"My heart attack and rehabilitation"

One night in December 2024 I felt a pain in my left arm and took my blood pressure as a precaution as I had had a moderately high blood pressure for some years, I felt OK at the time but was shocked to see that my BP was 208/123. After my wife phoned 911 and an ambulance arrived within 15-20 minutes. I was taken to Ninewells Hospital and monitored overnight. I was sent home the following day with medication for my high BP.

I felt OK and resumed my normal life. However, around midnight in March I had a heart attack and my wife again called 911. Again the ambulance arrived promptly, and once again I was taken to Ninewells. This time I had a stent inserted into an artery soon after arrival. In June I had stents inserted in two other arteries. 

I found the period between heart attack and the stents being inserted particularly difficult because of all the things I was told not to do. Being told that I should not even push a lawn mower or a shopping trolley made me feel useless. I was unsure just what I could or should be doing other than walking.

I was therefore keen to take the cardiac rehabilitation programme in order to find out what I could do to exercise beyond just walking, but with the safety net of knowing that I was being monitored and advised by health professionals. I am extremely glad that I did so. Rosie and Lorna were great, both friendly and approachable, and I felt that I was getting the exact support that I needed. I couldn't recommend the cardiac rehab programme more.