Heart attack
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From: Notts, UK
Originally Posted by Leslie
The operation feels as though it takes 10 years off your age. 
Afterwards that is.
Les
Afterwards that is.Les
It took me over a year to get back to full fitness but I still get tired more easily now.
Cheers
Lee
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From: Does it matter?
Well, I never thought I'd want to contribute to this thread, but events this week have overtaken me.
On Tuesday, my father, a healthy 65 yr old, suffered a heart attack. After what can probably be described as the most traumatic week I have ever had, I am pleased to say that he has recovered enough to be sent home.
His heart attack occurred due to a blockage in the Pulmonary Trunk, just below the Aorta. The clot-busting drugs that were administered didn't work, and he was rushed from our "new" hospital up to Wolverhampton, where a Coronary Angioplasty was performed immediately upon his arrival.
Only one stent was put in, but due to the location, he was lucky to survive the day - he had several further attacks during the transportation. We have to wait to find out if any serious damage has occured, as the blockage pretty much starved most of the heart of blood.
Firstly, my eternal thanks to all the staff involved, as due to their hard work, I've still got a dad (as we have grown older, we've become more than father/son, but are now close friends).
This entire experience has somewhat changed my outlook on life, as according to all of those in the know (the real ones, not the "Gospel according to Scoobynet"!
- not aimed a Lee or any other recoverers ), your lifestyle is a contributing factor. My Dad was classed as a very low risk, taking into account his lifestyle. The build up inside the artery can just be there, or build up (like my Dad's) over time. It is now even being found that new-born babies have arterial issues (furring etc).
It really is a lottery.
As a result, both my sister, and I have to have tests now to ensure that all is OK. I have extended this to include my Wife too.
Our diet is relatively OK, but after researching this (and I have this week!), there is a lot of food contents issues that people should really be aware of, such as salt/sodium intake, for example.
However, my family's diet will be amended. Not changed - I'm not one of these who goes totally the other way, and becomes a born-again health freak.
The same goes for exercise - I mountain bike, but not every day. The recommended time for exercise is a mere 30 mins each day. The excuse of "I don't have time" is absolute rubbish, as there's another 23.5 hours left!!!
Whilst visiting my Dad this week, a new admission was put in his bay - a publican, who smoked, drank, ate sh1te, and was totally overweight. He was in for a third time!! His attitude was that of total denial/ignorance. These are the people who are wasting the NHS resources, I'm sorry to say. But some people just don't learn.
I have really taken this to heart (no pun intended!) as I have NO desire to put my family through a repeat performance of the events of this week, and the amount of drugs my Dad will now have to take for the rest of his life is somewhat sobering.
The key thing is moderation, but at the end of the day, it really is a lottery.
There seems to be a blaze attitude to Heart Attacks, as so many things can be done, and so many people have said, "yes, but it's only a heart attack. It's not that serious".
To these people I say, firstly, you're an idiot(!). Secondly, and more importantly, until it happens to you, or somebody close to you, your comments are ill-informed, as it may be "just a heart attack", until you lose somebody you hold dear to you.
Dan
On Tuesday, my father, a healthy 65 yr old, suffered a heart attack. After what can probably be described as the most traumatic week I have ever had, I am pleased to say that he has recovered enough to be sent home.
His heart attack occurred due to a blockage in the Pulmonary Trunk, just below the Aorta. The clot-busting drugs that were administered didn't work, and he was rushed from our "new" hospital up to Wolverhampton, where a Coronary Angioplasty was performed immediately upon his arrival.
Only one stent was put in, but due to the location, he was lucky to survive the day - he had several further attacks during the transportation. We have to wait to find out if any serious damage has occured, as the blockage pretty much starved most of the heart of blood.
Firstly, my eternal thanks to all the staff involved, as due to their hard work, I've still got a dad (as we have grown older, we've become more than father/son, but are now close friends).
This entire experience has somewhat changed my outlook on life, as according to all of those in the know (the real ones, not the "Gospel according to Scoobynet"!
- not aimed a Lee or any other recoverers ), your lifestyle is a contributing factor. My Dad was classed as a very low risk, taking into account his lifestyle. The build up inside the artery can just be there, or build up (like my Dad's) over time. It is now even being found that new-born babies have arterial issues (furring etc).It really is a lottery.
As a result, both my sister, and I have to have tests now to ensure that all is OK. I have extended this to include my Wife too.
Our diet is relatively OK, but after researching this (and I have this week!), there is a lot of food contents issues that people should really be aware of, such as salt/sodium intake, for example.
However, my family's diet will be amended. Not changed - I'm not one of these who goes totally the other way, and becomes a born-again health freak.
The same goes for exercise - I mountain bike, but not every day. The recommended time for exercise is a mere 30 mins each day. The excuse of "I don't have time" is absolute rubbish, as there's another 23.5 hours left!!!
