1 year since my Widowmaker update

Hi all,

Yesterday I had my final check in with the Cardiology doctors and I’m in great health, my heart is strong, I feel strong and I’m now only taking aspirin and atorvastatin.

A far cry from walking into A&E on 16/11/20 and suffering a STEMI which stopped my heart for 90 seconds. I was lucky that defibrillation worked.

I was flown to John Radcliffe for a stent to be fitted and left there with so many meds and my whole world turned upside down.

All cardiac rehab was done by myself as there were and still are no rehab services in Jersey.

I’ve bought a camper van, I’m in the process of retiring and I’m driving to Spain for the winter.

Thanks for all of the support shown by you guys, it’s all helped me move forward from where I was last November.

Life is so simple now, I live my life for me and I cherish every day I have on this beautiful planet.

Thanks

Darren

[Hidden]

Good for you Darren, that's brilliant to read. Make sure you take some warm clothing, Spain can be bloody cold in the Winter, even on the Mediterranean coast.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks John. I will 👍

[mathematics]

Well done so glad you are doing so well and managed to get off all your meds nearly as well. Take care and keep well

[Wooodsie]

Hi Darren, happy camping 👍😀. Well done and great news.

I'm extremely jealous that you've had a 1 year review 😕😂.

My research revealed that beta blockers don't do anything long term but the statins and blood thinners do, so keep taking them so long as no major side effects.

Have a great time in Spain, a wonderful idea 🚐

[Hidden in reply to Wooodsie]

Thanks Woodsie 👍

[Soppybat]

Brill news. Similar story here but I was on a Greek Island when a heart attack struck. Not wanting to alarm my daughter in the UK my text said ‘got a slight heart problem’ thinking I had met someone she replied ‘tell me more’! Well a helicopter trip to the mainland…stented… and on I go! At 73 I am working a 50 hour week and look forward to a Greek Island in 2022. Have fun!

[redimps]

Hi Amazing and positive post thank you for sharing. I am 16 weeks post STEMI and still trying to get over it all. I hope all continues to go well for you

[Sunnysummerdays]

Well done bodyrox!!!👍

[Bonham123]

Love it, good luck to you 😁

[Misstibbs]

Hi Bodyrox - that’s good news brilliant. I’m intrigued, I had the very same about a year before you and was rushed into Queen Alexandra at Portsmouth, they did a great job and I’m back to good fitness running a 5k etc, but I don’t have a cardiology doctors, I’m on the same statin but highest strength aspirin and 2 other heart medications? I’d love to drop some tablets. My BP is and always has been low.

[Hidden in reply to Misstibbs]

Thanks Misstibbs,Try and get yourself seen by a cardiac team or even your GP. Im on 75mg aspirin every day, don't know if that's high strength. The surgeon I saw said I didn't need the ticagrelor nor the lansoprazole going forward. I had a right carry on with BP meds when I first came home, I didn't need them and they were dropping my BP to very low levels so we stopped very early.

I was told that being on as few meds as possible is the preferred option, so hopefully you can get the same news too 👍

[Misstibbs in reply to Hidden]

👍

[VelvetSky in reply to Misstibbs]

Hi, I quite agree about QA Portsmouth Cardiac Dept, had only 5% chance when I had a HA superb care.

A great pity that the rest of QA doesn't live up to that standard. They nearly killed me earlier this year when I had a serious illness, now taking advice as to making a claim against them.

[Misstibbs in reply to VelvetSky]

👍

[Hidden]

Darren,

Just a big thank you for your uplifting message, so glad to hear that you are well and your new life is being mapped out in front of you.

I wish you many many years of life and happiness { and must admit to a bit of camper van envy !}

Good luck with your part in this experience of life.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou Blue. Best wishes to you 🙏

[Handel]

Nice one Darren! Take a vest and some bed socks with you !! Most of all, enjoy your break xxxx