I can give you support in what you are both going thru. It's not one sided...but if you look in past post there is so much there for you to use or not.

I feel for what you and your husband is going thru.

I think it is a big deal he had this done. It moves people in different ways.
i beleive in time and given time it will or should come all together for you both.
there can be depression and other things along the way? I don't understand it myself.

I had a stint in 08 nothing what you or your husband been thru not by a stick.
I still have boughts of depression come and go for some of us if not most.

I think excerising when they release your husband maybe trying it together is a thought I have.
again i am no expert by far....so many more here been thru more then me too.

I guess room.....we all can use some but never too far....diet is always what we seem to work on next...there is so much ahead.

I know someone should pop in and let you know more then I did here now.

live each day................

god bless
bee

Sally,

When is his next visit to the cardiologist?
Do you know the state of his coronaries? Where they able to solve all the blockages?
Do you know the state of his heart? What Ejection fraction (EF) does he has left?

My experience is that after a massive heart attack (only a 23% EF left) and 5 stents, I no longer had any problem doing exercise. A difference matter is a permanent tiredness mainly due to medication (Beta-blockers). But of course we are all different.

The cough can be a side effect of medication (IECAs produce it).

For both reasons I advise to check with the Dr. in first place.

Also, was he suggested to follow a cardiac rehabilitation program?. This really was the best for me and my wife after the heart attack.

As per leaving him alone for a few hours a day, I do not think it should be any problem... just be sure that he follows his medication.

Jesus

Thank toboth of you for the responses. After the stent placement the dr. said the LAD was 100% blocked (2 stents, cleaned out y) and the rest of his heart looked pretty good.

He seems to do pretty well - we just got a tread mill for him to walk on. His energy is slowly returning, but he gets tired easily. I guess ths is to be expected. However, when he rests he feels rested and has some energy for a while. He noticed that he feels more rested than before the ha as far as when he rested he still felt tired before - we just didn't pay any attention to this.

His ejection fraction was 25% 6 days out, but they said they expect it to improve as he exercises and heals. I pray this is the case.

The cough is getting better - not as often. He had it in the hospital so it has improved since coming home.

I am going to try to leave him home after tomorrow which will be a week since his discharge. Dr. seemed pleased with his recovery so far - so we just have to hold on and pray for God to continue hold him up and help him heal.

Thanks and blessings,
Sallie

Hi Sallie,

I'm really glad to hear that your husband is starting to do better. by the way, cute photo of you two.

Yes, most people do find that our EF immediately after our heart attacks tends to improve over time, and I hope that your husband's will too. It's good that he's starting to walk on the treadmill. I do agree with what Jesus said about cardiac rehab being very helpful, if it's an option for your husband. I found it to be extremely helpful toward regaining my confidence in my body and rebuilding my fitness.

I agree with the idea that you can leave him alone according to the plan you stated. Honestly, it never occurred to me that I should not be left alone when I returned home from the hospital, and I believe that I was alone for some extended time periods fairly soon, including overnight. Like your husband, I had a serious blockage, two years ago, in my LAD. It caused me to go into cardiac arrest, and I had to get one stent.

During the first few weeks after my heart attack, I was on an Ace Inhibitor, Altace, in addition to the beta blocker. The Altace caused me to get a dry cough, which I learned from the internet was a common side effect of that medication. My cardiac rehab nurses were able to show that my blood pressure had been running quite low, so my cardiologist approved of my discontinuing the Altace, and the cough went away in three days.

I wish you and your family a very nice Thanksgiving. You, like so many of us here, have a lot to be grateful for! Sue

Hi, Sue,

Thanks for your reply. My family and I sure do have a lot to be thankful for. We praise God for the blessing of returning health.

I think it is quite possible the cough is from the medicine. Or the vent he had in for two days.

We are optimistic that he is going to have a good recovery - he just feels he should be able to do more. Patience is hard to come by.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, also. And to everyone here - I know that thanksgiving is something we are all doing each and every day.

