Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side

Hi @jlcswell, should you wish to seek a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, here is the contact information: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Also AliveCor is available for android phones and works with most smart phone. You can learn more here: https://store.alivecor.com/products/kardiamobile

It's gratifying to hear how you feel supported in your mission by sharing with others here on Mayo Clinic Connect. That's so important. But mission critical is proper care. Please keep us posted about getting seen by a specialist and center of excellence.

Hi Colleen. Thank you so much for the information. That is so helpful. How thoughtful and kind of you. What a blessing.

What kind of exercise did your daughter make you do my legs have been hurting lately like a little cramping around the calf area not too many vertical vanes or anything just a couple behind both knees all they tell me is to use compression socks which really make things worse they hurt me and I have the extra large really need to strengthen my muscles my calves in that area will appreciate if you tell me what kind of exercise is your daughter showed you

For years I have seen the same kind, but totally uninformative doctor. After my last bout, I changed doctors. I had gone to the ED on the weekend, and realized, as I was questioned, I didn't really know much about my heart health other than being told my edema in my ankles and my shortness of breath weren't caused by my heart. My immunologist ordered lung studies. They came back fine, no problems. After my racing heart, I was told to change meds, no explanation given. My new cardiologist asked why I changed. I told him because I was always told everything was fine and I know that is not so. I like to be informed. Not being informed for me caused more distressed knowing my mother and both grandmothers had strokes and heart attacks. He is proactive and I am looking forward to the testing he has ordered and going to a rhythm specialist he has recommended. I imagine we all react differently to information or lack there of depending on our situations.

Check with your doctor because you could be lacking magnesium

Hi Gator,
My daughter didn't show me an exercise, she gave me a practice guide for treatment of PAD. One of the recommendations was a structured exercise program. Do you have PAD? Some insurance plans will cover a structured program.
Mine program was a research project consisting of 12 weeks 3 times a week for 1 hour. I walked on a treadmill until my pain level was at 3 on a 5 point scale. I sat down until the pain went down and got back on the treadmill until I could walk 10 minutes at 2 mph and 0 incline. When I was able to do that, the incline was increased to 2 degrees and the process continued until I was able to walk for 10 minutes pain free at 2.5mph and 10 degres incline at the end of 36 sessions. The sessions were conducted by a PhD RN and an Exercise Physiologist, My BP and ABI were monitored and coordinated with my Cardiologist.
My claudication ended and I bought a treadmill for my basement and have used it 30-45 minutes 5-6 days a week for the last 14 years. I have walked 8400 miles in that time. On these nice fall days, I walk 2 miles a day at 3 mph in a park. Please ask your Physician if you have PAD and if so, would theysuggest a .structured exercise program, Wishing you the best outcome.

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

@gator123 @davej I was having excruciating leg muscle cramps at night and was receiving cortisone injections in my lumbar spine to control them. A friend suggested magnesium and it was like magic, worked instantly. I still get the occasional muscle spasm but nothing like I had been having. It's a simple and benign solution if it works. I now take 500 mgs although I started out at 250 MGs. I wish you luck with this issue of muscle spasms/cramps.

Varicose veins are another issue. I would speak to a specialist if that is the source of your pain. They can be treated.

I truly sympathize with Scott. I am a pretty healthy active 70 year old woman in good shape who runs a farm and rides horses . I was diagnosed with HOCM about 5 years ago when I was told it would never amount to anything. Well, that suddenly changed last December when things got worst quickly resulting in Septal Reduction surgery last February. After a quick severe decline, we jumped right in, I had the surgery, and I am on my way to recovery. I never had second thoughts about it. It was shocking at first but my family and I just tackled it head on, dealt with it, and did not look back. But I did ask my surgeon "Why Me?" not out of self pity but out of curiosity. He answered "That is the the big existential question!". I also found that music was key to embrace during recovery. Good luck.
Barb

I have read on this site that many of you started taking magnesium for various reasons, especially arrhythmias. I get my blood labs once a year with magnesium level included. I am always on high end of normal range. So I do not take supplemental magnesium. Do any of you check w your Dr first before adding supplements?