Short version of my story is that on Xmas evening I had a heart attack. I had to be resuscitated twice. In the ambulance and again at the hospital while they were inserting the stent.
During various echo and ct scans they found a couple of abnormalities unrelated to what happened. Issues with the valves and the size of another artery.
Yesterday I was told I was being discharged and would go back for an MRI to get a better look at the issues mentioned above.
That's when the panic set in. After the initial joy of being told I was going home I was just full of fear. If anything else happened in hospital the building was full of people that are trained for anything. Not the case at home.
I literally didn't sleep a wink last night. Everything that happened going round my head. Any slightly weird feelings anywhere in my body ŵould get me panicking. I'm exhausted but still couldn't get any sleep when I tried earlier.
Is this normal? Will it go away? Aside from the heart issues there's obviously worries about whether work will pay me and whether I can actually go back at all as its an on your feet 10 hour day with repeated heavy lifting. I got tired today just sorting out my bags from the hospital.
The hospital have already been in touch regarding a rehab program starting next week but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Petrified46
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I won't lie and say all is now good but it has helped. Thanks again
Hello
You have been through an ordeal and no wonder you feel so full of fear this is perfectly normal
I agree with Hidden take one thing at a time , yes you should get sick pay the rest as and when it comes you will deal with it for now put it to one side you are important at the moment and your recovery
It is great you are getting Rehab so soon and you will meet people that have been through similar as well as having the Rehab Nurses to ask questions and that will reassure you
The other heart related things they would not have sent you out if they felt they could not be dealt with as an out patient and they will deal with them so try not to worry even though I know it is easier said than done
You will feel tired so rest and I do understand when you are in Hospital it is like having a security blanket they send you out and it feels like someone has pulled it away from under you but your heart is a lot better than before that blanket got pulled away so keep remembering that
You can come and talk with us whenever you want to and we will try and help and I hope you have friends and family that are helping you to x
I had a bypass on a Friday and as they needed my bed I was discharged directly from ITU on the Tuesday.
Like you I couldn't wait to come home but then reality set in and every pain and twinge I wondered if that was normal or if I had some complications! That was back in 2017, I have had 2 more stents fitted last year but thankfully I am still here.
You will continue to worry and have sleepless nights, I am sure for many these don't go away completely but it is easier to live with.
It was a Christmas to remember though, let's hope the New Year is less eventful.
Wow. Sounds like you've had a rough time. A guy in the bed opposite me was in for his 2nd stent I thought that was bad enough.
It literally is anything isn't it. A week ago it's what's that. Now it's OMG WHATS THAT?!
Just second guessing everything. Like I just went to get a drink and I felt a little dizzy / light headed and breathing seemed laboured. Or is it my fear making things worse than they seem?
Looking at positives I'm glad i found this site with ppl that have been there before.
I found this site after my bypass and it was a Godsend. You initially feel quite alone and then find people who have been there and done that and have so much experience and advice to give.
I had a bypass in 2017, it was a single bypass and they used the mammary artery to bypass the problem artery and I now find myself saying 'mine was ONLY a single bypass', don't get me wrong I don't think you can ever take heart procedures lightly but some people have really gone through it.
The good news is that so many of us hearties go on to lead a long and healthy life so try and hold onto that when doubts set in, that doesn't mean you shouldn't seek medical help if anything doesn't feel right!
Hopefully 2023 will be a good year, take up any help and support from the cardiac rehab team, they do a fantastic job.
I had a quadruple in May, so not really sure I should be speaking to people like you. Only a 'single'? Perhaps you could call me 'sir'?
In an all seriousness, the strength of these forums is that so many people had so many different experiences, so whatever has happened to you, two or three people will pop up here and have had direct experience of the problem.
