the beta blocker and the ramipril reduced my BP and often it was below 90/65. This made me feel like a zombie. They stopped the Ramipril, and recently the Beta blocker also the aspirin.The thing which stands out in your meds is the Ramipril. Your BP is low and that won't make you feel good. That's caused in part by the Ramipril whose main aim is to lower BP. I know that post MI it's prescribed as part of a cocktail of drugs in your case 2 anti platelet/anti coagulants Lansoprazole to protect the stomach a statin, and Ramipril. I'm surprised they did not prescribe a beta blocker (bisoprolol) that slows the heart and also reduces blood pressure. but may also make you feel worse

Ask the cardiologist if you can stop the Ramipril. That will increase your BP and make you feel better.

I felt pretty much the same as you. If I did anything energetic like a brisk walk, or an hour mowing the lawn I felt wiped out completely.

They finally suspected the cause was low BP, and in my case the Bisoprolol.

I have just come off the Bisoprolol, and the Ramipril. This morning my BP is 118/79. Early to say, but I think I have more energy.

Remember that in your case it's early days and it does take time to recover.

Also when I had my MI there was no cardiac rehab. I got pretty depressed, the only access to an NHS cardiologist was via the phone, the result was that I ended up in A&E 6 times for no good reason. The GP was not interested and just sent me to A&E.

Now I believe there is group rehab, and I'm belatedly going to it. It's not just the exercise, but the cardio nurses are knowledgeable and can help you

Good luck

[FiftyNotOut in reply to richard_jw]

Thank you. I was actually put on bisoprolol in hospital but my BP went down to 72/40 at one point. So was taken off that and the ramipril. I had been on ramipril for a while due to the DCM and they wanted to restart it because of that. I take it at night, and generally haven’t had problems (it’s a tiny dose), but I guess there are lots of other meds in the mix now. There are mutterings about re-starting the bisoprolol and have to admit I’m not looking forward to that.

My BP does tend to fluctuate but has always stayed on the low side. I think probably the answer is that, as you say, it’s early days and I’m doing too much.

I’ve done rehab and got my sign-off appointment this week. Unfortunately it’s still not group sessions ☹️. All been over the phone.

[richard_jw in reply to FiftyNotOut]

There are other meds for DCM but they seem to reduce BP as well, and also various pacemakers/defibrillators etc. To an extent I know how you feel. Before the MI my BP was pretty lowish (110/70) because I thought I was fit. The MI, plus the meds really did not help

[Qualipop]

That sounds very much like a panic attack.

[FiftyNotOut in reply to Qualipop]

Yes, quite likely. Although I thought I was having a panic attack when it was a full blown STEMI 😬 Thankfully, my husband disagreed and dialled 999.

[MountainGoat52]

To me it looks like you may have had a panic attack brought on by the fact that you are feeling well below par. This could be partly down to the medication. A chat with your GP may be the way forward. Your BP does seem a little low - I wonder whether you know what it was before your HA.

I appreciate that we are all different, but at 3 months after my HA I was back to climbing hills in Scotland. Getting back to doing the activities that you love certainly helps mentally. Keeping positive is a very important factor in recovery. I hope that you can quickly overcome the problems that you are experiencing.

Kind regards,

Gerald