Hi Cliffman,

Heart attacks are a real kick in the chest - mine hurt like heck, dropped me to the floor! It is great that stents saved you, I have avoided any so far despite becoming Brady Hypotensive during a check-up angiogram.

You have been given good advice and ideas regarding your pain, but I feel you also need to address the Depression you have, naturally, found yourself slipping into. This comes after a major event, especially when you end up with painful complications you are having difficulty finding cause of.

I would suggest you bring this up with your GP and see if there is a Therapist s/he can refer you to in order to talk this out. It may be found that you need a little while on antidepressants, but the alternative - a possible deepening of the Depression - is worse. Remember, mental state has a very real and direct effect on physical symptoms. That is not to say the pain is in your head, it is not, but when our Mood is low our our pain levels escalate.

Feel free to talk about this, or any of your issues or concerns, across the Forums.

Dave.