Life after a Heart Attack or Heart Surgery | Mental, Emotional & Practical Heart Health Wellness

Episode

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  069 Cardiac Chat with Andrew Pike - Pumphead & Open Heart Surgery, the Recovery No One Talks About 17.08.2026 53mnt

  Sallie Crawley talks with filmmaker Andrew Pike about his experience of open-heart surgery, the emotional and cognitive aftermath that followed, and the making of his film Pumphead. Andrew’s surgery was physically successful, but once he returned home, he began to experience confusion, disorientation, difficulty connecting with others, and a frightening sense that something was very wrong. Despite being told that his heart was doing well, Andrew knew that emotionally and mentally, he was not ...
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  068 Is It Normal to Feel Like This After a Heart Attack or Heart Surgery? 03.08.2026 13mnt

  Is it normal to feel anxious, frightened, angry, overwhelmed, or emotional after a heart attack, heart surgery, or another cardiac event? The answer is yes. In this episode, we're talking about the emotional impact of cardiac recovery and why so many people struggle with feelings that nobody warned them about. You'll learn about the difference between the common "cardiac blues" and symptoms of trauma, including anxiety, panic, sleeplessness, avoidance, flashbacks, irritability, and fear. We'l...
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  067 Relax - I Am Allowed to Cry for Emotional Healing After a Cardiac Event 20.07.2026 33mnt

  Have you found yourself crying unexpectedly since your heart attack, heart surgery, cardiac arrest or cardiac diagnosis? Perhaps the tears arrive when someone asks how you are, when a hospital letter comes through the door, when you look at your scar or when you realise how much your life has changed. You may even feel that you should be grateful, positive or simply pleased to be alive. But gratitude does not cancel out grief. You can feel fortunate to have survived and still feel sad about w...
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  066 Understanding "Pumphead" and the Heart-Brain Connection after Heart Surgery 06.07.2026 13mnt

  The Rhythm of Recovery: Why You Feel "Disconnected" After Surgery. Have you had heart surgery, only to find that while your "plumbing" is mended, your mind feels like it’s still buffering? You’re not alone. Many survivors experience "Pumphead" (Post-Perfusion Syndrome), that strange sense of brain fog, anxiety, or detachment that hits after cardiopulmonary bypass. In this episode, we’re looking at the medical side of PPS, but we’re also exploring a fascinating, holistic perspective: the...
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  065 Reiki for the Heart - A Gentle Journey to Heal after a Cardiac Event 24.06.2026 13mnt

  After a heart event, the emotional storm can be just as taxing as the physical recovery. In this episode, we explore how Reiki, a Japanese energy healing practice, can act as a gentle lifeline to help you reclaim your calm. In this episode, we discuss: The Emotional Aftermath: Dealing with the fear and "body betrayal" that often follows a heart attack.What is Reiki? A simple breakdown of how this non-invasive, complementary therapy works.The Benefits for "Hearties": From lower blood pressure ...
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  064 Loss of Taste after a Heart Attack or Cardiac Surgery 08.06.2026 13mnt

  Have your favourite foods started tasting strange after a heart attack or heart surgery? In this episode, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough - changes in taste after a cardiac event. If coffee suddenly tastes disgusting…If chocolate no longer hits the spot…If everything feels metallic, bland or just “off”…You are not imagining it and you are not alone. In this episode, I share: Why taste changes can happen after heart surgery or a heart attackThe role of ne...
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  063 Preparing for Heart Surgery - Before, During & After 25.05.2026 24mnt

  Are you waiting for heart surgery and feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure what to expect? In this episode, I guide you through every stage of preparation – physically, mentally, and practically – so you can enter surgery feeling empowered, supported, and ready for recovery. We cover: How to prepare your body for surgery with nutrition, exercise, and medication tips.Ways to reduce stress and anxiety leading up to your operation.Practical advice on what to pack for the hospital and how...
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  062 How to Overcome the Fear of Dying after a Cardiac Event 11.05.2026 22mnt

  After a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or open heart surgery, something shifts. Even when your body is healing, your mind can feel on constant alert. Every twinge feels suspicious. Every flutter feels dangerous. And beneath it all … there can be a quiet, persistent fear: “What if it happens again?” “What if I die?” In this episode, I’m talking openly about the nagging fear of death that so many people experience after a cardiac event, even years later. We explore: Why this f...
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  061 Relax - Every Day I Expect Magic to Happen in My Life 27.04.2026 17mnt

  Today, we explore the powerful intersection of brain science and belief. We dive into the Reticular Activating System (RAS) - the brain’s gatekeeper - and how it filters the world based on what you focus on. By consciously expecting "magic," you program your unconscious mind to find evidence of beauty, opportunity, and joy that you might otherwise miss. Highlights: The RAS Factor: Understanding how your brainstem regulates focus and alertness.The Cocktail Party Effect: Why you hear your name ...
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  060 A Heart-Led Membership Club for Cardiac Recovery 12.04.2026 11mnt

  Heart disease isn’t just a physical journey - it’s emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual. In this episode, I’m opening my heart to share something new I’ve been creating: a membership club designed for people living with heart disease or recovering from a cardiac event. I talk honestly about the emotional reality of heart disease, the fear, anxiety, grief, and overwhelm that come with it and why I felt compelled to create a space that supports your whole-person recovery. Inside this hear...
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  059 Frank’s Crease - Your Earlobe’s Secret Heart Clue or Just Skin Deep? 29.03.2026 11mnt

