Hi there. I am 45 and had a heart attack on Christmas day and had treatment via angiogram. I have no history of heart disease in my family and this came completely out of the blue. I would like to talk to someone closer to my age who has had a similar experience, has recovered or in recovery. I am currently in cardio rehabilitation however there is no one else a similar age to me.
I would love to hear from you
Thanks
Your cardio rehab should be helping you come to terms with your situation and to possibly adopt long term life style changes that will reduce your ongoing risk for future cardiac related problems, e.g diet, exercise, body weight control, no smoking etc etc etc. I suggest you embrace all that is on offer. I am also post heart attack (but older than you) but take the view that provided I do what I can to minimise my heart risk, there is no point in worrying about it. Just enjoy each day as it comes .Finally if its any help I had an aunt who had a heart attack about your age and lived a full life to the age of 95!
Hi my names Gill I’m 45 I had a heart attack on the 9th dec and then spent 6 weeks in hospital. I initially had stents to the right side but they discovered heart disease on the left side and had a bypass plus more stents. Mine also came out of the blue and no history that I know of xx
I’m not too dissimilar in age to you (I’m 51) and I had a heart attack in April 2022, so I’m a few months further down the line than you. There was no history of heart attacks in my family so it was very unexpected, although it happened during a period of acute stress so that was a factor. You will surely be feeling all sorts of mixed emotions right now so don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m pleased you are attending rehab. In my group I was the only woman and the youngest patient there by probably 20 years, so I did feel very self conscious and out of place (and grumpy if I’m honest)! but the staff were hugely supportive and encouraging and it was the key to me regaining my confidence. I did feel less self conscious once I’d been a couple of times. I now walk briskly for an hour each day, which benefits me mentally as well as physically. Physically, I was left with heart failure as the HA was so massive, so I’m still coming to terms with that too. I couldn’t find any local support groups in my area but if you look on the BHF website you may find something local to you.
Thank you so much for your reply. I feel exactly the same about my rehab! I don't look forward to it and no one else really talks to me or each other. All 20+ years older and feel very out of place. I too had been going through a very stressful time in my life and I think one of my biggest challenges moving forward is managing my stress as I really do not want to go through this again. I am feeling mixed emotions, I am still getting used to all the medication, I am tearful and feel sorry for myself at times and get scared every twinge is another attack!
I am sorry your heart attack was so massive. I really appreciate your response and hearing your story and I wish you lots of health and happiness.
Yes, learning to manage stress will be critical for you and it is something I’m working on too. I’ve never really put my needs first above my family, but now self care is a priority. A good walk in the fresh air with my dog really helps my clear my mind of anxiety. What you are feeling right now is absolutely normal for anyone who’s had a HA, you have been through a life changing event and it is going to take some time to process it. I’m still on that road and barely an hour goes by without my mind drifting back to what happened to me, but I do have many moments where I feel truly grateful to still be here and I hold onto those moments when I feel bleak about the future. Wishing you all the best for the future.
Hi Michellet1977 sorry to hear you had to go through all that. I am 44 and had been diagnosed with atherosclerosis and had 4 stents last September. It came as so suprise as well, I was fit and active , eating moderately and never smoke and drank a bottle of beer once in a while. It has been really hard had gone through rehab similar experience as most of them 65+ and most of them were chain smoker and drinker. I am trying to do right thing by changing diets, and more active then before. Almost 5 months and still feel the pain in chest, now medicine causing me dizzy as my BP and HR drops ( I had normal BP and HR prior). That make me anxious still struggling with anxiety....as everyone says in forum we will feel less pain and be less anxious, I can't wait to feel very normal and do things without concern . You not alone in this, we all who has gone through this heart issue at some point go through this. I am trying to stay positive but it is not so easy. I am hoping time l heal and we will feel normal soon.
This site has been very useful you will find much support you looking for.
hi, I am 48 and had my HA last year. Please feel free to ask any questions you have and happy to share my experience and journey so far.
