"My Heart Attack"

I am in my mid 60's and consider myself fit with a healthy active lifestyle and a good BMI. I’d been cycling 40-60 miles a week for close to a year. Three months ago I started to get a feeling of pressure across the chest after a mile or two of cycling which would pass after 5 or 10 minutes. This started to happen every time I went out cycling. I knew something wasn’t right and I knew it wasn’t indigestion. I’d spoken to a friend months before who relayed the story of how he had had indigestion symptoms during sporting activities and ended up getting heart surgery. This was on my mind so I went to the nurse. I got bloods done, BP and an ECG. The ECG trace indicated an anomaly and I was prescribed aspirin and a GT spray. This was all a big shock for me. The nurse explained that if the symptoms I was experiencing during activities did not go away with rest or use of the GT spray I was to phone 999. This was all very sudden and a lot to take in. I was referred to the chest clinic up in Ninewells. There were four weeks between the time of the visit to nurse and the appointment at Ninewells and in that period I continued my physical activities at a reduced level but I became suddenly depressed and anxious about my condition. I couldn’t sleep. I found it difficult to accept that fit as I was I was not well, physically or mentally.

From the minute I visited the chest clinic I can say that everyone who has consulted me and treated me have been absolutely brilliant. I was only in the clinic a few minutes for an ECG before being taken to a ward. I was totally unprepared for this; I was still convincing myself that the ECG anomaly was nothing and that I was going to be told to just change my diet or similar.

So one day on the Ward in Ninewells and the doc came round. He didn’t hold back and just came out and told me that I had a blocked artery and that I had had a heart attack in the recent past. I was very emotional for a while but soon realised that going to see the nurse that day was the best thing I could have done. The next day I received an angioplasty which is an unbelievable procedure whereby a balloon is introduced to the problem artery through a catheter in the wrist. I was overwhelmed with amount of doctors and advisors that were involved. An hour later I was back on the Ward with constant observations, bloods and BP checks from the doctors and nursing staff. I felt I was in good hands. Within 48 hours I was back home feeling a little tired but ok apart from that.

From being a person that took zero medication I now had a number of pills to take to protect me from any future “events”. Some of the pills are to counter the effects of the other pills. Your body takes a while to adjust but so many people are there to help. There is your GP, nurses, Cardiology Care, Physio, Pharmacist, relaxation advice; too many people to mention. They have all been brilliant.

I have been very lucky as I have managed to get out and about after a couple of weeks of rest. Now I just listen to all the advice I am offered and what my body is telling me. Things have changed but with all the help I have been given it’s good to know that I am doing the right things and if you are doing the right things you feel better in yourself. 

That’s just over 3 weeks now since my procedure and I feel that I’m getting better every day.