Hello everyone. I'm completely new to this. I'm Natalia and I'm probably looking for a favour here
I am a 39-year-old woman who had a heart attack three weeks ago. I feel confused and scared.
There is a war in my country, and my family and I have been living in Scotland for two years, and this makes me worry even more, because I do not even fully understand how the medical system works, namely in such a situation when you are seriously ill, although I read a lot.
I was 6 days of hospital stay after a heart attack (NSTEMI), prescribed a lot of medication, waiting for an angiogram
I try to calm down and gradually return to normal, but it doesn't really work. Maybe I'll be calmer when the angiogram is done
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NataliiaBohat
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Morning Natalia, I don’t know much about the medical side with you but just wanted to say hello and send you some love. It sounds like you have huge stress and understandable worry. However- I’m glad you are being looked after, in a safe place. It’s so hard when we feel out of control of situations around us and to us. But that’s it, we have no control so we must try to trust the help..(even when it’s hard) and accept we have to allow our bodies to heal and respond to treatment. I say this convincing myself at the same time!
There are others that will reply too to offer support and comfort also. Take a few deep breaths, and remember you are here now and you’re being cared for xx
I am sincerely grateful for such important words and support. I myself do not know my medical side to the end, because not all the planned tests have been completed. I've always had high blood pressure, here it seems to be out of control. This situation is turning my life ups. I have worked hard for the last two years to make my family feel comfortable in the new country, I took care of my husband because he has multiple sclerosis and children, the youngest daughter is only 9 years old. And now I don't know how to cope with this. I've lost all control, as you said. Because the words I'm reading here give me hope. And I really hope that I will be able to climb the Scottish hills again, walk through the woods and walk 10-15 km every day as it was before.
Hi Natalia. A heart attack is, of course, very stressful, but away from the support of your family where you understand the medical system much better, must be extra difficult.
You will get an angiogram if thats been been recommended. But Im sure you know how much our Health Service is struggling. We seem to have to wait longer for nearly everything!
Do you have any good local friends or neighbours who could guide you through this?
The BHF helpline is really helpful on heart issues. You could call them. 03003303311. 9-5.
Thank you so much for not passing by. My relatives are next to me and it's a delight. And I found great support from my colleagues and neighbours, it cheered me up. I'm on an angiogram, but waiting for my date is really tiring. I had excellent care in the hospital for which I am very grateful, and at home I am more worried that I may miss something or do too much and harm myself and my heart.
I can imagine this is a very difficult time for you. I was 45 when I had my heart attack. It was totally unexpected, such a shock, was in hospital for a week and went home with lots of new tablets.
I went to cardiac rehab afterwards, definitely ask about this as it's very helpful. You can ask lots of questions, talk to others and be able to exercise under supervision.
The medications you'll get used to. At first I hated taking so many, but now I just take them and don't even think about it. Sometimes doses need changing, sometimes you can come off some of them.
The mental/emotional side of it takes a lot of time, just coming to terms with what happened and with changes to what you may or may not be able to do anymore.
Remember to listen to your body, be gentle with yourself and take your time.
This is a great community for us hearties, so welcome to the club, even though no one plans to be in it!
Thank you very much for your wise words. I really find some kind of peace here by reading the experiences of others and your comments. The first two weeks I was so affected by the medication that I panicked and the GP sent me to the hospital, where I was again for about 12 hours, and received reassurance and advice to endure because the benefits of the drug in the future are greater than the inconvenience now.
My rehab program will start in two weeks and I hope I find some reassurance there
I am also from abroad originally and the process was new to me as well. The NHS gave me wonderful care after my heart attack. Angio is minimally invasive and will answer many questions.
Be sure to discuss the results with the cardiologist and/or surgeon so that you understand the findings and the options.
It is scary for all of us but you're in the right place. Best wishes
you have a group of friends in this forum so do not hesitate to ask questions. We have all been through heart problems
Welcome🤗 Just want to say we have a brilliant NHS, who are under extreme pressure, but always deliver an outstanding service considering the strain they are under. So try and chill and you will get there.❤
Hello NataliiaBohot. There is a website nhsinform.scot which will give you help on how to register with a doctor (GP - general practitioner) and what health services are available both free and at a cost. This may help to guide you through the system.
I was very worried and anxious after my heart attack -I thought that every small pain was another heart attack. It took me several months to calm down. This forum helped me enormously because there is always someone to reassure you and provide advice and as I found out no question is ever stupid! It must be very difficult for you being under such stress because of the war in your country and the health of your husband. You can't do anything about this but you can make sure you're having a healthy diet , exercising regularly, drinking moderately or not at all and not smoking. I would just do short amounts of gentle walking until after your angiogram. Good luck and keep in touch with the forum.
I think any heart condition causes anxiety, it’s only natural. I found a mindfulness course run by NHS Talking Therapies helpful in dealing with my health anxiety. You can self refer online or via your GP.
Try not to get anxious as that makes the heart worse by stressing it. The heart specialist in UK are wonderful and can do more for the heart thane anything else. The angiogram will confirm the diagnosis and should confirm if you need surgery or not. If they consider you need urgent treatment You would likely be seen very soon.
I had a slight faint and doctor sent me immediately to hospital and I spent three days with pain in chest and then had a stent fitted. Now do regular monitored exercise at a heart club. See if there is a club in your area as you will also meet similar people. Prayer is good if you believe
Well this the start of your new journey, you are now a memeber of the "Hearties Club"-welcome.
So essentially you are on the waiting list for an angiogram and have been sent home with medications. So there is more that you can start to do to stay ahead of the problems i.e dietary control and weight control, remember every little helps. Let us know how you get on and don't forget to take time off to relax.
I am incredibly grateful to everyone who answered me. You actually gave me such important support. And I am very grateful. The forum has become a place where I find peace. I'm still waiting for an angiogram. I've become calmer and I think I'm gradually feeling better, and my body is starting to get used to medication. There are still many things that I am afraid of work and I have no idea how to return to work, or walk a lot, travel on your own. I gave up smoking, I didn't drink alcohol, I gradually adjust my diet to make it healthier. But you need to lose excess weight approximately 10 kg. I have my first meeting with the rehabilitation team on Wednesday, and I hope the conversation with them will further reduce my fears.
I apologise for my English. I hope you can understand what I wrote
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