Q: How are you physically now?
Has your SCA changed your physical ability in any way, have your energy levels changed?
Responses with name, age at SCA and time since
Fitter than before.
Anon, 56, 15 months
Mild heart damage , get tired easily but not sure if this is the heart or the medication . Mild angina symptoms . Physically active now – walk the dog every day and go to gym on tailored program twice weekly . Back to swimming .
Michelle, 50, 1 year
I am tired easily, but battle against it to do what I want, there is too much to do my mind wants to do its my body that says no.
Julie, 31, 8 years
Good
Amy, 30, 2 years and 8 months
Left with heart failure very fatigued and breathless
Dawn, 48, 3 years
I get tired a lot
Sue, 51, 8 months
Very tired all day most days
Anon, 70, 10 months
Knackered
Michelle, 43, 5 years
Quite happily, I am fine. I need to ensure I get enough sleep and I take a short nap every afternoon. I don’t run much anymore and I only stopped cycling due to a nasty fall 10 years ago. Otherwise, no ill effects to date.
Mark, 46, 23 years
A wreck, SCA brought on other problems which have affected my mobility, little energy, and severe arrhythmia and side affects of medication.
Brenden, 56, 4 years
Sketchy…. ok if I don’t exert myself however am attempting to work my old job running my own plumbing and heating business due to the physical attributes of this job I find myself somewhat knackered, but being self employed seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place……who in the outside world would employ me??
Ben, 32, 1 year 2 months
Roughly the same a little less fit
Graeme, 36, 10 years
Fine
Maureen, 68, 7 years
Had 2 heart attacks and now find I’m very tired after a day at work, can’t cope with heat
Pat, 51, 15 months
Slower, but this is mainly due to the underlying cardiomyopathy and not the arrival of my ICD.
Andy, 51, 5 years
I have less energy
Lynne, 47, 21 months
Yes! ( Not sure if mentally I worry about it) Im much slower and I get very tired quickly.
Robyn, 57, 18 months
Tired more often but have to work 4 days for financial reasons.
Joanne, 48, 23 months
Physical ability and energy levels are low but I’m supposed to be resting at the moment. Should be starting a rehabilitation course in a few weeks.
Joe, 52, 4 weeks
Beta blockers slow me down cycling up hills but that is all
Stewart, 53, 3 years
I am tired physically and I cannot walk distances like I use to.
Lisa, 40, 7 years
I am still sore from ICD implant and very tired
Carly, 34, 1 month
My energy levels were low for about the first two and a half months. Then I felt more normal. Physical ability unaffected other than temporary loss of fitness.
Clare, 31, Almost 5 months.
Very curious with doing exercise, but had got better after time.
Lee, 37, 5 1/2 years
I get very tired
Lisa, 35, 4 months
It was such a long time ago so no but my overall heart health has deteriorated due to CHD
Amy, 17, 14 years
Yes, reasonably disabled/slow and appalling memory.
Anon, 36, 11 years
I’m just as active now as before, i do 5k runs at the gym and enjoy long hilly walks. It took a while to get confident enough to exercise but with the help of Heartsmart (run by local leisure centres) it’s been worth it!
Michelle, 42, 4 years
Low energy
Tracy, 50, 3 years
Absolutely fine now, I go to the gym 4 times and week and feel like I can push myself as hard as I want. However, when it first happened my fitness definitely dipped.
Imogen, 21, 2 years
I have slowed down, a little more tired on beta blockers, find it harder to lose weight, have second thoughts when exercising and think twice, but tend to do it anyway – except running and swimming. Feel the cold so much now, winter is a real challenge for me.
Judy, 39, 3 years
I can’t excerise as rigerously as I could before
Natasha, 25, 4.5 years
Mildly impaired LV function at 50-55%. Further minor secondary medical impact namely, Purtscher’s retinopathy – both eyes believed to be due to CPR thoratic pressure. Now cleared. Medication (Beta-blockers) are causing an underlying claudication issue and this is being reviewed by the vascular surgeon.
Mark, 56, 14 months
Very short of breath on any exertion unable to walk any distance or do stairs.
Kym, 40, 3 years