Good morning, I am bit older than you but I thought I just send you a little note. I had massive heart attack March 2021 like you it just came out of the blue I was speaking to my friend on the phone really early in the morning in bed we had such a laugh I said bye then I thought I go and have a shower put my feet on the floor bang the pain was so server. When I was in hospital the consultant said he put a stent in and you have no history in your family of heart attacks he said it just one of those things he also said they are finding now that woman of all ages are having HA. But I have to say the big thing for me funny wasn’t so much that I had the HA it was all the pills I had to take going from none to what I have to take now that upset me more really but like everything you get over it you have to take them. I never had rehab because of covid so I joined BHF and I did a plan for myself ie walking I was a walker before I had the HA I had a nurse call me every two weeks to see how I was but then it stop I was on my own so slowly I started walking I took my time in everything I did after 3 months I felt so much better. Now I still go out walking I joined a gym last year and I love it. But I have to say has well on this site it help. All I can say to you is do the rehab if you have questions ask them. Don’t go to mad take your time and in know time you will be back to normal. I don’t know if you do any exercise but try and do something it does help. Best wishes to you and take care.
Hi Michelle, I’m sorry you are feeling a little lost. Is it because you feel alone in what happened to you, or something else?
I am 39, full time work, mother of two boys, and I had a STEMI out of the blue last October. I am a little bit overweight but not obese, I keep active and eat healthily, no family history of heart problems, normal cholesterol, blood pressure a little bit on the high side but nothing crazy. Still I had a major heart attack and I’ll never know why as my arteries look normal and I don’t have blood clotting anomalies.
So I’m now in recovery I think, though I feel pretty much normal by now. I’m starting a cardiac rehab fitness class tonight which I’m super excited about for some reason. But at first I was super scared it could happen again and even went back to A&E two weeks after my heart attack.
I’m still conscious of my heart more than anyone else… constantly keeping an eye on my heart rate when I work out just in case it’s too high too long. Thanks to the meds my blood pressure is now perfect but I’m also covered in bruises, my legs are quite a sight.
Feel free to reach out to me if you want to have a chat, laugh or moan !
Hello AnonymousCoffee,
I am sorry to hear about your experience.
Younger women more commonly experience heart attacks when their coronary arteries are clear or as you describe ' normal looking'
known as a Myocardial Infarction non obstructive coronary arteries MINOCA.
The most common causes are microvascular dysfunction, coronary vasospasms, spontaneous coronary artery dissection or a blood clot or small piece of plaque blocking a coronary artery.
Have you asked your Cardiology team of what caused your heart attack?
Hi Milkfairy, thank you for your reply!
I had quite a few tests done on me, but in the end, no test came back positive. Like you say, it's probably been a small blood clot or small piece of plaque, wrong place wrong time kind of thing. I did have a stent fitted and I'm on blood thinners, statins and blood pressure meds for life.
The cardiac team said I'm one of the 5% of people it happens to randomly, so I imagine I'm not the only unlucky one out there. 🙂
I wish you ongoing good health.Life as they say does bowl us some unexpected curve balls 🏏
I live with another possible cause of a MINOCA and it can feel as though you are living with a quietly ticking time bomb 💣
I wish you the same 🙂 And I definitely recognise that feeling, your mortality suddenly becomes very clear to you after a heart attack.
Hello, I’m sorry that you’re feeling lost. But, you are not alone. I had a STEMI last May, I was 46. I have no relevant family history, no personal predisposing conditions and the cause of the heart attack still remains unknown.. I had 2 stents fitted, was recovering well but then developed Dressler’s Syndrome which took me back to hospital a further 3 times. The Summer was very hard and I had to delay cardiac rehab for 5 months. But, yesterday, I finished cardiac rehab which I found invaluable, particularly the exercise classes as they have helped me understand the best way to re-develop and re-engage with fitness. Like you I was always the youngest in the group which was often commented on (always in a kindly way). I hope this, and the others messages here, help make you feel less unusual in all of this. If I can ever be helpful, please drop a line. All the best. Go well.
Hi,
I completely felt the same. I had a STEMI HA in April at the age of 35 while I was off on maternity leave with a 6 month year old baby.
Like yourself it was a complete shock with no real warning signs etc. There is family history of heart problems although nothing in my generation.
I am still in recovery ❤️🩹 as I try to build my body and mind back up and try to work out my new ‘norm’. Some days I find easier than others when I have more energy etc.
I’ve found this forum the best support so far as we have all similar experiences so know exactly how each other feel at times.
