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41 years young
Hi,
My names Andy and i had a heart attack 11 months ago. Its pretty much taken me this long to come to terms with whats happened. 41 and in hospital awaiting results from blood tests etc. I still cannot believe this has happened to me at such an early age.
Anxiety hit the roof. Couldn't go out without thinking, i am gonna have another episode. Really paranoid and just kept thinking about my 4 year old boy and what life is gonna be like now. Hard for my partner as she tries to help but obvioulsy doesn't realise the effect this has had on me, mentally. Physically i've always been ok, which is why it has come as a shock and still, after 11 months, its hard to get my head round. Hmmm 41??
Andy
Hi andy i know how you feel .. Im 42 i never had heart attack but i started to have difficulty of breathing when i get strain and when im walking .. I got a high cholesterol and just had angiogram , one of my artery is narrowing so the doctor said i need an angioplasty which im still waiting for my appointment .. This things makes me so worried im scared of walking on my own , now i cant even take my daughter in school .. Getting paranoid aswell as how if im going to have heart attack etc.. Im thinking of my children they are still young .. My wife does look after me ...i hope everythings gonna be ok ... You take care andy ill include you on my prayers !!
Hi Andy, I am 51 years old, and am still in shock after having suffered a heart attack at work last week. I have always kept myself physically fit, and no one was more shocked than me when I was lying in the back of the ambulance on the way to hospital, having been told by the ambulanceman that I had had a mild heart attack.
Since I have been home from hospital, I have been in touch with my local Cardiac Rehab Unit, which is usually attached to your local hospital, and they are really helpful and supportive - not sure if you have one in your area, but it might help. They are there to listen to any of your concerns, and you can offload on them anything you like really, they are very good. I expressed to them how shocked I had been, and one of the nurses said to me that I was actually in a better position now than alot of people out there - at least my weakness has been recognised and is being treated with medication - she said there are lots of people out there who have problems, but don't know that yet. She said I need to think positive about the fitness side of it too. I said I was angry because I had always kept myself fit etc. and she said just think what if you hadn't! It sounds a bit harsh while I am writing it, but it didn't come across that way when she was explaining it to me. I am just looking at mine now that it was just a little warning, and that I have been given a second chance. Good luck Andy.
Dear andy, I had my first heart attack when I was 40 back in 1976 the only treatment in those days was complete bed rest and no medication after not even an asprin.I carried on with my life working eating badly and smoking. There wasnt any good advise in those days. I led a normal life married with a baby daughter with no after effects. I kept well until eleven years ago when I had a second heart attack .I am 75 and am leading a near normal life with medication.As you are a relitively toung man and with todays medication I asm sure you will live to be a ripe old age, try not to worry too much get on with your life and be thankful that you have had a warning and have got over your heart attack.I have found a positive attitude helps. Good luck for the future, hope this helps to eliviate some of your worries.
hi im new to this so sorry if i get it wrong lol :)
i was 13 when i had my first heart attack i always had heart problems so didnt come as a shock but surely made me think twice, i started locking myself away worried incase something happened and became very depressed so my mum took me to the gp that showed me a group to talk about it made me feel loads better cos people understood how i felt give it a try :) i had to learn not to let what had happened hold me back as im sure alot of people do, and now i couldnt be happier im nearly 20 and even thou im still ill i dont let it hold me back cos id spend all day worrying which wouldnt be healthy for anyone :)
Good Luck and all the best
Berti
x
HI Andy,
I can totally understand why you're in shock and anxious about things kicking off again. I'm 46 and had a heart attack 8 weeks ago. I spend the first 4 weeks constantly checking my blood pressure and wondering what every twinge might be. I'm with Julie on cardiac rehab - I'm finding it so helpful - the exercise, the staff and also the other users of the group, it's great to chat with people who've had similar experiences. I don't have my own children (but I do have a husband, stepdaughter, nieces, nephews, friends etc who I'd rather not leave!), but have still had to face up to the idea of my own mortality. Even though i really don't think I'm about to die or anything, there's no escaping the fact that I'm now at higher risk of further heart problems.
Having said that, I've been working hard on trying to stay very positive - as lots of people have commented elsewhere on this site, 3 out of 10 people don't make it after a heart attack, but we're here and have been treated and therefore the risks are massively reduced.
I hope your anxiety reduces soon - maybe you'll find a health professional who finds the right words to reassure you.
Berti - you remind me how lucky I am and you're attitude is inspirational - keep well and happy!
Caroline
hi im new to this. im 48 and had a heart attack 8 weeks ago. a bit of a shock but something had to change was working crazy hours andd always stressed. im still off work and plan to go back part time. i found the relaxation cd really good and the rehab exercise classes where you can meet people who have been through the same thing and discuss any worries you might have. im so glad im not the only one who gets paranoid about any twinges and pains i get now, for a while i thought i was.
Hi andy
I fully understand how you feel, I read this board every day or any other board concerning heartattacks, i am still in shock if not maybe slightly depressed at time, any slight aches etc i always start panicking and do research etc. Im very gratefull that im still here to live another day take care i know its hard to get your head round it.
Craig