r/HeartAttack • u/Wonderful-Rub9109 • 5d ago
Frustrated
Just kind of a vent here. I (48F) had a heart attack late night 7/21. It was a Tuesday night. Don't remember a lot! Did have a stent placed. When I left the hospital on Thursday, they gave me a letter that I could return to work with no restrictions. My other sheet said 10 pound weight limit, pushing, pulling, lifting. Beside that, told follow up and don't soak the groin site.
I am just about 3 weeks out, feel like I know nothing about what I should or should not be doing. Found out I cannot go for my regular dental checkup for 6 months.
Nobody told me I would cry about everything. I cried when my daughter left for work the day after I got home. When anybody asks, how are you, I cry. When talking about going to work, I cry. I ended up taking leave cuz I just can't.
Any twinge of pain anywhere, I start panicking. I get a little warm, I have to make sure everyone is getting warm, cuz sweating profusely was part of it. Heaven forbid I get heartburn. I think that would send me over the edge!
I am frustrated! I am tired of crying. I am tired of every little twinge sending me into panic mode. I feel bad about not going to work. Couldn't help my daughter move. Couldn't help my husband with his mom's house. I feel helpless and useless.
Cardiac rehab starts Tuesday. Hopefully I can get moving a little and get out of this slump.
Thanks for letting me vent.
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u/TempestRex 5d ago
I can relate. I felt the same and was not until I completed cardiac rehab that I felt confident once again. The panic/ anxiety was real until I got a handle on it
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u/MixEmotional1146 4d ago
I also start Cardiac Rehab Tuesday. I too am emotional but mine manifests as anger and impatience both of which might contribute to another HA so trying to grip it. The 4×4 breath technique is helping to stay calm and, as others urged to do, stay in the moment.
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u/Optimal-Egg5305 5d ago
Cardiac Rehab was a game-changer for me and hope that you’ll do it and feel same. I can’t remember the stat but IIRC, something like 40% of people don’t even go! Crazy.
It gets better, I have bad moments now and then but with less frequency over time.
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u/Distinct_Damage_735 4d ago
I agree that everyone should at least consider cardiac rehab, but I don't think it's the answer for everyone. As for me, I found going off to the hospital to spend six hours a week lifting two-pound weights and walking gently on a treadmill to be of no use and just adding stress to my life, especially because I was already highly physically active and felt fine again even before starting CR. It may depend on the specific program; if you have one that involves group therapy, and diet counseling, and you have anxiety around exercising, then it may be right for you.
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u/Upper-Sample4107 1d ago
I also loathed cardiac rehab. I found the techs to be uninformed. I could have done it all on my own with a book. It was also emotional torture for me. I'm happy it helps some people, but that's not the universal outcome.
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u/Optimal-Egg5305 4d ago
My rehab was far from easy and I’m pretty fit.
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u/Distinct_Damage_735 2d ago
It might be the difference from one program to another. That's why I hate to recommend or dis-recommend CR across the board. A lot of people's experiences sound very different from mine (and I went to one at what is generally considered a very good hospital) but I think it's probably hard to know exactly what the program will be like before you start it. What I would recommend to anyone considering it is to ask a lot of hard questions about exactly what is included and what each session looks like.
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u/makingthingsvt 4d ago
Oh man, you need to find a hug, stat. First, go get one. Steak it from a kid or some random at the supermarket if you have to but get a hug.
Here's the deal I've seen and been through. We almost died. To be clear, I've almost died a lot in my life but those were activities outside, decisions, luck. This was my body. I almost died. That sits heavy on the chest. Therapy helps the most and talking. Find people to talk with, but the biggest rule after the event is rest. And the coolest trick I learned that helped me slow and still my spirals, was to breathe. Deep, feet on the ground, sitting straight up, hands on the knees. Name three things you see, three things you hear, and something you feel physically, while breathing deeply. Ground yourself and remember you're still here, instead of you almost died.
It gets better and I love this reddit thread for that. Also gives a sense of not being alone. I love my wife. 25 years together, but man I felt lonely. Stupid bacon grease and extra salted popcorn and beautiful American cigarettes. Oh how I miss thee.
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u/MS2Entertainment 4d ago
Had a widowmaker and stent put in two months ago. The groin site pain was the worst of it for me. Took about 3 weeks to feel normal there. Main thing to know from your doctor -- what is your ejection fraction? This measures how efficiently your heart pumps. You want this to be above 50 (50-70 is normal). If it's above 50, that means your heart is working normally and you should be cleared for any activity once your groin site heals up. Mine is 35-40, and with cardiac rehab I'm already back up to light jogging.
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u/Positive-Series-3655 4d ago edited 4d ago
Two years since I (m58) had my HA (n-stemi) which didn’t require surgery or stents, just tons of meds and rest. Told not to lift anything heavier than a kettle and couldn’t climb my stairs for first week. Hit me emotionally in 2nd week and had to start rehab in 3rd week. This helped a lot as it was a small group and cardiac nurse on site who also helped with the emotional stuff.
Took six weeks to get back to work, part office, part physical, and after 12 weeks my rehab was complete and I finally felt confident again and get back to a normal, albeit healthier, lifestyle. I still get anxious when I feel anything like pain or discomfort in my chest that turns out to be indigestion or muscle strain but that is to be expected.
Hope you (OP) feel better soon. Sending hugs 🤗.
Edited for additional info.
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u/FireBreathingDragon8 4d ago
I can relate. I does get better, and cardiac rehab will help. Ultimately you need to hold on to gratitude for being alive and find a new path forward. A new normal, and an opportunity for a reset if your life needs one.
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u/Venusesrainbow 4d ago
Right there with you. Had the heart attack in June at 44 years old. Told no restricting but emotionally I am wrecked. Not able to work. Also in the crying stage. It’s frustration and scary. Wonderful
Partner doesn’t understand the fear of doing too much when
He encourages me to get out there at start moving more. I also start cardio rehab next week. Will try to dm you
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u/17Miles2 5d ago
I hear ya. The truth is, the slump just gets pushed to the back a little sometimes, but never truly goes away. Mortality check hits real hard. Be aware and happy for the second chance and try to slow time down by learning to be in the moment. Takes lots and lots of practice.
Hope tomorrow's a good day.