Keep After Them!

[papermaker]

For the past 3 years I have been going to several doctors because i wasn't feeling well. I have been tested for just about everything under the sun from lead poisoning to Lyme disease. I had what they called Cluster Headaches which were horrible. Anyway after 3 years of being tired and not having any ambition. I figured out what was wrong. At 53 years old I had a heart attack. I had one artery that was 100% blocked and 2 others that are 50%. They put a stent in and I feel the best that I've felt in years.
40 years of smoking,poor diet and lack of exercise finally caught up with me. I'm 22 days into a new lifestyle.Low sodium low fat diet ,daily exercise and no cigarettes.
I'm still very weak and I'm starting cardiac rehab.tomorrow to get my strength back.
I guess that the moral of the story is that if you don't feel good there is a reason. Keep after the doctors.
I've been alive,dead and then alive again! I prefer alive better!

[Barnyard]

Glad it is all turning around for you. I have never been throught the heart thing myself, but I know there are many on this forum who have and will know what you are saying. on the other end of the spectrum, I finally gave in a few years ago and had a colonoscopy. It was a good thing, they found some things minor that needed to be taken care of before they became major.

Yep, keep after them.

[Bigdog]

You only go around once! Take care of yourself. You are on the right track now and we wish you success on your lifestyle change.

[Bill Hudson]

Good luck with the lifestyle change. It does work. I've lost almost 40 pounds since Feb. 1. You can do it.

Bill

[Mr E]

Glad you are back on track. You have the right attitude to make the best things happen for you. Thanks for the eye-opener for all of us.


Roy

[Russ Leggitt]

Papermaker,

I am proud for you. From one who was two minutes from cashing in, it is GREAT to be alive. Please accept all the encouragement in the spirit in which it is given. As BigDog has said, "only once". Please take care of yourself and you will improve rapidly and this will all seem like a bad dream. Please keep us updated.

[Rudi]

Jerry:

I am another one who has kinda been there done that. Crossing into that valley and coming back out.. scary stuff to be sure. 40 years of smoking, too much work, stress, poor diet, lousy sleep patterns and poof one day you end up in an ICCU needing a sextuple bypass.

You have something going for you.. you quit smoking .. huge.. simply a huge decision and I am happy for you. Don't start again.. whatever you do.. don't start smoking. Eat well, rest, stay away from stress and exercise regularly. You are already over the first couple humps... and as Russ said, the improvement will be dramatic.

Focus on your health, that is the most important thing, that is Job 1

[CapeCodCubs]

Glad you're feeling better and found out what was up Jerry! Salt is brutal on the health, glad you posted about the low soduim. People have no idea how much salt is in US food.

Chris

[Jack]

glad your up and feeling better. I smoked for 35 years and got up one morning and said I quit, that was 5 years ago,havnt had any since that morning, I feel so much better now, good luck with the life change
Jack

[sawmill]

I was in the same boat did not feel good most of the time in the last 3 years. Went to the Dr and he could not find anything wrong. Wife made me go to another Dr and he did a blood test. A couple days later he called and said to come ASAP. My blood sugar level was over 600 and my colostral was triple of what it should be. I was told that if I hadn't come in when I did I would have had a massive heart atack within the next 6 months. I am 62 years old and have never smoked, been fairly active all my life but my family has diabeties and heart problems Dad had 8 bypasses in 1980. So if you don't get results try a different Dr. I had a blood test done last month and everything is back to almost normal but I have been following the Dr orders on diet and I take my pills and 2 shots a day. My wife reminds me a lot that if I wouldn't have listened to her I may not be here now. I guess the life change is not that bad afterall

[challenger]

When we reach 50 years old, we all need an annual physical with full blood workup, including a colonoscopy and a treadmill stress test. The colonoscopy and treadmill test should be repeated every five years thereafter. I am no different than a lot of guys where the spouse is the one who keeps pushing until I finally decide it is easier to to go get the tests than to keep being reminded of the need to visit the doctor.

[papermaker]

Thanks for all of the encouragement. The funny thing or at least amusing thing was 10 days prior to my heart attack I had a physical. Go figure!
I knew that I wasted a lot of money on smoking but I didn't realize just how much. Pack and a half per day at $7.00 / pack. Roughly $300.00 per month. Let's see....new tools....another tractor....

[challenger]

The annual physical is a necessity because it normally includes a full blood workup. Among other things this will check the prostrate and test for the PSA, detect diabetes and high blood pressure. However, the annual does not typically include a stress test or the colonoscopy, which has to be obtained separately. A good family physician should be recommending these additional tests be obtained by you when you reach 50.

[Rudi]

Jerry:

When I quit smoking, many a day I smoked an average of 2 packs (25 count) per day. Yeah.. I smoked a lot... and at $10.00/pack here it got terribly expensive, I still cannot believe I found the money to do that. Now that I do not smoke anymore it is amazing the amount of extra money we have had for other more important things. And yes, I have a little more discretionary Cub Fund resources And that is just one of the benefits.