We have all and still are going through a lot, our worlds have been turned upside down. Many of you know my story but for those who don’t, perfectly well and very fit, never smoked, vegetarian and a none drinker for the last 10 years. Perfect you would think, then bang, at the age of 54 I had a heart attack and into intensive care for an emergency quadruple bypass then another HT all in the space of a month. I’m two years on now and two of my bypasses have collapsed and now after being so well I’m left with angina and some shortness of breath. All this has also given me PTSD, I’m not the person I used to be, but I am getting better with it all, slowly.
Anyway enough about me. I thought it would be great for us all to help each other with stories about what we’ve been able to achieve with our lives that we never thought we would be able to after what we’ve been through or what’s made you proud about your self.
I like to look in a mirror and say I’m alive when all the specialists said “it’s a miracle you survived”.
Going on my first long haul holiday since everything happened, 3 planes and a tiny little island with no real medical treatment, my anxiety was through the roof but I did it.
Thanks Martin
Written by
Jako999
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I am so glad you are doing well, all be it with some difficulties.
My husband was 57 when he had a cardiac arrest out of nowhere 2 and half years ago. Fit and well one minute and said he didn't feel great so went to A&E. He then arrested whilst I parked the car. Gone for 13 minutes and 4 shocks. I was basically told had we not got to A&E he would not have made it. He ended up with a stent being fitted after 48 hours in an induced coma as he also had SEPSIS which we did not know he had and tropenin too high to do a bypass ! He was home a week later and all our family struggled with some form of PTSD afterwards, as the shock of it was incredible for me and our 2 sons, as well as my husband who has no recollection of any of it, from the day before we went to A&E to about 4 days after. But has still taken him a while to accept what happened to him.
Anyway, on a good point, we have been on several long haul holidays since, including a massive road trip in America, with no hospitals nearby, and Greek Islands with no real medical facilities. He has been absolutely fine, a little anxious about flying, but finds Rescue Remedy helps with that.
Enjoy your trip - you have to live your life. My husband is certainly doing that and looking to retire next year, as he has his own business and they can only give us stress as an answer to why it happened !
Well done for your long haul holiday. As you may remember we had our quad bypasses at much the same time. I am somewhat older than you. I struggle to get the weight off and only have to look at a photo of a bar of choc to put on 2pounds. I get breathless, but that is not helped by high humidity and the pollen season.
Yesterday did a very tricky 80 mile return journey across the moors (tourists, narrow lanes, very slow cars and suicidal sheep) very long walk round Tavistock then on the way back a walk up one of the Tors. So pretty normal for what I used to do and I suspect more than many people of my age could manage. I think the point is that I often think I can't do that or afterwards think, how did I manage that!
Last December a flight to Salzburg -stressful in itself-arrived in a snowstorm but had a great holiday with lots of walking. In May to Switzerland and lots of very stiff walking and active days.
I think the more you do the better you are able to cope, as moping saps energy and makes you despondent This morning I am thinking how on earth did I do all that yesterday!
Well done Jako👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻 love it . I only had an nstemi and quadruple CABG last July , I was fir & string 61 year old. It was huge shock to me , my family and a huge number of friends . I was the fit one of the group , lifelong sports and training .
I’m certain I had/have some PTSD.
I’m proud to say that I smashed my rehab classes , couldn’t wait to get away from the head physio that was holding me back on progressing. Got an online cardiac rehab coach who understood my abilities etc and helped me push on. 5k park runs, a 10k trail run, weights, and tough yoga classes . Physical hard work around my small holding , back on my 125 L plate 3 months post surgery and passed my big bike test on 3rd July this year , picked up my Harley on the 4th June 🙌🏻. Went camping at the Black Deer Americana music Festival , cried with happiness at the music . Enjoyed a couple of pints of Guinness at a Harlequins match with mates , been to various gigs in London . Make my own breads, love cooking . Did a trip to Spain to see an old school mate that had had a cardiac arrest (way worse than my scenario) had so much fun . Became a grandad … the year has been epic and I love my rebirth . I will be posting separately on the 25th July, the anniversary of my surgery . Let’s all keep on keeping on 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
I had a heart attack (NSTEMI type II) - over 5 years ago and that was my introduction to Afib (paroxysmal); the eventual conclusion was the untreated and undiagnosed arrhythmia caused a small transient clot that entered my heart = slight lv impairment. Discharged with medication and exercise ( no other interventions, like stents, etc.).
