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
I get tired a lot
Sue, 51, 8 months
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
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
Fitter than before.
Anon, 56, 15 months
Slower, but this is mainly due to the underlying cardiomyopathy and not the arrival of my ICD.
Andy, 51, 5 years
Very curious with doing exercise, but had got better after time.
Lee, 37, 5 1/2 years
I can’t excerise as rigerously as I could before
Natasha, 25, 4.5 years
I get very tired
Lisa, 35, 4 months
Yes! ( Not sure if mentally I worry about it) Im much slower and I get very tired quickly.
Robyn, 57, 18 months
Low energy
Tracy, 50, 3 years
Yes, reasonably disabled/slow and appalling memory.
Anon, 36, 11 years
Very tired all day most days
Anon, 70, 10 months
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
Roughly the same a little less fit
Graeme, 36, 10 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
I have less energy
Lynne, 47, 21 months
Tired more often but have to work 4 days for financial reasons.
Joanne, 48, 23 months
Left with heart failure very fatigued and breathless
Dawn, 48, 3 years
Knackered
Michelle, 43, 5 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
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
I am still sore from ICD implant and very tired
Carly, 34, 1 month
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
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
Good
Amy, 30, 2 years and 8 months
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
Beta blockers slow me down cycling up hills but that is all
Stewart, 53, 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 am tired physically and I cannot walk distances like I use to.
Lisa, 40, 7 years
Very short of breath on any exertion unable to walk any distance or do stairs.
Kym, 40, 3 years
Fine
Maureen, 68, 7 years
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
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.
It was such a long time ago so no but my overall heart health has deteriorated due to CHD
Amy, 17, 14 years