Heart attack

[David-66]

On the 9th September whilst on holiday in Greece I suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital where an emergency stent was fitted into one of my arteries. Since returning to the UK on the 20th September I have had an initial appointment with my GP, which during the consultation I basically had to drive what I needed and felt like the GP was not proactive.

The drugs I was given in Greece have been replicated in my UK prescription but no discussions or advice given on how long each of these medications should be taken.

it’s taken 3 weeks to have bloods taken, results pending and the earliest appointment to see a cardiologist is August 2025.

Is this normal to be left to basically self care until a specialist can confirm that the operation undertaken has been done correctly and my heart hasn’t been damaged.

I’m without words how alone you feel and the lack of proactive approach to managing my recovery.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

First I suggest you try to obtain your discharge notes from the Greek authorities, if you do not already have them, to pass on to your GP. If they are in Greek you should get them translated since this will help the UK cardio team . If your appointment with an NHS cardiologist is not until Aug25 you could ask to be put on the cancellation list if the cardio team run one, which could mean you will be invited to attend an appointment at short notice if there is a cancellation. But in view of the wait you could also investigate having your cardiology appointment being done elsewhere within the NHS since there are ways and means of doing this, within the NHS procedures, although there is no guarantee that this will happen. Or you could , assuming you can afford it, 'go private', where the initial consultation will be approx £250 but any tests are extra. Also many people who have had a heart attack and/or stent are offered cardio rehab within the NHS, although this will not, unfortunately, apply to you as far as I am aware since you had your 'event' out of the country. However the BHF offer an online course and the BHF Heart Helpline nurse will be able to help you on this, and any other questions you have.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Finally there are plenty of tips on the BHF website concerning lifestyle measures you should now take on board to lower your ongoing heart health risk concerning diet, exercise, body weight management, smoking cessation, and alcohol.

[David-66 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

thank you for your reply.

I have provided my GP the discharge notes that are in dual language to the GP. I was also provided a CD with frames of my arteries during the stent operation which the GP advised me to hold onto for when I see the cardiologist,

Since returning to the UK I have used the BHF site to tweak my dietary intake that wasn’t to bad anyway, removed alcohol diet and do not smoke. I walk daily and building up the distance over time, monitoring my BP daily and medicine intake and considering getting back on my bike.

I will see if I can get on a cancellation list , good idea, thanks, and have considered private consultation.

thanks again for your feedback.

[Bluehope81]

Not medical advice, opinions and suggestions only.

I think we could make some general assumptions, that had the stent not been fitted in the right place , the blood supply to the heart would not have been normalised, and you wouldn't be able to walk far at all. Due to the placement of a stent we could assume that you had an NSTEMI , which does less the damage to the heart than a full occlusion due to a thrombi.

Again as the previous poster said getting your Greek notes is absolutely vital to your care and understanding what has happened, and confirming the assumptions.

Therefore if you're not experiencing any symptoms for example tightness of chest, or shortness of breath, the way the NHS looks at you will not be classed as urgent, in a way its a good thing, and you should be reassured.

However it is completely shocking and unacceptable that you have to wait so long for an appointment, but this is the state of the NHS these days rather than the exception, so you shouldn't feel so alone, we are all in the same boat when trying to use the NHS these days,

As the previous poster said local support groups and communicating with the BHF will be a superb way to meet people like yourself. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

You may want to do some research into types of heart attacks and stent placements, stent placement is a routine and highly successful procedure, so you there's no need to overworry.

[devonian186]

Many GP's are not familiar with the complex workings of the heart and are unlikely to strike out on their own and change medication that differ to those prescribed by those higher up the chain.

Lowerfield offers good advice and if that results in you being seen much earlier within the NHS all well and good. However you have notes plus the frames and if you can afford it I think for your piece of mind that going private to have it all interpreted and determine future short term action must be worth it. Having to wait nearly a year otherwise is likely to bring you anxiety issues.

Any caveat on that is to enquire about the costs of extra tests that might be needed.

