My First Talk to Cardiac Rehab for 2017

This week I gave my first talk for the year to our local cardiac rehab unit. July will be ten years since my heart attack and triple bypass and have been privileged since 2008 to have been invited as part of the education program to talk to people who are now doing the rehab program as they start their journey after a heart event. 

I divided my talk today into three areas: I started off talking a bit about my heart event, the fact I did not have any of the classic warning signs or symptoms which I later found out was not uncommon for diabetics (amongst other groups in the community) - and mentioned that I am very passionate about spreading information about this whenever I get the opportunity.

The second part of my talk focused on my dealing with anxiety, depression, denial and the emotional headgames I went through in the months after my heart attack and during my recovery period. I talked about the positive role that cardiac rehab played in my recovery and also mentioned how at a certain point I reached out to one of the social workers from the program when I found things were a bit too much for me.

In the second part of my talk I also mentioned the importance of finding a hobby, an interest and talked a bit about how I rediscovered photography whilst helping my wife looking after injured wildlife (she was involved in Wildcare at the time) - where we live we have lots of wild birds visit us daily so I had many natural subjects of which to take photos. And I talked about how I have progressed my interest in photography to taking photos of live shows and tribute bands here on the Gold Coast.

In the third part of my talk I concentrated on how and what I did to change my lifestyle - stopped smoking, started exercising regularly, learnt how to deal with stress and improve my diet. I mentioned that it was my opinion that before anyone can begin their new journey after a heart event and make changes they needed to first assess where they were when they had their heart event and ascertain what parts of their lifestyle they needed to change or adjust.

All in all was a very good session with 28 people in attendance including the group co-ordinator, the unit's psychologist and a couple of university students doing a placement.

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In 2008, a year after my heart attack I was invited to give a “one-off” talk at the cardiac rehab unit on the Gold Coast. This happened not long after I had given a number of interviews for TV and our local newspaper in which I was asked about my heart event and my experience dealing with 29 cardioversions/resuscitations and having three stents for a 100% blockage to the right coronary artery and then five days later, a triple bypass for blockages on the left side of the heart.

"29 Lives" - TV Interview with Channel Nine - October 15, 2008
Click on photo to see interview on You Tube

Going forward after a heart attack/event

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to be an administrator on a Heart Support group on Facebook. At first I was hesitant realizing I don't have the time that I once had to spend on Facebook and also because I wasn't truly sure what was expected of me in this role. I was subsequently told that what was required was positive posts to help those doing it tough and to cover what I did during my recovery period and how I dealt with depression, anxiety, panic attacks etc.

Masters of Rock Show

Anyway, a week or so later I found myself added as an admin to this group and apart from a post introducing myself and another one reminding people that November is Diabetes Awareness month, I wrote a post yesterday which I repeat below.

"When I was asked to join this group as an administrator I wasn't too sure what to expect, nor was I sure of what was expected of me. Jean, as I understood it, saw my role as posting positive items about things I have done over the years since my heart attack and triple bypass back in 2007 but finding the time to actually sit down and write something has not been easy due to always seeming to be busy. But today I have decided to change that and post something, probably spurred on by events of this and recent weeks.

Depression was part and parcel of my recovery period and still continues today, 9+ years on. Dealing with this back then was a challenge and remained so for around a year after my heart attack. Helping my wife look after injured wildlife helped me but rediscovering photography probably was the main thing to get me to start thinking positively.

Living where we live in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia with an abundance of wildlife (birds) visiting us daily provided me with no shortage of ready made subjects to photograph. This is an activity I continue to do today on an almost daily basis.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Along the way I also found I had time to listen to music again, something that had fallen by the wayside over the years due to work, family and all that sort of thing. And then three or so years ago my wife and I discovered tribute bands where we live.

The natural progression for me was to challenge myself to take photos of live shows, teaching myself the skills and the required techniques. In recent months I was asked by one of the largest clubs up here to take photos of their shows (did two last weekend) and me being me agreed to do it not for payment but in exchange for tickets to the shows for me and my wife.

PINK tribute show

Then last week I was asked to do some promo shots for a local group for a small payment and this morning received a phone call asking me to do photos at a show tomorrow night - sadly, can't do this one as since my heart attack I don't travel far at night and this one is over an hour away (they are looking to see if someone is coming from our area who could give me a lift).

