Thank you for letting me join this group . I’m 65. Fit and slim , regular walker and exercised since my early twenties. Had HA just over 3 weeks ago. No symptoms or heart problems previously. Just on the day it happened. Had CPR and defibrillator in hospital. Had emergency angioplasty and one stent fitted Lucky to be here but still in shock and wondering if I’ll ever feel normal again and get back to my old life. My medications are making me feel lightheaded and nauseous.and affecting my ability to start light cardio exercise. I ve always had low blood pressure
Thanks for listening
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Strawweddrain
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No need to thank us this is a Community I think so many of us never wanted to join however if you find yourself joining there is so much support and understanding so I hope you will benefit from that and it certainly helps in not making you feel alone as you are not
There are so many posts on here where people have joined and like you thought they were fit and out the blue they had a heart attack
I think the theory you are not fit , eat unhealthy and do no exercise is not true in so many cases as to why someone has a heart attack and I know therefore when you have been living a good life it comes as a shock
However thank goodness that you were caught and with the stent and medications the blood is flowing back around your heart as it should do so that is a real positive
The medications we are put on can take some getting used to they can make you feel tired and dizzy as well as sometimes other things to but hopefully you will adjust to them and in time if you find you are still getting these symptoms you could talk with your Doctor and there maybe some they can change or adjust but I would give it a little while longer as 3 weeks is still early days
I hope you get invited to the Rehab classes and will take up the offer as you will find that so helpful
And yes you will get your life back so many on here say their life is better than it was before you have to give yourself time to heal and adjust to what has happened and slowly you will be enjoying life again as you did before this happened
thanks so much , I feel better now. I am extremely thankful to be here, I look forward to joining you on this strange new journey and know I need time to heal and recover. Lots of love ❤️
I’ve seen so many posts here with a history similar to yours.
You are glad you are still here and glad that the problem has been found. You’ve had a big shock and that takes time to get over.
You’ll be offered cardiac rehab,which should not start straight away as you need to get you mind used to the new reality. And your body needs to get used to the medication. In the meantime, take the tablets, take light exercise - increasing it a little each day keeping yourself still comfortable- and continue your good diet.
Thank you so much . Appreciate your words of encouragement. Realise I need time to get used to the medications and allow myself time to recover. I shall be starting cardio rehab soon so I have much to look forward to with the help of you lovely people who are going through the same. Sending love ❤️
I wish I could have £5 for everyone who says they were fit and healthy and ate well and to whom a HA was a complete surprise.
Clearly there is something else going on other than a poor lifestyle, not exercising and eating the wrong foods. How we can identify that and prevent those apparently not at apparent risk from having a HA I don't know.
Hope you will feel better soon, it takes time for our bodies to adjust to medication and medical interventions.
Please don’t rush your recovery, you need to listen to your body. I was exactly the same you and was hounding cardiac rehab for an appointment. It was just my way of dealing with the shock of what happened I guess. I am now 15 months post event and I am still not anywhere close to what I consider full fitness. It really is one step forward two back at times but the big picture is still an upward trajectory. I have to be grateful for that.
I hope you have a speedier recovery but we are all different and the key is patience and not pushing it too much. I have been really down at times but I am still here finding what my new normal might be.
Take care and take your time. We are all here to support if you need it.
Similar story here, reasonably fit, used to cycle a lot (up to 250 miles a week) many years ago. Diet was reasonable of late but not that good for about 5 years 20 years ago. Had an ‘episode’ in October 22 that resulted in an echo in May 23.
Admitted on the spot due to silent HA 9 hours previous. Had PCI 5 days later to put in two stents, further echo before discharge revealed regurgitating valve so AVR & single CABG three weeks later.
I was told in hospital that I’d only recover 75-90% of my pre event fitness. Well I’m now fitter than I have been in over 20 years.
