I appreciate I'm very young but I'm worried about the future. I'm slightly overweight but on a diet, and I've started running. I regularly do parkruns. So I'm already trying to improve myself. I'm a secondary school teacher so fairly stressed most of the time
Last week while I was at work, I had a free period so I set out for a run. I was about a km in and I thought I got a stitch, but it was different than normal instead of listening to my body I carried on running. The next thing I remember I was on the floor with 3 colleagues around me. I've been told I suddenly collapsed; a student was daydreaming in his lesson and saw me "fall" and alerted his teacher.
I've got a Garmin watch, which also shows my heart rate I noticed a few months ago it was low but I didn't really think much about it. I had also noticed a few palpations but not frequent enough to concern me.
As well as my heart attack, I have Afib, high blood pressure and a few other things I won't bore you with.
I've spoken to my cardiac rehabilitation nurse but my question to you is... Will I ever be able to get back to where I was, can I do everything I planned?
Sorry for going on, thanks for reading
V x
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Valentina98
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Pretty much every single one on this forum has been where you are today. Ofcourse, everybody’s journey is different. It’s a good thing that you have already started to address your “modifiable” factors I.e., weight, exercises, medications, smoking or drinking, etc. along with that, you now need to focus on your Mental Health. Speak to your GP or self refer (if one is available) to your local Talking Therapy or Talking Space for some counselling and to gather some tools that could help you with your anxiety and depression.
I won’t lie, it’s not always easy and not all the days are the same. The place I had been working has been taken over by a new company and unintentionally, I got so stressed about it that for the past 4 days my anxiety has been all over the place. I nearly took myself to A&E today but quickly did an ECG on my Apple Watch which showed Sinus Rhythm. Things like the Apple Watch or Garmin can be beneficial but can also cause a lot of anxiety issues as you constantly keep scanning/checking yourself for any symptoms and then suddenly find yourself checking your Heart Rate or an ECG. Make sure that you take your meds regularly.
Ask questions on this group and people here have been extremely supportive. I am currently 36 and go through same thoughts as you on certain days and on other days, you feel absolutely fine.
I would certainly say that you develop a “new normal”
I’m not going to give you false hope and say yes of course you will, the answer is simple none of us know what is around the corner but then neither does anyone else in the world. Now we know we have the problems it means we can all do the best we can to try and keep as healthy and as well as we can. The way I look at it was before I had my HT’s and bypass I was really well and if I can get back to 75% its far better then 0% and in a box, I’m sure lots of people will get back to 100% as you may.
The main thing now is to think we are alive😁😁 and try to get it into your head it’s not about the quantity it’s all about quality which basically is what ever you make it.
hi. They are difficult questions to answer as we are all individuals and I don’t know what led to your heart problems. BUT there are lots of people on this forum who live long and full lives with heart problems and that gives me hope. There is no reason to think that you can’t be one of them. It’s absolutely normal to feel afraid after a heart attack but that will pass, in time
Have they managed to work out why you suffered a heart attack and the reason why you have afib and high blood pressure? The cardiologist needs to get to the bottom of this to inform your treatment plan. On a positive note treatments for heart problems are improving all of the time. You have age on your side and hopefully no serious co-morbidities.
I nearly died in January and the psychological impact of that has been horrendous. Even though I’m told that I’m doing well I feel that my recovery is being held back by the stress of my health anxiety. I think the link between stress and physical health is hugely underestimated and I would really encourage you to get some help with that. I’m currently undertaking therapy with an NHS psychologist as I was referred by the cardiac team. It might not work for everyone but perhaps you could try it. There is always medication for anxiety if you feel that would help. Teaching is a very stressful profession and you need to take care of yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for reasonable adjustments at work if you feel they may help and don’t go back until you are well enough
I’m sending you hugs and really hope that you will be feeling better soon x
Hello Valentina98, please give yourself time to adjust and get as much help as you can. It’s difficult to define what ‘normal’ is once we have had a heart attack. So much of our life changes, naturally physically but also mentally. As others have said , with the medication, healthy diet and exercise we find a new normal. It does take time to adjust but things do improve. Cardio rehab and seeing a counsellor has helped me and I will continue with both as long as I can. Take good care xx
I can't answer for your particular case, but a friend had a heart attack at 55, and a year later, having followed instructions on diet and exercise, was fitter and more active than he had been for many years. There is hope if you are careful.
HI, the short answer is Yes, a normal life is totally possible, but what is normal? I live the life I want to, cycle every day, continue to work etc and all of that is normal to me. There will be nagging doubts creeping in from time to time but I think that's natural consider what most of us have been through.
hi I'm 50 mcd and cad I dont think I will ever get to where I was before I'm just trying to do what I can which is very frustrating, I just try and take it day by day, I have had to do an easier job also
Hi, Im so sorry to hear what happened to you it must have all been a terrible shock. I hope you are getting lots of support.