  Have you ever noticed a diagonal crease on your earlobe and wondered if it means something serious? In this episode, we explore Frank’s Crease (also known as Frank’s Sign), the line across the earlobe that some researchers have linked to heart disease. If you’re living with or beyond a heart attack, cardiac surgery, heart failure or a diagnosis that changed everything, it’s so easy for small things to trigger big anxiety. So today, we gently unpack: • What Frank’s Crease actually is • W...
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  058 Embracing the Both/And Mindset for Heart Health Recovery 16.03.2026 16mnt

  Have you ever felt grateful to be alive… and deeply anxious at the same time? Relieved your surgery is over… and frustrated that recovery feels slow? Motivated to change your lifestyle… and grieving your old one? If so, you are not doing recovery wrong. In this episode, we explore the powerful mindset shift of Both/And thinking — a compassionate way of allowing two truths to exist at the same time without judgment. After a cardiac event, many people fall into “either/or” thinking: I’m coping ...
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  057 Travelling Abroad with a Heart Condition, after a Heart Attack or Cardiac Surgery 04.03.2026 16mnt

  Can You Really Go on Holiday After a Heart Attack or Surgery? Here’s How to Travel Without Worry Planning a holiday after a heart attack, heart surgery, or living with heart disease can feel overwhelming. Should you fly? Is hot weather dangerous? What about travel insurance? What if something happens while you’re away?In this episode, I gently walk you through how to travel safely and confidently after a cardiac event, covering the practical steps and the emotional preparation...
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  056 Cardiac Podcast Rename with a Chance to Win a Heart Recovery Book 23.02.2026 8mnt

  The hospital fixed your heart, but who is helping you heal your mind? After 55 episodes of navigating the emotional, mental, and practical side of heart recovery together, I have some big news to share. As we look toward the future of this community, I want to make sure our "signpost"—the name and look of this show—is as clear and welcoming as possible for the person who needs it most. In this episode, I’m announcing a major rebrand and I want YOU to help me choose our new n...
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  055 Relax - I Adapt and Adjust to What Is 04.02.2026 19mnt

  A relaxamation to help you adapt to life’s changes after a heart attack or cardiac surgery. I will guide you through a gentle journey of relaxation and with the affirmation “I adapt and adjust to what is.” You'll learn how to reduce resistance, find emotional flexibility, and rebuild confidence. What You’ll Experience: Progressive body relaxationA quiet the mindThe affirmation “I adapt and adjust to what is”Emotional groundingRenewed confidence in your ability to adaptSelf-Reflect...
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  054 Journey to End-of-Life Peace: Planning with Love, Purpose & Kindness 21.01.2026 14mnt

  End-of-life planning doesn’t have to be scary. In this episode, Sallie Crawley gently guides you through how to plan your care, medical wishes, and farewell in a way that brings clarity, comfort, and peace for both you and your loved ones. Through heartfelt personal stories, practical advice, and compassionate guidance, Sallie shows how even small decisions—from choosing music for a ceremony to writing a will can transform fear into reassurance, grief into meaningful remembrance, and uncertai...
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  053 GTN & Vasodilators - Managing Angina Effectively 07.01.2026 10mnt

  In this episode, I will explain what vasodilators are, the difference between short-acting and long-acting nitrates, and how to use GTN spray and tablets safely. Learn about common side effects, emergency tips, and practical advice for living confidently with angina. Key Points Covered: How vasodilators work to improve blood flow and reduce heart workloadShort-acting vs long-acting nitratesStep-by-step instructions for GTN tablets and sprayWhat to do in an angina emergencyCommon side effects ...
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  052 Why Saying THE Heart Attack vs MY Heart Attack Matters 31.12.2025 12mnt

  Reclaiming Your Life Story: Why “A Heart Attack” or “The Heart Attack” Matters More Than “My Heart Attack”. The words we use to describe a health event can influence how we cope, heal, and view ourselves. In this episode, I explore why saying “a heart attack” or “the heart attack” instead of “my heart attack” can empower recovery, reduce fear, and help you reclaim your story. You’ll learn practical tips for shifting language, distancing yourself from illness labels, and building emotion...
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  051 Relax - I Trust Myself to find Moderation 24.12.2025 20mnt

  I will guide you through a relaxamation session that supports balanced living and moderation during the festive season. Using gentle relaxation, body awareness, and the affirmation “I trust myself to find balance and moderation”, this session helps people living with cardiac conditions enjoy celebrations with confidence and calm. Not sure what a Relaxamation is? You can find more information here: Episode 22 called Relaxamations Explained - The Big Calm & The Feel-Good Factor Who It’s For...
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  050 Quitting Smoking - The Voice That Says You Can’t 17.12.2025 13mnt

  Today, I explore the hidden psychology behind why it can be so difficult to quit smoking after a cardiac event, especially when you’ve tried before. Discover how your brain’s limbic system tricks you into believing you can’t cope without nicotine, and how to rewire that inner dialogue using calm, compassionate, and evidence-based tools. What You’ll Learn: The real reason your brain resists quitting - and it’s not lack of willpowerHow to spot the “limbic lies” that tell you you’ll ...