My best chance at life

After a shock diagnosis and triple heart bypass, Sue Maidens needed some intensive support and therapy. Beverley Hunt spoke to her about how One You Kent and our Cardiac Rehabilitation Service helped her get back on track

Sue Maidens thought the pains in her arm and jaw were just the tell-tale signs to stop smoking.

In fact, they were something a lot more serious. And it wasn’t until the 56-year-old contacted One You Kent for support and she was in the process of quitting, that she received her shocking diagnosis.

The mum-of-three from Ashford, said: “I’d started walking more during lockdown with my family. We’d reached up to 10 to 15km walks, but I kept getting these pains. I didn’t think they were a sign of anything sinister.

“I thought quitting smoking would help me get fitter. I had previously lost more than five stone with Slimming World, so I had spoken to One You Kent and started using patches and getting ready to quit.”

But in September last year, during an angiogram at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford where doctors assessed blockages in the arteries of her heart, Sue was given the shocking news she needed to be transferred to King’s Hospital in London for an emergency triple heart by-pass.

She stopped smoking the same day.

Doctors told Sue her weight loss and quitting smoking were the best things she could have done to improve her chances of making a good recovery.

Sue said: “My doctor told me those pains probably would have been a major heart attack if I hadn’t already lost the weight. Staying smokefree was now really important. It was a tough time for me and my family. My adviser Elena McEwan was a massive help. She would call and ask me how I was doing or ask what the doctors had said, I really appreciated that.”

After the initial recovery from her heart operation, Sue started the process of getting her fitness back with KCHFT’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Team. Patients are offered lifestyle and exercise support to help them reduce their risk of further cardiac events.

The team offers one-to-one support and classes in person and virtually. Sue went along to a class in Park Farm, Ashford with Exercise Physiologist Angela Hinkley.

Angela said: “It was important to build Sue’s confidence and get her exercising at the level she needed to improve her heart health after surgery. She attended a class for eight weeks and has now returned to work feeling fully recovered. Her fitness improved over the time she was with us and she is now regularly walking at a brisk pace.”

Sue said: “I’d like to thank the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team – they helped me so much. The first phone calls after my operation were very helpful answering all my questions. Having face-to-face exercise classes was a real turning point in my journey. There were times I doubted my return to fitness but the gentle, well managed exercise classes and constant encouragement were brilliant. This service is delivered by some wonderful, friendly, professional people in a safe, secure and welcoming environment.”

Sue is now back to working full-time as a healthy living centre manager and out on her walks again with her family.

She said: “I managed a 7km walk the other day, the longest I have managed since the operation. I’m so pleased I started my journey to a healthier lifestyle when I did. If I hadn’t lost the weight, started exercising and then quit smoking when I did, who knows what could have happened.”