Only just found this forum by accident, wish I’d seen it earlier.
Anyway, roughly 6 months ago I was out for a run and without warning experienced severe chest pain. I’m a pretty fit guy, a usual week is playing football twice, a couple of runs and/or gym sessions and my job involves me being on my feet all day too. I don’t smoke and might have a rum and Coke once a month.
I stopped the run and thought it might have been indigestion, but couldn’t actually walk back home. I knew it wasn’t a heart attack as my HR was around 70 and my breathing was fine, I just knew i wasn’t right. I did ring 999 after an hour of feeling like this back at home, the paramedic did an ECG and suggested the hospital. The first hospital said heart attack so I was carted off to a second hospital for an angiogram. ECG had revealed high levels of troponin in the 100’s, hence the initial thought of a heart attack.
The suggested rest period from exercise is 6 months, and I’m about 10 days away from finishing that. Obviously I won’t be going straight back in to my exercise routines and will build up slowly, but I do want to be working out regularly in time.
Has anyone been in a similar position, and how did they find the adjustment after 6 months? Nerves and anxiety are playing a part, as I’m worried it might come on again, despite being assured it ‘probably’ won’t.
Thanks in advance!
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EliotL1984
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Hi Eliot, ask your GP or cardiologist to refer you for cardiac rehab - you are young and were active so a prime candidate to talk to a physio who specialises in cardiac issues. Good luck!
Hi Eliot, I had my first session with a physio which works as part of a cardiac rehab team this afternoon. I am 50, don’t drink, don’t smoke, eat healthily and ran 3 times a week - fit & active. I had a series of heart attacks as a result of myocarditis 4 weeks ago. Session with physio was fantastic. I’m very fatigued now and do almost nothing about the house right now, but want to get to being as fit & active as I can. Physio talked about 1:1 plan to manage fatigue and then a tailored programme to build up activity in a safe and sustainable way. Yep t has given me a lot of confidence and I feel more positive for the future. You are young and we’re fit/active - go for it! Ask to be referred to your local cardiac rehab team.
Thank you so much, I’m going to speak to the cardiologist today (fingers crossed) and see what they say regarding rehab. I hope your road to recovery is strong, good to hear it’s given you confidence and positivity.
My 'thing' is recurrent pericarditis - quite similar to myocarditis so I don't feel much hesitation sharing my experiences in regaining fitness every time after I've cleared an acute flare of the pericarditis.
Once I really know I'm clearing a flare, I do 'start slowly' to regain fitness - adding one more activity a day is a good way to begin, with me it's vacuuming and steam mopping and don't laugh as those activities are rather strenuous!
If adding a new activity every day for a couple of weeks doesn't result in a relapse, I progress to morning walks on flat level ground - five minutes, then ten and so on, stopping if symptoms return. Slowly, slowly I build up to two daily walks then add some weight training and 'dancercise' in the living room (I'm a Lady Heartie aged 65, have rather good fitness except during a flare). And in a few months I'm back to what passes for full fitness for my age and other conditions.
It IS worrying, hearing 'it probably' won't reoccur isn't all that anxiety relieving You want and need to hear 'No more worries, you're completely cured!' - but with any of the carditis conditions, complete cure can take months (like, up to 18 IF the condition doesn't become recurrent) so a 'completely cured' isn't on the menu just now. Of course your age and general fitness before the myocarditis hit will be your guide towards what all you can expect to eventually return to.
But really, no worries, in the end - you WILL get there IF you follow through 'taking it slowly'.
One thing I will say - your recovery depends also on what caused your myocarditis and if there has been any permanent damage to your heart and pericardium. I do have permanent pericardial damage BUT when I'm not in acute flare I live a high quality 'normal' life. Can I still hill walk and add to my Munro bagging, er, no, I'm not 'allowed' to go over 1000ft altitude nowadays, and other formerly loved and enjoyed regularly 'extreme sports' are totally out of the question. My opinion? Recognising my limitations and not letting them shred me totally beats the alternative
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You want and need to hear 'No more worries, you're completely cured!' - but with any of the carditis conditions, complete cure can take months (like, up to 18 IF the condition doesn't become recurrent) so a 'completely cured' isn't on the menu just now. Of course your age and general fitness before the myocarditis hit will be your guide towards what all you can expect to eventually return to.
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