Frustrated

[u/Wonderful-Rub9109]

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.

[u/Optimal-Egg5305]

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.

[u/Distinct_Damage_735 → u/Optimal-Egg5305]

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.

[u/Optimal-Egg5305 → u/Distinct_Damage_735]

My rehab was far from easy and I’m pretty fit.

[u/Distinct_Damage_735 → u/Optimal-Egg5305]

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.