Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Mar 9, 2020

Recovery from a cardiovascular event is not easy; it’s not just the physical pain–the emotional pain can be an unexpected challenge. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, feelings of guilt, emotional distress are common repercussions of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure or heart surgery.

Talking with people who’ve gone through a similar experience can help make sense of the emotional and psychological aspects of heart disease. Connect is a place where such honest conversations can safely take place, where you can learn to feel better, together. I invite you to share your thoughts and emotions.
How has a heart-related diagnosis/treatment affected your mind and mood? How did you cope with these emotions? What strategies and tips would you offer a friend who’s going through a similar experience?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 12, 2020

In reply to @oldkarl "About cardiac issues. Probably about 98% of those reported are traceable to Genetic patterns, at least..." + (show)

@oldkarl You've provided some interesting information, especially about genetic patterns.

Could you share a bit more about how you went about getting a screening of the whole genome? For example, where did you get the information, who did you contact, was your doctor's approval needed, did insurance cover any of the cost, etc.?

thankful | @thankful | Dec 14, 2020

@oldkarl- Nice to see your post again. Have missed them Karl!. When you mention getting a good screening of the whole genome such as a Echocardiography, do I need to request this in addition to say having an Echo? I'm tentatively scheduled to have another Echo in 2 months after bringing my Lisinopril up to 40 mg. over this past year. Thanks much! Jim@thankful

thankful | @thankful | Dec 14, 2020

In reply to @hopeful33250 "@oldkarl You've provided some interesting information, especially about genetic patterns. Could you share a bit more..." + (show)

@oldkarl- Ditto as per @hopeful33250 Jim@thankful

fortunatum | @fortunatum | Dec 14, 2020

In reply to @thankful "@oldkarl- Nice to see your post again. Have missed them Karl!. When you mention getting a..." + (show)

I’m using a cocktail of Lisinopril, Amlodipine, Carvelidol, to keep my blood pressure low. Please research how these meds works and ask your cardiologist. Inflammation in the arteries is another cause of high blood pressure and plaque creation. Ask for a test. Most Drs. uses the Framingham study results to compare your various lab results. This study is from the 1960’s and many things have changed since. Never be happy to be in the high end of the test limits, I rather be in the low end. Cardiologist make money when they intervene when you have a heart attack not when they do prevention. Just my opinion. Research, research. Good luck

degarden_girl | @degarden_girl | Dec 14, 2020

For those with high blood pressure that has been difficult to control, you might consider taking Vitamin D3. My sister has struggled to control her BP and started taking Vit D3, 4000 iu each day which she had read helps fight covid infections. Her blood pressure came down to normal. She mentioned it to her cardio who said there is anecdotal evidence that Vit D does help control blood pressure but no studies have been done as the drug companies don't make any money on such a study. She did say that 4000 iu per day is OK for the short term but to bring it down to 2000 iu in March. 2021 which will be 4 months at that higher dosage.

Seems an easy experiment to try. Results should be almost immediate.

robbie1956 | @robbie1956 | Dec 14, 2020

@kanaazpereira

Heart problems, the emotional ongoing uncertainty of it....the unpredictability of it....the theories and lack of empathy...in my case now.... Cardiologists, meaning well, but dismissive with regards to ongoing Ectopic PVC’s and PAC’s and try not to stress....Vagus Nerve, or could be collaterals not working as well....RCA system, aging body....it all adds to emotional stress, so, you either have to be darn good at TM, or be well tolerated with regards to an anti depressive, or an anxiety agent....but very good topic...

feelingthankful | @feelingthankful | Dec 29, 2020

In reply to @scottij "I was fit, a taut 160 lbs, exercised daily, no smoking or drugs, no alcohol and..." + (show)

@scottij

I was fit, a taut 160 lbs, exercised daily, no smoking or drugs, no alcohol and was diagnosed with Stage IV heart failure in April of 2019. I was told I needed emergency valve surgery to keep me alive and a likely heart transplant in subsequent years. The valve surgery provided a temporary bump in health, followed by a six month decline and a referral to the Mayo Heart Transplant team in Phoenix in November of 2019. I made the list and received my new heart on December 30, 2019. So I have had my share of surprise diagnoses, severe surgeries, and dark nights, I remember when "they" told me I had a failed heart and needed surgery to stay alive. I turned to my wife with a tear in my eye and said, "This was not part of the f'n plan!" She, who never swears, grabbed my hand and calmly said, "Then we change the f'n plan." That said, I side with a previous respondent who experienced no depression but a sense of awe. I was raised in a household where complaining was not allowed. Problems were confronted with a plan and you were expected to take action. I chose to replace any negative emotion with a positive. Grief became gratitude. Anger became action.

I admit that not being able to sleep under the graces of prednisone gave me pause in the depths of the night. I often asked "Why", but I never asked "Why me?" That begged of self-pity and my parents would have come back to haunt me. I could hear my Dad saying, "So your heart failed, what are you going to do about it?"

I found that my music helped immensely. I got the Led out -- Led Zeppelin for the uninitiated. I sampled favorite motivational songs: Life is a Highway (Tom Cochrane), Eye of the Tiger (Katy Perry) I know, I know; Led Zeppelin and Katy Perry??? And yet I always came back to Invictus and the closing stanza of that great poem.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.

Best always,
s!
Scott Jensen

Jump to this post

Scott, your attitude is awesome. Glad your parents voices kicked in. Glad wife’s attitude helped. Glad Led Zeppelin helped. Glad you got the transplant. Wow. Do you know what caused your heart issues or what the issues were while seeming healthy?

scottij | @scottij | Dec 29, 2020

In reply to @feelingthankful "Scott, your attitude is awesome. Glad your parents voices kicked in. Glad wife’s attitude helped. Glad..." + (show)

@feelingthankful Thank you for the vote of confidence. It was one year ago today that I got the call to come to Phoenix for the new heart. We still have no idea what caused my heart failure. The pathology on the old heart indicated that there was nothing inherent or present to create the same failure conditions for the new heart so that is good news. It certainly was not genetic. Dad died of Parkinson's at 89 and Mom died of liver cancer at 88. Most tests had a medical note at the end of the documentation: NOS. I thought it meant no observable source but it actually means not otherwise specified. In any case we still don't know why it happened. Still hear my Dad every morning when it comes time to exercise. "So you had a heart transplant. You want a medal? Get in the gym and work up a sweat." LOL
Best always,
s!

estrada53 | @estrada53 | Dec 29, 2020

In reply to @scottij "@feelingthankful Thank you for the vote of confidence. It was one year ago today that I..." + (show)

Happy anniversary, Scott! You deserve a medal!

scottij | @scottij | Dec 29, 2020

In reply to @estrada53 "Happy anniversary, Scott! You deserve a medal!" + (show)

@estrada53 Awww. Grazie!

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