I'm certain you will get lots of fab advice & support on here so do ask away at any time.
I just wanted to say I had 2 heart attacks 5 years ago and Im a teacher. As I was 55 at the time and had a few other complications I took early retirement and now work just 2 days a week. I am very happy now with what I call my 'new normal'
Today I was up at 7am and swam for the first time in years! Everyones circumstances& bodies are different and you will hear some amazing & inspiring stories on here. You are doing all the right things, look after yourself & be kind to yourself. Don't rush, the tortoise wins the race remember 😉 and so will you.
I know exactly how you feel. I am also a teacher as well as a fitness instructor. Right up to my operation I felt fit and was very active.
Suddenly all that stopped after a check I was told I needed a bypass. It was complete shock and a complete change in what I was used to.
I am now 8 weeks post op and wondering if life will ever be the same. To any professional listening I tell them I want to be back at gyms. I am always told the same i should be able to but in time. I need to listen to my body and not rush it.
It is surprising how much more you can do each week.
I know it feels like everything changes and you sometimes it feel like a lack of control or that you want to do more. But listen to your body and remember some days will be worse aand others will be better.
hi there, you have been though a lot but you will recover and get back to normal. Just take it easy and don’t push yourself, and yes-listen to your body!
Teaching is stressful on many levels and for me, I am sure this was a factor in my health amongst other things. I only could recognise this in hind sight and wished I had changed things sooner. But the love of the job and not wanting to let students down kept me in a toxic school far longer than I should have been.
We were quite radical and were able to downsize to get rid of the mortgage to take the financial burden out of the equation so that I could work from home still in education. It was the best thing I have ever done.
I appreciate that this may not be possible for other people but the change in stress levels has helped me heal.
Look at this side of things too and work on good sleep patterns; healthy ways to deal with stress (meditation; breathing exercises; mindfulness; being in nature; or simply taking time out for you to do nothing but be you even for 5 minutes)
This with all the other good things you were doing will help.
I hope that you begin to feel better and recover fully soon.
Believe that you may be able to do all those things again in the future but listen to your body and be flexible in backing off when you are doing too much. It can be a bit up and down and rarely linear. Just like learning 😊
Thank you for all the comments, I am undergoing investigation for the cause of the heart attack. Its believed it may have something to do with when I had covid earlier this year, but they aren't ruling out a pre existing undiagnosed heart condition.
I am one of those people who can't sit still do being told to rest and not do too much is driving me crazy. I'm going to volunteer at my local parkrun instead. Wishing I could run it.
I've got yet another appointment with my gp today so I'll speak to them about counseling.
Thanks
V x
Hello
I would say yes a normal life is more than possible
My Dad had heart attacks and Bypasses young and went on to live a full and happy life
When we have a heart attack we ask ourselves all these questions as it is a life changing event and normal to do so but I think taking each day as it comes getting fit again and then assessing our life's do we want to change paths we were on or are we coping just fine as we were before this all happened but this all takes time and normal for some is the same as before the heart attack and for others they find a new normal to suite them either way you will have a life that suites you and will enjoy it
You are on the right track , stay positive x
Valentina98 your question is a very good one. I for one still struggles to find an answer. It will over time get easier. But it will become a new normal. But as a nurse said to me iam on the right medication and iam in a better place than i was before my issue was known. The biggest advantage is that you will be checked out and may have regular checks which you would not have had before. The battle though is with the mind. My biggest issue is playing about with the gadgets at home trying to wish for them to be normal. This puts more anxiety and tress on your mind. I am glad that my blood pressure is starting to be controlled which is a positive. But by reading the stories and threads on this forum has helped me, and many people have lots and lots of experience to pass on. I hope you find peace
Take your time. Concentrate on the things you can do and not the things you used to do. Be happy to be alive and given a second chance and who knows, you may get where you want to be in the future. It isn’t necessary to kill yourself to keep fit, it is far more important to live each day as it comes. That was my experience going from a super fit 25 year old to a practical invalid in a single weekend due to atrial fibrillation. I’m now 54 and have not ran or done any extreme sports since then but am glad to still be here and have watched my kids grow up. Best wishes.
Just reading your old post and the replies to it Valentina ( then must get off - the PC absorbs so much time!) Your concerns were very much in my head yesterday - although that was very much the case for me even before the heart event .
Just reading ... but I note we've both done / are doing teaching and we both get something from Park Run!🙃
The same thought that you've expressed crossed my mind too, but I've been having to adjust to that decline without any help . I'm pinning a lot on the aid here and in the NHS . 'The Power of Now ' E.T. One wee step at a time I guess - wherever you're going.
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