Hope you're all doing well. I can't believe it's mid-August already, and where I am at least, there's a bit of sunshine today!
Please use this space to check in with each other. We'll be reducing these down slightly to one thread throughout the month, and we'll see how this goes. You can of course continue to write here throughout the month.
I'm afraid I don't have much BHF news to share this week! However, our team are currently writing an article on the power of laughter and would love to hear your stories! While living with a heart or circulatory condition can come with its ups and downs, we know joy is often found in some of life’s most challenging moments. Do you have a funny story to share from your heart journey? If you do, I'd love to share these with the team.
Have a great week 😊
Amy from BHF
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Amy-BHF
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Yeah I was wondering when there was gona be another one. Not really been up to much been so busy this past few months with appointments coming out me ears lol so been trying to rest as much as possible. Hope everyone is having a good day so far x
Not much been going on with me. I’ve had covid but I didn’t realise it until my daughter said she’s caught my cold, she had a sore throat and her joints were hurting. She works for the NHS so she did a covid test and it was positive. She then began to tell everyone I gave her covid. The funny thing is I just thought I had a bad cold. I’ve had the flu twice in the past and couldn’t get out of bed. I was still pottering around apart from coughing fits at nights, so I used a blue asthma pump my Gp gave me this year and I was fine. I always thought it would take me out if I ever caught it. But I survived it. Whoopee! All the best.
Just checking in with everyone hope your all doing aswell as can be ☺️😉. I just got back from the gym, definitely my personal best burnt 354 calories! 😅💪🏻. It's taken since March but I can do level 15 on the exercise bike for 30 minutes 🚲😎😅. Then incline of 5 on treadmill and speed of 4. 7 for 30 minutes. Did an hour well happy, felt a bit dizzy after but that's to be expected after the amount of time and effort I put into exercising 😂😅😜. What's everyone up to this evening x
Sounds like you had a really good session at the gym! I’ve been buried in work today however, the weather seems to be getting warmer on my side of the U.K. so I think a day out might be in order. I’ve got Netflix and dinner in my evening plans today. What about you?
Just finished watching the second part of the Lincoln Lawyer, looks like we may be getting a season 3! X
yeah I did have a great session, thanks tos x yeah we finally have summer 😂😎🌞. Ah cool I'm watching Netflix aswell I'm on season 9 of big bang theory love it seen it so many times! 😍😅. Oh wow what's that like never seen it, glad there's another season for you to look forward to 😊x
I noticed your posts about your swollen leg on the main thread, dud that happen before or after you went to the gym?Just wondering if it could be an explanation for the swelling, it can happen if you go for it after being away from exercise for a while.
In the Michael Connelly books Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer are actually half brothers whom meet when they work on a case together. The cast in Bosch is very good.
Hi. I’m doing ok thanks. I wish I had the energy to go to the gym, it sounds like you enjoy it. Even though you are tired you still do so much exercise and I’m massively impressed by your willpower!! X
Ahh how lovely. We have a shihpoo (she’s more toy poodle than Shih tzu), she’s tiny but has a massive personality. We wouldn’t be without her but she definitely rules the roost 😂.
You really can't do without them, as we've found out the last couple of months.
My profile picture is of my previous dog, she was a rescue from Brysons that we'd had since she was a few months old. Unfortuntely she was taken critically ill when we were on our way home from holiday. We got back to see her put too sleep.
She was only five years old, and I can honestly say I've never been so heartbroken. Heart Surgery is a doddle compared to the anxiety I've had since.
When we lost our last dog a few years ago (he was 15) I was devastated and said that I’d never get another. Then my daughter got a dog and we started to pet sit when she was at work. After a while I couldn’t bear not having a dog around all of the time so we ended up getting ours. We’ve had her a year now and she brightens up each day. Im sure your new puppy will do exactly the same for you.
