Groups explained
Groups are mini communities on topics of special interest such as a local fundraising branch or an international trek, You can suggest a new group at the bottom of the group home page.
Im new!!!
Hi there, I am Julie, 51 years old with 2 grown up Daughters. I work in a community hospital as a Receptionist about 11 miles from where I live in Long Melford, Suffolk. It is a lovely village, with lots of antique shops and a generous amount of very good pubs!!!
It was whilst at work last week (18th Jan) that I suffered a mild heart attack. I was taken to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon (which I must say is absolutely fantastic) and was discharged on the Saturday (21st Jan) with 5 different pills to take each day for the rest of my life. What a shock!!! Go to work on the Wednesday morning feeling fine, come home from work on the Saturday morning after having suffered a heart attack.
I just wanted to join something where I can talk to people who are going through the same sort of experience as myself, and hopefully can help each other through, what I feel, is a very frightening time at the moment.
I wish you all well. x
Hi Glynn, nice to hear from you, and thank you for sharing your experience with me. It really does help to know that there are people out there going through a similar thing, and how you are dealing with it.
I have had a strange day today - felt very anxious and convinced myself that all was not right again. I suppose maybe this is quite normal in the first few weeks after the attack.
I am going to get plenty of exercise too, and try and keep my mind forcused on getting better and making myself stronger again.
Thank you and good luck.
Hi Julie and Glynn,
I too a similar to you too (and I work for the NHS as a nurse) - 46 and in what I thought was good health. on 17th December I went to A and E (feeling weird, not sure what was wrong) and had had a heart attack. My angio was clear, so no stents and they don't know why I had it. Like yourselves, I'm on the meds and today I went back to work..
I've just started cardiac rehab and it's already helping with those horrible anxious feelings you describe Julie. I've decided to assume that any odd feelings I have (particularly indigestion and muscular discomfort which is probably from being tense) are not cardiac related and that I'm fine and will know if I'm not! I don't always manage to stick with this, but on the whole I'm feeling so much better and more positive that I did during the first 4 weeks.
I came home after 3 days too and felt very cast adrift (even though my husband was great) - this website really helped me in the first couple of weeks over Christmas. Hope it helps you too
all the best
Caroline
Thank you Caroline - I am quite a positive person generally, so I am sure after a few weeks this negativity will pass, and I will stop feeling quite so anxious about things. I suppose it is only natural to be feeling this way at the moment (after such a shock), hope you continue to stay well and thank you for your input. xx Julie xx
Hi Julie, Hi Caroline,
nice to hear from both of you. I too have bad days now and again, but I was advised this would happen. When i get the aches and pains I imagine they are nothing and see if they persist, which they don't.
Well done you Caroline for getting back to work so quick, I dont know when I will be back but my sick note lasts until 20 Feb.
Take care keep your spirits up!
Glynn
Keep positive
hi all. im 48 wke up one morning to go to work and felt a heavy feeling across my chest and down my arm, this was at the end of nov last year, went to my local hospital feeling a bt silly but thought i better get it checked. hours later when i was all cosy in a hospital bed and actually enjoying the rest when the doc said i had had a mild heart attack. no stents needed but medication for life, bit of a shock. you never know the minute! started my crdia rehab classes and enjoying them and if i have any concerns i find the nurse and physio really understanding and helpfull. im still off work but due to go back soon although only part time now. i have days where i feel im superwoman and then i have my anxious days where every niggle and twinge i have im convinced is another attack. its nice to know im not the only one like that and its probably very normal to feel like that. i hope you all keep well x
Hi Julie, I had a very similar experience on the 21st December 2011, I am 49yo.
Went to work feeling a "little off it" as I had for couple of days prior. I felt very weird on the Wednesday lunchtime and asked one of my colleagues to take me to A&E. On the way I felt better and nearly asked him to take me back to work, but as we had made the journey thought I would get checked out. What a shock once on the machines to be told "you are having a Heart Attack right now" I was taken by Blue light to Leeds GI and had a stent fitted Immediately and was up on the ward recovering within 2 hours. Just like you I came home three days later and this was very very frightening! The next few days were just as bad but the more I did around the house the more the fear recedes. I am up to walking 30 mins every day now and enjoy getting out and about.
I go for my rest and stress scan on Wednesday & Thursday this week and this should help show how I am recovering.
I am awaiting the rehabilitation team getting me a place on their course, should be very soon.
Like you I am on 5 Tablets a day for the rest of but I'm happy to be taking them!
It is frightening but it does get better with time. I still have the occasional "What if" moment but I just push it to the back of my mind and do something to distract me.
Keep positive and keep smiling