Heart Trauma Recovery

[olbriar]

After 70 years of near flawless health, I suffered a very sever heart attack that I was lucky to survive. I had total blockage of my left ventricle which required two stints to clear. I'm almost two months past my hospital release and I'm starting to feel a bit better. I'm required to wear a life vest / defibrillator vest in case I suffer another attack which would be fatal if not immediately addressed. I return to my specialist the sixth and then again the twelfth of Feb. to see how my heart might be recovering and if I can get out of this dang contraption. I have no idea where this journey will take me. I might need a pacemaker... or additional stints or bypasses.. I am clueless.
Whatever I'm up against, I'm ready. I am eating healthier and trying to exercise the best I can. I don't know how hard to work myself. I just returned from a walk around the block at as fast pace as possible which didn't seem to impact my heart or breathing. I think I'm finally improving.

I'm lucky in that besides my heart valves restricting flow, I am in great shape for an old man. I have zero extra weight, no diabetic problems, no breathing problem... etc. I had no indication that I had heart problems prior to the attack. I actually thought I had indigestion I was lucky.

I know that I'm not likely the only one to suffer a heart problem here on the forums. If you would care to share your journey, I would be very interested in listening.

 

[Clementine_3]

Wow, that's scary. I sure hope they get you back to normal (whatever that is haha) with no lasting effects. That's the problem with cardiac stuff, there are usually no signs at all.

A friend had stents put in a while back and is doing well but he wasn't as severe as you describe.
I actually wound up in the hospital 3 years ago just in the nick of time too. Heart failure, yikes. I'm on meds and trying my best to watch what I eat, keep an eye on my weight and go for walks etc. So far so good...

 

[olbriar]

Wow, that's scary. I sure hope they get you back to normal (whatever that is haha) with no lasting effects. That's the problem with cardiac stuff, there are usually no signs at all.

A friend had stents put in a while back and is doing well but he wasn't as severe as you describe.
I actually wound up in the hospital 3 years ago just in the nick of time too. Heart failure, yikes. I'm on meds and trying my best to watch what I eat, keep an eye on my weight and go for walks etc. So far so good...

I agree, something normal for me is something I probably shouldn't hope for. Heart problems are scary no matter how serious the damage!! I'm glad you are doing well Clem. These forums would not be the same without you!

I never was a big salt consumer. However, now that I'm on a super low sodium diet I find that I consumed a lot without realizing. Everything contains sodium and all the things I love contain way too much sodium. Restricting my sodium intake to less that 1500mg daily is a lot more difficult than I ever imagined. At least I'm not fighting carbs and or sugars at the same time. I truly feel sorry for those that have to watch their intake across the board. I've got it way easy. I will readily admit to being a spoiled little bitch. I've always ate what I wanted when I wanted and however much I wanted. So I feel like I'm really sacrificing with tracking my sodium... boohoo

If I were to really whine about my status, I don't know where I stand and have no clue beyond changing my diet how I might improve my situation. I've never been ill in my life. I have suffered injuries that I rehabbed. They were always there to see and anyone could see how it should be taken care of and worked back into shape. This heart deal is beyond me and so far nobody is giving me any answers.
I hope that changes next month. Just give me direction... I'll do whatever I must do.

I have a question for you @Clementine_3 , did your sense of taste change drastically after your heart trauma? I have found new flavors that I love and old flavors that I have completely lost my taste for. Example red meat: I'm just now starting to enjoy red meat again. At first the smell of it cooking gaged me. It had the aroma of spoiled meat. It tasted so badly that I just couldn't eat it.

 

[cwcheese]

OMG. I fully empathize with you; myself, I experienced a sudden heart attack and internal hemorrhage on the day after Thanksgiving 2022, needed two stents to open two fully blocked arteries and another stent to plug the hole in my intestinal vein to stop the bleeding. I'm a little bit less vintage than you, but any cardiac event is serious and scary. Will say prayers for you to recover well, to regain strength steadily and return to some normal life before long. A bit over a year later, my new normal is about 2/3 of what I used to be, but it's better than the alternative.

So very glad you were treated quickly, and somewhat up and about. I felt tired alot in the first month afterward, and my dear bride (a pharmacist) deduced that the beta blocker medicine prescribed was too high a dose - which my cardiologist agreed with and he cut the prescribed dose in half. It was causing me to fall asleep in the middle of the evening; so keep an eye on odd reactions and consult your cardiologist about the strength of your meds. Also, inform all of your other physicians of the event so they can make any adjustment to your care with regard to interactions and side effects.

