anxiety with taking heart attack

[Laworders]

im 65 last may i took a bad angina attack that felt like a heart attack, i was diagnosed with unstable Angina, type2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, 4 blockages were found on angiogram, they were going to do triple heart bypass but when cardiology team discussed me they decided stents would work, these got done august 23, got everything under control and lost weight was getting my confidence back and took heart attack on the 19th march, it was discovered on angiogram one of my stents had completely blocked there was a hairline of blood Oxygen getting to my heart and another artery was blocking new stent put in this and other stent replaced with different medication, the anxiety i am feeling is off scale, made my first call today fir ambulance as was taking pain in chest, Angina attack turned into a panic attack, but was took to hospital and checked, cant wait till I get to where i was in December, hate this feeling of doom all the time and frighten to do anything

[Mitchum]

I have always been a worrier to some extent but after my surgery twenty years ago I worry less and live more. It's pointless worrying about something you cannot control or change. The irony is that if you don't worry as much your stress levels and consequently your symptoms will decrease. Now I know that to put all this into practice is easier said than done, but if you can, it will help. They seem to be sorting your bad luck out with the stents so let's hope improvements will come shortly. All the best.

[Astronomyrules]

Hi Laworders, I am sorry you've had such an awful time. I was diagnosed with unstable angina in my 50s. My first 2 stents blocked and I had to be re- stented. I remember the anxiety that it would happen again and that a heart attack was imminent, but they continued to perform well. Although I have had additional stents,and other interventions, over the years because I have genetically very high cholesterol. I found my GTN spray a great comforter in helping me distinguish between angina and a heart attack. If you haven't been prescribed one, talk to you GP/ consultant. Having said that, it is better to go A&E to discover it's not a heart attack, than to ignore chest pain. After my stenting and recuperation I took up Tai chi to help my fitness and calm my nerves. I'm still practicing it 20 years later. Finding something else, whatever it is, to focus on helped me and might help you. Your GP might also be able to help, if the worry is not settling. I hope things start to improve for you soon. Although it might not feel like it right now, we are the lucky ones who have had symptoms and survived thanks to the NHS, not everyone gets that chance. I hope this gives some comfort and wish you well for the future.🙂

[Laworders in reply to Astronomyrules]

Hi thanks for reply, yeah have got spray, medication being adjusted too for the heart failure, I know its early days, so hoping I start to feel better soon, the breathlessness gets to me, cant do much the now, as I said early days, im used to being active, and hate been off work, I work in a day centre with adults with autism and learning disabilities, miss the guys so much and my team, at the moment i get myself so worked up when going to appointments then that doesnt help my Angina , this Forum defo helps as there is a lot if positive comments

[Astronomyrules in reply to Laworders]

Thanks for your reply. I've never had heart failure, but I've read many posts from those who have and who, over time, have seen their ejection fraction increase through diet and exercise. Hopefully your breathlessness will gradually decrease. As you recognize it is early days. Like you, I was devoted to my work, although they were teenagers . In retrospect, I see that my work was at the expense of not listening to my own body. When I was eventually forced to give it up I too yearned to return, but in time I was able to find ways of contributing to the work that I loved. I sincerely hope that things get better for you soon. Sometimes it takes a while for the doctors to get the medication tight. Maybe improvements won't be apparent to you currently on a daily basis, but when you look back at the weeks or even months past you can see positive progress.