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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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