And today I received confirmation to shoot another show in three weeks time.

So, what started as a hobby has now developed into something a bit more serious but more importantly, it is something I thoroughly enjoy doing, and may develop into a form of income, albeit small.

Now why have I written all of this? Because I believe it is of paramount importance for those of us who are finding it hard to cope after a heart attack (or any life threatening disease) to find a hobby. I say as much when I give talks to our local cardiac rehab unit which I have been doing since 2008 and I say the same when I give a talk on behalf of our Heart Foundation for which I am a volunteer speaker.

So for those of you who, like me, found they were unable to go back to work or a full-time job, that does not mean that life has come to an end. Now, during the recovery period, is a great time to rediscover an old interest and maybe develop it into something more.

And I do understand that saying the above can be easier said than done but we have to realize that giving up should never be an option.

Happy to respond to questions or comments but as I am not on the computer all the time, my replies may not be instantaneous."

My Facebook page featuring wildlife photos I have taken: https://www.facebook.com/Wildlifeinnerang/posts/1109641512489326

More photos from shows I have shot can be viewed on FLICKR at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paradisephotos/albums

 Pheasant Coucal

 Kookaburra

King Parrot

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Galah (Rose Breasted Cockatoo)

Pale Headed Rosella

Indian Ringneck

ABBA tribute show

QUEEN tribute show

Eagles Tribute show

Elvis tribute artist Dean Z


Masters of Rock Show

Final talk for the year to our local cardiac rehab unit

This morning I gave my last talk for the year at our local cardiac rehab unit. Twenty two people in attendance including the program co-ordinator, psychologist and a medical student. A sign of the times sadly when there are so many people needing to do a program like this.

The first thing I talked about was the fact that I had virtually none of the classic warning signs or symptoms when I had my heart attack and that I was later told this is not uncommon with diabetics, something I did know beforehand.

In addition to talking about my heart event and recovery and my changes in lifestyle I spent a bit of time dealing with the need to find positives in life to help in the recovery process, especially when things are not going all that great and stress and emotional head games may become difficult to cope with

I was able to share about what I did when those times came (come) along and what I did (so) to deal with depression including walking everyday, looking after injured wildlife and probably the biggest thing that happened for me, rediscovering an old hobby, photography.

Could not stress enough to those present the need to have a hobby or two, to have something to look forward to doing. Was a good final session for the year and if required, will be more than happy to do it all again in 2017 when I will be celebrating ten years surviving something I was very lucky to survive.

An interview I did with Channel Nine a year after my heart attack: http://my29lives.blogspot.com.au/p/29-lives-tv-interview-with-channel-nine.html

(Yep, that's me being loaded into the ambulance for the trip up to Brisbane for my triple bypass)

Use this link to view a presentation I put together a number of years ago after a cardiac rehab talk. Whilst the format may have changed over the years, the material I cover and the messages I try and share have not.

http://my29lives.blogspot.com.au/p/my-cardiac-rehab-talk-september-2011.html

I've been quiet for a couple of months.....

Well no, I haven't really been quiet over the past few months but I have had to deal with a number of health issues and to be honest, finding the motivation to post here in this blog just wasn't there.

I have written before about depression and dealing with health issues but, as they say, sometimes it is easier said than done!

And not wishing to look like I was complaining or wanting sympathy I simply felt it was best to just not write, leave it alone and wait until I was in a better frame of mind.

Since early February I had to deal with a bout of shingles for the first time which just lingered and wouldn't go away. Although I was able to get it treated quickly, the pain and discomfort went on for well over a month and it was pretty debilitating.

And then a week or so after being diagnosed with shingles, I broke a tooth (molar) which left half a tooth complete with root buried below the gumline, and it was impacting on the sinus cavity. I won't go into the issue of pain this was causing or the worry that an infection could have implications for my heart issues.

Had to deal with this and wait close to four weeks until I could get oral surgery to remove the offending broken tooth and root. And all this whilst I was still dealing with the shingles thing.

And whilst all this was going on I was finding myself reaching out for my GTN spray more than in the past with angina type issues - not surprising I guess, given what I was dealing with and the stress that came with it.