At that point I was determined this wasn’t going to affect my QOL and jumped into the rehab. I was always a healthy and active person and that’s the way I was going to stay. Thankfully I’ve been able to regain and maintain this post-MI recovery. My heart is structurally normal again and the impairment gone. I honestly feel that I don’t have any limitations at the moment - I regularly run, climb, cycle and travel.
Travel has always been a passion and I have been making up for lost time post COVID. Last year, I had trips to the US and Europe. I was also on Borneo too for a vacation as well; l just love the climate in SE Asia. To supply some context too, I don’t sit by a pool or anything either, most trips involve hiking, climbing, swimming, snorkelling. For part of this trip I was in the middle of the jungle, days away from any medical help.
All trips were perfectly fine, not a blip from my heart; probably quieter than at home. Needless to say, I do take all the other precautions when travelling too for keeping stable - medicine, sleep, time zone acclimation and hydration plus good travel insurance.
My advice is assess yourself honestly, then plan accordingly and just enjoy the trip. If my condition changes at all then I reevaluate again.
Hi brilliant to see how everyone is getting on and hearing about the holidays. My story is I collapsed, fortunately in my doctors surgery and he called an ambulance straight away, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure I started on the usual meds but the only thing that they could do was list me for transplant the wait was horrendous every day and night waiting for a phonecall that never came, I ended up in hospital and there was only two ways I was getting out, a new heart or a box. It was a new lease of life I got although recovery is long it was was great to feel almost normal even with the heavy duty meds. It was caused by a faulty gene which I have passed on to my youngest son. I started back on the holiday trail Europe only and all was good till I got diagnosed with bowel cancer in December of last year I got half my bowel removed on the 5th Feb and felt like the most unlucky person in Scotland. I had holidays booked and so far I have been to Crete, Majorca and at the moment we are carahuela on the Costa del sol. It is a bit too hot for me but I thank my cardiac team and bowel surgeon for making it possible. My fourth heart versary is on the 26th I always say a wee prayer for my donars family. Char
I will keep it short,triple bypass in 1977 age 31, now just turned 78 and now Guinness World Record Holder as Longest surviving triple heart bypass patient. Story is on Guinness World record website.Also amazingly plastered all over the press.
Never thought id still be here anyway so physically fit at the time that’s what saved me plus my Doctor Snyder who insisted on an exercise ecg after an ecg at rest showed nothing.
Now after giving up football before op now play walking football twice a week one session ain’t walking more like 5 a side.Got a few bikes 2 elec.and some pedal versions.Seen my children grow up and grandkids to.Unbelievable thanks NHS.
Heart attack Nov 23. Lost confidence, suffered from anxiety a lot.
Now 7 months on. Back in gym doing my weights, rowing ,cycling and absolutely enjoying that excericse buzz!!
Went camping last weekend by Snowdia park, got over the anxiety of being out in the wild with no hospitals near by. Went for some great walks and enjoyed nature.
I won't lie, I still get moments of anxiety but these are fleeting. Medicines are a pain but hey , they are important.
This is great keep to story’s coming, it’s great to hear how everyone is doing and I’m sure it will be a massive uplift for those just starting their journey, I’m sure we all remember what that was like.
So good to hear positive stories how people are finding ways, no matter how small, to find the beauty and enjoyment in life. Inspiring to hear how people find ways to be doing some of things they love.
I had 2 heart attacks in a week, 3 years ago, one when out running,(i stupidly decided to ignore it…i was fit, surfing nearly every day, sports, running…. Thought i could power through the two hr ordeal that i went through on a semi remote bit of the Cornish coast…. .’’ The River D’Nile’’runs strong in my family.
