Sudden heart attack

[Karl1991]

Hi I had a sudden heart attack back in March and end up having an emergency Stent fitted because cause the artery on the left was 100 % which has left some damage to my artery on left side. Is normal to feel unmotivated, have low legs acrh and pain, shoulder pain when walk and twinges from my heart which it is making it hard to work or could this be just down to my medication

[Quesswho]

I'm no medic but I am the same. I think it's a combination of many factors. Meds we take, many of them can have side effects causing aches and pains. Plus also our bodies and emotions have experienced a shock. Why don't you go have a talk with your Doctor and get answers, we all need reassurance when we have had a experience like we have.❤

[Karl1991 in reply to Quesswho]

It not what I expected at 32 going from bin full of energy to feeling tired after doing a days work. I have tried talking to doctors and all they do is send me for blood tests after blood test and still no change. They changed my statin 3x now and no improvement really. Might just have to try again and hope for best

[Quesswho in reply to Karl1991]

I feel for you it's so frustrating. You feel your having a ground hog life. I've had my meds changed several times. I did stop taking Lansoprazole, I had been on it for 4years, apparently not advisable to take long term. No one said. It can cause so many debilitating side effects, wow just two weeks on and I have definitely got my mojo back, bit more energy, and feeling good. I really wish you all the best. Don't be beaten🤗❤

[Karl1991 in reply to Quesswho]

Thanks I will mention it's to the doctors and am not gonna let it beat me Al just keep hoping for best

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Karl1991]

It's good that they've tried a couple of statins, those do seem to be the most likely to cause trouble. I'd guess beta-blockers would be the second-most likely, so you might try a couple of the other beta-blockers. (I assume you're on bisoprolol? That seems to usually be their first choice.)

[Quesswho in reply to Karl1991]

That's the attitude👍 Positivity will always beat Negativity. ❤🤗

[Karl1991]

Yes am bisoprolol 1.25 and try to get doctors to change medication isn't easy cause all there say is they don't like changing them so soon it took them three months just to change my statin even when hospital send them a letter tell them to lower it

[Nanny1971]

oh wow you sound like me I suffer with all the same things and my heart attack was in July and I had stent fitted see my post I wrote yesterday I’m glad it’s not just me I hope things change for us soon 👍

[Karl1991 in reply to Nanny1971]

Am hope thinks change soon cause at 33 hate feelings like this just gets you down most day and am starting to think a went back to work too early and pushing myself like I used to might have made to worse even give up smoking and started eating more healthy which hasn't made any difference to my lifestyle

[Gigi70 in reply to Karl1991]

I relate to all the twinges etc after HA and PCI.

Sounds like smoking may have caused this condition. But is it also in your family? Have either of your parents suffered heart trouble or raised cholesterol/

Did you do the cardio rehab classes - and did you go onto further exercise?

Michele

[Karl1991 in reply to Gigi70]

No none of my family has had of them. Yea I finished my cardiac rehab but was in a look of pain with my lower legs but push doctors changed one of my med but didn't make much difference

[Gigi70 in reply to Karl1991]

Ok - you need further investigation. I would call the cardiac department and ask for an appointment right now. Did anyone explain why this happened to you or investigate what caused a HA at your age - its very rare.

Are you overweight at all? Do you have other health conditions?

I know that as a smoker the vascular disease that caused the HA can affect the leg vessels you may need to check this out - a friend of mine suffers from this but he has not given up smoking.

The other pressure you've got is having to work full time, is that physically demanding? Maybe you may need to adjust your role.

Also your expectations at 33 for your fitness will be very different from an older person.

Michele

[Karl1991 in reply to Gigi70]

No one knows why it happen and they did look in to it but nothing show up so said I was just unfortunate. No never bin over weight and always bin active now am tired after a full days work it getting to point a feel like giving up work for abit

[Gigi70 in reply to Karl1991]

Maybe that's a good idea to get signed off. It might give you time to recover. when I was working and had a HA in 2019 my employers made a huge fuss when I was signed off for 2 months. Since the HA I had in July I am told the recovery may take as long as a year. Thank goodness Im not working now.

