Does any of you have a heart condition

[Safrolette]

Hopefully the answer is "no"
The reason why I am asking is because around three weeks ago I suffered a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), and isn't it ironic that it happened while I was on holiday with an elderly relative and after nearly a decade since I last had any recreational stimulant substance. The trigger was the lifting of an heavy object but I also had just had a couple of stressful, anxiety-ridden weeks.

Luckily it wasn't too bad as the affected artery is of 'modest' size and the dissected section is peripheral, I was back at work last week and I can walk (not too fast thou), go food shopping and do the stairs but I'm on meds and I'll need to be on my best behaviour for a few months if not for a year at least, and avoid recreational stimulants, strenuous exercise and emotional stressors for the rest of my life.

Just wondering if in the medium-term future I will still be able to enjoy alcohol occasionally -I've never been a big drinker but I enjoyed getting tipsy every month or two with friends- and smoke a spliff once a week as I used to.
At the moment it's out of question as my chest gets tight even if I'm just slightly stressed or if I do the stairs too quickly, apparently it's part of the recovery process but it's too early to take any risk, the anxiety would override any pleasant effect.
Obviously it's not something I can ask to my GP...
Thanks

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

Wow, sorry to hear that Saf.

I'm not qualified to answer your questions I'm afraid, but it sounds like you need to err on the side of caution with this.


Take care...

 

[Arnold]

Nopes.

Stress is bad, I managed to end up with a perforated stomach a month ago, trust me that is painfull.
The two slipped discs I've got can be attributed to stress as well.

It's life which creates stress and more importantly how YOU react to them.

 

[Jabberwocky]

fuck me mate so sorry to hear that. what an absolute nightmare.

i'm glad you are following the drs orders.

i don't have a heart condition but i'm being investigated for some lung issues that we've established are not asthma but some of the symptoms overlap, i'm pretty sure its the result of all the drugs i smoked. i've barely smoked anything in nearly 2 years- quit the cigs in jan 2020. i guess i'm saying i can sympathise with, after a long time of abstinence, suddenly something you'd normally associate with substance misuse occurring, ending up in an ambulance somehow and it kinda fucking you up.

how the fuck does one avoid emotional stressors?

it sounds like your life has suddenly become extremely limited. i can't imagine how hard that must be, i hope you have good people around you and are taking care of your mental health as best you can.

 

[CFC]

Just wondering if in the medium-term future I will still be able to enjoy alcohol occasionally -I've never been a big drinker but I enjoyed getting tipsy every month or two with friends- and smoke a spliff once a week as I used to.
At the moment it's out of question as my chest gets tight even if I'm just slightly stressed or if I do the stairs too quickly, apparently it's part of the recovery process but it's too early to take any risk, the anxiety would override any pleasant effect.
Obviously it's not something I can ask to my GP...

Ethanol tends to dilate arteries and make them temporarily more supple, so the occasional drink shouldn't be out of the question. Bear in mind that the occasional drink often leads to a shit-ton of drinking once things get going, as you know, and so that's really what you're going to have to dice with.

FWIW I myself should never take anything, as I have an aorta about the size of the channel tunnel that could in theory explode at any time. Naturally of course, given this website, I still take a shit ton of stimulants and drink to excess from time to time. So please don't take my example as any form of Harm Reduction, cos clearly I'm a twat without a great deal of self-control.

 

[Jackal]

A buddy had to get a heart valve replaced at a rather youthful age

He was given the option of an artificial valve or a pig valve

With the artificial one he would be med free but would not be able to indulge in drink

With the pig one he would need meds every day but could drink

He chose the pig valve

Anyhow, Safrolette, sorry that happened to you, get well soon and maybe see how your recuperation is going in 12 to 18 months before pushing it much

 

[Arnold]

Someone I used to know did die of a heart attack aged 32.
He was well in to his coke when he was younger and was always hyper.

 

[Safrolette]

Wow, sorry to hear that Saf.
I'm not qualified to answer your questions I'm afraid, but it sounds like you need to err on the side of caution with this.
Take care...

