Recently diagnosed with CAD - Scared to live

Posted by jaireeves17 @jaireeves17, Jul 22, 2025

Hi all. I was just recently diagnosed with CAD. Coronary artery disease. I have been scared to live. Depressed and not willing to do most things I used to love. It’s not been a week as of yet and I have cried everyday since. I got a stent placed in my artery to allow blood flow. I’m on some meds to help my heart but has been unable to sleep. I’m looking to bond with people that has similar diagnosis. I’m ready to take my life back, one day at a time. I need a support group. In search of one.

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

charlie21 | @charlie21 | Jul 30, 2025

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I was diagnosed with CAD a little over 18 months ago after having a heart attack. I was found to be 90% occluded in two of my coronary arteries and had two stents placed. I was 59 years old, so on the younger side compared to most people. I highly recommend you follow up with your PCP to discuss your concerns and cardiac rehab. I went from not taking any prescription medications to taking metoprolol, atorvastatin and plavix (1 year of plavix). Taking new medications can be very scary but are essential to protect the heart. Our heart is a muscle and needs to be exercised, cardiac rehab helps us understand how much exercise we can do and for how long. Since I did have a heart attack I do have some heart damage, but I would say I’m at about 98% of where I was physically before all of this. I’m very thankful that I’m still here given that I could have had a massive heart attack and died. Hang in there, with time things do get better.

timely | @timely | Jul 30, 2025

In reply to @ruth36 "Wow, you really did have a lot of side effects with Eliquis.. My main thing with..." + (show)

I have arthritis and did not consider Eliquis did anything to add to the arthritis.
Arthritis does get worse and can just appear.

I am also exhausted but do not blame that on Eliquis as I am taking an aromatase inhibitor which causes exhaustion.
To address the dry eys of @margaretfriel, dry eyes are very often caused by aging.

margaretfriel | @margaretfriel | Jul 30, 2025

You might consider talking to a Pharmacist, or (Better Yet) a Biochemist about the medications you're taking. The Pharmaceuticals being prescribed today SO OFTEN are accompanied by side effects. Few People I've known, who take prescriptions have no side effects. I'm told for every prescription your medical provider can order, IF it causes problems there are at least 2 or 3 alternatives.

Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Jul 31, 2025

@jaireeves17
I understand how you feel. I was given same diagnosis and I got angry and scared- I had done everything you are supposed to do. And I worked in the medical field.
I would suggest that you contact your cardiologist’s or GP’s office and ask that someone explain your situation in easy to understand terms. If not the cardiologist then a specialized nurse - many have one-. Also explain what medications do to protect you and how you will be monitored. There are stress tests done on a regular basis as well as echocardiograms.
My internist also does echocardiograms of my carotid arteries as well as the aorta.
Cardiac rehab is great. Like going to a gym with staff trained to monitor you.
Knowledge makes you feel more in control and you will lose the fear you have now.

moya | @moya | Aug 3, 2025

In reply to @astaingegerdm "@jaireeves17 I understand how you feel. I was given same diagnosis and I got angry and..." + (show)

Thank you. See doctor next week with my FMD and I will inquire about rehab

sueatch1967 | @sueatch1967 | Feb 3 1:17pm

In reply to @mayoconnectuser1 "Margaret - I would offer some caution regarding your input - you sound convinced the doctors..." + (show)

@mayoconnectuser1 I feel exactly the same I had a mild heart attack and had to have a stent, I lost my husband last September and my health has completely deteriorated. I cry all the time and can’t understand why this happened to me I’ve always had good blood work and no heart issues. Please feel free to reach out anytime, hopefully we will both get our lives back.

mztaylor | @mztaylor | Feb 5 4:55am

I hear you clearly. First diagnosis is sobering. Reminds you up close that you are not immortal. We all know this in our heads, but this is in your body understanding. I think it's pretty normal to grieve and be sad at the change in your body. I heard this news 10 years ago. With the help of two wonderful female cardiologists, one now retired, the new one terrific, I have been encouraged. This year I outlived my father by 20 years, my grandfathers by 30 years. Long history of early deaths. With the help of science and compassionate providers, I live a grateful life. The fear subsided for me and makes each day that much sweeter.