I do a cardiac gym class without any restrictions on how hard I work once a week (a follow up to rehab) and run 5k weekly, something I never did before my HA, I beat an 18 year old in a sprint finish yesterday. I’m thinking of getting the bike out again to help with my aerobic stamina. I’m 72 next month …
coming to terms with these events and any life effects they leave us with can be very frustrating. Your situation sounds very similar to mine ( I’d been to the gym in the morning heart attack cardiac arrest in the afternoon), they told me the only reason I’m mentally and physically intact is because I was so fit. The event has left me with some left ventricular problems that has caused a few intermittent cardiac arrhythmias. I had to have a cardio version 3 months after heart attack.
Anyway I’m still here 3 years later and have gradually increased my exercise tolerance. Things take longer than before now and I’ve changed how I exercise and types of exercise. The heart event, the medication and the fact I can’t take brufen for my arthritis has it’s effects.
Be patient with yourself, acceptance is key but not that easy, start with rehab and you don’t have to do what you did before there’s other things out there. Your still you just a newer version that’s yet to get established.
Had two arteries in heart blocked, so had an emergency thing up my wrist and two stents fitted in Papworth.
Wishing you all the very best . It’s the mental strain that gets you. So talking is the best thing. I’m nearly 8 weeks after Major HA. Still not mentally fit. They say my heart is 58% fit which is above the standard 55% so really very good. I’m 52 M, work very hard on machines all over Europe.
I was so Lucky, was working in Cambridge when it happened.
Walking 10 miles easily 2 weeks before the HA. Eat well, fit and healthy. Don’t drink, don’t smoke. So a complete surprise.
It’s hard reading how many people have the same story. Thought it was just me.
Be kind to yourself and others .
The heart will tell you when to rest.
After the HA, I had 4 episodes of very low BP. Bought a BP machine from Amazon, and checked, thought it was my blood sugars, but it’s not, low BP. Dr lowered my bisoprolol and now feel good. I work too much but have a 3 year plan to pay off mortgage. Wife says I don’t work hard and need to walk more. But after a 7 hour day of standing working on a machine I don’t feel like walking . Apple Watch tells me I’m doing enough. Ha.
Thanks for sharing your story, I agree, it’s hard to understand why it happened and frustrating when you can’t do what you used to. I’m starting cardio rehab next week and looking forward to starting the long road to recovery, I am keeping an eye on my BP and medication effects but accept it’s still early days. Glad I joined this site , the support and understanding is wonderful. Take care 💕
Firstly, sorry to hear about your recent HA, that must have been a huge shock. Prior to my own HA I had a perception (possibly naively) that HAs only happened to be big fat blokes sitting on the couch all day, eating takeaways, smoking & drinking. That isn’t the case though and perfectly healthy people like yourself aren’t immune.
Life has a habit of throwing curve balls at you when you least expect it. Take your time ( both physically and mentally) do the right things and take the good advice from the professionals. You’ll get there over time. Getting back to “normal” is the million dollar question after such a big medical episode.
Take care on your journey and you’ll find this forum a brilliant source for help and reassurance.
Thank you for your advice and support. I feel so much better today after all the kind responses I’ve had in the last 24 hours. I now know what to do and what to expect in the coming months. It’s comforting to know you are all out there going through your own personal recovery journeys and kind enough to share them .
Similar to myself I had a HA on Boxing Day 2019 marathon runner 11.5 stone probably ate too many carbs and stent fitted, but never looked back, exercise every day no highly processed food and live every day with plenty of holiday!
Hi I had much the same when I was 59 very fit always done some form of exercise
Suffered with indigestion or so i thought but i was having a HA, all happened so quickly blue lighted to hospital they tried to fit stents but i needed an emergency bypass, if im honest i didn’t know what had hit me,i felt like that for ages dizzy just not feeling right getting used to my meds etc, two years on I have had a few blips but doing ok.
The meds can take some getting used to
Keep talking speak to your doctor speak to the nurses, tell them how you feel.
yes , I’m feeling the same. I had a really good day yesterday but today felt really nauseous and dizzy. I’m sure it’s the medication , I start cardio rehab on Friday and will mention it then. Early days for me but I am keeping an eye on it. Glad to hear your having better days. Thanks and take care 💕
I was exactly like you! Heart attack out of the blue at 2am one morning in 2016. Never needed - or took any medication prior to “the event” To begin with you’re bewildered - how could this happen to me? The stent surgeon said I was lucky as I’d had a ‘good’ heart attack!?*!
