Does anyone else still feel down, & struggling a year after hart attack, I am 55 done all rehab courses, swim at least twice a week, walk regular, & generally look after myself, but can’t shake the cardiac blues.
I was fit & well prior to hart attack end of September last year.
any suggestions to help
Thanks
Yes it’s normal. It’s been a tremendous shock. I’m still down four years on. I woke up at 5 am today panicking I hadn’t done everything before I die. I don’t mean a bucket list I mean sorted the cupboards out and the ironing. Yes it’s stupid to think those things but for some reason I was worried. My heart attack has done this to me. It’s PTSD. I’m not as bad as I used to be but the slightest thing can set me off. You will get through this. It’s just understanding what’s happening and talking about it. Take care.
What you need to remind yourself is that you are very lucky in that you are still here, it was this mindset that helped me through the aftermath of HA & stents, 2 of my colleagues didn't make it 👍
Thanks Stubax, keep saying that in my head, think it’s worse lately as it’s a year on tomorrow which I should be greatfull for.
Need to change a few things in my life to improve stress etc & keep happy & positive
Hi Yes, its normal. I had a HA just over a year ago, same as you I have done all the Rehab courses and continue to exercise but every now and again I get the down feelings. The slightest negative thought can turn into a depressive day for me. On those days i have tried to get out of the house as I spent so long indoors after the HA I think it is like a cabin fever feeling that brings it on. Or I snuggle down to watch a feel good film. You have to think you are doing well and you survived it. That's my way of getting rid of the blues. Take care of yourself.
My other half who is 59 is still struggling at times 7 months on. He had a 'cardiac event' in February (he still thinks it wasn't a ha - who knows?). He didn't go to the docs for 3 weeks as main symptoms were indigestion and feeling sick. GP told him to rush to A&E. There they were perplexed as he is a fit, non-smoking, tee-total vegetarian.
At hospital, angioplasty was too difficult (chronic total occlusion of RCA) so he was discharged and CTO 'with skills' was suggested as an outpatient. No sign of it being done on NHS so he ended up paying privately through the nose.
No cardiac rehab was organised until months later by which time, he'd started his own so it was pointless. He has slowly built up a fitness schedule and is now jogging about 2 miles a day but can afterwards find just climbing the stairs knocks him sideways. It's this unpredictability that really throws him.
GPs are not really concerned about his breathlessness and feeling sick (one of the initial symptoms). One GP said he has cardiac neurosis, the other said he should try mindfulness.
No follow up appointment with the NHS cardiologist apart from a short phone appointment with the registrar 4 months after discharge.
He's having a good day today but we never quite know how his symptoms are going to hit him.
He feels the NHS have not been very supportive (written to the cardiologist's secretary to ask for appointment as quality of life is concerning him but no response whatsoever).
I get the feeling that once you're given the meds, you're just left to get on with your life but it would be nice to know there's some knowledgeable person who is doing regular checks. Maybe it's to do with lack of funding as I know there are so many people awaiting treatment.
Change your cardiologist, you are entitled to see any doctor you like within the NHS, and get a second opinion, as to the RCA occlusion has that been confirmed and how did they confirm it, you need to ascertain the % blockage, and why they did not CABG, - bypass?
Whilst your working all that out, it has been found in some studies that aggressive cholesterol treatment, had the same outcomes as stenting, what medicines is he taking?
One time many years ago I was told by a few surgeons that there was nothing more to be done for me, it took me 6 months to find the one surgeon in the UK who could put me back together, and it saved my life, not literally it wasn't heart related.
What spurred me to do this, was my mother who was part of the senior management team of a large health trust in London, she told me that when it comes to the NHS those who shout the loudest and push the hardest, get the best treatment I remember her telling me that 20 years ago, and I still think its true to this day.
Thank you. That does make sense what your mother says.
I would like my other half to try somewhere else but he thinks there's no point. He was very disappointed with his consultation with the private cardiologist as the doctor was late for the appointment and my partner thought he must be reading his notes. But when we went in it was as if he'd not been given any information despite me driving 30 miles to pick up the images from the MRI and making sure all info and images from NHS were sent to the private consultant. He did however do a good job with the difficult stent but we've no idea if it's been worth it.
CABG was never mentioned by the way. The blockage was 80%.
Because he didn't go to hospital when it happened (thought it was bad indigestion or gastric flu) by the time he was seen other arteries had helped out (well collateralised I believe the term is).
His meds are listed on my profile but I can tell you he's taking Atorvastatin 80mg (plus Ticagrelor twice a day, Aspirin, Bisoprolol and Ramipril. He has the GTN spray but never uses it).
I will tell him what you've said though and hope that he can get some satisfaction soon. He doesn't look on this feed (he's never been one to join anything) so I look for him and pass on any information I think he may find useful.
I was the same, came out of hospital, expecting appointment 3 months after event, then told waiting list was 30 weeks, eventually after 8 months got a letter saying cardiac doctor had seen my notes. & that I had done rehab, so basically signed off
Nothing to mention my head was screwed & had a few questions I wanted answered, but that’s what you pay your taxes for 😂😂
Completely normal, we all suffer the same and some of us keep quiet about how we are feeling. It is very scary and makes you feel frightened. I had my heart attack, kept stable and then had a Quadruple so I don't know if you might feel different after having a stent to keep your artery open. Keep talking to the hearties on here as they understand and try a little Mirror Therapy - stand in front of the mirror and say God Dam, I am so lucky to still be alive, I have stared death in the face and they have given me life again. Then try and do the things that make you happy each day 👋👋👋👋
heart attack and stent fitted and never saw it coming
Stent after stent after stent 
stent one week later dead of heart attack 
Heart Attack with stent
Feeling sick after having HA and having Stent fitted