Don't give up just keep working in recovery - fat free plant based eating is the safest - keep active on whatever level you can manage and get that Cardiology appointment. They should not sign you off at this stage. I have been with my Professor for 20 years. I also started young😪

Michele

[Karl1991 in reply to Gigi70]

Have got discharge letter and not heard from them since so have got to go through doctor now if have got any problems I've had my statin changed so far but not made a difference to my leg pain but then again they feel restless have not done much

[Gigi70 in reply to Karl1991]

Sounds like a good time to be referred for another opinion. Your GP should have some ideas where he should send you.

I think once you've made a few changes and taken a bit more control you will feel better. The cardio psychotherapy is great too. Build confidence back.

Michele

[Bree26 in reply to Gigi70]

Wow you had two heart attacks. Wow and how are you doing now?

[Gigi70 in reply to Bree26]

Hi Bree

I began with Angina in my 50's. I was diagnosed with FH after an angio where I had 4 stents. I was tried on various stains which I have reactions to. I had a small heart attack with one sent in 2019 and then another in July which was massive with 3 cardiac arrests. Now heart function is 40%.

My mother and both her brothers my uncles had heart disease the uncles died young and they were drinkers smokers etc. My mother had very healthy life no alcohol and not smoking yet she had 5 heart attacks pre the statin era and understanding of the genetic element of this disease.

Michele

[Peter-l-h in reply to Karl1991]

In my case the aortic valve change by TAVI has been a success. I couldn’t complete cardio rehab however due to leg/ hip pain.

Proved to be completely unrelated hip problems which when replaced was said to be bone to bone.

My point is hope they will explore all possible causes for your pain and not assume it must be heart related !

I am male 78 and with no medical training !!

Good wishes

PLH

[Karl1991 in reply to Peter-l-h]

Just got to its normal cause of what a went through

[Bree26 in reply to Karl1991]

Keep pushing them , honestly Karl you are young and 1) worried what’s wrong with your body which is understandable after everything that you have been through.

2) maybe doing light exercises with breaks for sitting down might help.

3) push for the heart team to help you more.

Honestly my children were like mum take it easy , don’t do too much , sit down rest more . Eh no you can’t go back to work yet .

My youngest said “ mum my friend had a bad heart attack and isn’t back to work yet as he is struggling with stairs .”

I pointed out that I can manage the stairs , I can do light walks . I won’t carry anything heavy . But I can go back to work and I promise to take it easy not be full run around mode. My job is physical activity and on the go a lot.

But I find time to relax and take it easy.

I am very lucky because my nhs team here is amazing. As I write this my cardiac nurse is due to come and take blood and talk about my next stage. I am 53 years old had two stents put in my heart in June . I had a widow maker heart attack and apparently it was my second heart attack in a fortnight . I have done major heart damage to the heart muscle . But I’m here in the land of the living .

Just wish I could be me again , runaround playing with the children and grandchildren more but I can’t .

I do have niggles of pain now and again but it’s usually two days after I have been doing too much and my body lets me know.

I got bad news on Saturday a very good friend of mine sadly passed away from a massive heart attack they couldn’t save her . She was only 47 so yeah live life and if you arworried please push the doctors . Ask to talk to the cardiologist team.

[Karl1991 in reply to Bree26]

An sure mine was classed has the widowmaker cause they said it my LAD artery that 100% blocked and that's what cause heart attack and sorry for loss and think a do need to slow down abit

[Trog1 in reply to Bree26]

Do you suffer from familial hypercholesteroleamia? If so, your cholesterol will be nothing to do with lifestyle. After years of what were thought to be ectopics and symptoms where my doctor even questioned if I had gout (despite the fact that, even though I tend to gain weight easily and like my food, I have never drunk, smoked or eaten really badly), I had tests which said my heart was fine. 6 months later at age 58 I had an nstemi heart attack and due to severe blocking of arteries had to have emergency triple bypass surgery where, given the 2.5 week wait to fit me in for the op, I was in hospital for a month. I was told that it didn’t matter what my lifestyle had been, it would have happened with my genetic condition of FH. I was also told that many unknowingly have the condition which, left unknown, often causes what is referred to as ‘widow maker’ heart attacks. I now have to take a series of meds, including the highest dose of statins they can give, to treat the FH. The shock of everything also left me with mild ptsd and atrial fibrillation. However, thanks to our amazing NHS, I’m here to tell the tale and say just how lucky I am to be here thanks to them.

