Case 1 –
June 2010

Flat on my back on a hospital trolley in June 1997- I had collapsed at work after climbing stairs whilst carrying my lunchbox…yes, that was how weak I had become.  It was the lowest point of a continual decline. I have never felt so ill before or since.

Every week there would be something else I couldn’t do. The library was out – I couldn’t carry my books: climbing stairs was a major operation with three stops, playing with the grandchildren was out- just too tired.

On my first visit to Rehab, I found it difficult to believe that everyone exercising were either heart attack or cardiac surgery victims. All ages…both sexes… bounding round the track like spring chickens.. what an inspiration to someone like myself fresh from surgery.

With the expert guidance of the staff I too completed my recovery and finished the nine week course. I continue to go to Aftercare once a week and have a daily half-hour walk also. The debt I, and literally thousands of others, owe to Heart Care is immeasurable.  After all that we’ve been through, we can lead normal lives feeling fitter that ever.  Indeed, 12 months on from my collaspe at work, I was cycling the Tissington Trail in Derbyshire, with my children and grandchildren.

We pay a token sum for our Aftercare visits and the rehabilitation is completely free.. long live Heart Care!

Case 2 -
October 2010
My story starts in 2003; I was working in Engineering Sales and driving about 40,000 miles a year all over the UK.

I set off that morning in October 2003 never thinking about where I would be in 24 hours, I met a colleague for Breakfast and we had what I came to describe as ‘A Heart Attack on a Plate’ before carrying on to my first appointment.

I finished my days work and went home to enjoy a relaxed evening with my wife. I went to bed as normal and read as usual but this time I could not get off to sleep, I felt a tingle in my arm such as you get if you have laid on it for some time, however, this time it would not go away. I was also then conscious of an ache across from my shoulder to my left breast, it didn’t go away but got no worse until I sat up on the side of the bed and tried to shake my arm to remove the tingling. This didn’t work but as I stood up I felt a huge sweat travel down my body from head to toe. This was when I woke my wife who telephoned the night service GP, he asked my wife to pass me the phone, asked my symptoms and before I finished telling him he said ‘an Ambulance is on its way’. At no time during this period did I think “Heart Attack” it just didn’t enter my head. The Ambulance arrived about 5 minutes later by which time I felt better I still had the ache but nothing to make me feel bad. The Paramedics gave me the biggest Aspirin I had ever seen (it’s amazing what you think about but I associated pills that big with horses). They wired me up to an ECG and insisted I went with them. The one Paramedic was only a young girl and I was concerned about her lifting me as I was in excess of 19 stone but they refused any help.

I was whisked off to the Manor where I was seen very speedily and the Nurse took off my shirt produced a Bic Razor and proceeded to shave areas of my chest and wired me up to an ECG, she then said ‘Oh yes it’s a classic’ to which I replied “a classic what” she said a Heart Attack and my wife and I both laughed and said it couldn’t be much of one. Even when she said it was substantial I still couldn’t believe it, I was given Streptokinase and some pain relief and shipped off to Osprey Ward where I spent the next 6 days in the regime still used today I believe.

I was discharged after 6 days and my first thoughts when walking to the hospital exit was of fear because I had been cocooned and protected by the staff and a fear of going outside made me hesitant, however, I did overcome my fears; walked out and all was well.

I thought that was the end of my experience but then Heartcare was mentioned, what does that mean? well! I soon found out. I had had my wake up call now I had to pay back.

I walked into Heartcare and saw all these people walking, cycling, rowing, lifting weights and exercising and I thought how are all these people doing this if they have had heart attacks like me. I felt a great deal of trepidation at the thought, as I was still fearful of having another attack. I have, after completing the “Basic Training Regime” continued regularly to visit Heart Care in Portland Street, but I am always mindful of my first visit and the concerns I had and I can see this still in new patients. If I can I will talk to them to try and make them feel easier but the staff do a better job.

I asked myself “Why did I have a Heart Attack” the answer doesn’t lie with one root cause but many, I had a stressful and sedentary job driving on motorways in heavy traffic, my diet was wrong and I usually ate on the move. I didn’t think how much stress I was under driving to reach customers on time, regardless of weather and traffic conditions. I did no exercise and paid no attention at all to diet; I had fortunately given up smoking about 20 years before and played football until I was 43 which may have just made a difference.

This may be a terrible thing to say but I do feel that if you are going to have a heart attack then Walsall is the place; because of the knowledge and experience in the area at the Hospital and obviously Heart Care.

Heart attacks are survivable and Heart Care is there to help you pick up your life and health again so please take notice and visit regularly as you will find Help, Assistance, Comfort and above all friendship in your road to recovery. There is always someone there who has been through what you are going through and you can share your experience with them and them with you.

Addendum — “A heart attack on a plate” is the largest breakfast you can buy and included fried bread and black pudding and doesn’t feature now on my menu !!!!