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I haven't posted much recently, but some of you might be aware that I had a heart attack whilst out riding in early October.
I've done everything 'by the book', resting with gradually increasing walks then an 8 week Cardiac Rehabilitation course and bucket loads of medication. I got given the go ahead to go back to work (I'm a cleaner so it's moderately physical) and to get back into being physically active.
The first month or so was great, I was managing at work and started gradually cycling (I got up to 25 miles); everything felt fine. A couple of weeks ago whilst cycling I suddenly felt exhausted and had to come home; my Wife was concerned that I looked unwell and was unduly tired. Since then I've been getting chest pain and shortness of breath whilst walking to work (an easy 30 minutes) and a few days back I had to stop several times and felt really unwell (there's a pain in my neck and jaw as there was prior to the heart attack); once I've got to work things tend to settle.
Obviously I've been back to the GP who referred on the the Chest Pain Clinic just to be on the safe side but was happy for me to carry on being active and even cycling (which I haven't). I had the Cardiac appointment yesterday which pretty much consisted of the consultant expressing his surprise that I'd had a heart attack due to my age (52) and condition but again was happy for me to carry on being active; he suggested that it might be some sort of spasmodic angina and has prescribe some new pills (via my GP which should be ready in a few days).
I'm going to be sent an appointment for an echocardiogram and possibly another angiogram but that could take 4 weeks; I didn't pick up any sense of urgency or concern.
To be honest I'm a little scared (my Wife more so); I'm going to try to continue at work but I was wondering whether anyone had had similar experienced. To be honest I feel more unwell now than at any time during the previous 5 months.
My heart attack consisted of one fully blocked artery which was stented open; the other 2 were only mildly affected and 'manageable through medication' so it should now just be a case of pushing forward with my fitness.
Is angina (if that's what it is) a likely consequence of a heart attack (I never had it before) as I don't recall being advised of it during the recovery process (although I have been prescribed a GTN spray).
Just not sure what I should be doing whilst I wait for follow up procedures.
IAMAD but I do have a mild heart condition (AFIB about once a month) and nothing brings on 'heart' symptoms as effectively as worrying about "heart" symptoms.
While I was waiting to see the consultant to find out what was wrong I had all kinds of pain/sensations most of the time. Once the specialist told me there was basically nothing wrong with me everything calmed right down.
Most likely you'll be lucky and a bit of tiredness on the bike has been placebo-d out of all proportion.
If you find a way to stop this stuff playing on your mind please tell me!
Certainly chest pains can occur through anxiety and can see it would be very confusing if you've had a heart attack trying to tell the difference, with the worry making it worse.
However the shortness of breath during exercise I would be worried about.
I had anxiety chest pains (no heart condition, that I'm aware of, after various checks) but one thing that reassures me is it goes away with exercise. If it didn't, I'd be taking it easy until it's fully checked out.
Although I've not had a heart attack myself I was with Mrs Taxi when she had hers. It was the neck and jaw pain that got me phoning 999. It sounds as if things are being managed even though it can move at a painfully slow pace. But listen to your body, Dr's can be massively overworked and are under real pressure. They can and do miss things, if you start to feel really ill don't wait for your appointments phone 999.
I haven’t actually had a heart attack - but I have had plenty of cardiac issues.
I would dial back the exercise slightly and then pursues an appointment as you have, to put your mind at rest or get more information to take action.
As it happens, I've been doing a First Aid at Work course this week, and a large part of it is heart related.
Some/all of this may not apply to you. I do first aid, I'm not a heart specialist!
Yes, angina can be a result of a heart attack, and certainly related to the cause.
There are lots of blood vessels supplying blood to your heart to allow it to work (not the blood it pumps around). When one of these blood supplies gets blocked,usually by cholesterol making the pipe smaller, it can cause a blood clot, then no blood can get through to that part of the heart.
You then have your heart attack. Luckily, as you've found out, it is not fatal for the majority of people (as against heart failure, which kills 90%).
Angina is very similar to the heart attack, as it is due to the narrowing of the arteries/capillaries. You do some effort, then the heart is going mad trying to pump more blood around the body, it also needs more blood itself, as it is a muscle and needs that oxygenated blood to make itself work. However, you have some partially blocked arteries, so it does not get enough blood/oxygen to allow the heart to pump as fast as the brain wants it to.
You then get the awful pains. That's the body's way of telling you to slow down.
Usually with angina you can sit down, get your heart beat down to its resting pace, and you recover.
If it is angina, there is a drug available if you have an attack, GTN, available in an inhaler form.
4 months to be back at work and cycling 25 miles might just be pushing it too much.