Thanks F.U.B.A.R., as said it could have been a lot worse, I can still have a normal life but, as you said, I need to be cautious x

Nopes.
Stress is bad, I managed to end up with a perforated stomach a month ago, trust me that is painfull.
The two slipped discs I've got can be attributed to stress as well.
It's life which creates stress and more importantly how YOU react to them.

Sorry to hear about your perforated stomach and slipped discs, Arnold... we are so fragile. I practice mindfulness meditation but I have always been very anxious and the hormonal upheaval of we women of a certain age doesn't help x

fuck me mate so sorry to hear that. what an absolute nightmare.
i'm glad you are following the drs orders.
i don't have a heart condition but i'm being investigated for some lung issues that we've established are not asthma but some of the symptoms overlap, i'm pretty sure its the result of all the drugs i smoked. i've barely smoked anything in nearly 2 years- quit the cigs in jan 2020. i guess i'm saying i can sympathise with, after a long time of abstinence, suddenly something you'd normally associate with substance misuse occurring, ending up in an ambulance somehow and it kinda fucking you up.

how the fuck does one avoid emotional stressors?

it sounds like your life has suddenly become extremely limited. i can't imagine how hard that must be, i hope you have good people around you and are taking care of your mental health as best you can.

Thanks Chinup, it's okay, compared to what other people go through what happened to me is nothing, really, just taking some time to adjust mentally more than anything else. As Arnold says, it's important how to react to stress, which is inevitable, but easier said that done!
I'm sorry to hear of your lung issues, I hope you will be able to resolve them x

Ethanol tends to dilate arteries and make them temporarily more supple, so the occasional drink shouldn't be out of the question. Bear in mind that the occasional drink often leads to a shit-ton of drinking once things get going, as you know, and so that's really what you're going to have to dice with.
FWIW I myself should never take anything, as I have an aorta about the size of the channel tunnel that could in theory explode at any time. Naturally of course, given this website, I still take a shit ton of stimulants and drink to excess from time to time. So please don't take my example as any form of Harm Reduction, cos clearly I'm a twat without a great deal of self-control.

Okay @CFC , I won't follow your example then! x

A buddy had to get a heart valve replaced at a rather youthful age

He was given the option of an artificial valve or a pig valve

With the artificial one he would be med free but would not be able to indulge in drink

With the pig one he would need meds every day but could drink

He chose the pig valve

Anyhow, Safrolette, sorry that happened to you, get well soon and maybe see how your recuperation is going in 12 to 18 months before pushing it much

Thanks Jackal, that's a very sensible advice, the craving for drinks and smoke is the craving for the old "normal" more than anything else, will just have to sit it out and be patient.

Someone I used to know did die of a heart attack aged 32.
He was well in to his coke when he was younger and was always hyper.

That's very sad, 32 years is far too early to leave this world. Did he drink as well? A cardiology nurse I knew years ago said that quite often the young people he saw in the hospital where he was working had cardiac problems from combining coke and alcohol, apparently the combo of the two creates a compound which is heavier on the body.

 

[Arnold]

That's very sad, 32 years is far too early to leave this world. Did he drink as well? A cardiology nurse I knew years ago said that quite often the young people he saw in the hospital where he was working had cardiac problems from combining coke and alcohol, apparently the combo of the two creates a compound which is heavier on the body.

From the top of my head it's benzocaine which gets formed and yups he combined the two.

 

[JohnnyVodka]

From the top of my head it's benzocaine which gets formed and yups he combined the two.

cocaethylene

It's amazing how many coke users haven't heard of this. Makes me glad I've never really got a taste for the stuff.

Warning of extra heart dangers from mixing cocaine and alcohol

A third chemical – cocaethylene – builds up in the liver over a number of years among those who mix the two drugs. And this is now having major health consequences

www.theguardian.com

 

[TheUltimateFixx]

I would simply ask my doctor what is safe to indulge in with your condition, and at what point and to what amount. Better qualified to answer that than us lot on here.

Only thing I'll say with certainty is stay off coke and similar.

 

[Arnold]

cocaethylene

It's amazing how many coke users haven't heard of this. Makes me glad I've never really got a taste for the stuff.