Blessings, Sallie

Hi Sallie,

Ditto on all the comments so far. It's so nice to see new people on here bad sad at the circumstances that brought you to us. Yes Sue mentions Altace. Absolutely I was on lisinopril and it, indeed caused a dry annoying cough which subsided after a while. Yes indeed also his EF will improve as his energy improves and his heart is allowed to excercise itself back in shape. Our bodies are wonderful machines. They compensate and commiserate and duplicate. They find ways where medical science has no explanation. We are meant to live. Only to die when we can't remember if we are animal or vegetable, Very Old that is.

Being alone. I think for a time to let the trauma take hold is appropriate but lingering in solitude can and does breed depression. Sue can speak better to this. We all had some form of depression but found each other, shared our strengths and weaknesses and held each other up. We use this sight to laugh, cry, rersearch, study, share stories of loved ones reactions to our "Cardiac Events" and most importantly learn to become "Survivors" and not Victims. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we not only feel better but perform at a different level than before. Of course there are those ofus who sufffer debilitating complications along with their cardiac diseases but they too with the correct attitude and faith in a higher power too can enjoy life like never before.

We can look folly in the face face and laugh where before we stressed. A good heart healthy dit and a good adherence to a medication schedule is good advice. Also partnering with your spouse through this will enable both of you to share the joys. happiness and even make the sorrows less than life altering.

I have found that thisn site, DS, has saved my life many times. I have been through three heart attacks, mostly mild, but have come out of each more determined to live the way Jesus wanted me to by sharing caring and helping others in need. I have been through some harrowing life experiences which only make me more determinerd to live life to the fullest. Keep in touch with Minor 4th and Minor 7th, they are the epitomy of a couple who share their love and care through his close brush with death. They are a stallwart of strength for all of us and even throw a pun or two out there on the cerebral side that really gets my heart pumping.

Be well. Be strong. Be confident that both of you together can see this thing through and just view the event as another juncture of life that we deal with our heads held high and an attitude which is conducive to a lasting fruitful recovery.

Welcome Sallie and Hubby. God bless and keep us informed of his continued recovery.

God Bless You,

Love ya,

Just Joe

Hi Sally,
What you and your husband are going through is very normal his body will take some time to heal.But with a good diet,exercise and positive thinking things will return to normal.
Take it slow one day at a time and look into cardio rehab ot worked wonders for me got me over that wall.Good luck we are always here
john

Now Sallie, Careful what Johnny says about the cardios. I think his idea of cardio is, togther with a good brisk aerobic treadmill slide, is heavy lifting of over 350 lbs. Yeah thats great for his torso but it's the aerobics I think he refers to. We love Johnny and he can and does hold us all up with one arm. As Sue and others have menioned a cardiac re-hab is a great way to get back in shape as well as strengthen your altered heart muscle. You will also meet like individuals whom can share their experiences and ease going it alone. But alone time is good. It nurtures meditation, retro spection and development of a relationship with an entity greater than ourselves who is always right next to us all the way. Choose that higher power and the effort can be eased by allowing a partner in his recovery to bare your and his burdens.

I also mention to the new comers that along with clogged cardiac arteries there is a high percentage that other major arteries in his body are in the same or similar state. I recommend often an entire arteriogram to see the condition and keepan eye on other life altering experiences like strokes and other circulatory conditions.

My Best to you both,

Just Joe

Hi Sallie,
This reply is probably coming after the fact, but here it is anyway. :)

Ditto on what everyone has said, especially Jesus. He has a way of cutting to the chase and giving good advice in a succinct way. I would add that my husband was told by the cardiologist not to leave me alone for a week or 2. I was really sick and I think they thought I might have another event. (don't you love how they call it an event? I always thought an event was something you looked forward to). However, if your husband and you feel comfortable and the MD doesn't say differently then there shoudn't be a problem.

One thing I would add: I suggest you both discuss what to do in case there is another 'event.' By this I mean talk about what hospital your husband wants to go to, what procedures he wants, etc. In my case I was alone when I had my heart attack, went to the hospital alone, and was alone when I consented to surgery. However, I believe it's good for a family member to know these things in case the patient can't talk for themselves. For example, my husband knows I want to go to St. Thomas Hospital instead of Jackson General if at all possible. This kind of information can head of panic and hasty decisions at a time when no one is thinking straigt.

Hugs and prayers,
Pam