On a day with little or no pain, and generally feeling ok, I can be optimistic and look forward to things planned later this year: a weekend away to watch touring cars, a Norwegian Fjords cruise with my family etc....but a day of pain or discomfort and my mood soon switches to despair, despondency and I feel like my life is forevermore going to be doomed!
Anyone else on this mental roller coaster?, as I feel very alone on the down days 😞
Hi Bruce67, you can never be alone on here, too many lovely people willing to share experiences and are caring. I went on a Norwegian Fjords with my sister (she was going with her husband but he died) and we had a lovely time. I know it's not easy being positive all the time and it's OK not to be OK, I myself feel up beat most of the time, but I've become very emotional since my heart failure was diagnosed, cry at happy and sad things. Wishing you well. Take care. 🫂
Hiya, I too felt very low immediately post surgery (for a replacement mitral valve) last summer, when I unfortunately woke up with more wrong than before I went into theatre.
For quite some time, I also felt like a time-bomb with having to take daily Warfarin and my I.N.R refusing to cooperate.
However, time has proved a great healer and as my recovery continued, I found I became happier again in myself. It took me 8 months to stumble upon this forum and it has really helped to put things into perspective. For me to realise that I’m not alone in this journey and that there are thousands of members on here, who have walked the same path and can empathise entirely with everything I’m going through, because they’ve been through it too.
So, when you’re having a low day - know that you’re not alone. That feeling fed up sometimes, is all part of the recovery process. But if you look back from how far you’ve come, everything you’ve been through and all the challenges you’ve overcome - then you’re doing amazing. Hold that thought!
Keep well! 😊
Hi DTM, everything you've said is so true. I'm sure by now Bruce67 realises he doesn't need to feel alone, we are in this together. Take care x
Hi, I understand entirely. Same here on a good day I'm optimistic, on a bad day I can get low and worry. You are not alone.
I'm 1 year on from my cardiac arrest, had to be defibrillated 4 times, had the dream of my entire life played out in front of me, then nothing until the massive explosion of the defibrillator bringing me back. I was a complete emotional wreck, from rock climber, cyclist and wild swimmer to struggling to walk more than a couple of minutes. In the beginning the bad days vastly outnumbered the good days, both physically and mentally, I spoke with my cardio rehab nurse about it and she referred me to the Cardio psychologist, what a revelation that was, I only had 2 meetings, she filled me with so much positivity and made so much sense of my thoughts and feelings that it was the first time since my cardiac arrest that I had smiled and cried with happiness, sat in my car in the hospital carpark crying my eyes out, what a wonderful feeling. Everything changed that day, I moved onwards and upwards. As you look back you'll realise the good days become more regular and the bad days slowly diminish. I still have the occasional bad days, not even days but more 'hours' but I know it's part of it and I'll be in a good place later on that day.
Keep as positive as you can because your positivity will be your strongest tool.
I agree with all the replies. You are never alone and this forum is like having an extended family/friends.
Since having my surgery in February I have really enjoyed being on this forum, speaking and listening to everyone’s stories and feeling that people understand as they have been through something similar.
I still have days were I feel rubbish, and low/ mood swings others much brighter, for me it’s the weather aswell. I remember my clinical nurse telling me it can take a whole year for the antiseptic to leave the body.
Hi I can completely sympathise and relate to your post it happened to me the other week. I thought everything was going well after my bowel surgery in February then out of the blue I felt terrible, like I had taken 10 steps back, I gradually felt a bit better but now I am scared it happens again because it came on so sudden. We are heading off to Crete on Tuesday (it was booked before diagnosis) and I am not looking as forward to it as I was. I have been on a cruise years ago to the fjords and it was absolutely amazing the scenery and the clean air made everything so much better.
I got counselling through my hospital when I had heart failure and I found it really helped me to see a much better picture, maybe your nurse can recommend someone. Take care char
I think we can all relate to how you feel with some good days and some bad ones too but we all keep plodding on. It's nice to plan ahead like you have with days out or places to be which can hopefully make the bad days a bit more bearable with something to look forward too.
Somedays my arthritis plays up making it difficult for me or the dreaded heart problems kick in which then wipes me out so i try to think of the better days I've had and look forward to the good ones ahead👍.
You are not alone I’m 49 and have HA in March 24, what a shock and so hard to get my head round. crying one minute and positive and feeling lucky the next. I have good days and bad, off work still and spending a lot of time on my own in my own thoughts but I try and keep myself busy. family are busy getting on with life it’s hard 🙁.
Thanks for your comments everyone, it's much appreciated to know others feel the same. Although everyone's individual circumstances and medical procedures seem to vary we are all on that same journey.
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