In early April, at my scheduled annual review, my cardiologist suggested I have an angiogram given what was going on with the increased episodes of chest discomfort and tightness and my increased use of GTN .

The angiogram took place mid May and this week I am due to see my cardiologist to get the full results. What I do know having been told this the day of the angiogram is that the stents and bypasses I had in 2007 when I had my heart attack are all working fine.

What got me somewhat concerned was hearing that a new 99% stenosis (narrowing) of the right coronary artery (RCA) had developed and an attempt to place a stent (angioplasty) had failed. 

This new blockage was below where they put in three stents in 2007 for a 100% blockage. The good news was that my body had created a sort of natural "collateral" bypass around the new blockage. I was also told on the day that there was evidence of my body creating more "new" vessels around where I had previously had heart damage. More details about this I hope to get this week when I see my cardiologist.

Right Coronary Artery Collateral Circulation

So I think you can see that I had plenty on my plate over the past 3-4 months. Just trying to keep a positive outlook over this period was and has been challenging at times but I kept up with giving my talks to our local cardiac rehab unit and last Wednesday did my first session for the year at an ultrasound college where I have been a volunteer patient for the past 5+ years.

A couple of other things that I tried to do whenever possible was my daily 20-30 minutes of walking and probably what was for me more significant was getting out there and taking photos, photos of our wildlife visitors, photos of live music events where we live and photos in and around where we live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

For me, photography has become my "go to" activity when things are not going all that well and, as I have written before, I can not stress enough for people to find or develop a hobby/interest when they are dealing with recovering from a health scare or simply when they are finding life a bit challenging.

Some of my photos can be viewed at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paradisephotos/albums/72157659917363575

And I haven't mentioned what is going on in our household with my wife following her being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in early 2013 and her having an oophorectomy and bilateral mastectomy in late 2014 and the after effects. Yep, lots of medical related issues over the past couple of months have kept me/us on our toes.

Good luck everyone, life can get tough but with a bit of planning, you and I can get past these obstacles.

Dealing with Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks after a Heart Attack

The recovery process after a heart attack varies from person to person. How people deal with the "ups and downs" during this period is not the same for everyone.

For me, I found rediscovering an old hobby, photography, went a long way to helping me deal with depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I talk about this when I give talks at our local cardiac rehab group which is what I did just a couple of days ago at my first presentation for 2016.

Depression and anxiety after a heart attack is not uncommon and but talking about it is something people are usually reluctant to do. My raising these issues from the standpoint of someone who has been through the process usually is the stepping-stone for some present to open up and talk about what is bothering them as they start their road to recovery after their heart event.

I usually start the discussion off along the lines that it was rediscovering photography that helped me deal with many months of depression and anxiety after my heart attack and bypass surgery in 2007. I explain that at the time of my heart attack my wife was involved in looking after injured wildlife and that now, having free time on my hands, I soon started helping my wife. I go on to explain that where we live we have lots of wildlife that visit us daily and that picking up a camera and starting to take photos soon became a daily activity.

A few years ago I created a Facebook page where I could feature some of my photos where I continue to feature photos of various wildlife that visit us where we live in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia - https://www.facebook.com/Wildlifeinnerang/

In my talks I suggest to people that their recovery period is an opportunity for them to rediscover or pick up a hobby that maybe they have not thought about for years be it knitting, gardening, cooking, tennis, golf, swimming, etc.

Having introduced the topic at last Thursday’s talk, two people present told how cooking has become an important part of their lives and another person talked about getting involved in designing.

In my talk on Thursday I added that in addition to my photography which I am still passionately involved in, a second activity I undertake on a daily basis is walking (exercise). Not only does it help me with my diabetes (and my heart) whenever I feel “down” or an episode of depression coming, I explained to the group that simply going for a walk usually helps me deal with the issue.

Presenting at Cardiac Rehab

Honoured to have been asked by our local cardiac rehab unit to once again be part of their education programme in 2016. First session this year is in two days time.

In 2008, a year after my heart attack I was invited to give a “one-off” talk at the cardiac rehab unit on the Gold Coast. This happened not long after I had given a number of interviews for TV and our local newspaper in which I was asked about my heart event and my experience dealing with 29 cardioversions/resuscitations and having three stents for a 100% blockage to the right coronary artery and then five days later, a triple bypass for blockages on the left side of the heart.

