Bill and Vicki's story
Already taking medication for high blood
pressure and high cholesterol, Bill Whyte suddenly experienced a
sharp, stabbing pain in his left shoulder that just wouldn't go
away.
Daughter Vicki said he should call NHS Direct, who sent an
ambulance. When they arrived at A&E it was discovered that Bill
was having a heart attack.
Bill's family had a
history of heart problems, but it still came as a shock.
He says: "When they told me I was having a heart attack, the
first thing that went through my mind was 'I'm not going to get out
of here'."
Luckily, Bill did get out of hospital, and now says he feels
he's been given a second chance.
Bill registered for Heart Matters,
our free service to help you stay healthy. He has now lost four
stone by changing his diet and exercising more. Our Heart Matters
healthy curry recipe is one of his favourites.
Don't worry, just pick up the phone and speak to them. It was absolutely brilliant.
Our Heart Helpline also helped Bill
find a bit of reassurance.
He says: "Don't worry, just pick up the phone and speak to them.
It was absolutely brilliant."
A worried daughter
Vicki was as shocked as her Dad to find out that what she first
thought was a pulled shoulder was in fact a heart attack symptom.
When Bill came back from hospital, it was hard for him to rest,
and Vicki worried about him being home alone. The whole family was
affected.
She says: "It wasn’t just him that suffered, we all had some
emotional response."
Vicki and her mum have joined in with Bill's brilliant efforts
at changing his diet and lifestyle, although they do still like to
indulge themselves with a cake every now and then.
Our Heart Matters magazine gives
them comfort too. Vicki says: "The personal stories showed us that
you can move on with your life after you’ve had a heart
attack."
