dad diagnosed with coronary heart disease - what do I need to know?

[jeangenie]

my dad has always been very healthy, plays sport, walks a lot, eats really healthily, never smoked, doesn't drink a lot...he is 73 but you'd think he was 5-10 year syounger but he went for an angiogram last week and
apparently one of his arteries is so badly blocked in 4 places that they can't even do a bypass He is going on medication for 2 months and then they'll do the stress test (treadmill I think) again to see if its helping

he had some tingling etc a couple of weeks ago when on hols and his wife insisted he went to GP when he got back, but he really only did it to keep her happy, I don't think he ever expected this

I just want to know this isn't terminal if it is managed ok, but that fact that he is so far gone they can't do a bypass has really thrown me

is this really bad then?

anyone?

no idea but bumping for you...

So sorry to hear your dad is poorly. Have you gotten any answers yet ?

Take Care
x

jeangenie, have you looked at the British Heart Foundation's website?

It's very helpful.

nhs direct also have good helpful advice

The followign is a ROUGH GUIDE from an advanced first aider, not a medical professional

If he has been given a spray or meds make sure you all know where they are and that he keeps them about him at all times

would be reassuring for you and everyone around him to know how to spot and what to do about:

• angina (pain/restricted blood supply to heart but heart still working, should pass by itself with rest + meds if he has been given them)
• heart attack/MI - blood supply cuts off to part of heart; heart still beats but not very effectively; patient often still conscious and will be breathing
• cardiac arrest - heart stops beating, breathing stops

St John do very simple training courses for cpr and they may be running Breath of Life in your area which is a walk-in half hour of training. Quick action and good CPR can make a HUGE difference in case of a cardiac arrest, but what you see on the tv is NOT how to do it!!!

Find out who in your local town/area have public access defibrillators - Early Learning Centre, railway stations often have them (phone your ambulance trust and talk to the County Defibrillation Officer or similar job title)

Best wishes

Oh, and get a cholesterol test yourself - high cholesterol is often genetic and nothign to do with what you eat or how you live your life. if you are unlucky enough to be prone to it you can take meds now that will stop your arteries furring up in the future

Sorry to hear about your dad. I think it would be a good idea to see a dietician and have a chat about his diet even though it sounds ok. Sometimes these diseases are familial, as in family history and therefore can happen out of the blue.

He needs to not stop his sport and keep active, but maybe in a slighty more restrained way.

You must also now not let him give up, as this can happen as he may think there is no hope.

Medication can work really well combined with everything else.

Unfortunatly when you get to your dads age, things happen and the human body lets you down.

Hope this helps. P.s, you also should remain positive with him.

awh thanks guys

I will remain positive with him for sure...I was just really worried that it might mean curtains sooner rather than later. I am in a different country to him so can't speak to his drs and feel quite disjointed from it - so worry I am missing something that is being said between the lines if you like

I lost my mum to breast cancer 15 years ago and I did miss all the warning signs that it was terminal and that she would be gone so fast, so I just wanted to try to understand what the likely outcome is in case that happens again

sounds like meds will help though

good point about getting my own cholestrol checked. Dad certainly hasn't abused his body, even mildly, so we do think it must be hereditary

playing a waiting game now until he has another stress test, unless something dramatic happens in the meantime (fingers crossed not)