Whilst visiting my Dad this week, a new admission was put in his bay - a publican, who smoked, drank, ate sh1te, and was totally overweight. He was in for a third time!! His attitude was that of total denial/ignorance. These are the people who are wasting the NHS resources, I'm sorry to say. But some people just don't learn.
I have really taken this to heart (no pun intended!) as I have NO desire to put my family through a repeat performance of the events of this week, and the amount of drugs my Dad will now have to take for the rest of his life is somewhat sobering.
The key thing is moderation, but at the end of the day, it really is a lottery.
There seems to be a blaze attitude to Heart Attacks, as so many things can be done, and so many people have said, "yes, but it's only a heart attack. It's not that serious".
To these people I say, firstly, you're an idiot(!). Secondly, and more importantly, until it happens to you, or somebody close to you, your comments are ill-informed, as it may be "just a heart attack", until you lose somebody you hold dear to you.
Dan
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 38,078
Likes: 310
From: The hell where youth and laughter go
Dan: Thoughts are with you.
Last February, My dad collpased from Congestive heart failure brought about by ischemia of the heart (blocked/narrowed arteries restricting flow). Basically, he suffered from heart disease. Although I was there at the time and dispite CPR and 10 "shocks" by paramedics before being transferred to hospital. It was not meant to be, he was 57 years old.
He had been suffering major heart failure problems for about 5 years after a mild heart attack brought about Aterial Fibrillation (irregular heatbeat). And has been on various pills to control this as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. All seemed to be well and undercontrol. But what people don't realise is the pills just "patch you up" so to speak. They extend life, but in the end the paitent has a damaged heart, a heart attack kills irrepairable heart muscle cells. Once suffering an attact the risk another attack is highly likely, as I found out.
My dad did not lead a healthy life style, he drank ate and didn't exercise much and became overweight over the past 20 years and had liver problems as well as arthritus from ankle injury (crushed ankle), he didn't smoke though. He'd go through phases off the drink and on better food. But it was all up and down. He also had previous problem witha heart murmur (dodgy valve) which stragely seemed to cure itself later on. This along with congenital history did not help.
Everybody who knew him had known he would not live to a ripe old age. My dad didn't want that either - he hated OAPs But nobody expected it to be this soon. It's no age to die at.
Being fathers day doesn't make it easy. I'm sure it doesn't bode well for you either. But I hope he pulls through it.
All the best. (I bet that "new" hospital is Russell's hall? It's a joke isn't it? )
Anyone who is interesting in Heart failure (Congestive) and heart attacks - look on Wikipedia.org as it is very informative. As some of the early symptoms of heart failure were all there long before my dad's first attack- if there was personal knowledge of the symptoms he could have treatment before his first heart attack.
Last February, My dad collpased from Congestive heart failure brought about by ischemia of the heart (blocked/narrowed arteries restricting flow). Basically, he suffered from heart disease. Although I was there at the time and dispite CPR and 10 "shocks" by paramedics before being transferred to hospital. It was not meant to be, he was 57 years old.
He had been suffering major heart failure problems for about 5 years after a mild heart attack brought about Aterial Fibrillation (irregular heatbeat). And has been on various pills to control this as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. All seemed to be well and undercontrol. But what people don't realise is the pills just "patch you up" so to speak. They extend life, but in the end the paitent has a damaged heart, a heart attack kills irrepairable heart muscle cells. Once suffering an attact the risk another attack is highly likely, as I found out.
My dad did not lead a healthy life style, he drank ate and didn't exercise much and became overweight over the past 20 years and had liver problems as well as arthritus from ankle injury (crushed ankle), he didn't smoke though. He'd go through phases off the drink and on better food. But it was all up and down. He also had previous problem witha heart murmur (dodgy valve) which stragely seemed to cure itself later on. This along with congenital history did not help.
Everybody who knew him had known he would not live to a ripe old age. My dad didn't want that either - he hated OAPs
But nobody expected it to be this soon. It's no age to die at.Being fathers day doesn't make it easy. I'm sure it doesn't bode well for you either. But I hope he pulls through it.
All the best. (I bet that "new" hospital is Russell's hall? It's a joke isn't it? )
Anyone who is interesting in Heart failure (Congestive) and heart attacks - look on Wikipedia.org as it is very informative. As some of the early symptoms of heart failure were all there long before my dad's first attack- if there was personal knowledge of the symptoms he could have treatment before his first heart attack.
Last edited by ALi-B; Jun 18, 2006 at 11:53 PM.
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From: Location: Location.