[Lotustriumph]

I am two years on from very similar to what you have just gone through, the meds they put you on to start with are normally the best then if you have a reaction they try to change to suit, but your body can take a while to adjust to them.

I went from being ready to go for a 10 mile walk on the morning of the heart attack, to not being able to get to the end of the road for 3 months, while the meds settled down, even though I worked after 1 week which was stupid on my part.

You have to go staedy for a while, & except you have to take time, eventually things do get back to near normal, but not over night.

You have joined a club that no one wants to join, but you need to grasp that you have survived something that a lot of people don’t get a second chance with, take things easy, & you will be ok.

I now swim three times a week, walk miles, watch what I eat, still drink, & feel ok,

But I still struggle with my head, as it is normal to question what has happened.

Good luck for the future, & second chance you have been given 👍

[Bree26]

hi , I would talk to your heart cardiac team . I had mine In June and yes I get some discomfort when I’ve over done it. But please talk to your cardiac heart team and tell them everything .

My medication needed to be changed a few times. Also remember your body is still healing .

[Karl1991 in reply to Bree26]

They discharged me from hospital even though I told them what was happening and how I felt and I couldn't understand what he was saying

[Bree26 in reply to Karl1991]

Push them again , because you need support and have questions

[Andyman]

You don't mention exercising. Are you doing any. I think it's the key to driving all these things away. Walk most days. You'll bring doing miles in no time.

[Karl1991 in reply to Andyman]

I dunno in miles but over 20.000 steps a day but the more I do brushs just appear on my legs for know where which make it hard to walk I no brush is normal with the meds

[Bree26 in reply to Karl1991]

Maybe you’re doing too much and your heart is telling you to slow it down a bit. 20,000 steps a day is a lot for anyone.

Bruises is very normal as I cold hands and feet ( in my case)

[Karl1991 in reply to Bree26]

Bin told by alot of people at might be over doing it

[JaneBrown55]

Did you ring your cardiac nurse to discuss this? If not I would make an appointment with your GP to discuss. You maybe need an ecg routine check up but I would definitely ask for a cardiac rehabilitation referral. It’s worth the effort. I went once a week for 5 or 6 weeks following referral. They assess and take you through a series of exercises for all your body . My group also advised further on what all the different medications do and how they impact your body and by the time you have finished the course you understand what is safe to do and how to exercise with a proper warm up. I have now progressed to another cardio course at my local gym after further referral to the next level . I would definitely ring the doctor though and seek some sort of physio. I ended up with a frozen shoulder after my heart attack and have exercises to ease it back. Ps I had a quadruple heart bypass and I’m 69

[Karl1991 in reply to JaneBrown55]

Am not under cardiac anymore they discharged me even though when ask about my worries and problems I was having they said it was normal for what I went through and just send me for blood test and end up get knowhere

[Larneybuds in reply to Karl1991]

If I were you I would phone the cardiac unit or cardiac outpatients and ask to speak to a cardiac nurse. There's always the British Heart Foundation nurses as well. You can call them, they are fantastic. I'm not really understanding why the hospital would sign you off, especially after a 'widowmaker' so I think you should question this and especially as you are so young. You also shouldn't be bruising as you say you are so frequently. Definitely try to have a chat with your GP and at least ask why you've been signed off from the hospital. Don't be fobbed off, be insistent. Hope you get some answers xx

[Blackknight57]

meds can make you feel bad. I’m on 10 regular meds. 9 of which are heart attack related.

Feeling tired but I had this for 20 years due to my thyroid being out of whack.