Being asked to present to people doing cardiac rehab about how I coped with my heart attack and subsequent depression, anxiety and panic attacks was something I embraced without hesitation and was something that I can now look back on that helped me deal with these issues – to say this was cathartic would be an understatement.

After this “one-off” talk I was asked to become a “regular” part of the cardiac rehab programme and was more than happy to accept this request - this was in late 2008.

Now, going on eight years after my first talk, I will be continuing with my presentations and although the format has changed over the years, my experiences have not and sharing these with those present at each session is something I thoroughly enjoy – it is indeed gratifying seeing people in front of you nodding in agreement when you make a point or comment on an experience you have been through and it tells you that you are “connecting” and that what you are talking about is relevant.

Of particular interest is when I talk about my diabetes and my need to be aware of this and the impact of this insidious disease on the heart – you can see straight away who amongst those present also deals with diabetes by their reactions to what I am saying.

Another topic I cover is memory loss and forgetfulness, two issues I had to deal with and issues that are often brought up during one of my talks.

Probably the most significant thing about my being part of the rehab education programme is that I have had a heart attack and bypass surgery and have actually been through the cardiac rehab programme itself. Unlike the staff (except for one person I am aware of) I am the only presenter who can speak from first-hand experience and I truly believe that this is so very important when offering a rehab programme.

So as 2016 begins I look forward to giving my first talk in two day’s .

Memory Problems and Heart Disease: Postperfusion Syndrome and Vascular Dementia

Continuing on with a topic I ended 2015 on, Postperfusion “Pumphead” syndrome, memory loss and cognitive issues after open heart surgery.

I recently came across a blog on the internet called “Rehabilitate the Heart” which I felt is very relevant to those of us who have had open heart surgery and more importantly, an article that has relevance to those close to us including spouses, partners and children. 

And given this question of memory loss comes up so often in social media "heart" groups such as Facebook and in cardiac rehab programmes I feel another post on this topic is more than appropriate.

This blog not only continues on with the discussion regarding postperfusion syndrome but also introduces the question of Vascular Dementia.

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"Working in Cardiac Rehabilitation it wasn’t uncommon for a spouse or significant other to come in with the patient on the first day or early on in their rehabilitation and voice concern about the patients memory. It is common during the first three months after open heart surgery to be forgetful, to not remember little things, to be frustrated easily. However, within three months these issues should improve. There are a number of people however who have a steady decline in what we call cognitive health or  show cognitive impairment. They begin to display progress symptoms of dementia. This is very real and it is very scary, for both the patient and the caregiver.

Two common reasons for the mental decline are Pump Head and Vascular Dementia

Postperfusion syndrome, also known as “pumphead” is an impairment of cognitive symptoms attributed to Open Heart Surgery. Symptoms of postperfusion syndrome are subtle and include defects associated with attention, concentration, short term memory, fine motor function, and speed of mental and motor responses. Studies have shown a high incidence of these issues soon after surgery, but the deficits are often short lived with no permanent damage and last only a few months. It is when the symptoms persist beyond the first few months are concerning.

The symptoms of pumphead include:

·        difficulty in concentrating

·        increased depression

·        short term memory deficit

·        slower speed of mental and motor responses

“Pumphead”  refers to the state in which patients seem to linger after being hooked up to a heart-lung machine for open-heart or valve surgery.  The clinical term for pumphead is cognitive impairment after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Other symptoms include poor recall, social difficulties and personality changes. Pumphead is when after an initial recovery of mental capabilities in the first few months, the condition often worsens later and persists for years.

Cognitive training may improve memory and reasoning in patients after CABG  

Thus the new area of rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, such as after an acute injury to the brain like a closed head injury or a stroke.

"A new study results confirm that older adults who undergo CABG experience postoperative cognitive decline but show that cognitive training improves memory and attention, suggesting that this training can be a useful rehabilitation tool.

Cognitive training is a “burgeoning business,” much of which involves computer-based puzzles and brain games. While there’s a lot of suggestive evidence of an association between mental stimulation and lower risk for dementia, “we need to do more science around it to find out what works and what doesn’t work,”

http://www.theheart.org/article/1454099.do 

Is it Pump Head or Vascular Dementia?