So cute , I am very tempted and even my husband is waivering . Also tempted by a french bulldog/ pug cross.He won't let me have an Irish Wolfhound even though I could sit on the sofa and I'm sure it would be perfect therapy for my Fibromyalgia and better than a weighted blanket! 😄😄😄🐾
We have looked after a pug for a friend and while she was a lovely dog I found the heavy breathing quite alarming!! They’re renowned for breathing problems apparently but are lovely dogs nonetheless. An Irish wolfhound would definitely keep you warm in the winter, much cheaper than turning the heating on 😂😂 x
Hi everybody, on the subject of laughter I have just watched this on youtube. A man went to see his grandad in hospital and asked him how he was sleeping. Very well replied the grandad, I get 10 hours sleep every night.At 10 pm they give me a mug of hot chocolat and a viagra. Puzzled by this the grandson went to ask a nurse why they were giving an 88 year old man viagra. Well she replied, the hot chocolat is to make him sleep, the viagra is to stop him rolling over and falling out of bed.
bludnut
On the home front, yesterday we went to my Angina Management Programme. The meeting with my heart surgeon lasted just over an hour, and consisted of the three of us going over the last ten months since the episode on the cruise. She asked questions about how I was feeling, my medication and how I was coping with angina.Both my wife and me explained how I was trying to get fitter and the food we ate. I have just started to try and get upstairs as fast as I can as a way of getting more power into my legs which she was very happy with. With the rainy weather, walking over the old south tip isn't viable because of possibly slipping and trying to avoid puddles.We discussed our diet ( plenty of FRESH FRUIT, FISH twice a week and yoghurt as a sweet after our lunch) which again she was very pleased with. We also discussed if cheese was a no no for people with cholestral problems. Apparently there isn't any substantial evidence that eating cheese is a major cause of cholestral. However what she did say, is to avoid any processed cheeses and processed food in genaral, as well as food withn a high salt content. One of her final questions was to ask me how confident was I after having these meetings, and dealing with angina. I said that now after ten months I was feeling 80% better than I did at the start which was a rise of 20% from earlier in the course. I was then told that because she was happy with how I had progressed, she would leave it for 12 months before my next meeting. That to me showed how confident she was with my attitude and progress throughout the course.Apparently there are only FOUR of these angina management courses in England, so I was very lucky to be able to attend one.
Yesterday I had a day out to Barry Island which I haven't done for ages and before I went I was absolutely terrified over crowded buses especially the evening one but still I went anyway in spite of feeling terrified!
I really enjoyed myself when I was there and then faced an extremely crowded bus coming back home in the evening and I was absolutely terrified and had nearly got off the bus in terror but had told myself no running away from fears doesn't solve them and stayed on the crowded bus and told myself that I would soon be home sat down relaxing with a cup of tea to get myself through it
Yes I did make it through on the crowded bus until the end in spite of having felt absolutely terrified!
I'm aware that feelings of terror over crowded buses and places are irrational but when fear strikes things can take a nasty turn and make you want to run away and avoid those things that make you anxious!
I think it's more to do with being frightened of the horrible feelings of terror than the situation in itself.
Ahh what a nightmare can't stand over crowded buses especially in this weather makes it even worse some how don't it! 💔. Well done for staying on the bus couldn't of been easy, I try and avoid buses for that exact reason so I walk everywhere when I'm able to if its not too far 🚶♀️😅.
I like to walk to places when I can as well not due to being terrified of the crowded buses but for fresh air and exercise and it saves on bus fares and petrol when you walk when you can.
I feel its better to take opportunities and be absolutely terrified whilst taking them than having being terrified stop me from taking them and with me my regrets are about things that I have done which i think I the best way wishing I had never gone to things than wish I had and wondering what might have been.
My friends said how loads of people are terrified of crowded buses but are too frightened to even try!
No the hot weather on Wednesday didn't help matters but i did enjoy Barry Island though and another step forward in building up my confidence in going out and about!
Yesterday the bus to and from swimming was busy which I had no problems with but it wasn't crowded like the Wednesday evening one when I was terrified!
Today it's a job interview at 11.30am and then onto swimming this afternoon and hopefully there shouldn't be any frightening bus rides!