You ask "Is it my fear making things worse than they seem?"By posing this question you are as good as answering the question yourself. YES. I have read all the wonderful replies. Everyone is behind you. Yes you yourself recognise that your "fear" is laying a minefield of traps before you. Swap "fear" for "courage" and begin to plan your day with small but positive steps to recovery. Yes, adjustments may be made, but life is here for you to continually enjoy. There are many on this forum well ahead of you on their recovery path. They are all turning round and saying "Come on, don't be afraid, walk with us and move forward." I wish you strength and a positive mindset. We are all here for you. ❤️
I remember receiving my heart condition diagnosis and being told I had borderline severe heart failure - it hit me like a brick wall to the face!
If I’m completely honest, even now I’m almost 2 years since my diagnosis I’m still “grieving” if that makes sense. I haven’t had to experience surgeries or invasive testing procedures so for that I do feel lucky but I’m forever in this battle of not trusting my own judgement around my body.
Having said that, I went for 2 and a half years feeling like something was wrong and being told by GP after GP at my practice that I was a new mum and then a mum to 2 and that I was bound to feel tired and my heart rate was probably high due to dehydration because I was breastfeeding. Even after that, I still struggle to advocate for myself for fear of “wasting people’s time”.
I think it’s completely normal to feel that fear after you first leave hospital and I’m pleased to hear you’ve been “kidnapped” and are being cared for by family, hopefully this will bring you some comfort and reassurance too.
With regard to sick pay - you will be entitled to statutory sick pay providing you meet the eligibility criteria but it may be worth asking your manager if they pay occupational sick pay and if so how much as SSP is a fixed amount and I can’t remember off the top of my head how much but it’s not particularly generous. However, I would focus on your recovery as the priority but would urge you to accept any support including an occupational health referral if your company offer one as they can be a real asset to aid a return to work when you are fit and ready!
I hope that you will find it easier to rest in the coming days, and that sleep will naturally return. When I can’t sleep, I try to focus on resting my body rather than trying to fall asleep and more often than not, I drift off!!
I had a heart attack on 20/09/22, after unsuccessfully trying to convince my new GP practice to refer me to a cardiologist as I was new to the area, and had a cardiologist in London. Well basically I new something was wrong, I’d slowed down almost to a grinding halt. 10 days after the GP dismissed my fears I had my heart attack. I didn’t call an ambulance because I was told my heart was fine. Subsequently it was over 7 hours before I got to the hospital and had a stent fitted. I was the same initially, as you are now. Every twinge, change in pulse, blood sugar changes, literally everything, I wondered is it my heart again. Yesterday I had stent 2 and 3 fitted and again have twinges from the trauma inside. It is very normal, I have to spoken to so many patients, and nurses. I don’t stop asking questions when I have appointments. So you are like all of us were and still are, nervous, scared, curious. Try your best to relax, and take whatever help is offered. You always have all of us with you. Happy New Year.
Hi Petrified 46,Welcome to the Hearties club - The one where none of us ever applied for membership !
Understandably your head is all over the place at the moment. That's the same for all of us who have had a heart attack.
I'm sure if the medics didn't think it safe - you would not have been discharged into the hands of your kidnappers .
You'll get used to the New You and how you feel . It will take time....but you'll get there.
Now 15 months after my HA and I still think
" what's that" to any unusual sensation. But it passes and you're awareness will fade.
Cardio rehab has been BRILLIANT .
I was always fit ,sporty, active and healthy
( certainly didn't look like I was heading for a HA ). But exercise in a supervised gym where you know help is at hand if you need it ( you won't by the way ) has been such a confidence builder.
My advice ( after rambling on a bit 🤭)
Control yhe things you can:
Eat healthily......excercise....take all your meds...
The best mindset is to think of yourself as being one of the lucky ones, you survived to live another day, sadly some don't. That mindset helped me immensely following my HA and stents.
I can`t add to anything that has not already been said except my motto has been `one day at a time`. Over 2 years later and it`s still getting me through the days and nights. Best wishes to you. x
Hello there, so sorry this has happened to you, it's incredibly scary and upsetting. Most of us on here came from a similar situation. Everything was fine then suddenly it really wasn't, quite dramatically.
