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I had a heart attack Oct 2, 2009

post #1 of 24
10/10/09 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
Hey everyone,

Last Friday I had a heart attack. A fairly large one apparently. I'm 40 years old. Family history dictates I'm right on target as both my father and his father had their first at 35 and 40 respectively. I say first as they've each had at least 4. They're now 65 and 87. Of course my dietary habits, type 'A' personality, and stressed-out nature contributed I'm certain. I also had my suspicions this was coming as I've had signs that I ignored months before it finally happened.

The catherization showed the cleared blockage using a cardiac stent and also showed blockages in several other arteries that they didn't clear because of the risk factors.

I felt fine right after the stent was put in. I'm one of those guys that only sees medical professionals when they are in extreme pain or dying. The last time I saw one voluntarily was when I had a kidney stone. One I had for a week before it passed. If you've never had a kidney stone, to put it mildly, it's highly painful.

I almost didn't go this time. But the pain was higher than my usually high tolerance. So in I went. I went in Friday and was released that Monday.

I kind of felt like Superman right after the surgery. I can do anything right? I don't need rest! Hell, I'll do as I please! I defied death and said 'screw you'! Right?

Then why has this thrown me for a loop? In front of family and others I put on a strong front since I despise being coddled or handled with kid gloves or tended to. But I kind of feel wiped out. And it makes me very angry. I was fine until yesterday I just felt exhausted. I let things go I'd never do before.

I'm not looking for symapthy or anything. I think I just needed to vent at the suggestion of a fellow Head-Fier. So thanks for reading.

Oh yeah, I'm not going to slow down any unless I physically can't so please don't suggest I hibernate for 6 weeks. Lmao!

Peace,

Ross
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post #2 of 24
10/10/09 at 1:38pm
read and humbly noted. i am same when it comes to receiving medical help, its always as a last resort

i am glad you are still here and i think in a way you can take solice with the fact that your father and your grandfather, although have suffered heart attacks have made it through which is a strong indicator you will too

take care and you can learn to slow down mentally a bit also if you dont want to pyhsically be restricted, the mind is very strong and can be a great tool if used positively in unison with your body

i have had a slight heart condition from birth, nothing major but it basically runs inneficiently due to chamber and valve anomalies and gets more overworked from less than it should do comparitively and stupidly i long ago severed all links with the medical checkups and tests and all that jazz that monitored it all - meh

i seem to be very squeamish with talk of hearts, lungs and alike, but bizarrely gore and blood dont bother me, but my heart does, i remember one away training first aid fortnight where we would watch several videos including accidents and other not very nice scenes, a lot walked out at that visceral type of visual, it bothered me not, but i noticed that when they were showing a guy going through his rather unhealthy daily routine, they had an audio overlay of a heart beat getting very slowly but surely louder and faster over the course of 20 mins of video, i was the only person who left for a breather, as my mind let it in and the heartbeat had wound me up and made me a bit panicky - no one else was affected so by the more subtle approach!

rambling now, but glad you are ok and long may it continue!
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post #3 of 24
10/10/09 at 1:45pm
Hi Ross,

Thanks for sharing this with us. Cheers and good heath!
I had a friend who died of a heart attack last year at the age of 46. Earlier this year another friend had a mild one and he is only 41.
I wouldn't say slowing down but there are things that we can do as we get to 40. For a start I don't smoke anymore!
-Paul
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post #4 of 24
10/10/09 at 4:08pm
Take that plavix and eat lots of fish. Peace out!
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post #5 of 24
10/10/09 at 4:24pm
Quote:
But I kind of feel wiped out.
That's because you just had a heart attack and a major medical procedure! Seriously, take it easy for a while. You indicated you have other blockages that they didn't do anything about. Are they going to do something in the future? I am not about to preach to you on how you need to take care of yourself now and going forward but now may be a good time to re-evaluate your health habits.
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post #6 of 24
10/10/09 at 4:28pm
Hey Ross, I'm sorry to hear that you were sick but pleased that you're better.
-Type-A personalities gotta watch-it. My dear old Dad stroked at 48 while he was jogging one morning. He recovered well, though it was astonishing to his family to see how long it took for him to work through all the overwhelming emotions elicited by realizations of mortality, personal limitation, the body's fragility, the limits of personal control. . . . He has always been a man who only cautiously acknowledged and expressed strong emotions like grief and fear, and the experience scared the hell out of him.
-I'm sure that's not you, but just give yourself some time to reacquaint yourself with life. You might find that there's some wild stuff that rises out of this kind of chaos.