All the best with your recovery
hey
Like you I was a bit lost too when it happened to me at the age of 43, I refused to accept that my heart failed me. will be 48 soon. Had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest was down for 8 minutes and in a coma for almost a week, had bypass and now on medication for life. It seems like Heart attack is no longer targeting just the elderly!!!!!!!!!
hey sorry to here about your HA, I know how much a shock it can be and along road to recovery, I was 51 when I had mine, I joined an under 55 heart attack survivors group look them up on Facebook they have supported me through many a hard day, there is so much different experiences someone will resonate with your story, wishing you well on your recovery x
Much older than you (74) . Heart attach in 2018 like you totally out of the blue. It's an enormous shock. I didn't even get rehab. That alone will do wonders for your confidence. Get as much information as you can about what caused it; get tested for hereditary problems and take the medication. It will really help. You can now adopt the lifestyle changes necessary and look forward to a normal life. Consider it as a lucky warning. I did have a family history which was ignored and had been complaining of breathlessness for over a year which was just put down to my spinal problems. My GP no longer "assumes" anything. I consider myself really lucky. I got the warning and survived.
Hi Michelle. Little younger than you at 35 when i had my heart attack and left with a huge scar and severe heart failure. No answers on what caused it. Arteries all clear. Just the heart was failing that bad. It left the worse possible condition at a mere 12% ejection rate and in full AFib! I was a gonner!I was the fittest man going, ex army, security doorman for fun on weekends. Worked 90hours per week. 3 kids. Etc. World turned upside down.
I googled severe heart failure and diagnosis worse than most cancers with real bad mortality rates. I read somewhere 90% die withing first year with severe heart failure. End of the road.
Anyways 3 years on at 38 years old and still plodding on.. Ef is up to 40%, heart is out of Afib and in a nice rythum.
Still get various symptoms but alot better than i was when i left.
Its a constant uphill struggle but uphill is good for the heart. Get out walking! Everyday. 10m then 20 next day. Then 50. Then back to 10 because your tired. Then 20...and so on. Eat good. Low salt. Lots veg. Then finally these groups are great too. Helps lower anxiety. Stay positive. Its not the end, yet xx
haven’t had a heart attack yet. But understand how you’re feeling I got diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in October further tested showed it was persistent ie non stop, next was a CT angiogram which should moderate burden of plaque in my LAD 50-70%.
Yesterday a trip to ent for unilateral pulsatile tinnitus and I’m being sent for another CT with contrast on my head and neck to check my carotid artery’s !!! I’m 47 fit and healthy or so I thought … not a big drinker or smoker, running weekly 25-30k surfing not over weight, good diet albeit supplemented with far to much cheese and butter and sweets etc. Thought every else was good I was fine.
I feel like a walking disaster waiting to happen. I have a ten year old son and busy business and I’m spending toooo much time looking at people far far fatter or smoking or boozing it up eating crap with no problems !! Feeling sorry for myself as well as periodically depressed and anxious about impending doom.
Made worse by the utter state of the nhs. Anyways. Probably not helpful. But I get where you’re coming from. I take inspiration from the positive gang on here though and I’m aiming for that and I will achieve that even if I keep having to pick myself up after each new knock back.
Also taking control by eating a pretty strict whole food plant based diet. Basically no alcohol and sugar. And keeping fit. Starting meditation and putting into practice some of the philosophy’s I’ve learned about from the past and newly practicing and reading about the stoics.
Good luck and stay strong 💪🏽
I had an MI 14 years ago at 46 and quite honestly until my most recent issues (totally unrelated to yours) life went on pretty much unchanged. After a couple of months recovery I was back at the gym doing everything that I used to. You need to think positive, I told my work colleagues that I was now at less risk than they are as I know what problems I have, i'm being treated and the doctors are monitoring me on a regular basis.
I understand you needing to speak to someone of your own age and I know we have all ages on here so hopefully someone will come along soon.
I am old enough to be your mum so not me! LOL
I hope you are dealing with the shock of what happened, it must have been very frightening especially as you had no warning.
The rehab is brilliant, take advantage of all that is on offer, if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask, we have been there and done that.
Welcome to a group that no-one wants to join! 😀
Hello Michelle,
I was the same age as you. I didn't complete cardiac rehab for that reason, no one spoke everyone was much much older.
I was also tearful and it all felt very lonely.
My GP said he would see me everytime I was worried but only for 6 months (empathy out the window then). I went to him once!
It really does get better. Promise! Everything you are feeling, the anxiety, worry, wondering about every pain is all very normal. You definitely are not alone, whole gang here for support. X
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