| Author | Message | ||
     Fuzzz |
Well bros and sisters, in the latest chapter of "what kind of weird shit can I survive…" A week ago I had a massive heart attack in my sleep, and since I nightly have pain in my arms I didn’t realize I was in trouble, till several hours later when I spoke with my friend and he couldn’t understand me, so he called an ambulance. All in all, the heart attack lasted about 9 hours, till they got me to surgery and performed a 6 way bypass on my heart. I spent a week in the hospital, and finally talked the doc into sending me home yesterday. I feel so beat up!, I am bruised from head to toe, I have a rather large zipper like suture in the center of my chest with several holes that look like bullet holes, plus all the places they tried to hook me to an IV. The good news is, obviously, I’m still here, I’ve still got things to do here, and I need to get to them so I don’t let down God anymore. So first I want to thank all those who prayed for me, and second let you know I’m praying for you. This life isn’t all there is, there’s so much more, and it is available free of charge. If you need to talk, give me a ring.. I can honestly say I love you all.. God Bless you and keep you, Neil | ||
| Glitch |
Massive maybe, but not massive enough to get you! Great to hear you're on the mend. We here are with you and will keep you in our prayers. | ||
| Swampy |
Get well soon. It scares me that young guys like us can and do have heart attacks. The great news is you survived it. I have a friend in his late 70s that had a bypass and is doing really well, he is walking 4 miles a day, is healthy as ever and is still having the time of his life, his wife even said they had to use an extra long cathater on him for his bladder while he was in....LOL! Get well, best wishes. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Damn brotha! Although not as serious, my father has had a few so I can say I've seen the process. Great to hear you kicked it's ass, are hanging in there and in good spirits. Can only get better from here... | ||
| Ourdee |
Alright Fuzzz, you got the first one out of the way. I had congestive heart failure in 2000. You won't realize how bad you are till you start recovering. Hang in there Neil, The hospital was the hard part. You will sometimes let God down, but He won't let you down. Try your best and ask him to help with the rest. ,R.D. | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
This life isn’t all there is, there’s so much more, and it is available free of charge AMEN to that Neil. God is good and He will take care of all of us if we accept him into our lives. I continue to pray for your recovery. I see a whole lot of illness in my line of work and more and more younger folks (like you) having MI's. One never knows when/if somethings going to happen. So love life, love your friends and Love the Lord. Glad you're here to let us know that. Amen | ||
| Iamike |
Neil, I'm glad to hear you are hanging in there. It takes a little thing like that to wake us up to the fact that we aren't so young anymore. I realized that a year ago when I drove my wife to the ER with chest pains. Good luck and keep up the positive attitude. Mike | ||
| Ratyson |
Neil, I hope and pray for a full recovery. My Mom always said "If the Lord brings you to it, he will bring you through it." | ||
| Xb12xmike |
scary stuff. Good you found out in time. I have heart probs in my fam so I am starting to take that low dose aspirin every day (when I remember) "I’ve still got things to do here, and I need to get to them" I hope the 2 in your profile pic aren't on your list anymore.  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
Neil, thoughts and prayers to ya bud. after being warned about the risk of heart disease and not paying it that much attention. i had a mild stoke a number of years ago but if it wasn't finding out about my brothers heart attack a couple months later and had to have a couple stints put in i wouldn't have paid that much attention to it. but since then, i do what i have to to stay healthier. good luck on your recovery. another neil | ||
| Hughlysses |
Neil- Sorry to hear of your troubles but glad you made it through the worst of the ordeal. You already beat the odds because they say that for more than 50% of people the first indication they have that they have a problem is a FATAL heart attack. I didn't have the heart attack but I've got the zipper on my chest. ~9 years ago (at the age of 45) I had a 3xCABG (cardio-speak for a 3-way bypass). I changed the way I eat, I take a multi-vitamin every day and a few other over-the-shelf supplements, and I exercise regularly. I hope to avoid a repeat. If they offer the cardiac rehab classes in your area I highly recommend you take them. The state vocational rehab department will pay for the class where I live. The classes were a big help to me in dealing with having heart disease- explaining what causes it, how it affects you (physically and mentally), and what you can do to avoid a repeat. One good thing that came out of it for me was about a year later I got off my butt and got the motorcycle I'd always wanted and started riding. Best wishes & God bless you too. Feel free to PM if you have any questions for a fellow chest zipper recipient. Hugh | ||
| Bjbauer |
Wow. Close call thank God you made it and good luck and best wished for a good recovery. I see you are my age. We have an extensive history of heart disease in my family. I am afraid one day it may be my turn. Take Hughlysses advice on the rehab. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Neil, glad to hear you made it through. "I’ve still got things to do here, and I need to get to them so I don’t let down God anymore." Amen to that brother, heal well! | ||
| Fuzzz |
Thanks everyone, it will be a rough recovery, but I must ride again, so I'll be doing everything I can to get the release. Rehab, walking, and a fair amount of rest. Be blessed, and take care, Neil | ||
| Midnight_rider |
as my dad said every day a blessing after this life changing deal, kept it in your heart to get back riding GOD BLESS | ||
| Aesquire |
Glad you made it. Advice from experience. Your cardiologist in not going to like you riding, since he thinks if you fall down you will break. Truth is, you might, like with any surgery. So you have to decide if the risk is worth it, just like you did every day you ever rode before. So don't worry about that. Do listen to your body. The drugs you have to take are wicked in possible & probable side effects, so keep a mind out for them, and be prepared to be your own advocate to get the meds adjusted so you are good. Watch for dizzyness, stomach bleeds, and muscle pain. For example I had a problem with Coumadin ( warfarin ) and only later found out that I had a family history of sensitivity to rat poison. This news will no doubt please some that I argue with here.  Do the rehab cardio workout thing, and take it as a second chance to pick a shape. Find out the doc's desired heart rate for you, get a Polar monitor, and, if you're lucky, you will actually fell better after your recovery than you did a short while ago. Hang in there. | ||
| Fuzzz |
The meds have indeed proved to be a challenge, since the pain med only makes me feel loaded, so I'll be on the phone today to see if I can get something else. I'm not really even going to mention the bike thing, as long as the sternum heals, and I feel truly ready, I'll be back out there. The good part is I can rest for now here at home while I do my recovery routines, and I've got time to look for creative financial answers to some hard questions. | ||
| Aesquire |
Get an Airdyne or other stationary bike thing for the aerobics. Low impact, moderate output. ( get used & lube it up, almost all exer-bikes are coat racks.) After the "surgical" recovery, you have the cardio recovery. You probably have better blood flow now than before. ( not as good as when you were 18...but what else is new? ) Consider both the stitches & the head when deciding when to Ride, shoot skeet, skydive, etc. If you don't get dizzy or have other issues, you're good. I ( while having a gastric bleed out ) didn't feel right, so didn't ride. Strangely wise of me. Don't know how that happened. | ||
| Blake |
Whoa! I'd not heard of a six-way by-pass. Glad you made it. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. |