[Cofton]

hello David, I understand completely your feelings of concern and abandonment. I am further along my heart journey than you but I well remember the shock and fear following my first stent . You go through a process and find yourself alone and unsupported on the other side. Coming to terms with your heart attack is going to take time to process. I volunteered with cardiac rehab for five years and so many patients were the same as you . I would reach out to your GP and tell him you need support to come to terms with it as it’s making you anxious. They’re often more proactive regarding mental health these days. You're doing all the right things for your rehab yourself so well done ! Some patients found Tai Chi very good for rehab too (we also offered that). What is most helpful is speaking with other heart patients going through the same as you so I recommend you try just writing direct to Cardiac Rehab at your local hospital and ask for their help , I’m sure they will help if not with rehab with literature and a list of local groups.

[MountainGoat52]

I totally agree with the comment made by devonian186 in that GPs are generally not that familiar with heart issues. My GP practice now has a designated heart doctor, but he is not the same as someone that has been trained in coronary care. Most practices do not have the manpower available to acquire the specialist knowledge required. Therefore, when we are discharged to the care of our GP we can feel cast adrift and having to look after oneself. My wife was particularly concerned when this happened to me.

I was fortunate in that when I had my heart attack, a sister on the cardiac unit sat down and explained what each medication was for and how long I would be on it. However, this appears to generally not be the case. There is a mental shock going from no medication (or in my case minimal medication) to a multiplicity of drugs doing different things and this needs to be addressed.

[Hare123]

If it’s any consolation my husband hasn’t seen his cardiologist since his heart attack and stents over 2 years ago. If you call the British heart foundation nurses they may be able to advise on the medications? Were you given a number for cardio nurses team by your doctor? If so call them. In the early days when we had lots of questions they were more useful than gp. If you haven’t been given this I would ask at doctors or hospital about getting access to them. Also going to cardio rehab classes is great for recovery so I would see if you can get on these .

[David-66 in reply to Hare123]

thank you for the advice I have a GP appointment next week so will raise the points / questions with them

[EdtheDead]

Sadly, from my experiences, such a long wait seems to be the norm. Took me 12 months to get the answers I asked for. Turns out that after being diagnosed with an NSTEMI in Sept 23, after badgering for an MRI due to constant chest pain that never goes away, I have never in fact had a Heart Attack in the first place and my chest pain is due to something else. That something else has still to be determined so I guess my battle for answers still has some way to go.

[Jedi14]

So sorry to hear of your plight. I think the apparent ignoring of your condition has something to do with the fact that you had everything done abroad!

I am beginning to find out that the doctors/health professionals are not happy when we get treated elsewhere. But eventually they will get to see you in turn. I was told by my dentist that they will not see me if I had dental treatment abroad.

Meanwhile we are your brothers at heart, here on this site to give you help, support and advice

[Velda1]

I agree withLowerfield_no _more........I had a a STEMI last year and 4 stents put in while on holiday in Canada last year. No warning, just BAM..lucky to still be here. I had to stay 8 weeks before I could fly home and I only had phone apps with cardio. 1 ECG before flying home. My GP was kept up to date regularly by email from me and cardio. All my records were given to me for him. Make sure you get them and you may need to get translation of them..Like you my meds were changed to equivalent here. At home, I never saw a cardiologist only Heart failure nurse and my GP. I was admitted to hospital with severe chest and back pains in November where I saw 3 cardiologists (1 was useless and the other spoke at me like I was an idiot 3rd was brilliant )in my 5 days stay. Lucky for me the 3rd of those is now my cardiologist who I saw properly for first time in Feb. He said I'll see you later in the year. I have an appointment next month. I fell down the cracks in the system as my doc is in one county and cardioligst and hospital in another....KEEP AT YOUR DOC, ASK FOR REHAB NURSE AND REHAB...ASK FOR CARDIO......KEEP AT THEM

[David-66 in reply to Velda1]

thanks for your message. I will nag them to get a proper assessment. It’s a disgrace that with earlier consultation lives can be saved and put on the correct path to long term good health. But unfortunately it looks like you only get treated if your on your last legs.