 

[Clementine_3]

These forums would not be the same without you!

As is surely true of you my friend.
You asked about taste and I can't really answer because, go figure, I quit smoking about a week before I ended up in the hospital so any changes could be from that. But, I've not really noticed anything major although I do notice things seem to taste crisper for lack of a better word. That could also be the salt because good gaks is everywhere! I've never been a huge salter in cooking and adding to food but you can't get away from it, it's crazy there's so much of it in everything.

 

[AugieTN]

@olbriar You mention a lot about salt/sodium intake, which is good. Other people I have known in the past with heart problems are told to make major diet changes. Did they mention anything to you about other dietary changes? Like more fruit, vegetables, fish, less red meat....etc...

 

[olbriar]

I was sent home from the hospital with a booklet of things to do and not do.
Things to eat and not eat were also included in the recommended life style. High protein and low fat and salts are recommended. Lower carbs and sugars is recommended. More fiber is recommended. After my blood labs, my specialist only emphasized very low sodium intake. The need to lower sugars and carbs is not my particular problem. I found that fish, white meat chicken, and white meat pork are all lower in sodium and still have a high protein level. It isn't easy to cut sodium and maintain a decent protein intake without eating a lot of white meats.
Obviously it's not a given, but I get the feeling that a majority of heart problems happen to people that aren't in good physical shape or fighting blood sugar problems and or being over weight. We are what we eat. Obviously I ate too much salt through the years. That's scary when you consider I rarely put salt on things I eat. Everything has salts and most all fast food and store bought meals as well as canned goods are simply lousy with sodium. Breads are high. That pizza I want so bad has over half my daily sodium intake in one slice. Take a look at any package's list of nutrients. It will stagger you to see how unhealthy most everything is at the market. It's a wonder that our lousy diets haven't killed off our species.

 

[Milo Williamson]

I am in the candidacy for hbp myself, I have been taking a lot of fish oil, and have really need to watch my salt in take, but like Clem said it is one of those foods you really canot get rid of either or easier, but changed everything around too. there has been almost too much close encounters for me though, but none for the emergency room either, I do take in a lot of walks in.

 

[olbriar]

Just take care Milo and try to eat healthier. I thought I was in great shape but all along my hidden health problems were building.

 

[AugieTN]

How do I stop my arteries from clogging?


Lifestyle changes.

1. Eating a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, with less sugars and simple carbohydrates, and rich in fruits and vegetables.
2. Maintaining a healthy body weight.
3. Not smoking.
4. Exercising regularly.
5. Managing stress levels.
6. Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol down.
7. Maintaining low blood sugars.

Isn't cholesterol (which is in every animal product) what clogs arteries?

 

[olbriar]

I wish I were wise enough to answer your question. I believe that if a person works towards satisfying 1 though 7 on your list they will live a healthier life. I personally believe there is no one perfect diet for all people. There are just too many variables that contribute to better health. I never maintained a healthy diet. I managed to stay fit and trim and enjoyed great health by being super active. I think smoking a pipe for sixty years is the most likely culprit to my clogged arteries. It could have been the fats I've consumed in my youth. Who knows? I'd definitely advocate no smoking to everyone.

 

[AugieTN]

Since I'm not a spring chicken anymore, I want to know as much as possible about staying healthy. I did discover there is good cholesterol

What foods are high in good cholesterol?

• Olive Oil. Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet for good reason. ...
• Salmon. Along with being delicious, salmon is full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. ...
• Beans & Legumes. ...
• Avocado. ...
• Whole Grains. ...
• Nuts & Seeds. ...
• Berries. ...
• Wine.

 

[ozonetrooper]

Isn't cholesterol (which is in every animal product) what clogs arteries?

Yup !

OB welcome to the club. I have had two stents for many years now after two heart attacks.

I have a regimen of 19 pills I take daily to keep me waking up in the morning, one of them is a cholesterol controller, although my levels are in the good range and have been since the H/A.

This was back in 2015 and I a still alive and kicking, do not give up the ship yet my friend.

 

[olbriar]

I'm slowly learning new tricks. As I've stated before, I never gave a care about what I consumed or its health values. My wife is very strict and knowledgeable about her diet. Being diabetic, she has all but removed her need for correcting meds with the foods she eats. It's been a decade or longer process but well worth her efforts. My son who is now in his forties has spent most of his life studying and eating healthy.
He was a star athlete, QB, state wrestler, world series winning baseball player, boxer, etc. I count on him and my wife to put me on the better path to being healthy. They both are a great source. I am one that is fish out of water. All I know for certain is, though I thought I was in great shape, I definitely wasn't.