The bag of meds was a shock too and - like any changes to your intake take a while to settle down - they had to keep changing some to balance me out. I came to realise that compared to many I had had a ‘good’ heart attack; 1 stent and some meds. Many others are not so lucky and have had real damage done.
Try not to worry, they got you in time and could help you. I’m still here 8 years later and none the worse for the whole experience….except for being 8 years older and that would’ve happened anyway.
It really is a shock to the system and hard to cope with some days. I’m keeping an eye on the medication issues and will chase up with cardio’s and GP as it’s still early days for me. Our stories are very similar, I,m glad to hear that you’ve got through eight years and things get better. Thanks for sharing and take care yourself 💕
Sounds very familiar! I was a regular gym-goer, ate reasonably well, though drank a bit too much alcohol and was a bit overweight - then Bam! out of the blue, heart attack followed by two stents, then some cardio rehabilitation 3 months later, then building up exercise to try and get back to where I was, as well as losing weight.
Almost one year on, as fit as I am ever going to be (which is fine, just don't have as much stamina for running, so I do longer stints with fast uphill walking, then 2 km or 3 km rowing, both on machines in my own personal gym (previously a shed!), plus weights). I have also managed to lose 2 stone. Doctor says I now have much less chance of a heart attack now than I did before my heart attack.
The hardest bit early on was regaining physical fitness; The hardest thing latterly was trying to stop worrying about "when" the next one will happen, and how far should I be from easy access to ambulance/hospital, so stopped doing long walks in the country.
I think I am now over it, I do occasionally worry if I get a twinge in the chest, but I then think about what might have caused it e.g. today, wielding the hedge trimmer has given me a bit of muscle ache in my ribs, so mindfulness is also important.
So, keep doing the right things, make a note of physical progress, and also keep a diary of how you feel and what yo can do to counteract negative thought (it works for me anyway - just a few sentences each evening, along with BP/HR readings!).
Give yourself a year and you should be fine - albeit a little different.
Best wishes!
PS I was on Bisoprolol (beta-blocker) to slow my heart rate down (thus allowing the heart to recover better/faster), but quite often my HR went way too low, so if there are any problems like that, investigate your medications and suggest changes to your GP - you know your body better than he/she does!
Yes , same as you , my diet was ok but room for improvement if I think about it. Good to hear your story , hope I can follow in your footsteps. Learning lots of good advice on this site, Thank you for your help and I,ll keep your thoughts and ideas in mind. Keep up the good work 😊
At the age of 76 although having cycled around 8 miles to work each day for a number of years also on my feet for long periods at a time whilst at work, I found I was getting short of breath whilst walking up a hill and that was unusual for me. Consulted my Doctor who arranged an angiogram and it was discovered that I had two arteries partly blocked. I was fairly slim and was also around a good weight for my height of some 11 stone. I ended up with a double heart bypass replacing the partially blocked arteries with ones harvested from my legs, I am now over 12yrs on since my operation and still walk every day for around a mile or so having had a full hip replacement and maintain a good weight and healthy diet as before. A non-smoker virtually, having smoked around 5 cigarettes a day until the age of 33 when I gave up completely. I am now 88 having retired for the last 23 yrs. So, you can have a Heart condition without any obvious signs that can be a shock, but you can recover apart from slowing down due to your age otherwise still fit !
I just wanted to say, I think that it’s precisely because you were fit that you’re here to tell the tale. A less fit person may not have fared as well. Which was why I survived my episode’ 16 years ago. I, like you, am eternally grateful that I did. Life is different now but nonetheless very much worth living and I intend to make the most of it. Good luck!
Thank you, I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your life and are happy in your newer different life, we have much to be thankful for. Good luck to you too 💕
Hello - you could be describing me. I was 50, relatively fit, non-smoker and pescatarian when I had a STEMI. After various tests the most likely explanation for me is a high rheumatoid factor, which can cause sticky blood. It left me with a reduced heart function but I’m here to tell the tale. I’m glad you are too.
