"Heart Attack and Stroke"

One day in early October 2018 I went to bed as normal, thought I was getting indigestion. I very quickly realised I needed help and my wife rang an ambulance which arrived a few minutes later. I was having a massive heart attack (age 58). The specialist heart hospital was about 30 minutes away. On the way in the ambulance I lost consciousness and stopped breathing and had to be brought back to life. 

On arrival at Hairmyres Hospital shortly after midnight, I was immediately operated on and 3 stents inserted into the main heart artery. I was then taken to the cardiac ward but had to be rushed back to theatre as I had formed further clots which required the nursing team to once again use the defibrillator and cpr to bring me back again. 

I was extremely unwell for the next week and was under constant monitoring. After about 4 days, I was able to eat vanilla ice cream and was transferred after 7 days to Crosshouse Hospital cardiac unit which was much closer to where I live.   I was then allowed home after another week. 

I want to say that the care and service I received from the NHS teams was second to none and want to thank everyone involved. I have a long way to go before I will be fully recovered but owe my life to the NHS for such wonderful treatment and my lovely wife for being with me through this horrific time. Thank you all