Hi all.. I had a heart attack just after Christmas and a day later had a stent fitted. The heart attack I think was several before I got to hospital. After a week I was discharged with a bag of medication. I am a single dad with a 12 year old son. I’m not young though and I have no help. I felt very weak afterwards. I hardly slept in the hospital for 7 days. I’m struggling a bit with the medication I think, aches and pains, fatigue and some nausea. I try to walk a bit round the block but my chest starts hurting . I’m starting to feel a bit down, bit old and vulnerable. I wasn’t before. I’m feeling guilty about being off work. I think people feel I’m skiving. I worked in private education and it was very stressful. I don’t know what is best to do and how long is normal to recover properly..
Returning to work : Hi all.. I had a... - British Heart Fou...
Returning to work
Hello, and welcome to the board. Sorry to hear about your heart attack, but you've come to the right place for support. We aren't doctors here and can't provide advice but can share our own experiences.
Recovery time depends to an extent on what has happened to your heart. So if you had an NSTEMI (sometimes called a mild heart attack) or a STEMI, whether you had to be resuscitated and your exact treatment. You should have this information in your discharge notes and you should certainly be getting follow up treatment from cardiology and your GP. I hope you were also given some bhf booklets while you were in hospital which are very helpful.
The BHF has a number direct to cardiac nurses you can call if you want to speak to someone or have questions.
A heart attack can definitely make you feel depressed and some people but not all will get some medicine side effects. I'd advise you to talk to your GP about these.
In terms of work please don't feel guilty, you've had a major life event and recovery (physical and mental) can take some time. For me I had my HA a year ago, was off work for 3 weeks and then went part time for 2 further months but I was lucky to have a mild attack, got my 6 stents quite quickly and luckily have great support from my family and from my employer and I feel very well indeed now.
You should have been invited to cardiac rehab classes and also told about the use of gtn spray and what to do if it doesn't work. Unfortunately cardiac care in the nhs has been disrupted by covid so routine support that you should get can be a bit of a lottery so please do ask for help, via your GP or via the BHF
I'm sure others on this board will be along to support you soon.
Hi,
Recovery after a heart attack can take some time. It's not just the damage to the heart but also getting used to the medications. I found that some of the medicines made me feel quite unwell and it's good to talk to your doctor about these as sometimes an equivalent tablet can work better for you.
I would be concerned about chest pain though. I'm not sure if it could be any bruising from the stent or signs that something else is wrong. If it carries on, I would try to seek advice from your Doctor or a cardiac Nurse. I've been told many times it's better to seek advice than stay at home and ignore it.
Whilst things seem low now, things do get better with a little bit of time. Try not to push yourself too much and allow your body time to recover. A lot of people who have had a stent fitted say that they feel much better afterwards. You just need to get past this first stage before you reap the benefits.
Good luck with your journey.
Matt
Thanks for the reply Matt. I think post H/A I was processing the physical incident.. dealing with the impact on my body. However, later your mind starts to kick in and as you try to relax your body your thoughts start to drift into worry and anxiety territory.. lots of change to deal with. Best thing people seem to say is take each day as it comes ..
I was just like you, the day after my procedure I had aches around my heart, luckily I was still in hospital and a very thorough echocardiogram along with an ECG confirmed that my heart was pumping well and that the valves were functioning perfectly.They did tell me it was due to the angioplasty.
That was last June, it took three or four months for my heart to stop aching and slightly longer with a few changes for my body to get used to the medication.
Although it's a relatively quick procedure on that production line of patients going into the Cath Lab it's still a big procedure for you to get over both physically and emotionally.....I was gob smacked how weak I felt and how easily I tired.
It's early days for you my friend and you don't have the luxury by the sound of it of a partner "nursing you".
Have they mentioned "rehabilitation" to you?
If they do, it's not at all daunting, jump at the chance, it will restore your faith in your body and make you realise that there's no reason a heart attack should hold you back in life.
Best wishes.
I spent 12 months off after my first heart attack. I returned to work too soon and within a few weeks resigned. I'm not well off, I couldn't afford to give up the job but I had ptsd and didn't realise it.
I'd strongly suggest from what you've said, speaking to your GP and getting yourself given a bit more time. Work will cope, you and your son will not cope if you rush back and then end up like me, giving your job up.
Take a bit more time. When eventually you do go back, consider part time work.. When you allow for tax, 4 days a week pays almost the same as 5 in most jobs.
Be kind to yourself. A heart attack isn't a little thing.
It does get easier in time and when you're ready 👍😉
Hello Alex09,
Firstly, I am sorry to hear what you are going through. And to a certain extent, I can relate to everything that you have been going through.
