I wanted to tell about recent, this past Easter Sunday, diagnosis of takotsubo I was given. Mine was caused by me tripping on a root, on a trail while walking near my home. I slammed down onto my chest, face, arms, had facial laceration with lots of bleeding, facial fracture, bruising everywhere. Neighbors heard me screaming after 15 minutes, came running to help and called my husband and 911. To make a long story short, I spent three days in the cardiac emergency area and after hours of testing was placed on cardiac medications and diagnosed with broken heart (literally) syndrome and am now taking cardiac medications. I also had laceration repair, physical therapy, bruises all over.I am improving and healing well and am told that I will probably be able to go off these meds in a few months. I am 77 and never had any heart problems and am told the trauma caused the rhythm changes and literal broken heart syndrome. Now continuing physical Therapy and seeing cardiologist, and getting my strength back.

I have lost multiple loved ones in death over the years. So, I've known grief. But now, after being a primary caregiver for my widowed Mom (with help from one sister who lives nearby, and another who lives in Central America and helps when she can) for about 4 years in my home, she had to go into a SNF, and it's been almost a year. I could no longer take care of her at home, and NOW I know what a broken heart is. She has never adjusted completely, and her mental,physical and emotional states are declining day by day. She'd always been a "people-person," or so we thought, but now we have come to realize that she is unable to be alone for even a very short period of time without exhibiting phobia and delusions. At least one of us visits her every day, and at seeing us, she cries out like we hadn't been around for years! She berates us for "doing this to her." Now, I know that there was no choice, it's not my "fault." But the guilt feelings continue to break my heart. The "long" goodbye is harder than the actual death.
This article had many good suggestions!! Thank you!

When I had Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, the only negative stress factor was that I had not, and still haven't, grieved for the life together that my husband and I had before his stroke 10 years before. I don't know how to do it, so I just haven't because his mind is good and I would make him feel guilty. The cardiologist said a virus could play a role, but they really don't know yet. And now it's been almost exactly 13 years of caregiving, and I'm no better at dealing with it, except I'm selfish enough to take time for myself, pursuing music I had long neglected and spending short periods with friends. His right side paralysis is curling his foot now, and if podiatry can't help him, he will be unable to walk anymore with his cane. Then what?!! We were too young to have to live like this, but we do. My sister lives next door and keeps an eye on him when I'm gone on vacation, but our children are far, far away. I'm so tired of and angry about this stroke, but there's no choice but to deal with it, whatever that means. We just keep trying to be nice and patient with each other, but it's not at all easy. I just hope I'm doing the right thing when I take the time for myself that I do. Spousal caregivers deserve awards.

I am thinking of getting a live in privately. No agencies. Can't take the stress anymore. Afraid for my own health even though things haven't gotten too bad yet. My mother's bedroom is downstairs and there are 2 bedrms up. Where would the caregiver sleep? In the living room on the couch? The bathroom is downstairs also. She has her own apt but will do live in 6 days a week. She wants 150 day minimum. Should I get someone who needs a place to live and I can pay less like 100 day? I would prefer she had a bedroom to stay in. She won't stay in mother's room in separate bed. I don't know why. She has experience. Another person would accept 120 day because she's fairly new 2 yrs doing this. I was hoping to get a "family" member.

i disagree , cat .
women can change partners in the time it takes to hire an attorney at the husbands expense . men are left devastated after a seperation . women too often
are cheating while their poor , dumb husbands are still working 12 hour days to provide for the family .
look at the divorce stats . 78 % of the women are shucking off the husbands .

Women suffer this more than men because they are more vulnerable. That is also why there are so many stories of people dying after their loved one dies. Be it husband and wife, or caregiver death, the syndrome is real. I saw it in my own family. I've read about this syndrome in popular media many times, but hope that Ann Marie's fine rendition here on AgingCare is a timely reminder to all caregivers that we must beware of letting continued conflict & stress get the better of us. Where we are on this site what we read we pay attention to. Bravo Ann Marie

If anyone had broken heart syndrome, it is me. For many years, at night mostly, my chest would get tight and I couldn't breathe and my arm would get tingly. I was so miserable I would think, "This is it, this is finally going to kill me." I would relax and prepare to die and it would never happen. How can someone have broken heart syndrome for 20 years and still survive?

I had a broken heart "attack" about 2 years ago. It was very scary because I did think I was having a heart attack. I am proud of myself for doing all the right things and getting to the ER within an hour of it's onset. The ER pronounced my situation as a heart attack and it was not until I had a ECHO that they gave the right diagnosis.

