My Heart Attack
My Heart AttackI was 49, now 50 year old male. On May 16,2016 at 6:30 am I had my heart attack. I was making the bed. Wife getting ready for work and oh my god, I can't catch my breath. Stand there trying to breathe. Look at my wife and say I think something is wrong. She asks are you ok . No I need to go to bathroom, I can't stop this pain in my chest. Are you having a Heart Attack ? I think I might be. With out to many details everything that happens during a heart attack started. When my arm went numb I said we need to go right now. At this point my mind started working. We live 18min from hospital, no way I'm waiting for an ambulance to get here I'll be dead. For what ever reason I thought no way they are cutting my shirt off , so I put a button up on. My wife asks what are you doing .. Changing my shirt. On the drive all I remember is, get me there, get me there. When we rounded the corner to hospital about 1/4 mile I lost conciseness . Came to when vehicle stopped at emergency door. I remember entering hospital . I remember Dr telling yes you are having a heart attack. We need to get you to Cath Lab or you will die. In and out of awareness. Loaded into ambulance transported to larger hospital. I remember entering surgery room seeing Dr. , feeling a pinch in upper right arm. He said yes you should and I was out. !!! When I woke up I wanted my wife. Dr told us " you are a lucky man. I had a blockage in my LAD, EF of less than 30 % your heart has been damaged, This is serious. You had a bad Heart Attack.
One week in hospital and the dreaded Man Bra ( Zoll Life Vest ). I wore that thing until Aug. 24 when I had my Defibulator implanted. Worst thing I have ever dealt with, but the comfort it gave my brain is how I accepted and dealt with it. Somewhere between May and August I started experiencing some emotions that I was not accustomed to . Called all my Drs. And asked what is going on ? There answer is flood of Hormones to the Brain during the Heart Attack. This is why I am joining AHA. I want some answers that apparently a lot of people are asking.
A little more about me .in 2006 I could not get out of bed. 2009 fusion L3-S1 got very depressed, couldn't work. Blew up. Maximum weight somewhere between 375-400 ( 3-5 years ago ) cholesterol 500? Nuke test , I'm invincible look at me. Started to take things a little more seriously in Nov 2015 . Fusion C6-C7. Worked on Diet. Minimal exercise. The month of May rolls around. WAKE UP CALL !
The Day of Heart Attack my weight was 340 lbs. Cholesterol 258, HDL 38 Triglycerides 339. Around Sept I complete cardiac Therapy, I attend Water Aerobics every night, try to make it 2 times a week during the day. I also lift weights Tue. And Thur. My diet now consists of chicken as my meat 96% of the time. I eat a tremendous amount of vegetables and fruit. My weight is currently 265.4 and dropping. I have a goal of 230 lbs. or lower if possible. My cholesterol is 109, HDL 31, LDL52, triglycerides 128.
I have been dealing/educating myself with all the physical aspects of a heart attack. Made all the necessary life changes for diet and exercise. It's the mental health side of the heart attack I need help/support with this part of my of my overall health. There is more than just " a flood of hormones to the brain .
sincerely LeRoy