I had my heart attack three weeks ago this coming Thursday-I was on my narrow boat and actually thought I was having a bizarre panic attack. Anyway to cut a longish story short my partner called an ambulance, they broke the news ‘now don’t panic Lee but you are having a heart attack’ rushed me Manchester Royal Infirmary when I was rushed straight in and had a stent. I was released on the Sunday and told my local rehabilitation team would be in touch but should I have had contact with my own GP by now to check my blood pressure and see how I am getting on and am I likely to have contact with the consultants etc at Southampton General? I fee as if I have been left out on a limb to cope alone now. Plus I have questions about the results of my echocardiogram taken the day after my heart attack/stent that I want answered in plain English. I am just alone in my cottage with pain and breathlessness and no answers.
Thank you
Written by
themymble
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So many posts like yours appear on this forum. People experience this shattering event, the NHS goes into full swing, but then you're suddenly left on your own with a lot of questions and even more concerns.
As far as I'm able here are some answers.
Cardio Rehab is a programme of six group meetings, held once a week. They're arranged by the hospital, not by your GP. It's more complicated when you're treated by a hospital away from home (it's even more complicated when heart attacks happen abroad!), but if you haven't heard within about four weeks following discharge then I'd contact your GP in the first instance, followed by the cardio department at Southampton if your GP can't help, and then the Manchester Royal.
Cardio Rehab is an absolutely critical part of your care, it will furnish you with lots of important information regarding life style and medication, and in a safe, supportive environment will give you the opportunity to ask all the questions that are currently spinning around your head!
Unless there's a specific issue I doubt you'll be referred to see a cardiologist at Southampton. The only follow up treatment that most people receive after Cardio Rehab is an annual cardio check up with either your GP or with a specialist practise nurse. This involves several blood tests, blood pressure, ECG, a weight check and a discussion about life style changes. Increasingly GP's are advising patients to get a home blood pressure test kit and arrive for their annual check up with a twice daily series of blood pressure results taken each day for five days.
I appreciate that it's difficult to process, but the hard fact is that the NHS has now done pretty much everything they can. The rest is up to us in terms of taking our medication in strict accordance with the guidance and then fundamentally reviewing our life style to reduce our risk factors as much as possible. However, if the pain and breathlessness are persistent or serious then don't hesitate to seek medical help.
I can imagine it’s probably quite scary being “left to it” and having no follow up or communication with your GP or hospital team. Unfortunately, this is quite common. I had my heart attack abroad whilst on holiday, I came back to the U.K. and supplied my GP with my medical reports of the event. They did not follow-up or refer me to a cardiologist to investigate possibly why this happened.
After my symptoms deteriorated, I pushed for an appointment to see a cardiologist. It took me 9 months from my NSTEMI to secure this appointment. Had I not chased it up, it would’ve been a year wait, maybe longer. So it could be a case of you having to get in touch with them with your concerns and any medical explanations that you may require as I can see you have questions about your echo that you had done.
Of course, continue to take your medication as prescribed. Any new or worsening symptoms do warrant a call to 111 or 999 if you feel it’s an emergency.
Sorry about your recent heart attack.The follow-up treatment seems to vary qreatly dependent on where you live. My experience seems to be better than some others have had.
I was phoned by a rehab nurse shortly after I was discharged and started rehab classes at the local hospital not long after that. Really recommend them if you get the opportunity as I found them invaluable in starting to rebuild confidence. Initially 6 weeks but they would add on extra ones until they and I was ready to move onot phase 4.
I started phase 4 about a month ago which I am thoroughly enjoying. Much more intense and they have increased my program, a mix of Cardio and Muscle exercises. I have to pay for these but it's worth it.
GP phoned me a few weeks after my discharge from hoapital to discuss my discharge notes but nothing since.
I did have a few face to face clinics with my cardiologist, once at my request and within a few days of phoning, and after my final one he did say he would ring me in a "couple of months" but that hqsn't happened yet.
