I do wish cardiologists all read from the same sheet, after my Heart Attack, is was gentle exercise and slowly slowly goes the monkey, in cardiac rehab it was don’t run before you can walk, it’s been 2 years since my h/a and I still get whacked out doing what I would consider normal tasks, my cardiac nurse put it in a nut shell you’re body has had the biggest wake up call of your life, and you will have to accept you will not be able to function as you used to, and yet I read of the people on this forum going onto running doing all the things that tire me out, any suggestions on improving how I get so tired.
Carpbait: I do wish cardiologists all... - British Heart Fou...
Carpbait
35 Replies
•
I have a heart complaint and was putting my tiredness down to that, but it was caused by my thyroid being underactive. Had you had yours checked? Pills to right that have given me my energy back.
• in reply tojeanjeannie50
Never been tested for that, thank you for the tip, try I say try to see GP for a test be safe.
Lucky you, 3 years on from my AVR I'm still weary despite 125mgs thyroxine daily, it made no difference to how I feel!
Have a look at the thyroid website on Health Unlocked and see what they say. You could be lacking other hormones or vitamins other than levothyroxine.
I’m confused by your opening statement “I do wish cardiologists all read from the same sheet”!Have you had different advice from various cardiologist’s?
As for others doing better/worse, you cannot compare anyone else with yourself, there are way too many factors to take into account.
• in reply to
My cardiologist on discharge from the hospital told me I would be on the same meds I have been taking for the last 2 years, gentle exercises walks was the limits he set, so I am confused when reading fellow forum members can and do achieve much more than I was told I could do, my comment re same sheet refers to doing those things I was told not to do in case I brought on a second heart attack,.
• in reply to
So it's not that cardiologists are reading from different sheets, rather that you don't understand why other people get different advice.
So like I said, we are all vastly different in what we went through, how old we are, how fit we where before, our lifestyles before etc etc etc.
The fact that some people can suffer a HA and get away with almost no damage will 'generally' allow them to recover quicker and to return to how they where, maybe with some lifestyle changes.
Others may suffer moderate damage to the heart, their recovery will be slower and less likely to make a full recovery (to where they where pre event), this is more likely to impair someone who was very active (fit) pre event, than someone who was/is sedentary.
You get the gist?
If 'YOU' aren't happy with 'YOUR' progress, then 'YOU' really need to discuss with your GP/Cardiologist as to what they suggest you can (can't) do to improve things.
As for the tiredness. I suffered quite badly for a while 18 months post event, for me it was a deficiency in Vit B12 caused by Omeprazole (can cause malabsorption in some people).
Once I was given Folic as a supplement I was ready to party again (alcohol free though
😏).
Gaz
richard_jw• in reply to
Yes I agree absolutely. No 2 people and no 2 heart attacks are the same. Interesting that you have vitamin deficiency. I also had/have folate deficiency. It makes me tired. Unfortunately for me it's not a case of simply more folate, because I take phenytoin/phenobarbital, more folate will interact badly with the antiepileptics. I'm seeing a neurologist.
I found out about the deficiency by my own research, and asking a good pharmacist. I wonder how many people are suffering from this as a result of long term use of Proton Pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole etc.
"after my Heart Attack, is was gentle exercise and slowly slowly goes the monkey, in cardiac rehab it was don’t run before you can walk"
That certainly wasn't the advice I heard!
On the Cardio Rehab I attended I was told we should get to a healthy BMI and stay there for the rest of our lives. Given that two thirds of the UK population are overweight or obese, and that very few people manage to keep the weight off even if they do manage to lose it in the first place, that's a pretty tough objective.
We were also told to quit smoking, not to take nicotine substitutes, to have at least two alcohol free days per week and to limit our alcohol intake to 14 units a week. Again, for a lot of people those are really, really tough targets.
Perhaps toughest of all, we were told to achieve 150 minutes of "moderate" exercise each week. However, the NHS definition of "moderate" is actually fairly severe, you'd need to be breathing too hard to hold a conversation throughout those 150 minutes. So walking the dog or a spot of gardening isn't going to cut it. On top of this we were told that as heart patients we needed an extensive warm-up and cool-down routine. So the 150 minute target works out more like an hour long exercise programme five times per week. That's a big ask for anyone working full time or with a young family. For anyone with mobility issues or a disability it may well be impossible.
Then on top of this we're encouraged to eat healthily, stop eating junk foods, stop snacking, manage down our stress, sleep properly, etc, etc.
Nothing "slowly, slowly" about that list. It's a full-on, total life style overhaul!
Most people who can, hand on heart, say they've ticked ALL those boxes, are likely to be feeling way, way better than they've felt in years. But let's be honest, only a minority are ever likely to implement those life style changes and then stick to them for year after year.
Great Post.
Very relevant what you say however I would say this, re moderate exercise 'you'd need to be breathing too hard to hold a conversation throughout those 150 minutes'
Is this your take or what you were told, as all my professionals (cardio team) have told me that you should STILL be able to hold a conversation whilst exercising'.
In regards to life changes you are right to point out the various factors as to whether you should do them or not, that is entirely the individuals choice, they may be tough decisions however it is up to each individual to decide what they want out of life and how they go about getting that.
You're right, my apologies, the advice I was given was breathing too hard to sing but still be just able to hold a conversation.
