53 y/o double heart attack.

[Queenie1970]

I had a heart attack in February 2024. I was sent home after three days, but two days later had another one. My daughter did CPR for 18 minutes before paramedics showed up. I was none responsive the entire time. They managed to get my heart going with a defib. I now have an implanted defib and a stent in my left lower chamber artery. I'm terrified. The hospital gave my family the "prepare for her death" talk. I was days away from them removing care when I started to respond to pain and open my eyes. How do we, survivers, deal with this mentally. I'm a mess. Xc

[Lezzers]

Hi Queenie, your story is very similar to my husband's. He was 42 when he had his heart attack and cardiac arrest. They did manage to restart his heart after some time but he remained unresponsive, he was put on life support but I was told he wouldn't survive as his brain was too damaged to support life & that they were gonna turn off his life support

That was in 1997, he's still here!

His MH was a complete mess, he was just waiting for the 'big one' to happen!! He was severely depressed, uncommunicative etc and it was getting worse as he was frequently in & out of hospital. Eventually he was given cardiac rehab and that helped him massively, it gave him his confidence back, being able to talk to others made him realise he can go on & live a reasonable normal life. He now has an ICD fitted as well.

If it hasn't already been mentioned I would ask about cardiac rehab. Also if you do Facebook there is a brilliant group called

facebook.com/groups/SuddenC...

A lovely well run group of people who've been there & understand, they'll be able to help/advise with everything from getting counselling either through you GP or SAD's (who they're affiliated with) to resuming driving etc. I highly recommend joining them if you're able to.

Good luck

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I feel so much for you

I had 3 heart attacks all in the space of a few months never had a stent just kept sending me home with a bag full of meds

Finally I had a angiogram which showed I needed a triple Bypass and then I got a call from the Surgeon you need this done quick or you will only have 2 years

I was petrified to say the least but they did get me in quick and I had it done

I was hoping for stents but where one was blocked they could not get to it so Bypass it was

The coping after though can be the hardest and I am coming up to 3 years now since my Bypasses and still struggle but I do suffer with anxiety so is adding to maybe why I still struggle with what happened

You went through such a frightening experience which sounds like it has shattered your confidence which would be quite normal for most

It is still very early days as well

But try and think that you are one of the lucky ones they got you in time , they have opened that artery up and the blood is now flowing around your heart and you will be on all the medications to help protect it so you are in a better position than you may have been in for a few years as this will have been building up without you knowing it

You should be offered Rehab eventually which will be a huge help and hope you go when you get an invite

Every negative thought try and see the positive answer in tie if you are still struggling then see your Doctor and get some Counselling

Know how you feel is normal but in time will pass as your confidence grows as well as you are not alone so many have felt like you do but eventually get through it

Let us know how you get on and come and talk with us when you need to x

[Cocoadonkey]

Hi Queenie, my husband also had a cardiac arrest suddenly 2 years ago - luckily I had just dropped him at A &E and went to park the car as he was feeling a bit rough, so he was in the right place and 13 minutes of CPR and 4 shocks and he was back. He was then put in an induced coma and eventually had a stent put in. He remembers nothing from the day before until a few days after they woke him up, but has still had anxiety, mainly in the form of claustrophobia.

As others have said, the cardiac rehab is really good and explains lots of things about the medication, exercise needed etc.

My husband also had EMDR for PTSD, as the shock of what had happened to him caused major anxiety and he had a couple of panic attacks - even though he has no memory of it.

The EMDR worked really well, you may have to pay for it privately as will wait forever on the NHS but my husband only had about 4 sessions and they were not too expensive.

He has also tried hypnotherapy which worked really well.

My husband still works full time as has his own company and I constantly try to slow him down and we have been abroad on holiday about 5 times, so he is enjoying life.

Hope that helps, and as someone else has mentioned, try to think of the positives - you are here and have some more time with your family. So make the most of it and live every day to the full.

[Nelson71]

I had a HA in Sept 2004. It affected my confidence hugely. I was obsessed with clean eating, exercise and no alcohol. It took over a year before I got back to my self. We think we’re indestructible but a HA is a warning we’re not. You do repair yourself though so although scary it’s not end of life. It’s hard but what you feel is normal so don’t let it get you down

[fishonabike]

I hope things improve for you as you recover physically - as Cocoadonkey said, EMDR is proving to be very helpful for people after traumatic health events

[Furryears]

Hi Queenie1970 I was in the same boat 2 years ago as they took me out our house they told my husband I was very very poorly and they thought it a good idea he contact family which he did, I was in resuss before the team came in to work with me they tried to fit a stent but couldn’t that’s where the emergency bypass came in

Hubby and my son were allowed in before they took me down

I have struggled since my bypass on and off but the best thing I did was seek help admitting I needed help was a big step I was a complete mess, I had a fabulous psychologist who helped me through took nearly a year but i learned lots of coping mechanisms, lots of tears some days i couldn’t string a sentence i didn’t want medication ( only because that frightened me too ) i wanted to be in full control she was brilliant please please ask for some help & most importantly keep talking

Always here if you need to chat x

[SoThisIs_Simon]

Hi there! Try searching for a local heart/cardiac support group. Meeting and talking with others who have been through similar experiences can help. It has certainly helped me.