I had a heart attack on the 1st October. Treated with balloon because artery was completely blocked with clots but after second angioplasty was told there was no need for a stent. The attack was very sudden - got up feeling fine and it happened 10 mins later.
Since then have had a real loss of confidence. I'm terrified of it happening again so am aware of every little twinge and a slight ache anywhere makes me anxious. Also feel quite nervous of social situations and avoiding places like restaurants, cinema etc. although am fine if friends come to visit. Has anyone else experienced this? Any wise words/advice welcome. Thanks in advance.
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I would recommend CBT. I found it very helpful for anxiety. (In my case it was for major depressive disorder and anxiety; my open heart surgery came later.)
I had a sudden heart attack on 26 Sept, LAD completely blocked and 1 stent fitted. I feel knocked sideways by it as I was fine before, and I just don’t know what I can do now. I’m also not confident I’d know if I was having another HA…it didn’t really hurt, I remember saying I felt weird.
From what I’ve been told, it is normal to feel all of this. It is a major event, and takes time to process. So I’m trying to take things one day at a time, some days are harder than others, and hoping to feel generally better. Today’s good news is that the cardiac rehab nurse said I can eat Christmas dinner!
Take care of yourself, and allow yourself time. It is still early in your recovery.
Hi there hope you are ok and feeling better, I had my HA in March seems ages ago very similar to you unaware and felt fine and still do, the thing is I'm back at work now driving but also fear that it may happen again without knowing, what's your thoughts, I'm a 63 year old male
It's natural to feel scared like that. It is such a shock to the system. I can only offer the example of James Lovelock, who had a heart attack in his 50s, and died on his 103rd birthday. A good diet, and exercise will give you the best possible chances.
From my experience doing things the first time afterwards was hard....but I kind of made myself go....so the first supermarket trip I got a family member to come with me....although I felt tense, once I got back home I was able to reflect that I was fine. Same thing with restaurant etc...gradually gradually
You’re normal! After mine we were so scared of going anywhere we bought a defib and took it everywhere. Then we did a trip to Scotland and walked up a steepish hill and looked at each other and decided we didn’t want to carry it so it stayed in the car. We could see the car from the top but it was an hour away and wouldn’t have been any good and we looked at each other again and laughed, it was all easier after that. Baby steps, if gets easier xx
Similar to me but I also very intolerant of people who irritated me. I could go from calm to shouting at them in seconds. In the end I got counselling and I had 8 one hour sessions where I talked it all out. It really helped and I was diagnosed with PTSD. As a coping mechanism I was recommended mindfulness and still do it to this day and it has been a real help. I no longer shout at others and am so much calmer. And don't feel vulnerable and don't feel a victim anymore. Enjoying life. 12 years on.
I had Nstemi July 2023, thought I was going to have a stent , no such luck .. had angiogram and the consultant performing it said I was going to have triple bypass . So utterly shocked . I cried like a baby in hospital that night after my family had left . I ended up with quadruple bypass ! I was fit and strong prior . Even on the day of my heart attack the doctor at hospital thought he was sending me home as I looked so fit and healthy walking around . It was the second blood test that confirmed it, first troponin count was 74, second one came back at 402 ! The doc was shocked as me and my wife. Post surgery I know I had a touch of PTSD for months , I couldn’t watch certain things on tv , I was vacant and numb to other things , I had no fear of physical threat to myself but I couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to someone else. The break through for me was going to a 3 day Americana music festival camping with friends . It was something I absolutely loved doing but I was so anxious about how I would cope with it all. I found that I wandered around on my own more than usual . I listened to a band and their music brought me to tears , it was so wonderfully joyful. Again I cried like a baby and realised how much I was enjoying my rebirth . It took nearly a year to understand and accept how well I was doing , how much I was loved and how much life there was left to live. I passed my full motorbike license tests , bought a Harley and then a touring bike , went on loads of rides , other music gigs , days out with my wonderful wife (not on motor bikes) other music gigs . It takes time . The 4 physical scars on my legs arm and sternum are there to remind me everyday what I went through and how they have healed . It happened . I love life and I’m so grateful for my rebirth.
I was very shaken and anxious after mine, luckily the hospital I was treated at offered counselling which I took and I found it so helpful. It takes time to come to terms with what’s happened but you’ll get there, just be kind to yourself. Take care x
I became agoraphobic was terrified going out on my own until during one of my cognitive behavioural sessions (by phone) the lady said "you would be safer amongst people than alone in the house as someone would quickly come to your aid" (a light bulb 💡 moment for me)
Perfectly natural reaction. It's a life changing experience that no one's wants. Every little twinge, ache we panic, we never expected that we would have a HA. Let people know how you feel, do things at your pace. It's not a race to get your confidence back, slow and steady wins the race. Talking about how scared you feel is the way forward. Be positive, be brave and you will get there. 🤗💝
I have the same thing. Since June I’ve been scared to do much. Keep pushing myself as partner fed up with me sticking around the house moody and snapping. I’ve just got to the top of the list for CBT. Talk to your Dr and cardio team get them to refer you to a mental health specialist. Good luck.
Yes it’s a shock. Yes it will knock your confidence. This is part of the healing process. You are alive. The problem has been dealt with. You are lucky to avoid surgery. If there were any other problems then they would have found them. Give yourself time. It will get better. Enjoy your life. Spend time doing the things you enjoy. Spend time with the people you love.
