"My experience of having a heart attack and journey to recovery"

August last year, I was having a picnic with my daughter and grandson.  I felt a little unwell, sent them ahead. I went to the toilets, had to sit down and hoped to wait until I felt better. My daughter rang, as I went to reach for my bag I was unable to raise my right arm. I checked my face, and counted as I feared it may be a stroke.

A gentleman got Debbie, the First Aid person, who was excellent. After some minutes I felt better, slowly got back to my feet. I walked a small distance to a bench, had to sit down, felt a cold sweat and was sick. My daughter arrived with my grandson, after deciding getting an Uber to hospital would not be a good idea, I got my daughter to call for an ambulance.  After giving my symptoms, there was a little difficulty describing our location. We had What Three Words on our phones, within minutes the ambulance arrived. 

I was checked over, had an ECG, was given heparin and anticoagulant tablets to chew. There was contact with The Royal Infirmary, and it was decided I should be taken straight to hospital. Before arrival there was communication between paramedic and hospital, I was taken straight into the Cardiac Lab.  Within twenty minutes a catheter was put into my right arm, an angiogram taken, and a stent inserted. I was then transferred to the ward.  After excellent care I was discharged home on the third day.

I cannot praise the dispatcher, paramedics, the staff in the Lab, my Consultant and ward staff highly enough. On discharge I was referred to the Cardiac Nurse Practitioner (Nisha) , who was also excellent, I had a few appointments with her, was given useful advice, and asked if I wanted to be referred for Cardiac Rehabilitation exercises. Initially I declined, but after a couple of conversations about the benefits I agreed. 

I received an appointment for assessment by Rosie the Physiotherapist, at Queen Margaret Hospital.  I then attended 5 weekly group sessions, supervised by Rosie, Annie (Cardiac Nurse Team) and Sonya.  I found these sessions extremely worthwhile.  Yesterday was my final session. This morning I started The British Heart Foundation sessions on You Tube.