Newbie

[Mags2156]

Hello everyone, I've been reading all your posts for a couple of months now and they've been so helpful thank you. My story...I'm 67yrs young female who retired 1 year ago, on 18th Jan I had it confirmed at a&e I'd had a heart attack the night before (I'd gone to bed after experiencing strange sensation in my chest ( yep silly I know but I thought it was start of chest infection?) and didn't want to 'bother' anyone (i.e. call 111) anyway, I called my gp in morning, received a call back 1 hour later and was advised to get myself to a&e, my brother in law took me there, I was seen quickly in triage who did an ecg and said all seemed fine, this was around 10am, I waited until 3pm to have another ecg and an xray then troponium blood test, doc then said 'im pretty sure it's not a heart attack, think it's a reaction to a new medication because you've been fine here today' he said come back for results a t 4.30pm so off we went to the cafeteria next door! Long story short I didn't get my results until 5pm from a new doctor who had taken over, only to be told I'd had a heart attack, I was in complete shock as were my family. I keep good health, eat relatively healthy, gave up smoking years ago, only thing I'd say is that I'm not as active since retirement but I've been enjoying that! I was in that hospital for 5 days going from ward to ward until they had a bed in cardiac ward, had a chat with cardiologist who said he was looking at 'angina' and i would be transferred to the golden jubilee for an angiogram to confirm, I was at the jubilee for 3 further days waiting each day to go to cath lab but they had emergencies each day and I was put on back burner (which I understand) finally had my angiogram and needed1 stent, sent home a few hours later, shocked and confused and in denial! I had my cardiac rehab appt last week, I was stunned to find out I don't have angina and don't need the gtn spray, this is obviously great news but surpriseing too! I did well on the stepper test so was given the opportunity to attend my local health centre, I've my induction with a cardiac trained fitness instructor on 25th April then will start the gym every Thursday. I've an appointment with a cardiologist on May 30th, I've so many questions!! I'm adapting well to all my meds, no problems with any so far 😊 My problem is I'm still in denial, I tell the story but its like I'm talking about someone else? People have said "you've been so lucky" but I dismiss that thought because it'll make it real, does anyone else relate?

Sorry for long story lol

M x

[Mags2156]

I will. Thank you for your reply, its all very overwhelming but I'm sure once I get answers from cardiologist I'll accept what has happened and hopefully move onwards and upwards 😊👍

[Heather1957]

My story is a bit different as I have never had a HA but have suffered with angina, but since my last lot of stents I am fine.

TBH it seems as if there was little clarity with regard the info from the doctors but the positive thing is they kept you in until you had the stent fitted.

All being well you will never have angina but it is often associated with blocked arteries so hold on to any sprays you have been given in case you need it.

HA's while often linked to life style can be brought on by other things including genetics and family history.

It does take a time to get your head around what has happened as everything can be in such a whirl, that is why talking about it and asking questions can help, you will realise you are not alone (far from it) and I suspect others will feel the same as you.

Welcome ❤️

[Mags2156 in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you! They went on about family history in the hospitals but only when I went to cardiac rehab and spoke to the nurse, she said FH wasn't the case for me as both my parents had been in their 70's when had heart problems, so yeh I had quite a few mixed messages. Nobody said I'd have aches/stabbing pains for weeks afterwards and I still get the odd niggle so thanks to this forum I found out it was normal. I have kept hold of my gtn spray, I definitely won't let it go... at least until I've been to the cardiologist, thank you 😊 x

[Hidden in reply to Mags2156]

A diagnosis of FH is usually triggered by someone finding out they have very high cholesterol, although further testing and assessment is needed to confirm or not. When I was told nearly 25 years ago I had a natural cholesterol level of 9+ there was no such thing as lipid clinics or genetic testing although the probability is I have inherited it, although I am still here as are my cousins who also have very high cholesterol and have not been asssessed, and only treated by statins. So if you have been told you have a natural cholesterol level of say 7.5+ it is worth mentioning FH to your cardiologist, since if you do have the FH genetic profile you could have passed it on to any children you may have and if so it is in their best interests to get tested, as I did with my two sons, although neither of them have high cholesterol as it turns out unlike their Dad.

[Mags2156 in reply to Hidden]

I was told on discharge at hospital I didn't have high cholesterol but was given statins as 'par for the course' I've never been given my cholesterol levels, I don't even know how much of my artery was blocked (only that it was the right artery not left ) and have no idea how much damage was done to my heart, I have no info and too many questions x

[Hidden]

I had a similar experience to you five years ago. I thought I had a chest infection, and after 111, a drop in GP surgery and eventually A&E I was told I had had an NSTEMI heart attack and then spent the next four days being shunted about on the wards until I had an angiogram and was then sent home with a new medication regime. And apart from an unexpected situation that arose last year which turned out to be gastro not cardio related I have been fine ever since. Anyway my advice is to embrace the cardio rehab and if you necessary consider a few life style changes such as diet, 'healthy' bodyweight, exercise and other things which are well documented in the BHF webpages. Finally don't worry about your condition, you will be reducing your heart risk profile going forward, so enjoy life as it comes.

[Mags2156 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks, I'm sure I'll adjust to all the new changes in time, I'm getting there, trying to remain positive! 😀

[irishwife93]

Hi Mags2156 , what you’re feeling is totally normal, having a heart attack is a traumatic life event and can effect you emotionally. In my experience it takes time to start to feel “lucky” or positive about the situation and some days it still doesn’t feel real even almost a year after my husband had his heart attack. I’d recommend counselling, my husband refuses to go but I’m going to deal with what happened. Although it doesn’t change your reality it can help you process the event and be more compassionate towards yourself in how your coping.

It sounds like you have lots of unanswered questions, could you book a face to face in with your GP? The hospital should have sent them your discharge reports and any other outpatient information, they should be able to answer questions you have. I wrote a list of questions and took this to the cardiologist when my husband first had his HA so we didn’t forget anything. You should also have copies of these reports yourself and you can bring them to other healthcare professionals for in interpretation. You could also ring the BHF helpline, the cardiac nurses on there are fantastic and they’ll be able to help you as long as you have the information from your records to give them.

Best of luck with it all, it does sound like you’ll recover very well and as long as you continue taking the medication and adhering to the lifestyle changes you’ll live a very long and healthy life!

[Mags2156 in reply to irishwife93]

Thanks for all the info I really appreciate it, my gp isn't much use tbh but I've started a list of questions to ask the cardiologist next month when I see him so hopefully I'll get all the answers I want, thanks again 😊

[Dunandjam]

I don’t have much to add Megan as others have been so helpful but I hope you get on well with the cardio rehab. I’m a newbie too! X

[Mags2156 in reply to Dunandjam]

Thanks and good luck to you too newbie 😊

[Cee-Cee1]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forum Megan, as I don't have very much to add. You'll find everyone here so helpful and kind and probably also read answers to questions you probably didn't even think to ask - as I have! Carol

[Mags2156 in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Thank you Carol 😊