In fairness I was also given a target heart rate range for exercise, which in my case goes up to 130bpm, I aim to get above 120bpm and then hold that for an hour. By the end I'm not in any shape to hold a conversation!
When I did my cardio rehab, I was told if I was with someone I should be able to hold a conversation, and if I was on my own I should be able to sing. Always found that difficult people tended to look at me strangely as we passed 😂 though it works for me. As some as said one size doesn’t fit all.
Best wishes Pauline
I agree completely especially about the moderate exercise. As you have found, the NHS idea of moderate is not for everyone. I guess the problem for them is that with a class of maybe 12, one size really does not fit all.
I wouldn't say meeting the drinking target would be hard on most people.
It's my understanding that your breathing still allows you to have a conversation.
Over a week, you should do a total of at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderate-intensity activity. Moderate-intensity activity means activity that makes you feel warmer and breathe harder, and makes your heart beat faster than usual, but you should still be able to carry on a conversation.
bhf.org.uk › filesPDF
Physical activity and your heart
We are all different. We all have differing conditions. One person may be able to greatly improve their condition, another may have some damage which limits their recovery. You are unique. Just do what you can. Some exercise, even gentle, is better than none.
Hi Carpbait, I'm 15 years younger than you and feel the same. Do what you can and don't worry about anything you can't do. It's frustrating I know. And I agree that the cardiologists vary hugely, as can the advice you get. Keep smiling and do the best you can 👍.
If you’re going to have blood tests for thyroid etc maybe ask for a vitamin D test as well? I was very low on Vit D last winter and after a treatment course felt much better. I take it all year round now.
• in reply toJocastina
Just been diagnosed vitiate D deficiency, started taking vitamin D daily,Thanks for the advice
We are the same age and here I am 4 + years after this damning episode in my life first started, since when I have had 3 further blips! Prior to November 2017 I was almost exceptionally fit cycling between 300 & 500 miles per week at high competition speeds, but these days I can only look at my bikes!!Do you have any other conditions, most especially respiratory as my cardiological team are now finally accepting what I have always thought, namely that so many of my problems are as a direct result of my lungs occasionally failing to supply enough oxygen in the blood which at best results in me having a short dizzy weak spell, or at worst the urgent need for me to stop doing anything other than very deep controlled breathing.
It might be worth your while sitting down and writing down all of your problems, very carefully and thoroughly and then if there are any of even the remotest hints, then go and speak your finds through with your GP.
• in reply toBuzzy-Beans
Hi Buzzy-Beans , I had a stroke 6 months after heart attack, so this has significantly slowed me down.
Sunnie2day• in reply to
I feel a bit strange 'up-ticking' your comment considering you not only have had a serious heart event but a stroke as well. But good on yer trying to work out how to regain some fitness.
Morning, I had my attack 8 weeks ago, along with a stent fitted, and that is the one thing for me is the extreme tiredness. I did feel tired before the attack for sometime but at least I could go swimming etc. At present I struggle to walk upstairs. Good fortune.
• in reply toRaffles77
Hi Raffles77 , the only advice I can give you is that given to me, go up 1 step and come down, when you feel confident with yourself go up 2 steps and so on, be surprised how good you feel when you get to the top of the stairs, I won’t lie it’s going to take some time. Good luck.
Raffles77• in reply to
Thank you.
Hi Carpbait,
Sorry to hear that you are still having issues doing daily tasks two years post HA. As has been said, we are all different. We also start our heart history from different points - lifestyle, hereditary factors, age, previous medical history, etc.
Your post does make me feel guilty in some way as my story is totally different to yours. I have ended up with virtually no damage to my heart, much better circulation than I had and now I climb 3,000 foot mountains in Scotland. All I can do is be grateful.
• in reply toMountainGoat52
Good for you my friend , glad you are one of those people who have come out the other side, enjoy your life,
MountainGoat52• in reply to
Thanks for that. I do feel guilty though as having a HA actually did me a favour.... bizarre as it sounds. 😀
You will be on a range of medications, one of which will be a beta blocker which has a very common side effect of fatigue++. Discuss with your GP and see if a different beta blocker might be better
Hi, everyone is different and so are our bodies.
Your body will tell you what you are/aren’t capable of doing, don’t compare yourself with anyone else. Some people take longer to heal than others. Just accept you won’t be able to do (some) things you were capable of pre your h/a.
If you are concerned about your recovery speak to your Cardiac Nurse or your Consultant.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.
I had a heart attack 16 months ago and 4 stents. It is the big wake up call but I’ve been ok. Shed a load of weight by cutting one meal a day out. We moved house and I’ve retired but am full on DIY, golf or assisting daughter with 2 year old foster child. I’ve never felt as fit or full of energy. Not sure if it’s the pills, blood flowing better, diet exercise or combination of all things. I have cut down strong coffee to one cup every couple of days ( used to be six a day at work). Have you tried an afternoon snooze to recharge. The other thing that I found helped was work intensely in short bursts and then take a sit down for an hour. I found this really made a difference. We’d both start a task, work for an hour to 2 hours then rest for 45. It worked for me.
I would suggest that you discuss your tiredness with your GP or cardiologist and not put too much store on well meaning advice from the non-medically qualified. Good luck.
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