Heart attack
Posted , 12 users are following.
I am wanting to connect with anyone who has recently or maybe some time ago had a heart attack. Am 47 years old and had a heart attack last Friday. I had a blood clot removed from my artery and a stent fitted Friday night. I have been discharged from hospital came home Monday eve. I am so so scared it is going to happen again. I am on my own during the day. And today I feel like I have a pain in my back and my chest but feel it could be just as am worrying and anxious. I took my spray and it seemed to calm down. Does anyone have any advice to how I can move forward. I feel upset all the time but mainly just so so scared. Thank you
1 like, 25 replies
derek76 sharon62962
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sharon62962 derek76
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Cezzy46 sharon62962
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Sharon,
I was 45 when I was diagnosed with an cardiomyopathy. GP thought my ECG showed I had had a heart attack & I had to wait four weeks to see a cardiologist. That was two years ago & that four week wait period was terrifying. It was equally scary for a good few months following diagnosis too. I noted down every pain, niggle or slight increase in heart rate & my anxiety was off the scale, which in turn was probably why I was getting those pains, niggles & increase in heart rate!
Looking back, I still have nervous days. Finding a support group online specifically for my heart condition helped enormously. Helped me to realise I was not alone. The other bit that helped was changing my diet. Yes I still cheat occasionally when I absolutely crave a marmite sandwich, but the rest of the time salt is off my diet.
You've had the stent fitted & have had a full cardiac check so the chances of anything happening to you are low. Now it's a case of taking it day by day & focusing on all the other things in life that are out there for us 47 year olds. I'm off to a spa tomorrow!
sharon62962 Cezzy46
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matt32455 sharon62962
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Sharon,
Just as Derek says, you have had the problem area fixed with a stent. Whilst they did I'd they also check out the rest of the heart, had they found another blockage they would more than likely stented that as well.
I had a silent heart attack, no pain back when I was your age. A single stent fitted and I too worried just like you. The worry no anxiety does cause physical symptoms, try to relax, take deep breaths and calm yourself down. I suffered what were called after shocks, where the heart is healing after the attack.
Cardiac Rehab is a must and the best thing you'll do to get moving and improve your confidence.
Chase anyone for the service, consultant, GP. You should automatically be invited to a club run by th cardiac team, but worth chasing.
You should be on Asprin to thin the blood and I'm guessing statins. Make sure you take them and I hope all goes well for you
Matt
derek76 matt32455
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I was surprised when I went to cardio rehab after my heart valve replacement that most of the others were ladies in their 50-60's who had stents. None had exercised before and went every where by car and were overweight.
sharon62962 matt32455
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Yes have the appointment to start it from the 14th March. I just pray in time I will stop being scared.
derek76 sharon62962
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matt32455 sharon62962
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Sharon,
It takes time to trust yourself, but you will. Rehab is the best thing you can do, you'll be monitored by cardiac nurses, so make sure you push yourself. By the time you finish you'll be amazed just how much you can do.
All the best
sharon62962 matt32455
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Today has been up and down and will take each day as it comes. Just don’t want another clot to form in the stent which I know can happen. I’ve stopped smoking it’s my 4th day changed my diet slightly as it was 90% healthy and am off work for about 6 weeks. Just scared to be on my own in the house which I know sounds stupid
derek76 sharon62962
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Off work for six weeks seems way too long. Six weeks after having my chest opened to have my aortic valve replaced I was pretty much back to normal and I was in my mid 70's.
Clot risk in stents is very low and you are on an anti platelet medication.
matt32455 sharon62962
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The Asprin and Statins will work against the stent clotting. You do need to trust that your heart has had a good check up and if there was any sign of a narrowing, they would have dealt with it.
From my experience, those who dont it take the heart attack seriously, fail to exercise, fail to stop smoking, fail to adjust their diet suffer problems.
sharon62962 matt32455
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derek76 sharon62962
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Scotgal sharon62962
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I can commiserate with you, I've had 3, but mine were vasospasm induced and they occurred years apart, first one at 37, 43 and 62. I've recently learned that LUPUS is most likely the driving factor for my events, this disorder can cause inflammation of any vessels, including the coronaries. I have had caths done which didn't show any demonstrable plaque formation and it doesn't show until you get to 50% anyway. While rehab is helpful for most people, what I needed more
was pulmonary rehab, because my lungs ( as far as forced expiratory volume is concerned) measure in at 29% and I was told I should be at 100%. I find this hard
to believe because I'm still functional, but it's reduced. I'm glad you quit smoking, my father started smoking at 14, but quit when he was 28, however the grim reaper claimed him at 62 with a MI. We were told damage was done to the lining of his coronaries even though he quit. I don't smoke, but I can understand how difficult it must be to quit. I find different distractions quite helpful when my mind starts to drift to reacting to palpitations and other cardiac symptoms. I wish you the best with your diet and overall health going forward.
sharon62962 Scotgal
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