 

[olbriar]

Yup !

OB welcome to the club. I have had two stents for many years now after two heart attacks.

I have a regimen of 19 pills I take daily to keep me waking up in the morning, one of them is a cholesterol controller, although my levels are in the good range and have been since the H/A.

This was back in 2014 and I a still alive and kicking, do not give up the ship yet my friend.

Your 19 pills daily make me feel like a light weight with only eight. Your story is encouraging and I thank you for sharing! Your ten year post trauma clearly shows how disciplined you have been. I salute you my friend! My cholesterol levels are in the good range. That doesn't advocate that it can be ignored. I need to be far more schooled on my diet. I'm getting there but slowly. The old dog new trick syndrome. I'm having a third blood lab done today. Between the three labs over two months time and the electrocardiogram to be performed the 6th to compare it is supposed to give my specialist some clue to my recovery. I hope to get out of my life vest and be cleared to resume riding my bike. Naturally I hope to not need any further operations or heart controlling devices but we shall see what the good Doc has to say. At least I'm feeling great and the attack seems like it never happened.

 

[Dannydet]

Wow, olbrair! I hope you are feeling better and get well soon!

 

[Hadron]

I'm lucky enough that I've not had any actual incidents (by my current age my father had had multiple operations, a heart attack and a stroke, whereas I've never spent more than an hour in a hospital in my life). I have been on statins for best part of 2 decades: a suspected TIA (which I believe was really a purely visual migraine) led to a lot of tests, and though my arteries were clear my cholesterol levels were high. Didn't respond to diet and exercise (actually got worse!), but the drugs brought it under control with no problems. I've a tendency to hypertension, but again well controlled with a second pill, and 2 pills a day isn't a real hardship.

Glad to hear you are doing OK, hope you can dispense with the vest soon.

 

[olbriar]

Thanks for the well wishes and sharing your story. My father as well as his brother suffered devastating strokes in their late seventies. That is not a pretty way to live out one's existence. I'm sorry to hear about your father but happy to hear that you have addressed possible problems early. I would have been far better served if I had seen about my health years ago. I was stitched up a few times and had a cast once but had not seen a doctor for health care ever. Lesson learned.

 

[Bearsyzf]

@olbriar , Man i know how you feel, I've had 3 Heart Attacks so for and hopefully no more.... they also put a couple of stints in me as well.
I am still waiting for another surgery but as of now i am still trying to get rid of my Anemia , they say they cant't do it until i get over this because if they did they said there would be a good chance of me bleeding out and dyeing on the surgery table.. My heart has always been swollen and they it's only pumping at 20% when it should be up more in to the 80 or 90%, plus I also have HBP

 

[olbriar]

Dang Bear.. that bites! I hope that you are a candidate soon for whatever corrective surgery they are talking. It can't be any fun waiting. One of my best buddies wife had to wait for a heart valve replacement surgery for she was not heathy enough. In the eleventh hour they did the surgery anyway for she wasn't going to survive without it. She is doing great now. It's amazing what they can do.

 

[Windroid]

as well as canned goods

You can wash the salt out of a lot of canned foods. That woudn't work too well for stew, but it works for a can of vegetables in saltwater (the saltwater is a preservative, that's why it's in canned vegetables).

 

[olbriar]

You can wash the salt out of a lot of canned foods. That woudn't work too well for stew, but it works for a can of vegetables in saltwater (the saltwater is a preservative, that's why it's in canned vegetables).

True enough and is our usual practice. Buying fresh or frozen has been less handy but there is more flavor in the vegetables and certainly less sodium. Pickles and olives most all condiments are way high with no work-a-round. I'm not really crying the blues but I have been simply blown away by the levels of sodium in everything. Between carbs and salts it's difficult to eat healthy.

 

[Bearsyzf]

Yeah, i had to give up the Salt to

 

[ozonetrooper]

Give up the salt ? never !

That is why I take all them pills ! ! !

 

[ozonetrooper]

OB were you aware you were having a heart attact at the time ?

The first one was while I was asleep, I awoke and had the elephant sitting on my chest feeling.

I went back to sleep because I did not think of it as a real issue. At work the next morning I was told I did not look good and when I told the story of the night before my coworkers insisted I go to the ER where it was determined that I had in fact had a heart attack.


The second one was the severe pain in my left shoulder/arm and then my chest. I was awake and doing things and fortunately by the time I got a ride to the ER the chest pains had just started.

For anyone who has not had a heart attack please do not brush off either of these examples, go to the ER ! !!