Coronary Heart Disease Support Group

your right nothing will be the same but the good thing about that is that the changes make life so much better you feel better by eating better and if you did smoke you can actual breath by quitting

Thank you for the reply. I did smoke, I had quit for thirteen years, then resarted a year and a half ago.I've also had to quit a lot of other bad habits,mainly alchahol, so it's been difficult. They have me taking xanax although I'm not quite sure what it's doing for me.
They also diagnosed me with severe sleep apnea while I was in the ICU. I've got a machine now that is allowing me to get a full nights sleep for the first time in years.
I feel so good though and it get's better every day. Theres been some depression but I'm really looking forward to being sober and healthy.
I'm having a stress test on Friday and I hope all goe well.

It has lots of positive points but yes there is great deal of accompanying frustration. it is not easy and the dark oclock always seems to be the worst as lots of the meds actually interfere with old established sleep patterns even when you are now so tired so easily. However I have now watched lots of old classic black n white movies and rediscovered forgotten chilhood favourite books so is good eh.

Pete please be very very careful with any benzodiazapam medication. Xanax is mostly for extreme anxiety. IF you can talk to either your pcp or your cardiologist and have them put you on something less addictive, the med your on now is extremely addictive. I take BusPar and its great just to let you know.

It will get better in time, I had 3 stents implanted 4 1/2 yrs/ago and am still here to tell the tale.LOL Quitting smoking is the best thing u can do for your health, eating healthier is next. I am still having trouble controlling my weight-food aholic:):)But I have not picked up a smoke in 4 yrs. Hang in there you will get thru this.

Thank you all for your support. My stress test went well and I'm starting cardiac rehab next week. I'm also seeing a psychiatrist on Monday. I'm on a low dose of xanax (1.5mg per day)and I don't understand why they are so addictive but I can tell they take the edge off some. It's great to hear from someone who had this done over four years ago. It's been hard thinking about having these devices installed in my heart and I've been so afraid of something going wrong. I'm still having trouble getting completly away from smoking but I'll do it because I know I have to. Thank you all.

Quitting smoking is essential. It is the numero uno risk factor for all of us historically who had smoked. I've been off of that poison for 2 years now. Once i changed my thinking about smoking it was easy. It took a major health crisis to get my attention though. I'm done with smoking .