gammy2 | @gammy2 | Feb 20 4:03pm

In reply to @loriesco "We all have something. It is part of living. None of us will escape the fate..." + (show)

@loriesco

We all have something. It is part of living. None of us will escape the fate of dying, but that reality sits in the background of our lives, and we live our life in spite of our fate. Your expressed fear and anxiety, suggest a thatmental health therapist, Who can guide you out of depression, fear, and anxiety would be a good solution!. There is so much we don’t know about your CAD, and even moremore that we don’t know about you! I have CAD, I inherited it from my father. My cousins have CAD they inherited it from one of our grandparents. For my family it is an inherited disease. Each member of our family handles it very differently along with expressing it differently.. I tend to tackle things head on. I have been living with this eventuality for 40 years and was officially diagnosed a few years ago. (I am 68). What I did was to investigate every test known to man and ask for all the tests. I asked for the pictures of my arteries. I asked for the cardiologists. In my case, I will stay on top of the disease and do what I can to stay in good health and slow down the deterioration. Meanwhile, other diseases become of more immediate concern! Think about that for a second. CAD is one of the bazillions of things which can go wrong with our bodies as we age. It’s not enough for us to have CAD, we can have other related and non-related things plague us. So if one thing is upsetting you so terribly, what will happen as time goes on and other things get thrown in the mix? Every human gets to deal with the same thing, just a different combination of diseases and bodily conflict. What you have expressed needs a mental health professional. What you expressed involves not your CAD but your ATTITUDE towards something gone awry with your body. You are blessed to only need a stent at this juncture. My dad experienced his first Widowmaker heart attack at 58 with a triple heart bypass. He went on to have many stents and angioplasties between another quadruple bypass and another triple heart bypass at 80. he lived a full life and passed away at 87. He lived a full life and was blessed that the CAD didn’t slow him down and didn’t distract him from the way he wanted to live his life. CAD can live in the background of your life, unlike other diseases, which drop you to your knees, front and center. I suggest you get a referral to a therapist who will help you through this difficult adjustment. You are blessed to know you have CAD and can take steps to mitigate consequences. Other diseases are silent and you can’t do anything about them until too late.. I hope this message is one of support and you can find the Hope inspiration to approach our disabilities with courage. Bring the light into the dark and get some necessary support to rebalance your emotional needs. right now it sounds like you are operating in the dark trying to find your way, we can’t do it alone. Thank you for being honest and reaching out for support.!

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@loriesco wow I really needed this pep talk.!

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Feb 20 6:37pm

In reply to @gammy2 "@loriesco wow I really needed this pep talk.!" + (show)

Hi @gammy2, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

@loriesco’s encouragement looks contagious because your comment gives me a pep in my step today. Thanks. 😀

If you are comfortable, it will help for you share more about what brings you to this discussion, “ Recently diagnosed with CAD - Scared to live” so others know how better to comment.

Do you have coronary artery disease (CAD)?

loriesco | @loriesco | Feb 20 6:54pm

In reply to @gammy2 "@loriesco wow I really needed this pep talk.!" + (show)

@gammy2 wow! Did I write that?! it was pretty inspiring for me to even reread it, lol. That is pretty funny. Probably because one of my bugaboo’s is feeling bad when people are depressed. We are lucky to have life still coursing in our veins. Because of that we always have choices. I lost my brother in my 20s from suicide. I’ve missed him in my life lifelong so I don’t want anybody else to be depressed. It hurts people around you that you may not even realize. Lean on them, lean on your loved ones and see if together you can resolve your pains, we at least get a handle on it till the days get brighter. Try some books from the library on coping and learn about your depression too. No one’s life is perfect but some people have better coping mechanisms than others in their toolbox. Have a lovely weekend.

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