anyone out there have experience of looking after someone who has had a heart attack ?

[Debris]

My Mum had a heart attack on Friday , total shock as no previous heart probs , also non smoker , slim etc. She had a stent fitted and came out of hospital Monday, I have been looking after her all this week and Im feeling really anxious , she is very weak and feels quite faint at times , also she keeps having terrible episodes when she falls asleep , and describes it as feeling like she is dragging herself out of a deep black hole and when she forces herself awake , her whole body is rigid. Im so worried and have been spending most of the day with her until my dad gets in from work , Ive just popped home for a little while so she can get some sleep. Its half term and my 2 DDs are so bored , and I feel so guilty , and so worried , and so stressed, can anyone tell me if this all sounds normal ? She looks so dreadful as well , Im just not used to seeing her like this and Im scared.

I'm sorry, no experience, but the British Heart Foundation have a leaflet here about caring for someone with a heart condition, so there may be some info there.

Hope your Mum recovers swiftly.

just wanna second the BHF - brilliant for understandable advice and explanations of what's going on. They have leaflets and phone lines etc! I think you should give them a ring. good luck

Heart HelpLine: 0300 330 3311 (open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm)

Depending on your area your mum should have been seen by a cardiac rehabilitation nurse in hospital, who should also make contact with her within 4 days of discharge (may take a bit longer depending on how busy they are) She should also have been given their contact details so she can get someadvice from them regarding these problems.
I'd make her an appointment to be seen by her GP. The tiredness and weakness can be a side effect of the beta blockers - they slow down the heart rate, reducing the frequency of angina episodes, but when taking them for the first time, they can make one feel very lethargic. Usually it passes after a few weeks, but it's worth asking the GP if the dosage could be reduced to alleviate some of the side effects.
The dizziness is likely to be related some of the other meds (is she on Ramapril , or something else ending in "Pril?")They will lower the blood pressure which, if they're working too well, can cause dizziness - again discuss with the GP changing the timing/dosage of these, to reduce the chances of the side effects being so bothersome.
It can take a while to recover from a heart attack. Your mum should aim to do a little bit of activity every day even just a 5 minute walk , and gradually increase her activity levels. HTH

thanks everyone , I will check all of this out. Ive calmed down a bit and have spoken to a friend whose stepdad had the same proceedure as my mum and he also had awful nightmares and lots of the same symptoms. Its very early days and she has got so much new medication which im sure will take a bit of adjusting to. Feel bit better ,thanks again.