Hi, I know how you feel. I had HA in July.It’s so hard trying to accept and adjust to what has happened to you. It’s only natural to lose your confidence and like you I was scared of going out and very anxious when I did.. Just little walks and trips out ,keep them short and sweet and slowly but surely you will get there.
If you get chance to go on cardio rehab classes they are very good and that’s where you will really start your recovery process. They will give you the confidence and strength to start to rebuild your health and you can be with people who are in the same situation as you. Your body is just getting over the initial event and in time you feel start to feel like your old self.
totally relate to your experience. I am now several weeks into my cardio psychotherepy. It’s really great CBT and I’m so improved - no fully back yet as I’m told it could take up to one year. My HA was in July abd I had 3 cardiac arrests plus the right artery was split during the PCI.
I have just begun the exercise group !!!! Yay I’m getting there.
Get onto you cardio rehab team. They should provide a questionnaire - failing that your GP or just find a well trained therapist.
I also attend a cardiac club its all men here in West London but they are wonderful and so many people men or women suffer the PTSD after HA.
I had similar thing happen to me. They don't tell you why, but I have looked into this in depth and found out that it is the sudden drop in BP that causes this, it is nothing to worry about! That's why they don't tell you about it.
I learnt with time, everything settles down and you'll be back to normal. Keep a bag of salted crisps near by to prevent sudden BP drop.
I'm 3 years on from my heart attack. I was a bag of nerves and anxiety for a good few months. I too didnt.like going out to pub, theatre, cafe etc. It took time to gradually build up confidence. Main helps for me were relaxation exercises, restarting going to the gym and learning how to cook tasty heart health meals. Now feel a healthy 67year old, pretty confident in my good health, though still have the odd pang of anxiety. I like to go gym for a hour early morning 5 times a week..sets me up.for the day. Good luck
I did a great CBT Mindfulness course through NHS Talking Therapies. You can self refer online or via your GP. It gave me good coping techniques. It’s based on the work of Jon Kabat Zinn - you can find lots of meditations on YouTube.
Yes I have experienced this and still do. I have had 2 heart attacks in the past 20 months and now have 5 stents. I take a huge amount of medication and yes...it is terrifying. I have tried to explain to peoe who haven't been through it and they just don't get it! I am out for a meal tonight and dreading it. I know it is a busy place and very noisy but I self meditate to keep me calm and look forward to any social event. If I don't I get chest pain and STRESS is your worst enemy. I am sure you will get better in your jead, apparently these are stages everyone goes through after a HA. Here if you need a chat. Jane
Thank you all for so very many lovely and supportive messages. Bowled me over when I switched on this morning. It's just so good to know you that I'm not the only one who has experienced this. On the positive side, I drove for the first time yesterday since my HA. Only short local journeys and my partner came with me but it felt like a huge achievement. Have also had a phone call this morning from local NHS heart rehab to book my first counselling assessment which is on Monday morning.
Could really relate to what Heartbroke said about becoming agoraphobic. I've been out 5 times in 5 weeks. Went to neighbour for a cup of tea yesterday and felt really tense for first ten minutes. The answer does seem to be slow, baby steps and not beating yourself up about not doing more. I'm planning to go to the supermarket this weekend.
Gigi - I wondered where your cardiac club is? I'm West London too. Again thank you all for your wisdom. Has made me feel so much better and lighter 😁.
Hi - sorry to hear this and understand how you feel. After mine I sort of felt elated (yeah I know) but following angiogram and ballooning a vein, I came out feeling better than I had previously but also think it was wth has just happened and a bit surreal. The HA itself was not pain but weird ache across shoulder blades until I felt a wave go down both arms. So after initial elation I too started to wonder how do I know I’m ok?, what if it happens again? give yourself time and as you begin to do more you think hmm I can do that fine - I also use a treadmill and that’s my gauge as I know how much I can do and how my legs feel especially how quickly lactic acid hits and I’m way better now that before the HA. Also remember one real positive - before the HA you had no idea, now you do and that means you can do something about it - health, diet, weight, exercise - all key and all key to regaining your confidence in yourself
yes, been there felt that. Had a HA 6 years ago that required a couple of stents. My mental recovery took longer than the physical one. Fortunate to have an excellent unit with gym and supportive folk nearby. Hang on in there.
Mine was 6 years ago now and I felt exactly the same. I had been breathless but GP had blamed it on spinal problems and muscle spasms; never investigated heart even though I was a heavy smoker with a family history of heart problems. I was scared to go anywhere at home or drive the car. Having been told i had two further blockages that weren't quite bad enough to stent worried me sick and still does. I need to know if they've got worse but I've had two referrals back to cardio because of breathlessness and still heard nothing after a year and GP has chased it up twice.
Have you had a referral for cardiac rehab. That would have helped my confidence massively but they wouldn't take me because I'm in a wheelchair and they decided I wouldn't be able to do i t. IT took me about a year to get back the confidence to do normal things on my own. If you haven't been offered rehab, do chase it up. Alternatively try counselling. YOu can self refer these days. Your GP w ill tell you how. What also helped me a lot was asking my GP to explain to me exactly what had happened and how and what each of my tablets were for. I'm a need to know person. If I get a good explanation I can deal with things.
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