Your recovery depends on a lot of factors.
1) What type of surgery you have had?
If you have had stent fitted (like you did) generally, the physical recovery is quick.
2) Medications- The medications make you exhausted and also make you feel constantly fatigued. Some people can have a few side effects from them.
3) Your general health before and after the surgery- if you were a fit and healthy individual before surgery, then I would expect people to get back to doing those activities once they feel a bit better
4) stress and worries- In your case, you are a single dad and have a stressful job. With what happened with you, you are going to constantly think about child’s future and will worry what his life will be, if anything is to happen to you.
I had a HA at the age of 33 but rather than stents, I needed a Quintuple Bypass Graft Surgery. I had a hospital stay of 17 days and have no memory of the first 13 days because I was sedated all through that time. I am currently on 8 different medications. It took me 6 months to return to work. When I had my heart attack, my son was only 10 months old. So I constantly worry about him. I had my HA when I was on my way to work and I passed out. Was found by a couple of construction workers who then rang ambulance. Woke up to horror of hospital and multiple tubes everywhere after 13 long days. As a result of this, I have developed PTSD and I acknowledge it. Even though I am married, I still worry about my son. It’s been almost 2.5 years since I have my HA but I still feel guilty about taking time off for any reason but the fact is, if your not feeling well then you are good for no one and no matter what, you need to learn to put yourselves ahead of everyone (which doesn’t come naturally to me). I also know the feeling of being vulnerable. I still avoid roads and paths with less people, as I worry that if something like before is to happen again, may be this time no one would be able to find me in time. As soon as I feel my heart beats increasing, I panic and go into an anxiety mode (even though temporarily, now).
So everything that you are going through is natural and normal and every individual will be different and will take different time to recover. All I would suggest, is listen to your body, do not rush and just take “one day a time”. It’s a hard journey. Also, any one who hasn’t been through what you did, would be able to understand you or your problems. So don’t expect that from people.
Take Care and Stay Blessed
Hi there, I had 3 stents fitted and started a phased return of a month to get back at work after about 8 weeks. 3 half days one week the odd full day with a day in between etc…Even then I felt really tired after the first few days. It’s surprising how tired you will get.A few of the others have mentioned the rehab classes and these get you used to how you can push your body whilst in a safe and controlled environment and give you confidence that you are ok. Importantly listen to your body and just go a little further each day or do the same to consolidate your recovery.
We all feel more conscious of every ache or twinge as well in our chest areas now and a lot of that can be from the procedure itself.
Chase up your prescription cardiac team for the rehab classes although I’ve heard it’s sometimes a bit of a postcode lottery for them. The exercises are on you tube and there’s probably a link in this forum too.
👍👍
Please do not go back to work until you are physically ready. Does your employer offer a phased return to work? Do they have insurance cover for you to cover your salary? Please talk to your Human Resources Department before you make any decisions.If you go back before you are ready, you will jeopardise your health further which will have a greater impact on your son.
Wishing you all the best.
If you are feeling guilty about taking time off work you need to start researching, your heart is a pump, but it is not like the water pump in your car, where you fix it and go for another x thousand miles.
Rocovery takes as much time as it takes and life changes are crucial to that. You had a HA for a reason, maybe a number of reasons and stress is always one of them. Try to put work at the back of your thoughts and put getting better at the front, that is the only thing that matters for you and your son.
Talk to your lad as he will play an important role in this, if you think he is young he will probably surprise you. Talk to your friends, relatives about the changes you need to make and keep work only on the back burner for now.
You are young and will recover, but it takes time and patience.
Bonne Chance
Hi, I had a heart attack & stent fitted on the 15th January and I’m really shocked at how tired I’m feeling. I over did it this week and it’s knocked me back a bit. However big lesson learnt as you just can’t rush these things. I think the info given out in hospital made me think I would jump back quickly and feel much better than before but that’s not been the reality for me as yet. There’s no rehab group sessions running at the moment in my area but next week I’m going for a assessment with the physio and I think this will help with my confidence. She did give me some good advice over the phone about walking though and how important it is to warm up and cool down. Plus not to just stop if you have some discomfort but slow down. I’ve also signed up with the BHF rehab at home. They send an email each week and I feel this is helping with my mental well-being. Reading messages on here has also helped and made me realise we are still early days. I searched returning to work and many do not return until after 5 months. Be kind to yourself and maybe have a chat with your cardiology nurse about how you are feeling. Little steps, take care.