Inadequate blood flow can damage and eventually kill cells anywhere in the body. The brain has one of the body’s richest networks of blood vessels and is especially vulnerable.

In vascular dementia, changes in thinking skills sometimes occur suddenly following strokes that block major brain blood vessels. Thinking problems also may begin as mild changes that worsen gradually as a result of multiple minor strokes or other conditions that affect smaller blood vessels, leading to cumulative damage. A growing number of experts prefer the term “vascular cognitive impairment (VCI)” to “vascular dementia” because they feel it better expresses the concept that vascular thinking changes can range from mild to severe.

Vascular brain changes often coexist with changes linked to other types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease."

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Use this link to read the entire blog: https://rehabilitateyourheart.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/memory-problems-with-heart-disease-pump-head-and-vascular-dementia/

All it takes is a beautiful fake smile.....

Saw this on a friend's Facebook page the other day and knew I had to post it here. The words in this photo will no doubt ring true for anyone out there who is dealing with or has dealt with depression or knows a friend or a work colleague who has done so or for people coping with a serious illness or disease like cancer, diabetes or heart issues.

People will always find different ways to cope with a bad situation, be it health or otherwise related and 'masking' their true feelings is one way many do this. Sitting back and judging those who do so is not our right or job, recognizing what is going on and trying to help should be our duty.

Second Cardiac Rehab Talk for 2015

On Thursday, I gave my second talk for the year to our local cardiac rehab unit with 23 people in attendance. Whilst setting up before the presentation a lady came over smiling and to say hello and introduce herself and remind me she was the person who co-ordinated a talk I gave for Heart Foundation to her local Probus group in July, 2012.

I told her I most definitely remembered that talk where she introduced me to the crowd of over 80 people who attended that day and I told her, to this day, it was one of my most satisfying talks. Apparently her husband had a bad asthma attack in December, not a heart attack, when they discovered he had some severe blockages that required a triple bypass hence here being there today with her husband. It was good to see both of them today and to see how well her husband is doing on his road to recovery.

As usually happens, people came up to me afterwards to ask questions and one was from the wife of someone who also had bypass surgery and was having issues with concentration, reading and memory. We talked a bit about this and I mentioned something called Postperfusion syndrome (also known as Pumphead) which is not unusual for someone who has had bypass surgery. She was worried, and rightly so, that it was something out of the norm and I tried to reassure her it is not unusual and it might be a good idea for both of them to have a chat with their GP or cardiologist where she could get a better explanation. I told her I am not a doctor and am not qualified to talk more about this condition but suggested she could also bring this up with one of the wonderful staff at cardiac rehab.

Another person who himself has previously had heart issues was there today with his wife who is now dealing with the after effects of a heart event and who is in denial and has a bit of dementia. He really was looking for understanding and support as I had brought up my issues dealing with depression and anxiety after my heart attack and during my recovery. Again, I referred him to the CR staff.

Still another person asked me how long it took for me to feel '100%'. My answer was simply we are all different and we all heal at a different pace after bypass surgery. I told him that I still have issues with fatigue and lack of stamina but told him I also deal with T2 diabetes, a thyroid condition, sleep apnoea and angina and that it is not unusual two or three or even four times a week for me to have an afternoon nap.

Another person brought up the question of the need for people 'like us' who have been through the process getting into schools and talking to high school kids about what has happened to us, in many cases, as a result of poor lifestyle choices - smoking, alcohol, drugs, lack of exercise, poor diet etc. This is a topic which has always been close to my heart (pun intended) and something I wanted to see implemented by a heart support group I was involved in setting up in late 2008. Unfortunately, others in the group did not see this as a priority.

Having left that group and then becoming involved in our Heart Foundation as a volunteer speaker I was asked last year to give a talk to one of our local high schools and over 70 students were in attendance. The impact of someone who has been through process of a heart attack and bypass surgery should not be underestimated on the impressionable minds of teenagers and is why I believe it is so important for 'survivors', if they are up to it, to get involved in this sort of activity as well as sharing their experience with their family, children, grandchildren, church, social and sporting clubs and work colleagues.

All in all, the day's talk went very well and I look forward to the next one in April.

Talk given in Sep, 2011