Any ideas for recovering energy after spell with bad heart?

[mississippifarmboy]

Just wondering if anyone else had this problem or knows any way to get going again? I've got a bad heart, (birth defect) had two heart attacks already (2000 & 2001) and had a terrible spell late last night / early this morning. I honestly felt I was going to die. I have these spells ever now and then, maybe once or twice a year, but this was the worst I've ever had. 5 nitro pills and finally got eased enough to rest. Today I feel like a bull stomped me into the ground and am so weak I can't do anything hardly.
My wife is in bad health and I can't stand seeing her having to take care of me when she's feeling bad herself. It always seems to take so long to get my energy back. I can't drink those energy drink thingys because of my heart, or any other stimulants for that mater, so just wondered what else I could try? Any foods that might help, etc.
My family Doctor's no help, he just tells me to take it easy and not work or anything for a few weeks. My heart specialist is a horses hiney and just wants more tests.

I just want to be able to sit up and maybe get out in the yard a bit or something. I'll go totally bonkers if I have to sit in this house all day, every day!

 

[noodleroo]

One of the most tiresome activities is, believe it or not, digestion. I suggest that you look into a good food combining book and try to include more raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. A good start would be to eat fruit in the morning for breakfast, and only fruit. Eat something alive every day, like sprouts. Have at least 1 cup of leafy greens per day. Stay away from processed foods like sugar and flour, of course and don't eat meat with starches. Have starches and vegetables or have meat and vegetables; NO meat and starches - it is a HUGE drain on your energy!

Look into supplements that support your heart functions. COQ10 is one you might want to research. Most important, don't give up looking for a way to feel better. Your body was made to heal...

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Horses Hiney or not, if you can't do more than sit around it may INDEED be time to evaluate what just happened! Are you too tired from your event yesterday to make a sound decision? If you were my spouse, I'd drag you in for more tests, even if the cardiologist is a Horses Hiney. Heck with all the changes in health care, there just may be another Horses Hiney you could consult, at least somebody new?! Maybe something bigger happened this time and maybe you'd be better off next week, next month if you get treatment that gives your heart a better chance.

I've seen people do well on SSRI's after very traumatic heart attacks. I wonder if you could ask your doctor about an antidepressant? Sounds like you have a chronic thing, instead of a big ol' whammo heart attack, but I think it is worth asking the doctor about it.

Also, do you need supplemental oxygen? Have you had a respiratory evaluation? Sometimes just a little more support makes a very big difference.

 

[redhen]

OOh no, My buddys sick!!

You maybe should have went to the E.R. last night... So they could check you out good.
Take it easy!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Thanks noodleroo, I do eat lots of fruit and greens. I don't care much for sweets and for a farmer don't eat as much meat as most people. Not sure about not mixing starches and meat though.

I like me some chicken and taters.

6chickens, what are ssri's? That's a new one on me. My wife is like a medical incyclopedia, I'm a medical black hole.



and Redhen..

you sound like my wife. nag, nag, nag
But I love ya anyway.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Wow farmboy that's alot of Nitro! Food choices such as lots of leafy greens such as spinach and lots of heart healthy nuts such as almonds are a great start. Ther should be no processed food or drink in your diet.(Perhaps you already follow this rule, not sure) Not knowing exactly what is wrong with your heart I wonder if you should try cardiac rehab for increased cardio vascular health. Your local hopsital usually has great programs. Increasing your stamina instead of short bursts of work may help and I recommend that you go for second and third opinons if you have insurance and are in the position to do so. I live in NH and although we have great doctors at the hospital I work at, if I had a serious condition such as yourself, I would get a second opinion and perhaps seek all my care in the city of Boston.

Hope all goes well and be your own advocate. People are often brushed aside if they don't do their own research and growl a bit at those we would like to think of as being GOD.

good luck !!

 

[mamawolf544]

I have a ICD from a couple of heart attacks. I cant take nitro my BP is too low.
But everytime I get shocked from my ICD or I have had surgery it takes the wind out from under me. Just rest, do a little more each day and you will get your strength back.
Try not to stress too much and find you a better cardio, there are great one's out there. I have had some stinkers myself.
You do need to get checked out, and I know I hate going to the doc too.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
SSRI=Selective Seritonin Reuptake Inhibitor. Prozac, Paxil, etc. they take 11 weeks or so for effectiveness, but the trauma of cardiac pain tends to lead to depression. SSRI's treat depression. Mind you, it is not the same thing as sadness or anxiety. Depression means "cant move, can't sleep, can't eat, can't get up and go", for instance the drive is depressed, like stepping on a stick will depress the stick into the mud. Trauma and pain often lead to depression. SSRI's treat physically depressed brains.

But mostly, I believe the usual rule is 3 nitros and you're on your way to the ER. Why 5 nitros and no ER? Do you have supplemental oxygen there? I'm going to say a prayer for you.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

thanks, we are self employed, no insurance, so pay-as-you-go with all our doctors. My heart is shaped wrong, don't know the tech name for it (The bottom half is shaped like it has a bite out of it, missing a valve or something?) and I have an arithmic (?) heatbeat. I have been to several different specialist and they all tell me there isn't alot they can do. After the first heart attack they told me it was something I'd been born with.
The main advise was to quit work, sit on my butt and not stress my heart. Like that was gonna happen. I've got a wife and kids to support. And I might not be much, but I will take care of my family as long as I can still wiggle.
I do try and eat right, and I've learned I can still outwork kids half my age, I just have to stop and rest anytime I start getting tired or feel my chest tightning up. Sometimes I'll go a year and never take a single nitro pill, last night was the first time I've ever taken more than three.
I tried some kind of South American purple seed juice my city girl sister came up with, supposed to be the BIG thing for heart troubles. It tasted like it came out of a camel and didn't do anything I could tell other than turn my stomach.

 

[vebyrd36]

Back in the day when I worked cardiac we would have you to do light cardio exercise with high fiber diet and supplements.