Thank you , good to hear that, I’m presuming I’ll have some reduced heart function too but at least I know that there are many of us out there in the same boat and we will strive on, Take care 💕
Hi Srawweddrain, it has taken me several years to get back after a HA to a similar level of fitness. Walking is the best exercise for me together with 4 low dose tablets a day. Don’t try to rush yourself.
Sorry to hear of your experience. Half the battle we face is in the mind. The facts are you are here so look forward and try not to dwell on the recent events. On balance, any, form of exercise will have recovery benefits as you will see from your rehab. You will get through this and focus on what you can do rather than what you shouldn’t. Leverage the knowledge and experience of clinical and rehab staff around you to check what you should be good to do and trust their advice. If you can also find and join a peer to peer support group with a positive outlook it will really bring you on leaps and bounds! Good luck! 👊🏽
Great advice, I will focus on what I can do rather than what I can’t. I’m starting cardio rehab this week so my journey starts there. Thanks for sharing and good luck to you too
It will be a shock and an adjustment. That takes time.
In regards to your medications, I'm guessing your cardiologists can discuss with you alternatives or maybe you just need time to readjust to new medications.
My Mum ha just been discharged form hospital and met many patients with low B/P. What the nurses and doctors were encouraging was drinking more fluids, but I don't know your medical history but speak to your G.P or cardiologist.
You will get there. This doesn't define you. When my. mum was diagnosed 10 year ago with a heart condition we were all in shock. She wasn't a drinker or smoker etc...but what we've learnt it isn't just about being fit, drinking or smoking there are other factors too like my mum's age. But we adapted and you learn you can have life with a cardio condition.
Hi...I was 52 in November when I had mine...like you no prior warning..don't drink or smoke..eat healthy etc..cholesterol low and BP fine. Its a real shock when it happens..one minute getting ready for work then within a couple of hours 1 HA , 2 cardiac arrests, defibrillator shocks and 1 stent fitted. What I can tell you is yes you will feel better...just take your time and go with your emotions. I felt niggles and was very aware of physical sensations for a long time...Still do if I feel anything..but am sure none of it heart related...also my emotions certainly took tome to process things. Yes i did feel things with the meds but share with your team and things will settle. But here I am nearly 9 months on and in that time..I saw xmas, the start of a new year, celebrated birthdays, a wedding and was able to say goodbye at a funeral. I have seen beauriful sunrises and amazing sunsets ..and even the northern lights! I have met the most amazing people through cardiac rehab etc and met so many heroes ..keep looking they are everywhere! I have sat by an open fire in winter, climbed hills and walked in the countryside and have just returned from a trip abroad! So yes, have faith..you will feel all kinds of things and some days may be tougher than you thought and thats normal and okay..but take all the help offered and look for the jewels in every day because they are there! I promise you that x
What a wonderful post. I can relate to everything you say, our stories are very similar. Theres so much to cope with in the beginning. Feeling good one day and then exhausted the next. The effects of the medications, not knowing each day whether I’ll feel well enough and have the confidence to be able to do a little walk or simple tasks. I am so lucky to be alive though and hope I can follow in your footsteps . Thank you for inspiring me and giving me hope for the future.
Take care and continue to enjoy your lovely life 💕
Hello. Your post is so relatable. I had a totally unexpected heart attack and stent 3 weeks ago and it's so reassuring to hear that others have a similar journey. I think I'm experiencing some side effects of meds which I'm hoping will settle down. I also happen to have chronic back pain which I normally manage really well with walking and exercise. 3 weeks of minimal walking and exercise has resulted in a flare up of pain and not sure what if any of my rescue meds I can take. Will check with GP after the weekend but life definitely feels a bit more complicated at the moment 🤨.
Sorry to hear you’re experiencing back pain as well as everything else you’ve been through. I had to have CPR and defibrillator and although I’m eternally grateful to the NHS angels that saved me, I have osteoporosis and unfortunately I’m still suffering with rib and back pain on walking. It’s good that you’re going to see your GP and will get some help with the pain , Take care💕😊
Thank you. It's so good to hear from others and realise we're not alone. Like you I am eternally grateful to the NHS. I hope you're back and rib pain improves over time. I'm sure mine will as it usually does but something I could well do without at the moment
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