I went to Regents Park today with my husband and it was very hot. It did affect my breathing but I think it was the walking that made me a bit breathless. I’m still waiting an angiogram to see if blockages are causing my problems. But the park is so lovely it was worth the discomfort. We then went to Kings Cross which is massively different to when I last was there many years ago. Lots of shops, bars, restaurants, the canal, etc it really is an interesting lively place. Had a nice dinner followed by a Mr Whippy ice cream! Total of 8 miles of slowish walking pace which I hope is good exercise for me. Now I’m exhausted lol
Had a nice change from heart issues today. Physiotherapy department for arthritic hip. Lovely girl saw me though, and gave me some hope for a less painful future.
As predicted I see that Andy has been banished. He was allowed to brighten things up for a few days then sent packing again. Seems a bit of a contradiction for the BHF to ask for us for our humorous stories then to ban someone who makes us laugh and smile. I just don’t get it.
In answer to Amy's question I couldn't say I have any "funny" stories about my heart journey but I do know that I rely on humour and laughter and trying to see the silver linings on even the darkest days to keep positive.I think interaction with people whom understand what you are going through and trying to find something to smile about each day makes a huge difference to how successfully we can control our symptoms.
I suppose my funniest experiences have been around trying to get food that I could eat whilst in hospital because I have other health problems as well as heart issues.
Despite all of this training from celebrity chefs and an army of nutritionists the NHS still seem to serve up the sort of meals that would harden the softest artery and torture the hardiest liver.
On one particular occasion I remember a nurse and I struggling to find me a dinner after three days nil by mouth.
We finally wrote jacket potato and as the toppings were all filled with fat we wrote "any low fat alternative you have PLEASE".
The plate arrived , we opened the top and inside was a lonely uncut spud rolling around the plate and a single squashed lettuce leaf.
And people wonder why I now bring in survival rations with me and get food parcels brought from home.
Hello everyone I've just joined here today Despite greatly improving my health over past few years I Recently had a retinal TIA followed by a very recent diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis
Ive been type 2 diabetic nearly 30 yrs
About to be referred to my consultant cardiologist for discussions and a treatment plan
Hi Jessica - and a very big welcome to the 'hearty' club. There are lots of people here who are very knowledgeable and only too happy to help with any queries you might have. Carol
Just had a fantastic day. My husband was 80 at the end of June and the grandchildren bought him a flight on a glider. Today he had his flight and six of us went onto the airfield to watch. What an experience. It was wonderful and we all enjoyed it. My husband says he’s now looking forward to his flights for his 85th and 90th.
Granddaughters 13th birthday today and had a lovely day at Colchester zoo. Thinking this time last year I would have been reaching for my G.N.T. Spray after walking up and down the hills at the zoo. It's been nearly a year since I agreed to go on the ORBITA trial at Basildon cardiothoratic centre and was one on the lucky ones who had a stent fitted. Although I didn't get that confirmed until March this year.I think the trial ends next year and I will be very interested to see whether stenting or non interventional methods come out top
Hi everyone. I decided to take a walk to the pub last night to get in some of my 10,000 steps. It took me 15 minutes to walk there and three hours later after meeting with friends, it took me 50 minutes to walk home. The difference was staggering!
Went on an outing with my local U3A photographic group to the Elgoods Brewery Gardens at Wisbech on Wednesday. They're not open to the public so it was rather nice to get access. Lovely place that employs 4 gardeners full time. Some fantastic flora and fauna.
That was preceeded by a visit to Cambridge on Tuesday to the Biocampus. Yup, back to hospital, given the all clear so it has been a great week so far. Sleeping better after that news, only dampener on things is a sore shoulder.
Off to a works reunion this afternoon, not that many of us going but mainly folk I've not seen in 20 years!
Belated Congratulations on your all clear result from the hospital.Hope the works re-union went ok & that you painful shoulder has eased and that it's a good week for you this week too.
Reunion was good. Been to Physical rehab today (3rd session) and shoulder feels much better. BP has come down dramatically too. Struggling a bit keeping exercising in this heat so early morning walks/runs for now. Yes, I'm alternating jogging, walking and running for my exercise. Life feels a bit up and down at the moment but nothing I can't handle, I guess it's a bit of timing, my birthday Saturday and Friday is my 12 week anniversary for my op, feeling a bit old and frustrated ...
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Midweek Social Check-in! 17/05
