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Originally Posted by Zeethan My mom, who will be 63 this year, had a heart attack Nov. of '03, in July of '04, one of her stints moved and she felt like she was having another h/a. She had to go back in and have the stint replaced and now all she does is worry. I know, I'd be worried too. |
I read (in one of these heart attack survivor book) that 95% of heart attack survivors develop anxiety. I was there. I had my MI at age 35 in 2002. I spent the next 6 months as a "cardiac cripple" and was in the ER 3 more times for two more caths, and a second stent.
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Originally Posted by Zeethan But the worry is not helping her. Most conversations we have, she tells me she wants to live another 20 years atleast, etc. Last week, she thought she was having another h/a, went to the e/r, turned out to be really bad heartburn. Any coping skills to recommend to her so she stops stressing? |
I would like to believe that she could, I could, we all could, provided the changes are made to minimize the risk of furture events. What finally got me past the anxiety was my 4th ER trip in 6 months, where the last two were false alarms. I saw the images of my arteries and realized that they still looked fine and I was looking for every slight twinge to cause an alarm. About the same time, a friend who works in the cath lab at another hospital dragged me out to run with her one morning. She called me a "cardiac cripple" and I was (afraid of taxing my poor heart). Needless to say, I did run and did not fall over and die. Since then, I have worked hard at exercise and never even think of the MI and 2 stents. In fact, I feel like I am equivalent or more healthy now than other 38 year olds. I also know that at the level of exercise I do, the probability is high that I will notice the onset of angina again, and will have time to take action--such as slow down, or take a nitrate. I did try Paxil at one point, but 3 days into that treatment I realized I never felt so anxious in my life. I came off Paxil and since then have been anxiety free. I really can't tell you how your mother can get past the anxiety... I know in my case that I don't fear death anymore. It happens to us all, and there is no escaping it, so might as well live life to its fullest while you can (and I certainly do now). Besides, going out (cardiac arrest, death) was not really all that painful to me, but being defibrillated sure was (It was a blast--literally). I sure don't want to experience that again.
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Originally Posted by Zeethan Bad hearts run on her side of the family. My grandmother died at the age of 74 after a triple bypass. My moms half-brother is living on a 1/3 of a heart. |
Making it to 74 is decent. No one in the last two generations has passed 72 years of age. My father had his bypasses at age 51 and died at 58. With familial history, just remember to take care of yourself also
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