Takotsubo

[Tigsmum]

In December I had 4 bad episodes of abdominal pain resulting in admission to hospital. Tests found gall bladder problems but also a cancer on my kidney. I went in on 5th March to have the kidney removed but they just made the first incision when the procedure was abandoned due to my heart being distressed. I knew nothing about it as I was anaesthetised. I was transferred to a cardiac unit where various tests pointed to takotsubo in acute phase. The consultant seems confident that in 3 months i should be recovered and able to under go the kidney removal.Prior to this I was very fit and active swimming every day, jogging, walking and rock and roll dancing. I was discharged from hospital on 15th March and I'm at a bit of a loss now as to what I should be doing. I seem to have no one to tell me how much exercise I can do etc. My GP is unfortunately not much help and I'm not sure they know much about the condition really. I don't really understand why this happened but can only assume it was a combination of the very painful gall bladder inflammation , 2 traumatic evenings in A&E and the cancer diagnosis then the operation on top of everything. I wondered if anyone else had experienced Takotsubo in similar circumstances

[Blearyeyed]

Are you on any medication for it?I've not had this myself , but my Mum had a episode of it a number of years ago after other health traumas and grief.

They also call it, "Broken Heart Syndrome".

The Self Care and exercise side of it isn't well researched. There is a study that has just finished called PLEASE but I'm not sure if the results are ready yet....typical!

If you feel up to doing some exercise it will probably help as my Mum's specialist told her to take her meds and keep relaxed but to slowly bring in the lifestyle and diet changes they would also suggest to someone after a heart attack.

Making sure she kept a well balanced pace of activity with plenty of rests and nothing too strenuous was the advice she got for the three months of treatment.

Like my Mum , she had bowel cancer, you will probably need extra advice about what type of exercise or self care you need to do to prevent triggering a flare of symptoms in your kidney and gall bladder too.

So , personally I wouldn't suggest getting on the treadmill or doing weights. We got my Mum slowly building up walking , just a few five minute strolls on the flat a couple of times a day at first.

No big hills or hikes.

She was a dance teacher so she continued to do gentle warm up low impact exercises but kept away from certain movements that could aggravate her bowel .

We did simple walking and slow movement in water.

The one thing you want is to keep your heart active but not cause stress like a sudden spike or drop in blood pressure or heart rate.

So always keep the temperature you exercise in comfortable and slowly warm up and cool down with gentle movement before you start any physical activity, even shopping or gentle housework.

I had my gall bladder removed about ten years ago. I'd suggest that you drink the recommended amount of fluids each day and eat five small portions per day not three big meals , with little to no fat ( even healthy ones) until things are sorted. To much strenuous movement especially bending up or down or weights can cause your gall bladder symptoms to get worse.

The most important thing is keeping Stress Free during the treatment of these illnesses. That means not just trying to keep calm and relaxed or avoid Negative Stress , but to reduce Positive Stress too, like too much exercise or too many things packed into a day even if it's fun things you love doing.

Talk to people about how you are feeling , even if it's just popping on here and leaving a post.

If you can arrange some talking therapy or CBT via the GP for people coping with cardiomyopathy or cancer.

You could see if there is a local support BHF or Kidney / Cancer support group you could ring for more advice and join for support.

Find interesting but relaxing things to Mentally distract you when you mind begin to overthink or worry.

Reading , watching a film , a short stroll in the open air , chatting with friends , a relaxing hobby activity.

Basically take it easy and you will improve and be on track for your operation soon, take care , Bee

[Tigsmum in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you very much for replying. I am on medications now which in itself is a big lifestyle change for me as I have never previously taken anything. I have followed a virtually fat free diet for years and drink lots if water so ok there and I have no symptoms from the cancer. The most difficult thing for me will be trying not to overdo things. I will try to follow your good advice and take things gradually. I try to have as little contact with my GP as possible as they are very unpleasant to deal with and I find talking to them very stressful which I can do without. Thank you for replying and I hope your Mum is recovered now and doing ok

[Blearyeyed in reply to Tigsmum]

My Mum passed on a couple of years ago , but that was long after her cancer and had nothing to do with Takitsubo , she had a full recovery from both so keep positive and enjoy some slow living for a while.Take care , and keep posting if you ever need to talk , people will always answer and help you feel reassured, Bee

[Tigsmum in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thankyou