life after a heart attack and stent

[baer1]

My husband had a massive heart attack and had a stent put in this past January. He is doing very well and attending rehab.The love of his life is sailboat racing...will he ever be able to sail again and hoist a sail or pull on the rigging? Right now the doctor will only allow him to lift 20 pounds. Does this ever change?

[pilgrim56]

I had a large heart attack in Dec 2005 and had a stent put in. For 4 months after it, I was only allow to lift 10 lbs, and then it was raise to 35 lbs. My Dr kept at the 35 lb limit for about a year and then there were no restrictions.

It seem to me that the weight restrictions were negotiable to a certain extent.

The main thing is that he will get better. It will take time but he should get better.

[Encephalomalcia]

Because of the stent, it is not good to over-use the arms.  Everyone that I know that has a stent or more than one stent, doctor adviced them not to use their arms in excess.  Vacuuming, shoveling, mowing, washing kitchen floor, etc. should be limited.  Once a person has a massive heart attack, their life is changed.  Make sure that he takes his medication as the doctor prescribes and eats healthy (fresh vegetables).  My mom had a 5 pound limit on her lifting. She had CHF and only had a few small heart attacks, but had blockage, valve problems, and cardiomyopathy.