But then, if you're just bored, and you feel a yen to exhaust a lot of aimless rage over Skull Kandies, Bose Triports, Boutique interconnects, the merits of balanced termination, and the inexplicable idiocy of ['insert headfi username here'] just let us know. We'll always be here for you, if you need us.
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post #7 of 24
10/10/09 at 4:29pm
I'm glad you're OK. But you should rethink your determination not to take time off. Take a vacation and do something you want to do. Yeah, you'll be away. You'll be away if you die, too. People can get on without you there. Not that you aren't appreciated and don't work hard, but the gaps always get filled in when someone is gone.

Go take some time off, do what you want to do and don't worry about the consequences.

Also, near death experiences are liberating. I just about got whacked in a accident (not my fault) several years ago. Since, I've taken a "f*** it, I'm doing what I want while I still can" attitude towards life. It's worth it.
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post #8 of 24
10/10/09 at 7:01pm
If I wrote my story it would be pretty much the same. I didn't have a heart attack but I did have severe angina and finally broke down and paid the doctor a visit one Friday. Tests didn't look good, so like you, they did a stress test and cath to find one blocked pretty good, so in went 2 stents. Again, like yourself I feel like a million, but I know that if I don't change my diet and get some moderate aerobic exercise that it will happen again soon.
If I may, I would like to suggest a book that I had a friend recommend. Should you decide to give it a whirl I really think you will find it very enlightening. It really is a multifaceted read.

Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs or Surgery

I'm 42 btw. Stents were implanted about 2 months ago.
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post #9 of 24
10/10/09 at 7:41pm
Glad you're ok man, but you might want to take a bit of a break or slowdown a bit, at least until it fully sinks in. Its pretty weird how we all get life changing events but don't really let them sink in until we finally stop, take a deep breath and just let that weight and burden off our minds. I mean you can put it off by getting back "into life" but it might be better if you let things sink it at your own terms rather than down the line when you're talking to your friends and family and random stuff just flies out of your mouth about your heart attack.

Good luck
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post #10 of 24
10/10/09 at 7:47pm
I am glad you're okay, and will be praying for you. It never hurts to pray
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post #11 of 24
10/10/09 at 9:04pm
Damn dude, 40 is pretty young. If this is your first brush with mortality, you're handling it well. I agree with your spirit, live on your terms.
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post #12 of 24
10/10/09 at 10:21pm
Hoping you have a speedy recovery,take care of yourself and god bless!
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post #13 of 24
10/11/09 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone!

I'm not sure what I was expecting to feel like after but it's strange. What I haven't yet felt was the overwhelming need to transform my life or feel 'converted' in anyway.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your support!

Peace,

Ross
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post #14 of 24
10/11/09 at 12:38am
I hope your cardiologist referred you to a cardiac rehabilitation program. If not, you should really look into it.
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post #15 of 24
10/11/09 at 5:02am
Thanks for sharing the whole story.

I think something like this has the power to really put things in perspective, both for yourself and maybe for someone who reads it. Despite being almost 2x younger, I am right with you with the whole medical professional thing - not happening unless I've been completely incapacitated and someone drags me down by force. Big deal, people say, plenty of time - you'll come around. But no, even in my short experience I've realized that people rarely change, especially when it comes to habits like not visiting doctors when it is clearly time to.

I say keep your spirits up, and the refectory period will pass as they always do. There are always people around (close and far) to give support, even if you must put up a tough front around those nearest and dearest to you.

Cheers
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