Thank you all so much for your replies-I feel better knowing there is a little community here with knowledge and experience. I have just spoken to my sister (who has been a star) and she has read my discharge paperwork-she has it as she has photocopied it and gave a copy to my GP and retained two copies). I am to have a referral to the cardiac rehab which was mentioned here (thanks again!) a follow up echocardiogram in 4-6 weeks and an appointment with cardiology team in three months.
If you feel the need for any professional guidance before your cardio rehab starts you could try the BHF Heart Helpline nurse bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
And if the cardio rehab is delayed or you want a head start the BHF run on online version.
Finally if I recall correctly, at the end of my cardio rehab after my NSTEMI I was discharged back to the GP care, without any further follow up with the cardio team.
You may already have this, but as well as the discharge paperwork on the day I had my stent fitted I also received the report from the cardiologist to my GP a couple of weeks later.
I also called the cardiac rehab team at about 3-4 weeks to confirm I was on their list.
My story was exactly the same as yours. However you say you now have "pain and breathlessness". I didn't experience this once the stent went in, so you are correct to get answers as to why.
I would just add that if you are currently experiencing chest pain and breathlessness I would recommend ringing 111 for advice or speak to one of the BHF cardiac nurses - Lowerfield out a link in their post above
I felt the same as you , like I had been dropped, but the rehab team does get in touch after about 6 weeks. They are great and can give you so much information and reassurance, there will be a nurse there and they do blood pressure and oxi levels. You can get loads of information on here . In my experience my GP has never had anything to do with my heart attack , but they do arrange for you to have pressed taken and any other tests that are needed. Trust me it will all come together in the end.
Sadly this seems to be very common. "We've fixed your plumbing, now go away". It will be complicated with you being away from yoru local hospital. First ask your GP if they've had a report and whether it's been passed to your local hospital for any action. Your GP will now be in charge of your care ie any problems with medication side effects and will probably be the one who has to arrange rehab if you haven't been referred back to your local hospital. YOu really must insist on rehab being arranged. Other than that you shoudl have an annual check up by your GP as others have described but it's the rehab nurse who will advise on exercise, diet etc. |Why not ring the cardio dept at Manchester to find out exactly what they've done about further treatment and rehab.
I am so sorry that you had a heart attack and that you now feel all alone, confused and scared. I think that most of us do feel this way, and it feels awful!
One minute, life seems to be going along normally, and then, out of the blue, we end up in the emergency room having tests and not sure what happened. I had a Non-Stemi heart attack in March 2022. I had had a normal day—done some laundry, some yard work, had made dinner, washed dishes, put out the trash, and then watched some telly. I felt relaxed, and then I remember my heart starting to race for no reason and my heart rate remained high, plus my blood pressure soared, and I felt weak and shaky.
That night in the hospital, I had several tests completed and more scheduled. None of the doctors explained anything to me, but I also did not really know what to ask. When I left the hospital, I had several new prescriptions, but no real answers. My world had changed, but I felt lost.
I think that what you are feeling right now is totally normal. In my experience, it takes several months in order to begin to feel better. It can also take time to get medications sorted properly and to learn what all of the medical jargon means. It takes time to feel less afraid every day and to adopt new lifestyle changes.
If I might offer some advice, I would say, “Be kind and gentle to yourself. Give yourself time to feel better and to make any needed changes. Ask and keep asking your doctors if you have questions. Ask for help if you need it—or if anything feels different or hurts. “ I should maybe add that I did not have a stent after my HA. I do have CAD, and I do take Atorvastatin 40 mg daily.
I hope that you begin to feel better soon and that you can get the answers that you need. Take care.
Hello again everyone-well I was admitted to Southampton General cardiac unit yesterday. I have had another echocardiogram today and as of this evening are treating me for pericarditis and I am waiting for the echocardiogram results. My blood pressure keeps dropping so they have me not quite flat on my back.
Hi themymble, I don’t have experience of heart attacks or pericarditis, although my blood pressure is often low, but as a fellow narrowboat owner, I wanted to wish you well. I have electrical problems with my heart and have a pacemaker and I do worry sometimes about being ill while away on our boat. It looks like you were able to access healthcare promptly though and are now getting the help you need. I hope all goes well for you.
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