Heart Attack Support Group

DO NOT give up. I had a MI on 12/24/07 with a stent placed. Recovey is the fear of if you will have another heart attact. Do Not miss your meds it took me about 6months to get the doses of my meds regulated. 2 months later I had a GI bleed from the blood thiners and needed blood transfusitons. I still have 3 arteries block at 45% and 15% damage to my heart.

I forced myself to go back to work after 8 weeks. This was the hardest and the best thing I did. I went to cardi rehab and lost 30lbs. Each day got easier and I did have support from family and friends.

You are facing a complete change in your lifestyle which is necessary for recovery. You will need to get in the habit of taking all meds, excersise and stop smoking, diet. You may want to talk to your doctor about your feelings to get on some depression medications. I truly beleive you can do this yourselef.

It is up to you now. You need to walk everyday and keep busy, take your meds and watch your diet. Take one day at a time and before you know it you will be feeling more like your old self. You can do this Please don't give.

Depression is incredibly common, something no doctor really tells you, and I didn't find out until after my first year of a tough recovery with lots of angina, med adjustments, plus lots of depression. Most of the women on my support group email are on anti-depressants and it helps them alot. Try to find someone who can relate to what you have been through.... use us, but it would be great to find someone face to face.... ask at rehab about a support group. It is a huge change and super scary... I remember songs making me sad and wondering if I would be around to hear them again. But each week you get braver and more secure in your healing. One step at a time. One of the challenges is that others in your life think that if you look alright you feel alright emotionally and physically and don't get it if you don't. Hang in there with that too. Underneath they just want the old you back. Tough. You are the new you, not bad, just the reality.
Don't let them get you down, nor get you off track on diet. I know that it is alot....... we all do that have been on this journey, that is why we will help you with it :) Hugs, and more hugs !!!!!!!

The most comfort for me was hearing stories of others whom went through it and lived a very long life. My heart attack was 10 years ago at 34 years of age. Had bypass almost 4 years ago, I work 70 hours a week take my meds and can keep up with the young boys. This is not to say that I still do not think about it, but the others whom gave you advise were right. It gets easier with time. You will be just fine as I was. Take care.

After my first at 39 in 2002, I had real depression issues for a while. being diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks later didn't help any either. I'm recovering from my second now and I can tell you with certainty, YES what you re feeling is perfectly normal and we all go through it to some extent. The best advice I can give you is to talk with someone about the feelings you're having. The folks in rehab are quite accustomed to dealing with these type situations, so maybe speaking to them would help. Also don't be afraid to talk with family and friends about it. I'm a big burly guy too and wasn't used to feeling vulnerable so I know all too well what you're going through. You can beat it with a positive attitude and a determination to get through it. Keep your chin up

I know how you feel. I feel that way too. I also had an mi, and somehow i get the feeling that folks look at me differently. Like i'm an invalid. I also feel damaged.
But hey, look on the bright side. We've been given another chance. Some folks aint so lucky. Just take it one day at a time. I had mine a month ago and its fresh in my mind.
But i'm here to talk about it. Each day brings me closer to the person i was.

get into working out guys, joina club, will feel so much better!

i did not have a heart attack but my husband had 2 just a week apart from each other. He is 55. He is going through depression off and on but mostly on. I did talk him in to talking with our doctor which gave him another script for depression which he will not fill. I am trying to be there for him all the time but I have to say it does get me really down sometimes but I feel I need to be positive for him. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can handle this better and maybe help him get out of this depression a bit I would welcome it. Thanks all

My cardiologist told me that depression is common because you are dealing with "I could have died" also anger is another one.

I was angry, actually very angry. I have had 3 stents put in over the past 8 months and had a heart attack at 34.

Hi Shook,

Everyone has said that feelings of anger and depression are common. I have a history of depression (ever since my mom died in 2004) and have taken meds for it which help a lot, so I was already on something when I had my MI.

Don't give up on yourself. You are worth everything you put into yourself and more! You are a very special person - don't you ever forget that!

For your meds, try using a med planner or a timer to help you remember. For your anxiety, I have no magic formula as I am dealing with it, too, but I am trying to 'live in the moment' and not look too far ahead. I feel very fragile and that's not normal for me. I've always been a 'do it yourself, take care of everything and everybody' kind of person. Overall, my Christian faith has helped me, and I have spent a lot of time reading the Psalms. But please don't think I am any kind of 'super Christian;' I'm just a person looking for hope and answers like everyong else.

You are not damaged goods, you are a great person dealing with a hard time. Remember, there is a 'new normal' for you and give yourself time to adjust.

Please be good to yourself.
Pam

What's up, man? I found this site and joined it, as I'm feeling quite the same way you are! I find that I'm lost on how to deal with this and feel very alone as well. So don't think for one minute you're alone in your feelings. I'm finding you just have to take it one day at a time. Please feel free to message me anytime to talk, as I think people like us need one another in times like these! Take care and be well!