My father - 64, died of a heart attack, non smoker, not overweight
Grandfather 1 - 66, died of a heart attack, non smoker, thin
Grandfather 2 - 57, died of a heart attack, smoked when young, thin
Uncle - 61, died of heart attack, smoker , thin
Seems to me that no matter what I do, I will pop it between 57 - 66 of a heart attack and if I smoked or was moderately overweight, it would not make a damn bit of difference. IMHO
Grandfather 1 - 66, died of a heart attack, non smoker, thin
Grandfather 2 - 57, died of a heart attack, smoked when young, thin
Uncle - 61, died of heart attack, smoker , thin
Seems to me that no matter what I do, I will pop it between 57 - 66 of a heart attack and if I smoked or was moderately overweight, it would not make a damn bit of difference. IMHO
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From: Notts, UK
Originally Posted by Alas
My father - 64, died of a heart attack, non smoker, not overweight
Grandfather 1 - 66, died of a heart attack, non smoker, thin
Grandfather 2 - 57, died of a heart attack, smoked when young, thin
Uncle - 61, died of heart attack, smoker , thin
Seems to me that no matter what I do, I will pop it between 57 - 66 of a heart attack and if I smoked or was moderately overweight, it would not make a damn bit of difference. IMHO
Grandfather 1 - 66, died of a heart attack, non smoker, thin
Grandfather 2 - 57, died of a heart attack, smoked when young, thin
Uncle - 61, died of heart attack, smoker , thin
Seems to me that no matter what I do, I will pop it between 57 - 66 of a heart attack and if I smoked or was moderately overweight, it would not make a damn bit of difference. IMHO
Smoking, family history, blood pressure, stress, cholestoral, no exercise and all the other factors we have discussed all increase your risk of heart disease.
But as others have said you can have no risk factors and still get it.
Cheers
Lee
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From: Does it matter?
Thanks Guys
Wasn't Russells Hall (although from all accounts, your comments are correct!)
It was Hereford County hosital. Very impressive, but just didn't have the necessary staff and specialist equipment to cope with the task at hand.
Dan
Wasn't Russells Hall (although from all accounts, your comments are correct!
)It was Hereford County hosital. Very impressive, but just didn't have the necessary staff and specialist equipment to cope with the task at hand.
Dan
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The problems with coronary artery blockages etc can be hereditary due to high cholesterol. I had a pretty healthy lifestyle but stii got the problems which luckily for me were diagnosed before a heart attack. Throughout my previous life I always had a highish cholesterol level and blood pressure. Since my operation and also by using Atorvastatin My blood pressure has dropped to 115/69 and the cholesterol is down to 3,5. I mistyped my earlier BP.
I used to smoke and consider that had a strong effect on the problems that I had.
There is no doubt that lifestyle does have an effect however and it is well worth eating and living sensibly in that respect. At a young age you never think it is worth worrying about since the symptoms don't show that much. You also tend to think "Why worry I may not live that long anyway, enjoy life while I can" but believe me, as you get a bit older and the problems start to show the will to live is every bit as strong and you then regret earlier excesses.
Hope your dad has a complete recovery Dan.
Les
I used to smoke and consider that had a strong effect on the problems that I had.
There is no doubt that lifestyle does have an effect however and it is well worth eating and living sensibly in that respect. At a young age you never think it is worth worrying about since the symptoms don't show that much. You also tend to think "Why worry I may not live that long anyway, enjoy life while I can" but believe me, as you get a bit older and the problems start to show the will to live is every bit as strong and you then regret earlier excesses.
Hope your dad has a complete recovery Dan.
Les
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Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo555
Thanks Guys
Wasn't Russells Hall (although from all accounts, your comments are correct!)
It was Hereford County hosital. Very impressive, but just didn't have the necessary staff and specialist equipment to cope with the task at hand.
Dan
Wasn't Russells Hall (although from all accounts, your comments are correct!
)It was Hereford County hosital. Very impressive, but just didn't have the necessary staff and specialist equipment to cope with the task at hand.
Dan
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From: Does it matter?
I've got to be honest. I popped round to see him yesterday and drop off a present/card, and couldn't help but take the p1ss 
He's been sleeping a lot and going to bed quite early. So my response was that since retirement, there's no real change then
With regards to how he's feeling, I think still in shock to be honest. He has said that he still coming to terms with having to say that he's a heart-attack victim!!
Just gotta take it easy for a while, and start to build up from there
Thanks for asking
Dan
He's been sleeping a lot and going to bed quite early. So my response was that since retirement, there's no real change then
With regards to how he's feeling, I think still in shock to be honest. He has said that he still coming to terms with having to say that he's a heart-attack victim!!
Just gotta take it easy for a while, and start to build up from there
Thanks for asking
Dan
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From: Notts, UK
Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo555
With regards to how he's feeling, I think still in shock to be honest. He has said that he still coming to terms with having to say that he's a heart-attack victim!!
Dan
Ask your local health authority if you have rehabilitation nurses and a program for heart attack victims.
I don't think I would have made the recovery I had without the program.
We had talks on the causes of heart disease, explanation of the drugs, lifestyle coaches, diet consultants, some group sessions and a program of gym work with the physio's which also included relaxation classes.
The program lasted 13 weeks but it was great to have experts available at the end of a phone and the sessions and classes gave confidence to move forward.
Cheers
Lee
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