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Recent SCAD

Posted by wefo64 @wefo64, Mar 4 9:49pm

Im 53yo female, just last week experienced SCAD heart attack. I have never had any problems with blood pressure , am not overweight, cholesterol normal, never smoked. Moderately active, used to easily do 6km walks in less than an hour, a few times a week.
SCAD was rated by cardiologist as 2/10 with minimal heart damage. Does anyone have any helpful advice on recovery tips, if/when can I expect to get back to living normally? Is the no lifting forvever? Feeling a bit overwhelmed atm, and although cardiologist has said recurrence isn't likely, I have heard it does happen! I am on metoprolol, asprin, clopidogrel. Feeling quite fatigued still.

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andremathieu | @andremathieu | Mar 5 6:02am

Sorry to hear. I had a SCAD event in 2018. I am a man, so oftentimes the reason behind them happening is different. Did you have a cath lab? That may be why you aren't supposed to lift anything just yet. Metoprolol (or a beta blocker like it) is pretty much standard procedure for SCAD survivors I've been told. It shunts the "strength" of the heart's beat a bit, and reduces heart rate, so it helps from chancing a re-occurrent event. Glad to hear you had minimal heart damage. I also had very little permanent damage and have been told to live like it never happened but keep an eye on my BP and cholesterol. I'm not going to lie : it is hard to get over it. The main reason is that they often don't understand WHY it happens, and as a result they can't tell you what to be careful of doing. They're going to say no contact sports for sure 😉
I have had no issues since it all happened. I did three months of regular cardiac rehab through the hospital. They had me running on a treadmill for 45 minutes straight by the time I was done with a high heart rate, and a lot of sweating, etc. Not saying you'll be doing that, exactly (I was a bit younger: 41 1/2), but they'll want you to see your body still works. Good luck, and keep asking questions and stay in contact with people. I find the anxiety over it all is by far the worst aspect, and talking helps.

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wefo64 | @wefo64 | Mar 5 3:11pm
In reply to @andremathieu "Sorry to hear. I had a SCAD event in 2018. I am a man, so oftentimes..." + (show)
Profile picture for andremathieu @andremathieu

Sorry to hear. I had a SCAD event in 2018. I am a man, so oftentimes the reason behind them happening is different. Did you have a cath lab? That may be why you aren't supposed to lift anything just yet. Metoprolol (or a beta blocker like it) is pretty much standard procedure for SCAD survivors I've been told. It shunts the "strength" of the heart's beat a bit, and reduces heart rate, so it helps from chancing a re-occurrent event. Glad to hear you had minimal heart damage. I also had very little permanent damage and have been told to live like it never happened but keep an eye on my BP and cholesterol. I'm not going to lie : it is hard to get over it. The main reason is that they often don't understand WHY it happens, and as a result they can't tell you what to be careful of doing. They're going to say no contact sports for sure 😉
I have had no issues since it all happened. I did three months of regular cardiac rehab through the hospital. They had me running on a treadmill for 45 minutes straight by the time I was done with a high heart rate, and a lot of sweating, etc. Not saying you'll be doing that, exactly (I was a bit younger: 41 1/2), but they'll want you to see your body still works. Good luck, and keep asking questions and stay in contact with people. I find the anxiety over it all is by far the worst aspect, and talking helps.

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@andremathieu thankyou thats encouraging. Yes I did have radial angiogram

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rfing | @rfing | Mar 30 7:07pm

I just had a SCAD that lead to heart attack week. So sorry to hear!! I'm healthy 43 year old woman. After three days in hospital, two days at home, I had a reoccurce. Chest pain and high blood pressure were symptoms. I had another cath angio and was admitted. Fortunately my echo showed my ejection fraction had actually gone up which is good and was discharged the following day (yesterday). We will get better! We got this! I am just now researching this condition.

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