I could have been unlucky if I had not gotten to the ER but because I did I have been told there is only a 2% chance of recurrence.

Normally I handle stress pretty well. I meditate, exercise, and make sure to have fun. My stress was from losing 5 clients (I work with seniors) and my best friend's daughter committing suicide. It should be noted that the incident can come from anxiety as well, not just stress.

The lesson is that whether it is a heart attack, or broken heart syndrome the sooner you get to an ER the better.

Well said. And so true.

This is a common sense answer but this is the first time I thought of this. My heart is broken, emotionally because I have lost the love of my life. We were sweethearts, soulmates, lovers, best friends and inseparable for 37 years. He has had Alzheimer's for over 10 years now. Last September I had to put him in a Veterans home for my own safety and peace of mind. I haven't received a Valentine card for the last 4 or 5 years. He wasn't capable of reading or thinking it out anymore. I don't know why this hasn't occurred to me until yesterday. You know how you save all those cards and barely look at them again. Well, yesterday evening I found them, went through them, and pulled all the Valentine's cards from him to me and from me to him. I put them all up on my mantel, well as many as I could fit! The rest are on shelves around the room. I read through each one and thought about all those old feelings that are so precious and treasured to me. What a delightful and wonderful hour I spent reading them all. It made me feel so good and fixed my broken heart for a few hours anyway! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL OF YOU LONELY WIVES AND HUSBANDS. Relive your past! I can still go and give him a big hug at the home. He will smile, and if I'm lucky he might kiss me, might even say, "I love you too!" If he is having a great day!

Thank you 'Livinginthejr' for sharing. I have seriously considered early retirement, but am unable to do that financially at this time. Im single. I will keep your post comments in mind.

This actually happened to me, but the recover is still going on. The rest of my body went haywire; with severe pain; head to toe, severe fatigue, nausea, etc. I spent several times in the hospital for other problems, had my gall bladder removed, hiatal hernia repair and treatment for adrenal failure, The things causing the stress got worse and so did I. I am still in recovery mode. However, things are much better now. I did lose a vital career, my health, credit and savings. But I have learned to pace myself, care for myself as well as I care for others, rest when I need to, and enjoy my life. I took early retirement, just not able to handle much stress anymore. I do not do fast anymore. I will be 60 soon and the quality of my life and my mothers has improved considerably. But it was not without much therapy and support. I had to build a new community of support for myself and mother. I am wondering if others actually have been diagnosed with this syndrome.

Thank you so much for this article on Broken Heart Syndrome- very Informative. I know that The way we process Stress is SO important to our health. Im Diabetic, stress causes Havoc on my blood glucose..Rollercoaster ride highs & lows. (Dangerous Lows) My chest will tighten during these 'Episodes' of Glucose surges up,
then plummet down. (Hypoglycemic Low) Dr. calls it an Stress/Anxiety Reaction. Ok-But What can I do? Other than my 'reaction to the stress.' (I keep my Glucose within gd range otherwise by diet -no Insulin injections) but..stress hits- glucose shoots up then drops very low- quickly. The chest tightening is very scary during this time.

Interesting article...
Just wish that some people would come to realize this. I have chosen to remove myself from certain people to reduce the stress. It is not because I hate them. These are people that I love. It is called "self preservation"! I have done everything that I can and they will be responsible for the decisions that they make. It does take some time to come to that realization. Remember if you are a caregiver, that no one else will take care of you, but YOU!

I live in CA and my mother lives in a private room in OR. I call her at least once a month; I am age 58 and must find clerical work. I have applied for SSDI for a disability in case I cannot earn a substantial income. She always ask me when I come to visit her. We had lived together for over 38 years before she had to move to assisted living. She is age 94. I always tell her that I am working on a CA State job rehab program but will work out a schedule. That is the best I can do with my situation for now.

I almost died of Takotsubo syndrome. I had never heard of it before, and the emergency physician said I was having a heart attack. My heart couldn't pump and I coded blue and ended up in intensive care. I did not have any symptoms usually associated with heart attack: just nausea, dizziness, feeling generally ill. I waited 7 hours before I decided to have it check in the ER! It happened after a very stressful event! I'm still not sure how to know if I'm having TakoTsubo again! So difficult!

Excellent article!

Thank you for the article about broken heart syndrome. That was a wake-up call if every I heard one. I've forwarded it to a contact at the local Council on Aging.