My B****** Heart

By Tony Richens-Smith

Having a heart attack is not great at any time …

Having one during the Covid Pandemic is particularly stupid!

This is exactly what happened to the author in February 2021.

 

What follows is a deeply personal journey - a no holds barred account of the highs, lows and downright ridiculous situations that occurred.

It is often humorous but full of emotion as he takes the reader through his attempts to adjust to life after a major heart event and how he and his family come to terms with a "new normal".

 

"If you have had a heart attack or love someone that has, this book is well worth picking up." ~ Sallie Crawley

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tony Richens-Smith
• Release date: Aug 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201146399

Book preview

Also by Tony Richens-Smith

Not Everyone Wants A Hug

My B****** Heart

MY B****** HEART

A personal journey of having a heart attack in the middle of the Covid Pandemic

Tony Richens-Smith

Copyright © Tony Richens-Smith 2021

Cover Art by Mandy Richens-Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author. An exception is made expressly for the use of brief quotations to be used in articles, reviews or other pages, which cites both the book title and author.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this book, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any damages which may result from the use of the information presented in the book.

The moral right of Tony Richens-Smith to be recognised as the author has been asserted.

Imprint: Independently Published

I dedicate this book to my B****** Heart

Having a heart attack is not great at any time…

Having one during the Covid Pandemic is particularly stupid!

This is exactly what happened to the author in February 2021.

What follows is a deeply personal journey - a no holds barred account of the highs, lows and downright ridiculous situations that occurred.

It is often humorous but full of emotion as he takes the reader through his attempts to adjust to life after a major heart event and how he and his family come to terms with a new normal.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Part 1: The Event

It was a day like any other

Do as you're told

The Three Amigos

Part 2: The Recovery

What the hell are you doing?

To Stent or Not to Stent; That is the question

Time to take Control

He's a very naughty boy!

Part 3: Practical Stuff

"Taking whatever control, I could"

Emotions and Annoyances

Food and Diet

Memes for Loved Ones

Final Thoughts

Glossary

Useful Links

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are so many people I need to thank for helping me to get to this point.

My colleagues at Booths supermarket, for making sure I didn’t try to work through that fateful day and for checking up on me afterwards. I miss you guys!

My family and all the professionals whose quick actions prevented it from being my very last day. 

The NHS in its entirety, for patching me up, looking after me (providing me with clean pyjamas, cups of tea, etc.) and helping to rehabilitate me. In a crisis, you cannot beat our NHS!

The British Heart Foundation for their emotional support - a very happy 60th birthday in 2021. Please help them to continue their fantastic work by supporting them in any way you can (joining, donating, visiting charity shops etc.).

My family (again) and my friends, for being there throughout the good times, the laughter and the tears, and for putting up with me. Which reminds me, to my long-suffering wife - Mandy… you are still the best!

Special mention goes to Sallie Crawley. Without your encouragement to share my story, this book would have been for my eyes only. Agreeing to write the foreword is the sweet icing on this bitter cake…

Extra special mention must go to Will and Jim (The Amigos), who kept me sane in hospital and have been a huge part of my recovery. Thank you, guys. 

Finally, I need to acknowledge and thank my B****** Heart. Without you, this book would definitely, never have been written! Keep ticking on…

FOREWORD

By Sallie Crawley

I first ‘virtually’ met Tony when I was writing my first book. I was asking for heart attack survivors to give me feedback as to whether they thought the content would make a real difference to the lives of people when they were discharged from hospital. Little did I know that he was an established author (gulp) until after he had agreed to review it.

He was really supportive and as we got to know each other he shared his story of having his myocardial infarction (heart attack) during the COVID19 pandemic. Having a cardiac event is scary but during a pandemic it must have been terrifying. It was then that I invited Tony to be my guest on the My Heart & Mind podcast, so he could share his story and it would be able to reassure many others that they were not alone and how they felt was totally valid.

There are many books and support information available from the NHS and the BHF, much of these focus on the lifestyle changes required to reduce your risk factors. Tony, like many others experienced the emotional and psychological impact that can follow an event. Due to being in lockdown it served to only intensify his feelings and because of the effect on hospitals and cardiac rehab, all personal support and shared experiences was dramatically reduced.

Tony tells a serious story in a way that is light humoured and easy to read. He tells the real story of his life just before, his heart attack and his recovery in an open and honest way. He shares with you the changes he made and how he felt being isolated in hospital, and again once he was home. He opens his heart to you, sharing the doubts, questions and thoughts that crossed his mind.

This book isn’t just for survivors but for their loved ones too. They are often forgotten in the turmoil of the roller coaster of recovery yet the impact of a heart attack on them can be immense. His wife, Mandy, shares her thoughts and feelings, along with her side of the story that I guess Tony wasn’t aware of at the time.

I found it triggered me in a good way and helped me to process my own experience. Even 5 years on, I still can’t believe it happened to me! As I read this book, I felt a compassion that I was understood. I learnt a few things, as well as having a smile on my face. It was also good to know I am not the only person that gets frustrated with the pharmaceutical companies.

If you have had a heart attack or love someone that has, this book is well worth picking up. It will help you to communicate with others, feel part of a family that understands and can help you come to terms with life. It’s a personal account of one man’s lockdown heart attack, endearing, comforting and informational. It has some interesting and humorous stories and some ideas for you to try at home.

I am honoured to write the foreword for this book and will certainly be recommending it to others that feel alone and misunderstood.

Sallie Crawley

Sallie is the author of The Basics of Heart Health Management at Home. Supporting you with the practical and emotional side of life when living with heart disease.

INTRODUCTION

Heart attacks are a serious business, as anyone who is fortunate enough to survive one will tell you. In fact, I am telling you, right now! There is often pain, FEAR, blue flashing lights, various treatments, lots of scary sounding words that mean nothing to you (often for days and weeks after), tablets, tablets and even more tablets, levels of