First time here, I am now recovering from a heart attack on Jan 4th 2006

I have been allowed to go back on lite duties for three weeks and then the doctor will decide then if I can go back full duties. I feel good but your right it does play on your mind, I will be very cautious at first until I get back into the grove. I think the hardest part will be the 5 in the morning hours again, for the past 2 months I have been getting up at 8:30 9:00 am, I think the first few days are going to be tough but it will get better. If you are all still interested I will keep you up to date on how I do, also I will stay on here and offer anyone new that comes on to offer my help I want to be able to do the same as what everyone else has done for me.

 hi , i have been reading you post for a long time now, it is really something how scary this can be. i had two stents put in a little over a year ago and have gone through all the theings you discuss. i wanted to say that i too had severe sleeping problems and had to get on ativan.. not pretty i know   it is addictive, i have been on 1mg for about a year and i truly am not looking forward to weaning off, but at the time i needed to sleep so badly, insomnia was a big problem.  glad you are able to go back to work, i had the luxury of not having to, but i am not sure if that was good. i have lots of time to dwell on my health.  actually, i must say i am better now than i have been since the stents , i think the statins i was on were causing alot of my fatigue, i actually wake up rested these days.  i want to add one thing you may or may not want to consider, just speaking for myself, i just couldn't get past the fear and finally tried an anti depressant(i wanted to get on one so i could wean off the ativan with out rebound insomnia taking place from withdrwals)it isn't anything i have had to do, antidepressants that is, i just want to say i really think it helped, so don't beafraid to try them to help you sleep if you are afraid of getting addicted to the other sleep aids. sorry this was so long.

Dreamgirl, I'm glad you posted. What you have to say is very important! I'm a psychotherapist and am conservative about recommending that clients see their physicians for medication. But when they need it, I sure do not hesitate! There can be a stigma about taking anti-anxiety and antidepressants vs some medication for a physical condition. I hate that it can be like that, because people can benefit from this type of help. And, it doesn't always  mean we need to take it forever. If we do, so what? It's like any other medication that we need to take to be healthy (i.e., insulin for diabetes). Anyway, I digress. Thanks for posting about people talking to their doctors about this. It's an important aspect to consider.

And, not to toot my own profession, but it can be helpful to talk to a therapist. LOL. Hugs, Kathy

If you can, go through work. I think that many workplaces have EAP programs where they can give you names of local therapists who your insurance is covered by. Also, you can look in your local yellow pages for therapists. You can find them under psychologists, therapists, counselors, and social workers. But if you have an EAP program they usually pay for a few sessions.

How is work going? Was this day 2 or am I off on that. I need to go read again.

Hi Kathy and Bill, thanks for your posts Yesterday was my second day back at work and it did not go too well as far as stamina was conerned I had to leave after half the day I was wiped, then last night I started getting palpatations so I stayed home and called my doctor he felt it was a false alarm but said to go to emergency just to be on the safe side so I was there for most of the day, they did all the usual tests and everythibg was fine so I guess I got myself worked up for nothing well not really nothing my own doctor will have to figure out what is going on, but there was no need to panic. My life seemed so much easier before the heart attack this is really going to take some getting used to.

Terry

Thanks Dream that makes me feel better actually that is what the doctor today said that it could be stress from going back to work not that I really feel it but anything is possible. Everything was fine (thankfully) so I just have to learn to take it easy and get back to things gradually and take my time, the thing is I feel fine and healthy but I guess my body knows better I should learn to listen to it. Once again I learn something new today.

Hi Kathy, after I posted I see that a lot of people have gone through a lot of these symptoms and spent time in the hospital getting things checked out. Boy there is a lot to get used to.

I was googling to find out about loss and chronic illness and found a pretty good read about it at http://www.umass.edu/fsap/articles/ill.html

 HI THERE YA'LL, SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, I TOTALLY RELATE KATHLYN TO FEELING SUCH A LOSS FROM GETTING THIS. I WAS ALWAYS SO PKLEASED TO SAY I WAS HEALTHY ALL MY LIFE SO THIS WAS AND STILL IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO WORK ON THE ANXIETY FACTOR, IT IS REALLY BAD FOR US.  I HAVE A PROBLEM MOST OF YOU WON'T RELATE TOO AND I AM NOT BRAGGING I AM TRULY CONCERNED.  WHEN ALL THIS STARTED I WEIGHED about 135 LBS. AND I AM 5'6 SO AT THE TIME I WANTED TO LOSE 3 OR 4 LBS.  WELL SINCE THIS ALL HAPPENED I LOST ALRIGHT AND AM 123LBS, WHICH FRANKLY SCARES ME BECAUSE GOD FORBID I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE NO EXTRA MEAT ON MY BONES, AND I EAT ALOT, JUST CANNOT GAIN IT BACK. NATURALLY WE HAVE TO EAT EVEN HEALTHIER THAN BEFORE SO THAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT SKINNY PEOPLE DO NOT DO AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR BYPASS, SO LAUGH IF YOU WILL, BUT I NEED TO PUT ON about 10LBS.

that is so funny kathlyn. just a thousand huh? well i wonder if anyone knows a healthy way for us to put on a few pounds? this is something maybe i can ask on the chat line els has set up on the 8th of march, hope to see you there. good morning to terry, we are using your space for all our chatter, hope you have a great weekend.

hi terry, i noticed you are still posting with that little sad face, does that mean you are still very frightened , or sad. i guess i will be hoping to see a devilish smile one of these days. take care and thanks for your messages to us all.

Hi, Terry. I guess I'd be upset, too, if I had to redo that stress test! That doesn't sound like a very efficient system, does it. Although, the Canadian system has a lot going on over the United States one in other ways.