I have HA mainly focusing on heart attacks, angina, CHD and blood clots.
I first suffered at a young age after my uncle died of a heart attack in his sleep. I did nt really understand what had happened (genetic heart valve defect- he was also severely physically disabled) and I started to get chest pains thinking I was going to die too. I suffered with panic attacks for about 2 years.
I also suffered HA about 4 years ago over something else non heart related. I did have an actual medical problem I got very worried about leading to me being pretty mentally unwell for a while and had I a breakdown. However once my physical health improved my HA went away.
Last year it came back and is again about the heart because I get severe and constant episodes of chest pain.I use various talking therapies and anxiety workshops to help and in recent months was making progress with controlling the panic attacks. My chest pain is apparently due to a combination of anxiety and costochondritis but I have developed a panic disorder which I was trying to overcome.
Until now....
On Saturday my father (aged 65) suffered a massive heart attack. It was very serious resulting in cardiac arrest 4 times which he was successfully revived from each time. Turns out he has heart disease. !00% blockage in the left artery, 60% blockage in the right. His specialist is blaming the blockages on 40 years of heavy smoking combined with "raised but not excessively high cholesterol. 1 stent put in immediately during the heart attack to clear the worst blockage, but because he was still complaining of chest pain yesterday, after an echo, drs decided on a second stent too. He is now pain free, feeling well and ready to come home thank God.
Im so angry that this has happened to him, shell-shocked and confused and scared for him and his future. When he turned 65 his dr gave him a medical including heart risk assessment checks. Other then him being an ex very heavy smoker and advancing age my dad had no other risk factors. Cholesterol at the time was ok, bp was good, no concerns over his diet or weight, no family history no other illnesses. He even had his aorta ultrasounded. He came back with a score of minimal risk.
He has never experienced angina.
I know its pointless to be angry but Im struggling to get my head around this as is he... I know I know smoking...I get it....but to go from being declared fit and healthy a year ago to this???
On top of this my mother is a wreak...she witnessed him flatline twice and now faces the lions share of helping him to rehabilitate although my sister and I will of course help. Im trying to be there for her emotionally and with regards to practical help as well as be there for my dad any way I can be.....at the same time whilst coping with heart related HA which of course has quadrupled now knowing my own risk of a heart attack has shot up now having a close relative with heart disease. My sister being a good decade older then me and considered obese has been advised to have bp checks and cholesterol monitering.... as Im under 40 I have nt... should I?? Or is this a bad idea considering my HA? Is my risk of developing CHD or having a heart attack really that significant now?
I have nt slept since saturday mainly through the worry over my dad. But I cant deny my anxiety is being a problem too....my bp is a bit high at the moment (stress..it does come down after several readings), Im having chest pains of all types and varieties pretty much everywhere, arm tightness, neck spasms, jaw pain, that horrible overwhelming sense of dread. and Ive had i panic attack.... Im trying very hard to be useful to my family and not get silly over this and make this horrible situation all about me....but Im kinda floundering in the dark and feel a bit like a headless chicken searching for its eggs.
Any support or words of encouragement would be amazing. Thank you