2nd night home

[Kla82]

My partner is 45 and was told 3 weeks ago that he was suffering from panic attacks after we rushed him to A&E , in the following week the pains got worse so we asked the G.P for a second opinion, the G.P prescribed beta blockers and arranged a phone appointment for next week with a cardiologist, unfortunately early hours Sunday morning he had a seizure and a heart attack!!! The ambulance took 1.5 hrs to arrive and then rushed him to papworth for emergency surgery, they fitted a stent and he came home yesterday! I am petrified something is going to happen again , I am hiding my anxiety from him because I know he is anxious aswell but it's really upsetting knowing I nearly lost him and now he keeps getting these episodes almost like sleep apnea where he jumps up like he can't catch his breath, it scares the life out of me and him, he also keeps going hot and cold, like sweating one minute then shivering the next ! Is this normal ? I feel like a nervous wreak .

[Hidden]

Hello

What an awful experience for you both there is no wonder you both are on high alert and feeling so anxious

Even when we do not have such an experience as you have we all feel anxious after and the thoughts will it happen again

I am nearly 10 months after having a triple Bypass and I still worry

As he is so anxious do you feel he could be having nightmares that are causing him to wake up feeling like he cannot catch his breath ?

Hold and cold sweats can also come along when we are anxious to

I would speak with your Doctor let them know and they can decide what is causing this , give them a ring tomorrow hopefully it will give you both peace of mind by doing so

Be reassured though it takes time to start feeling confident again after such a big life changing event but things will get better

Let us know how you get on x

[deniseinmilden]

Hi,

I'm so sorry you've been through this. I don't know exactly where you are but am guessing you are in East Anglia if he was lucky enough to go to Papworth.

The care and knowledge at Papworth and Addenbrooke's is like chalk and cheese with several of our other hospitals around here.

Having persistently got nowhere with WSH - whose A&E department advised me to go to Papworth if I could, my GP referred me to Ipswich where I've been very lucky to have been assigned an excellent cardiologist.

As BeKind28 says, call Papworth and speak to them about it. Once you have got a better idea from them about what is going on and why, you can try phoning the British Heart Foundation nurses and talking things through with them.

Having almost had a disaster when you weren't listened to, every time you feel you are being told "it's OK", basic self-preservation will be telling you "ignore them - it might not be OK"... which is sensible, but means that when it really IS OK, you won't get the benefit of their reassurance.

I've had the same sort of reactions after non heart ops, just as a result of the anaesthetics and shock coming out of my body - it affects you to some extent for at least a month afterwards - so this might be what the problem is... But it is essential that you ask Papworth and see what they say.

Good luck with things and use the fact that you weren't listened to as a lever - remember they messed up and owe you BIG time! Ask questions and ask them what they are going to do: it's quite hard for them to say "nothing".

And remember there are thousands of people who go on to lead happy healthy lives for decades after they've had a heart attack so plan for your future and do make any lifestyle adjustments which might help. If you survive a heart attack you are in a good position to do all the right things not to have another one!

[Kla82]

It was WSH that has let us down too , trouble is as I've said, I am so very grateful to the surgeons that saved his life and I'm grateful for some of the kind nurses , but honestly it seems that compassion and care and accurate diagnosis is hard to get these days . I have put a request in this morning to speak with his G.P I believe he has been suffering for many years with sleep apnea and it's always worse when he is stressed or emotionally exhausted! Last night was bad , I barely slept a wink , it's like he stops breathing then catches it again suddenly which makes him jump up , he also jerks and has muscle spasms in his face neck and throughout his body . Again doctors have never been bothered when he tells them about it and they say there's nothing they can do ! But after this seizure and heart attack I'm terrified of sleeping in case something happens.

[Qualipop in reply to Kla82]

Hasn't the GP sent him to a sleep clinic? My son has sleep apnoea and got an appointment within 2 or 3 weeks. A warning though; it took my son over a year t o get a provisional driving licence because of it. IT's something you have to report to DVLA , lots of forms to fill in and probably a GP letter to say he's fit to drive. Ring your GP and insist he does something urgently.