heart anxiety

[Curpy]

hello, I’m 31 (M) I had open heart surgery 3 years ago, I had what’s called a David’s procedure! A valve repair.

I’d been doing really well until recently.

I’ve recently undergone a couple tests and I’ve been informed I have heart block grade 2 & a regurgitated mitra valve, I’m due to have yearly CT scans to monitor.

It’s very anxiety inducing and I lose a lot of sleep over this, how does everyone manage with the anxiety?

I’m always thinking about having a cardiac arrest or not waking up in my sleep, having a stroke. Very aware it’s not a healthy way of thinking but I can become very pessimistic about it.

Statistically it doesn’t look good having all these conditions and I just worry.

[Blackcatsooty]

cardiology is improving in leaps and bounds. Maybe you will need a new valve, but I let the medics get on with it whilst I just live my life. My standard and only query to raise with medics is “what can I do to help you”. That goes down very well and I hope it shows respect for the medics.

I think you need some proper relaxation techniques. My local church has monthly free sessions. It helps. And I also have a tinnitus relaxer, which calms me down a lot. That helps a lot.

And it gets me off to sleep. Strange name for the device as I don’t have tinnitus, but it works. Your surgery just might have one to loan to you, but at less than £40 I have my own. Sometimes called white noise relaxers.

Not sure about the statistics. But if you can do reasonable exercise then just enjoy your life. Don’t even think about strokes and heart attacks. Live your life as best you can

Sooty

[PinkKizzie]

Hi Curpy, try not to worry too much. It's not easy living with heart issues, and like you, I think about not waking up from sleep and because I live alone my daughter makes me take the key out of my front door so she can gain entry if I don't wake up lol. My motto is 'you only die once but you live every day' so please look for the positives each day. Joining this forum makes you realise you are not alone. Take care and wishing you well, PK.