I have two things to add.
The first is yes, you will suddenly be hyper aware of everything. Since my diagnosis of ACHD I have become hyper aware of my chest. There is nothing wrong with it - I think it's just stress / psychosomatic. The consultant this week told me this is entirely normal. So don't panic at every 'pain', but if you find you are breathless, dizzy, suffering palpitations etc, do seek advice. The BHF nurse helpline is also a great source of info and someone to chat to.
The second is - you've been through something very traumatic. Your mental well-being has taken a big knock, and don't underestimate the impact that has on you. Talking really does help - to us lot, to nurses, and if you need further support like CBT or counselling further down the line, I'd embrace it. I'm seeing a counsellor and I'm so grateful to have someone else to listen and share professional coping strategies. That mental side is also linked to things like controlling anxiety and sleep. I use the Headspace ap to help me get back to sleep when I wake up. When your mind is racing at night you almost have to say 'right, that's enough, time to sleep' and I pick a number between 750 and 1000 and start counting backwards with the breath. It's just hard enough to stop your mind thinking of other things but helps you drift off.
Good luck, we're all with you and we're always here xxx
What a horrible time for you! You are on the right forum for help,advice and support and others will say it much better than I can! Just make sure you keep going and take every little win you can!
You've had quite the Xmas ! As my other fellow "hearties" have said, none of us wanted to be here, but count our blessings that we ARE here, and luckily enough to have found some kindred souls, willing and able to help us in our time(s) of need.
Thatwasunexpected is completely right, what you're feeling, thinking & experiencing are entirely normal, I'd even dare to say necessary? Yes some get off lightly whilst others get clobbered, I had a major HA but have been let off reasonably lightly, so my advice is...don't try to cross your bridges until you need to. I've kept a saying in my head since my HA..."I don't know, until I know! Yes you've some exploratory work to come and some information to absorb, then hopefully you'll know.
We all need to process and come to terms with what has happened, trauma and shock has been visited upon us and we need time & more time to come to terms with it.
I wish you all the best, we'll be here when you need to ask those questions and almost certainly someone will already have 'been there' and have some reassuring words for you.
good to hear you’ve pulled through. I had my first stent in 2004 after insisting with my GP I had angina, took 4 years. So I had advanced heart disease (atherosclerosis) in my late 30’s . Went to cardiac rehab, followed all the guidelines, took all the meds then I needed another stent in 2017 non smoker, 😢. I finally discovered what is causing this! Not saturated fat.. it’s sugar and carbs!! , just my opinion after listening to the evidence. I’ve now adopted a Ketogenic diet lifestyle! Blood profile is massively improving. Feel great.
You will start to accept what has happened to you, it takes a while but you just have to accept it. The reason I say that is at 46 you probably have another 30 years in front of you and 30 years of worrying would really get you down !!
I was 32 when I started on this road and I am now 75. I don't worry about my Heart done Rehab 3 times had Open Heart Bypass surgery, had stents in my bypassed LAD and had my Native LAD opened up after it had been bypassed. My Right Coronary artery is 100% blocked and can't be bypassed or opened. I have Moderate to Severe Heart Failure. So there is a lot of different routes on offer lol
I am now sat here having a beer got 4 cans in for tonight and I will have a dram tonight at the turn of the year. I am looking froward to 2023 and my 41st anniversary of a Heart Attack oh and my 55th wedding anniversary !
Tomorrow Morning for breakfast I will have Two Hash Browns, Two Beef Sausages. Two Fried Eggs and Two Toast. and just to show how to try to be positive is I am sure that's what I will be having Not Maybe Having. Now that is not my normal breakfast but hey it's another year successfully Navigated so lets Celebrate.
Pop the Pills and do what your Told is a recipe for Success .
I wish you Well and a Very Good New Year it Gets better Honest
Just to show I am not 100% Cavalier I will cook the Sausage and Hash Browns in the Air Frier and I will have Brown Bread for the Toast
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