Following a ha and stent in mid November 4 weeks after my mum passed, I have been trying hard to make lifestyle changes
I have stopped smoking reduced my cholesterol to 1.3 and out walking in this dreadful weather nearly every day for at least 35 minutes
Rehab starts next week
I haven’t yet returned to work in the healthcare sector
Today for no apparent reason I am absolutely exhausted and struggling to stay awake and motivate myself to do anything
I guess my question is, are these days to be expected and a part of recovery and if so do I rest or give myself a kick in the butt and haul myself up by the bootstraps?
59 year old female
Written by
Norton
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16 Replies
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Hello
I am so sorry about the loss of your Mum and in such a short space of time dealing with that as well as your heart attack , you have had to deal with a lot
The progress you have been making though is fantastic and you should be so proud of yourself
You must ne emotionally exhausted and that affects us physically to and yes it is more than normal to have days when we feel tired , not motivated etc and that is alright that is your body saying it needs a day of and you should listen to it and then when it passes which it will then up and onwards again
thank you for replying I just felt I was doing so well and today the feet have been knocked from me , just had a nap and not going to do much for the rest of the day
Hi.....I think after any heart event or heart surgery you make steps forward and then for no reason that seems obvious, you go backwards or you have days when you feel exhausted. The Loss of someone also takes it's toll and I would think that what you are feeling it's absolutely normal. Recoveries aren't text book and everyone is different, that coupled with grief.....I wouldn't worry too much.....i think your body and your mind is just telling you 'enough for now'.…..rest up and enjoy doing nothing for a day or two. All the best x
your doing really well. Like you I had a HA at 59, 1 stent and I also worked in the NHS. That was 17 months ago now. I’ve been left with some muscle damage and arrhythmia’s. I took the full 12 months sick leave. I’ve not gone back as after working there from 17yrs old they offered me rubbish to go back to. Nothing none acute setting so nothing none stressful.
It took me a full 12 months to get my head around the whole situation and that was without a bereavement on top of things. Give yourself time and pace yourself. I could have paced myself much better and still could so I end up shattered at times. But I’ve increased my swimming, go to the gym, walk and do Pilates. I could not do these things and still work so I haven’t gone back. I do things for my health and have a life. Good luck.
thanks Ewole it’s a different ball game being on the other side🤔trying hard to be sensible and then start thinking you need to try harder I guess it’s finding the middle ground. I feel brighter this morning and I need to accept I will need time to heal same as everyone else and stop trying to meet imagined expectations
I can only speak from personal experience but tiredness may be due to the pills/medication and on some days they just seem to make me more tired than others. As others have said, sometimes we need to just do what our bodies are telling us, even if that means that we should do little more than rest.
Hi Norton ,3 years since h.a and stent at 59,I struggled to find my way the first year,felt like someone pulled the rug from under me... slowly taking small steps I'm gradually finding a way to accept the new life style changes I've made,re.diet, exercise,and basically a new approach to life... things will get better for you and you will see a light at the end of the tunnel,some days maybe brighter than others, but in the meantime take care and look after yourself, you've been given another chance at life,do your best 🤗 so sorry for the loss of your mum...x
How I wish for sunny summer days 😂 thank you for replying the support from folks on this forum is just great, it really does help to hear from those who understand, I think I have a much longer road to travel on this specific journey than first anticipated, have a good day x
Hi so sorry about your mam, you have had an awful time, I also work I the health sector at a doctors. I'm 49 and had a heart attack in mid September , 2 stent and then 4 weeks later while having an Echo they found another blood clot due to damaged muscle. So I'm still off work feeling shattered and having maybe 2 hours of sleep on a night just through worry. But you have had a bereavement aswell, so just take it easy and make sure your OK mentally and physically, take care of yourself x
sorry to hear you are so shattered and not sleeping well I just don’t cope with anything if I am over tired. The rehab team have suggested I have counselling as they think it will help me work through the ha, bereavement and having worked frontline during the pandemic, I’m good at giving advice not so good at taking it but on this occasion I’m giving it serious consideration maybe counselling would help you as well, take care and be kind to yourself x
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