They tell me M not to over do it. If you feel tired stop for a few, I gather you are still working? Have a quiet word with your manager explaining your problems.

[Karl1991 in reply to Blackknight57]

Yea am still working but finding it hard but when I tell them they don't listen

[Blackknight57 in reply to Karl1991]

Frankly you employers are crap. If you collapse they are liable .

[Karl1991 in reply to Blackknight57]

That why am looking for a new job just no has physical cause a think a might over done by going back to work too soon

[Heartfairy]

Hello Karl1991, I’m so sorry to read your story. I had my NSTEMI heart attack 2 years ago aged 56 and I honestly thought I was too young and how unfair it all felt so I can only imagine how scared you must be feeling at your young age but I was told by my cardiologist that illness does not discriminate and these things can happen at any age. However, the cardiologist went on to add that “if you’re going to get something wrong you want it to be your heart” 🙄 as they can “stent it, unblock it, bypass it, give medication to treat it and even get you a new one” 😃 as so much research has been carried out on heart health - I know at the time I was so scared to hear all of this, but once things settle you realise it is actually very true. After my HA I had a constant ache in my shoulders and across my chest and wondered when it would go away. It took quite a while and my GP and cardiac nurse put it down to stress as I was holding myself so stiff and tightly, worrying all the time of a repeat episode. I certainly struggled with the mental side rather than the physical. But I also discovered after speaking to another GP that I was taking my medication wrong and I had a negative interaction for nearly two years taking Levothyroxine at the same time as Lansoprozole (both to be taken before food on an empty stomach but NOT together) so since changing this I felt so much better. The cardiac nurse advised me to take my Ramipril at tea time instead of earlier in the day as I was also suffering with side effects but again just by changing when I take the meds has made me feel better so perhaps speak again with your GP or cardiac rehab team or pharmacist and hopefully that can help. Please remember what you have suffered has come as a massive shock, it’s scary, it’s unfair and you just want to feel like your old self again. Give yourself time to accept what’s happened, trial and error the meds - you will get there but be kind to yourself. Try (and I know it’s so hard) but try and relax, deep breaths, read, get good rest and gradually build up your daily exercise by simply walking and enjoying the autumnal colours. You’re still here, you can do it and you will learn to trust the medication which is also preventing another future event. How you feel is uncomfortable for you but it’s normal. Stay strong fella and I hope in time things settle for you. It’s taken me two years but I’m there now! Take care and good luck ❤️ 🧚🏼‍♀️

[pasigal]

That's all "normal," for what it's worth. Yes, some of what you're feeling is probably due to side effects; other things might be because your heart/circulatory system has suffered a shock. That said, please please please talk to your doctors if you are struggling.

[Karl1991 in reply to pasigal]

Am going to message doctors again and hopefully get somewhere

[Genteel1]

Hi Karl. Did they tell you your ejection fraction (ef). This is the hearts ability to pump blood, which can reduce after a heart attack. You need to talk to a good cardiologist about exercise and maintaining your heart health with good food and no smoking. Alcohol consumption also makes a big difference on the heart. It's all a big shock, I know. I had a heart attack at 51 and I'm now 67. I stopped drinking and don't miss it. Never smoked.

I was very fit at the time of my heart attack, it was a blockage of one artery .

Just one of those things they said. I urge you to make sure you now take care of yourself physically and maintain your healthy weight. You've got a second chance. You'll recover, but it takes time and don't overdo it. I wish you all the best.

[Karl1991 in reply to Genteel1]

I stopped smoking has soon told me it was heart attack my LAD artery was 100% and smoking could have caused it never really eat unhealth except on a Saturday when I take kids out an might have a few drinks depending on how I feel. Have alway bin active and a didnt no what over doing before it happen a think that one of my problems is am still try to carry on like a used and my body won't keep up

[David-66]

I had my HA 7 weeks ago, emergency Stent fitted while I was in Greece. Since returning 6 of the 8 meds I’m still on and awaiting a cardiologist appointment that’s August 2025.

Since the HA I’m tired easily, suffer insomnia and have a numb area on my left thigh which the GP is putting it down to the medication but doesn’t want to make any immediate changes.