Slow down - I will be blunt, a heart attack is telling you your heart can not cope. Part of it has now died, so you will never get back to where you were. Take your time and go slowly don’t run before you can walk.
Not a doctor either, but Certainly sounds like it could be angina in which case the GTN spray and/or aspirin I presume you're on should help although they haven't for me.
If it's concerning enough you should go to A&E to get checked. If you've still got to arteries identified as narrowed they could be enough to bring it on, particularly under load or stress.
As others have said, don't underestimate the affect of worry on heart issues. Resting and slow breathing can help with both any anxiety and reducing blood flow and blood pressure.
Always makes me laugh when you're in the docs/hospital and they ask if you're stressed. Well I wouldn't be if I wasn't here with undiagnosed heart issues 😂
I've just been diagnosed with microvascular heart disease (taken 2 years!), so the small capillaries, not major vessels (which are totally clear) , and I get a sort of micro angina ache in my heart area and horrible feeling in my neck. Hopefully the meds will soon kick in to reduce that.
Take it a bit easier maybe, do some relaxation when you need, and get back to the doc/hospital if in doubt?
Hope it all works out
Thanks all, I think that I'll take it more slowly and perhaps hold off cycling for a bit (the weather's not exactly conducive at the moment) until I've had further investigations and see how things go. I've always got my GTN spray to hand too.
Morning Pal
I had 2.
One at 28yrs old one at 32yrs old.
A lot of stress - I built a company and had 70 staff at 28, my daughter died and I gave up on me and buried my head in work.
Stop, reflect, cut out things and people you don't need - take off unneeded burdens you're carrying and engage in you.
try yoga - light weights and reading (the Chimp paradox and The power of Now hugely helped me)
Don't listen to your mind, it's destructive, in times of anxiety breathe - in for 4secs out for 6 secs (rpt 10 times)
Hope you recover well pal
Does the GTN spray help with the pain in your neck and jaw? If not then it might be more anxiety related. As Sarell said, beathing exercises are good for anxiety. Take care
OP,
One of my colleague is a cleaner (age is mid to late 50s) at our office who has angina. He was off work for about 9 months after his operation and got back to work after that. When he got back to work he was only doing light cleaning but now he is fine and back to his normal routine.
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and sharing experiences. Perhaps it is a bit early and maybe I have pushed things a bit too fast (especially with the cycling) but I feel worse now than at any time during the recovery process; I'm feeling quite worried and really rather low and tearful too. I feel generally unwell too, although I suppose that this could simply be a seasonal bug on top of the chest pain.
I don't know for sure that I have angina and the process of finding out does seem very slow but perhaps I'll hold of cycling for a while. I am worried about further heart damage.
I did seem to sail through the recovery/rehab. part of the attack; perhaps this is payback.
Thanks again for all the support.
Interesting this I had a heart attack yesterday and had 3 stents installed, I’ve been sent home today with a fistful of pills and a cardiac rehabilitation programme, the doctors seem pretty confident I will get back to biking but need to be realistic no more chasing strava trophies but at 65 that dream is long gone still it seems a long way off yet
^ Brennak - ! Get well soon!
Indeed! Get well soon!
Get well soon!
Brennek, 2 of the guys on our ride today had heart issues in the past and you'd never know it.
Get well soon Kevin! Hope you're up and riding gentle soon...
Many thanks for the kind wishes, a couple of positives due to my level of fitness my start point for recovery is higher than usual and there was no serious injury to heart itself. Entries for the Jennride and Sam houghton will be available later today.
GWS Brennak and PJay
Heart attack yesterday, stents fitted and sent home today? I'm just checking is that a typo? Is that normal or are they clearing beds because of CV19?
No it’s not a typo it’s what and is happening I consider myself very lucky I was looked after our superb and for me efficient NHS
Wow. That is amazing. Hope your recovery goes well.
Crickey, I had 6 days in hospital including several on the high dependency cardiac ward (can't fault the treatment either). I do hope that your recovery continues apace but do look after yourself.
Bit of an update.
Just back from hospital following an admission for chest pain (could have been a minor heart attack or unstable angina). I ended up having an angioplasty and, in addition to the 2 stents put into my LAD following the heart attack in October, a second artery was stented and the third ballooned (stretched) with medication inserted (apparently stenting this one would have been too awkward). I've now gone from being fine in October to having had all 3 major coronary arteries worked on. I was also violently sick following the procedure (possibly the contract and/or medication) which has left me feeling a bit rough.
I'm slightly confused as to the 2 arteries described as moderately affected in October (to be managed with medication) now need work but the NHS being the NHS the surgeon yesterday couldn't access the angioplasty images from the hospital that treated the heart attack in October.
I suppose that with everything else that's going on I wouldn't be able to ride my bike anyway.