Hi Alex - sounds like you’re having a tough time. I also work in private education. My problems kicked off 3 years ago, I was off for 3 months and then part time 3 months and then back properly in September having given up all my management roles and just focusing on teaching. I know what you mean about feeling guilty being off, but don’t. I’m sure you’d step up if needed to cover a sick colleague, and it’s your school’s responsibility to make sure they can cope, not yours. Focus on your recovery, and on your son who needs his Dad to get well. Bill
Hi Alex,
Firstly, I'm sorry to hear what you are going through.
I had a heart attack on the 30th December and a stent fitted. Waiting to have my second stent fitted at the end of the month.
Just like you I have also had a rough time with recovery physically and mentally and with the medication.
Speak to your doctor and tell them the symptoms. For example it's taken my body a while to adapt to Bisoprolol so the cardiologist has had to amend my dosage. In terms of exercise, give yourself time and don't rush. Listen to your body, and every step is progress. Have they referred you to the cardiology rehabilitation team? If not ask your doctor for a referral.
In terms of work - I also work in education. Don't feel guilty, your health comes first and take as much time as you need to heal and recover physically and mentally.
I'm still off work and won't be rushing back till I am 100%.
Take care and best wishes.
Sel
Hi Alex and welcome.It sounds as if you are really going through it, do you have any family/friends support that can help you practically and/or emotionally?
I found it was important to have that support as just talking about things can help, we can certainly try to be your emotional support,
Have you been contacted by a cardiac nurse to ask how you are doing? It may be you need some tweaking of your meds to sort out that pain.
I was 59 when I had my bypass 5 years ago and just 64 when I had 2 stents fitted last October and yes, all of a sudden you feel old and vulnerable and it was something that I had to work through, I decided to do what I can to extend my life (if possible) but certainly enjoy it while I could.
I was lucky as I had retired by the time I had the bypass but TBH I wouldn't have cared less what they thought, you had a heart attack so you stay away from the stress of work for as long as possible you have to look after yourself and your son, time to prioritise.
As for recovery, I think we are all different, if you are still in pain something isn't quite right so you need to chase that up, hopefully you'll eventually be offered some follow up Cardiac rehab which I am finding very helpful.
You have had a life changing event, you are bound to have lots of questions, concerns and worries, it is only normal.
Take it easy, you'll know when it's time to go back to work (if ever)
It's much too soon to go back to work . Stop feeling guilty. IT took 6 months before I got all my tablets sorted out and those that were causing problems swapped. Talk to your GP if you think certain ones are making you so tired. Bisopralol was the biggest cuprit for me. IT dropped my bp much too low and I couldn't function. Ring the hospital to ask about cardiac rehab. If it's available, do it. It's priceless. If not they should be able to point you to online exercises. Recovery is your priority not going back to work.
It is a huge change to mind and body to through a HA and then ask our bodies to accept a daily cocktail of drugs. I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule to how soon you should go back, everyone is different, for what it’s worth I have a stressful desk job and started a phased return gradually building back up to normal, it feels very slow to both colleagues and myself but we only have one life, time to start looking after number one,Take care x
Some have mentioned the cardiac rehab you get over there in the UK, I am quite envious of that system where you are part of a class with health care workers advising you and checking on you progress. Now the pandemic is coming to an end you should try to get some of that.
In terms of work and money, I was suddenly made redundant, with 1 months salary, when I had an at-home wife and two toddlers. I went on a government training course for 6 months and was living very close to the breadline. I remember not buying any clothes, things for the house and repairing my own shoes, but we didn;t go hungry and got used to the little money we had. It was not a sad time at all, we just managed, ate simple food and got on with life.
So focus on your gradual recovery and the lad during this time you two will likely become closer and stronger as people.
I wanted to thank everyone who had taken the time to reply to me -thank you so very much! I don't have anyone else except for my son so it was an incredible lift to read the kind, genuine and supportive messages from people I have never met. There really are moments in life that cut through the usual daily city life of anonymity and stress and remind you that you are part of a bigger group of people who do care for all others and will help without reward..I have accepted that while I may feel somewhere down the road to recovery I'm really not there yet. If I rush back because I feel obligated to this would be a mistake and a short life might easily become shorter!
Actually, since I last wrote I've been informed my College is being sold and I've been placed into a consultation phase with likely redundancy from August. I'll be due some redundancy pay but not a great deal. So, if I return to work it will be teaching out and then finishing in August. It certainly is a really junction point in my life journey! its funny how these things all seem to come at once...
Anyway, thank you again all 16 kind souls who responded to me and I read the messages as if you were talking to me..a real pleasure and blessing. Very best wishes
We are one big family here who have plenty in common, whether we want it or not!! LOL!
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