HelloI had a heart attack 8 months ago it came completely out of the blue, no warning, no symptoms, my family history of heart attacks & cardiac arrest is horrendous.
I was 60yrs thought I was fit and healthy, watched my diet and kept fit unfortunately not enough. I spent 12 days in hospital had a stent fitted the long stay was due to my sister she died while I was in hospital. I have 1 sibling left out of 5 and no parents.
But the story I want to get across is. I was in shock, angry, upset, scared I was in a awful place. One day I heard my grandchildren talking about when they grow up they want to go to uni. This was my turning point I've lost 3 stone completely revamped my diet got my cholesterol down from 5.4 to 4 stopped drinking alcohol, exercise, work full time on a farm. I want to be here to see them go to uni. I still have bad days but don't we all.
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Whin1963
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It is great that they were able to fix your heart with stents: a relatively simple procedure.
And it is great that your have lost weight and changed your life style.
You already know this most likely but just to emphasize: heart disease is systemic and going forward, only meds and life style changes will prevent future issues. Stents and other procedures only address an emergency and will not prevent future issues in most cases.
With the changes you already have undertaken and with the advanced state of technology we are blessed to have access to, I am sure you will see your grandkids go to universities.
Well done you! I'm still in the very early days post HA & SCA and very much upset, scared and fearful of the future. It's nice to hear someone of a similar age so positive.
I’m 64 always been fit. Active . Eaten healthy . Cholesterol has always been on lower side. No family history of heart attacks.
15 months ago heart went AFib. Diagnosed with Tachy/ Bradycardic, Arrythmia, arterial flutter., heart rate was anything between 30-184 basically had no rhythm. Had always had low blood pressure. Stress and after exercise makes my heart rate drop.
Have had cardio version x 2 and cardio Ablation x 2 to try and correct the heart rate. All blood tests keep coming back normal normal cholesterol. All heart valves working no signs of problems. When they went into the left atrium Jan 2025 to Ablate they found there was unexpected scar tissue x 2 they said I’d had a heart some time in the past. Certainly wasn’t in the last 15 months as all the 16 times i was in hospital the Treponin levels were normal .
It took a while to sink in but had no idea you can have a silent heart attack. Massive shock, Talking to a friend who said he worked with a friend 33 year old died of heart attack. Never had any signs. During ortopsy they discovered he’d had 33 silent heart attacks. An inquest was dine and spoke to all his work colleagues family etc and none of them ever saw any signs.
Sadly it is quite common.
I’m intolerant to all heart meds so nothing is working for me hence surgery and waiting for more urgent surgery as my heart won’t stop racing /Afib Arrhythmia. Next they are using Optrell mapping catheters only approved for use Oct last year. In trials have proved more successful in complex cases, ordered in specially to try on me not used previously at my heart hospital London It’s all computerised.
Getting to the stage where we are running out of options. All surgery has worked and it’s been fantastic feeling normal but has only lasted between 15 minutes and 11 days then reverted back.
I have the world’s smallest most accurate wireless cardiac monitor injected into my chest as my heart is so screwed up. It’s linked via phone app to my hospital and monitored 24/7. I can highlight message in the app any changes concerns pains etc I feel with symptoms.
The hardest part is having to wait so long between procedures. If i have a date it helps.
Yes it is vey scary. I’m a very laid back person normally take everything in my stride. I not worried about surgery. But let’s say the future really does concern me if they can’t keep my heart normal.
I wish you all the best and you’re not alone. Pls feel free to message if I can help if you need to talk
oh my reading your post was so good. I was very sick 9 years ago, had a new Aortic valve and bypass the wonderful medical team gave me a second chance. Have seen 5 granddaughters grow and thrive, each one will change the world in many different ways. 2 graduate from University this year the 3 others coming up behind. We are the lucky ones we have been given a wonderful gift. Enjoy watching your family grow and thrive.
I had the same at 62. Always fit, no symptoms, but ended up having quad bypass two weeks after heart attack. Might not feel like it but two good things happened for you - 1. Stents are the 'least worst option' and 2., more importantly, you found your 'why'. This will be the engine that keeps you going when you don't want to do the exercise and other lifestyle changes that are vital to keep you alive, long after graduation! Can't choose our parents but there are still lots of levers we control to get healthy and stay healthy. Every time you don't fancy that workout, think about graduation day! 🎉 All the best and good luck.
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. I wish everyone of you all the best in your journey. My stent was a easy procedure but they damaged my right arm in the process so it does not work very well but like I said to the hospital team. I am still here. I can work it out with my arm. My physio is doing a great job to get it work again. Which he is hopeful that he can.
Out of the blue, shocked, angry and scared is exactly how I felt when I was diagnosed with heart attack/heart failure at the end of January. Like you I was 61 and felt fit and well and was active and had a good diet. I am glad things have improved for you and you are looking forward. You have come a long way in 8 months. It's only been six weeks for me. How did you reduce your cholesterol? Diet and exercise or do you have statins too? I want to do everything I can to improve my health and hope than like you I can start to look to the future instead of obsessing about what has happened. Keep having good days.
I felt just like you are feeling now I was angry with world. It does get better. I have an allergy to statins which was found out when the heart attack happened. So I now have a statin injection every 6 months but this alone does not lower your cholesterol. I have cholesterol lower yoghurt drinks every morning any spreads are cholesterol lowering. I have muesli which contains nut. I loved sausage but now I have meat free sausage. I have lowered my sugar intake. I eat sweet potatoes and plenty of salmon. I am by no means a dietitian or an expert. But I just read the labels and try my best. If you need anything else and i can help please get in touch.
It’s a difficult one to answer as everyone reacts in a different way. I’m 64 My cholesterol has aways been normal to low. I’ve always have a very sweet tooth so you can imaging I do carry about 8lbs more than I should a lifetime fight. I’m always on the go. I don’t eat between meals as it’s easier to say no from start than say no to more especially biscuits. Never been a fan of fast or junk food, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, hate artificial sweeteners. Always cook from scratch. (Used to be a chef many years ago). I try and eat everything in moderation. Yes the occasional bacon roll etc but more as a treat. No sugar in T/coffee. Never ill. Never needed medication. Had been a blood doner for years. Went to gym for years before covid and could eat almost anything. Health issues since put a stop to that. Current meds make me so breathless, fatigue, I’m exhausted. All my bloods keep coming back normal. All my arteries are clear.
Ive inherited a faulty gene from my mother. Heart muscles are screwed up. Over last 15 months my heart is AFib, Bradycardic Tachycardic, Arrythmia, Arterial flutter, low blood pressure. Had no regular heart beat. Stress and after exercise has always made my heart rate plummet down to low 30s (has been as low as 23Bpm last December it’s currently AFib 500+ times a day. Heart racing 150+
I’ve had 2 cardio Version. 2 cardio Ablation, waiting for a 3rd. Nothing has worked for more than a few days. To top it off I’m medication intolerant. Heart drugs don’t work in any quantity. Tried 6 todate even blood thinners screw me up. I have a wireless cardiac monitor injected into my chest, linked via my phone app monitored 24/7 to my hospital.
The moral of the story is doesn’t matter how careful you are in life it may not be your fault that you had a heart attack. When they did Ablation in my left Atrium they found 2 lots of unexpected scar tissue. I’d had a silent heart attack and never knew about it.
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