Sounds like we are all in that similar boat….. fingers crossed things will get better for you during you recovery.

[Velda1]

I had the same while in Canada I got 4 stents. Left hand side of heart damaged and 2 of the 3 arteries were 90% clogged. It’s been just over a year now and I’m learning about twinges etc. yes it takes a while for meds to agree with you. I had back pain it turns out it’s Condocondritis. Extremely sore. Ask your go about it. Are you on statins? The gave me awful pains in my legs so I’m now on other meds as statin intolerant. You could be. Speak to gp to look at your meds they may need tweeking

[BaronFrankenstein]

I had a heart attack in December last year, my artery was 90 percent blocked and i had a stent fitted. Im on bisoprolol, statins, aspirin and blood thinners.What youve got to realise is that your body has had a major trauma, like being in a car accident. Its 11 months on for me and ive only just got back to feeling something like normal and being able to work full time without feeling knackered.

Going to community cardiac rehab classes once once or twice a week when i can fit them in has really helped me and i know its helped others in the same situation.

I started volunteering at a community repair cafe once a month to make new friends as i have felt isolated and lonely.

I also occasionally go to Take Heart coffee mornings when i get chance. Being able to talk face to face with others in the same boat really helps put your own situation into perspective and reassure you and build confidence back up.

I think youve just got to take your time as its still early days really even at 6 months for you, but try do things you wouldnt normally do but listen to what your body is telling you and pace yourself.

Its really frustrating when you just want to get back to normal, but it just takes time im afraid to get back your fitness and mojo.

[Xhouse]

Hi Karl, I had the exact same last year. HA, then they discovered that one artery was completely blocked, one other 60% blocked. Got a stent fitted in the partially blocked one. They couldn't do the blocked one as it had (there's a medical term for this that I can't recall right now)created a new pathway of its own over the years, had actually repaired itself after what they assessed was a heart attack that I had suffered 12 years ago and had recovered from without knowing it was a heart attack (I did remember that). After the stent I was suffering the exact same symptoms as you describe, and went on to berberine which is a natural substance and which several medical research papers have shown works equally as well as statins without the side effects, though you would have to speak to your GP as it can interfere with certain other medications. I'm now on ezetimibe instead of statins, and no side effects whatsoever. One other thing linked to the side effects. After the stent, I was on ticagrelor, and it also caused the side effects that you're describing and made you breathless. If you're on them, there's an alternative that has none of those side effects, and I changed to that after 3 months. The difference was amazing.

[Stuperman]

I had a widow maker 6 years ago and have learnt to relax, go with the flow and do as I’m told. We all have reactions to heart attacks, so you’re not on your own. I get very lethargic and I have horrible dreams every night. I also can’t walk too far. 20,000 steps a day is much too much mate. I’m not surprised you’re knackered! Don’t be afraid to tell your specialist if you think one of your meds is affecting you, but don’t forget he’s in charge - not the internet or Google or any of us lot on this site;)) Be well.

[MumaLines]

Hi Karl, so sorry you are experiencing pains and low energy after being Stented. Such a young age for a heart attack and blockages.

What is your Cholesterol level?

What time of day do you take Bisoprolol?

What’s the latest Statin your on?

Is there any other family history of heart disease?

[Karl1991 in reply to MumaLines]

Last time I had my cholesterol check they said it find and take my bisoprolol after my breakfast and stant is pravastain sodium 10mg

[MumaLines in reply to Karl1991]

I hope this might help you only from my personal experience but I was falling asleep at work and just felt like I had no energy. My GP and Pharmacist advised I try taking Bisoprolol late afternoon and it worked.

Statins can make some people hurt, muscle aches and pains in joints. I could hardly walk and had enough of feeling 80 and asked to be taken off Statins altogether. It would be too dangerous for me to stop so ended up on ROSUSTATIN and the aches & pains are far less. I hope this helps as I assume you must of had enough.

[Karl1991 in reply to MumaLines]

Am on my third statin now and has made any difference