Suffice to say, that wasn’t the best decision I have ever made!…..as it set in motion an unfortunate series of events.
Drove home, went straight to bed, slept for 3 days, then tried to write reports working from home, all the while with chest pain and feeling very ill but still very much in denile. I then, on the 6th day, felt a bit improved and decided i should go surfing to get myself better (i know… what the eck!! .. but to my defence it usually works with bugs and virus’s!)….. 40 min paddle out into beautifully clean but chunky swell….. then on came a second heart attack, when actually sitting on my board out back after exerting so hard. This came on ever stronger, like a vice like pain in chest and jaw/shoulder, coming on in increasingly stronger waves. Plus dull heavy deep ache in left shoulder and arm rendering me useless to rescue myself…. So i just held on grimly abd the whole episode lasted 1.5hrs… until it getting dark… no life guards and only 2 other surfers in, were too far away and they had gone in. So i had no choice but to ride it out as best i could by deep slow breathing and trying to keep as calm as i could…. That battle is a long story in itself…
Finally had a lessening of symptoms and I got back into the beach by somehow managing to catch a wave….then very slowly made my way back to my car via a long uphill walk through sanddunes. Then I drove myself to A&E (this was during covid lockdown).
Two days later = 2 stents,….disvharfed early out of hospital as the hospital was the most stretched in its entire history ….but my breathlessness was getting worse, then compounded by a mistake from an NHS system stretched to breaking point…chain of drs not prescribing meds, resulting in me not getting any Ramipril to help heart cells have a better chance of better recovery and heart function to remap …. ( mistake picked up by a consultant months later).
So post angioplasty/stents my symptoms got worse and worse…. But no one could identify why…. (The lack of knowledge about pericarditis among medical practitioners in this country relative to Europe and the US is shocking. Unfortunately it seems the only way to get a proper diagnosis and be treated appropriately seems to be to pay privately, if your fortunate to be able to afford it, where the only specialists in thus fiekd seem to be at The Royal Brompton hospital in London.
So within 6 weeks i ended up being unable to walk 10m and no one could seemingly tell me why, except that I may be unfortunately developing heart failure.😞
But in reality i had undiagnosed Dresslers Syndrome, /mayopericarditis …..turning into three years and counting of chronic recurrent pericarditis…. … and so a long journey ensued, its very hard to get better from, as the littlest exertion would trigger an inflammation flare up of the heart/pericarditis….. so the whole process starts again.
Long slow recovery…. But now, although not fully well, I am so chuffed, so happy, so thankful….I have finally hit my goal and returned to the sea and paddling out through the waves once more …the first few times were definitely a bit of a struggle to get over the fear barrier I’m not going to lie!… but I’ve come to terms with the fear that its always going to be in the back of my mind… i.e. will it happen again out here, and if so, will I be able to hold on to the board and get back in if it does, like last time. But i lock that fear away and just go for it. Plus I’ve bought an apple watch ultra LTE so i can at least monitor my heart rate, and ease off if getting to high. Also I can call for help from my watch whilst out in the sea if i need to… (thank you Cornwall Air Ambulance if i ever need you!🌊🚁🏨)
So its been a tough journey to get back out there, but i know from reading your stories on this forum, that I am fortunate, and I have nothing but empathy and respect for all of you pushing on through your own personal health challenges.
The rewards are worth it!…its my Heaven; being out beyond the breakers and riding waves ; enjoying nature, the colours, smells and sounds of sea, sky abd wildlife.
I do pay quite dearly for the exertion over the next few days…. But its worth it just to feel I am truly living again.
Flip me , I felt that … hanging in out the back 🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼. Can’t imagine what you went through . I had quadruple bypass, the thought of punching through white water and laying on my chest (sponger) to get out back 🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼.. ouch 🤣🤣🤣. So glad your back out there .👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Thanks DWizza!…just read back and hadnt realised how much i had written and splurged out!….must have needed to share😂😬…..heartwarming to hear from a fellow wavegoer… Quadruple bypass! My goodness me, how are you now? Do you get out in the sea still?
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