Warning of extra heart dangers from mixing cocaine and alcohol

A third chemical – cocaethylene – builds up in the liver over a number of years among those who mix the two drugs. And this is now having major health consequences

www.theguardian.com

That's the one.

 

[Safrolette]

I would simply ask my doctor what is safe to indulge in with your condition, and at what point and to what amount. Better qualified to answer that than us lot on here.
Only thing I'll say with certainty is stay off coke and similar.

I'd feel embarassed in asking a GP if I can get drunk and smoke spliffs! And probably the answer is no, at least for a few months
Definitely not going anywhere near recreational stimulants probably for the rest of my life, which is a bit sad. As I said before I haven't played with them for several years but it was nice to have the option.

 

[Ismene2]

He chose the pig valve

Hes doing well but oinks when stressed..

 

[axe battler]

Oh god that sounds scary. My dad's recently been released from hossie due to protein build up in his heart, but he's an old man.

Since I've read it's hereditary, j can't stop thinking about my heartbeat and constantly feel like I have arrithmia now!!

I'm glad you're gonna recover. Sounds like you're gonna keep it sensible by avoiding stims.

 

[Safrolette]

Oh god that sounds scary. My dad's recently been released from hossie due to protein build up in his heart, but he's an old man.
Since I've read it's hereditary, j can't stop thinking about my heartbeat and constantly feel like I have arrithmia now!!
glad you're gonna recover. Sounds like you're gonna keep it sensible by avoiding stims.

Sorry to hear about your father, if you are worried about the fact that it's hereditary maybe you could research further to see if there are any lifestyle changes you can make to prevent it (or maybe you have already done so!)
I'm with you about the mind playing tricks when it comes to physical ailments

 

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks Chinup, it's okay, compared to what other people go through what happened to me is nothing, really, just taking some time to adjust mentally more than anything else. As Arnold says, it's important how to react to stress, which is inevitable, but easier said that done!
I'm sorry to hear of your lung issues, I hope you will be able to resolve them x

yes, i've spent the last 3 years trying to learn how to react to stress.... and the past half hour unbelievably wound up. so its a work in progress. have you tried meditation? i don't find it works to destress me, but when i have a regular practice, i am much better at not reacting to stress.

and thank you. i'll get my diagnosis in january. they are starting to think it may be more something with my throat, cos my actual lung function is fine. i guess that's kinda better, maybe?

 

[MsDiz]

I'd feel embarassed in asking a GP if I can get drunk and smoke spliffs! And probably the answer is no, at least for a few months
Definitely not going anywhere near recreational stimulants probably for the rest of my life, which is a bit sad. As I said before I haven't played with them for several years but it was nice to have the option.

Don’t feel embarrassed, a GP will give you an honest answer. Smoking weed isn’t the worst thing in the world at all and nor is drinking. You are best to speak to your GP and he/she will respect your honesty.

Stimulants with a heart condition are a no go.

I’m sorry you’ve had a shit time!

Mindfulness apps are a good thing to look into. Daily meditation is great also! It sounds super cliche but the more you do it the easier it gets. Yoga is a great relaxing exercise that combines the mind and body with breath work. You can find some great tutorials on YouTube for free.

 

[JohnnyVodka]

Don’t feel embarrassed, a GP will give you an honest answer. Smoking weed isn’t the worst thing in the world at all and nor is drinking. You are best to speak to your GP and he/she will respect your honesty.

Stimulants with a heart condition are a no go.

I’m sorry you’ve had a shit time!

Mindfulness apps are a good thing to look into. Daily meditation is great also! It sounds super cliche but the more you do it the easier it gets. Yoga is a great relaxing exercise that combines the mind and body with breath work. You can find some great tutorials on YouTube for free.

I quite like Kassandra's yoga channel on you tube. Takes a while to get into and you might not get what you were expecting, but I'm quite enjoying it after a couple of months.

 

[blondin]

I knew Genesis P Orridge very well (in their Psychic TV days) use to record in the same studio as us and I went to umpteen gigs and played with them at some.