"I was given the confidence to exercise without fear"

Earlier this year I suffered a heart attack which caused permanent damage which was described as mild to moderate. Luckily I was a passenger in a car driven by my wife, who realised that I was having a heart attack, and she immediately drove me to the Royal Infirmary where I was assessed.

The doctor said that I was having a major heart attack, and sent me by ambulance to the Royal Jubilee Hospital where I was swiftly dealt with. They inserted a stent to widen the blocked artery. This was successful and I was sent to a recovery ward for four days . The care in the Jubilee hospital was excellent and nursed me through a few problems which I developed including fluid in the lungs. I was then returned to the Royal infirmary for a further day ,before being discharged.

Not long after my discharge, I attended the Royal Infirmary to see the Cardio nurse and a Cardio physiotherapist. Here I was informed of the extent of my injury and the medication that I was to take to help me survive. I was also informed of the help that was available to me to aid my recovery .

I was pleasantly surprised by the help that was offered, and I was very keen to access this help.

The help consisted of rehab exercises at Tollcross Sports Centre, also walking at Alexandra Park , and information talks at Barlanark Community Centre.

All these proved very helpful to me and assisted enormously with my steady progress.

After having the heart attack , it left me a bit anxious and unsure as how to proceed , and return back to a normal life, and was this possible?

Fellow patients who I met felt exactly the same as me.

The help given by the rehab team was immense, and quite frankly I would not have progressed the way I have without their support.

I was given the confidence to exercise without fear , and enjoy the benefits that brought. Most of us would have been too cautious , and therefore would not have seen such rapid improvement.

I am finishing with rehab now, but I am continuing to exercise in the gym with a confidence that was gained working with the wonderful rehab staff. Thanks so much to the fab rehab team. Also all the nursing staff and doctors at the Royal Infirmary, and Royal Jubilee Hospital.