Question: I am a 62 year old woman and had a heart attack two weeks ago which ended with a femoral angioplasty. I came home from the hospital this weekend and I'm finding it difficult to sleep because I am afraid I may not wake up or I will wake up with another heart attack. I am weepy and emotional for not apparent reason. Can someone who has experienced a heart attack and/or heart surgery tell me if this is common? Should I see a doctor about it or will it go away shortly?
Answer: You have been through a very traumatic situation. Your life has changed dramatically, literally. I know, I went through it as well. Don't be so hard on yourself. I don't know how anyone could go through what you have and not have it weigh on their mind. I had to learn to look at what happened to me in another light. I was 45 when I had my heart attack and it ended up with me having bypass surgery. Two weeks after the surgery two of the four bypasses they performed collapsed. I have all the same symptoms today that I did prior to the surgery, just not as severe. So I live with the constant reminder of what I have experienced. Key word being live. I live everyday. I refuse to stop living. I know for certain that the day will come that I stop living. In fact, there have been times where when I have gone to bed at night that I didn't know whether or not I would see the next morning. It is scary so I know how you feel. I *choose* to look at each and every day as a gift. Every day is a day that I would not have had without receiving the treatment I did. I only tell you all of this so that you can see you are not alone.
You went through alot. Your body has gone through alot. Your mind is along for the ride my dear. Based on what you have said and how you have said it, I have to ask, have all of your symptoms that you had prior to the angioplasty disappeared? If so that is wonderful. If not then that has got to be weighing on your mind. If they haven't you need to speak with your Cardiologist. Please don't be afraid to do so. You are a strong woman, you've been through the hardest part. Facing the heart attack and facing your own immortality. Anything they throw at you now is workable. Are you on meds, what are they if I may ask? Is it possible that the meds are affecting your emotions? Did the Dr prescribe nitro pills? Are you taking aspirin? I assume you are on Plavix or Clopidogrel or something similar. By the way, if you are taking aspirin just realize that after a period of time it may play havoc with your digestive system. I used Nexium for several months after my surgery to fend off the effects of using aspirin on a regular basis. Now I keep a bottle of Maalox tablets on hand and I also use Pepcid when necessary.
You know what I have in my medicine cabinet that I use as a "security blanket"? Nitroglycerin Transdermal System patches. I only use them when I start having chest pressure that just hangs on and won't go away. Normally within 15 minutes after applying the patch the symptom subsides. Talk to your Cardiologist about them. If for no other reason, just to get you through this time until you can come to terms with what you have experienced. Put one on at night before going to bed. You can wear them for 12 hour periods.
The most important advice my Dr gave me was not to live my life as if I had a heart condition. So I don't. I know I have the problem and I deal with it but I don't dwell on it.
I pray that what I have said here makes sense to you. I don't know of any other way to help you through this. Just know this, you are NOT alone.
For more questions, please ask the nurse expert.
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