Returning to surf after heart attack

[Wazza66]

This afternoon saw me back in the water  getting a few waves since having a heart attack on May 27th whilst surfing with my school surfing class. 

Felt unwell suddenly, lightheadedness, indigestion pain and fatigued at the same time so went in and called my doc who got me to have a blood test and ecg.Got the call back a few hours later telling me I had to get to the hospital ASAP as I had had a heart attack in the surf.(WTF) Initially thought my new 7'8 Minion was giving me a good workout!   

3 Stents later from 3 arteries 99,95,92 % blocked I'm good to go again. I never have smoked, don't have diabetes,normal cholesterol and BP and am fit as I am a 49 year old PE teacher. Specialists can't tell me why it happened as no family history either.   

Probably the reason I am posting this is to just remind everyone who reads this is to get regular checkups from your GP and listen to your body and any pain above your ribs. Stats show that 50% of heart attack victims don't make it to hospital alive.

Glad to be looking at the water from 6 foot above instead of below

[KiwiSupGreg]

Good stuff!!


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[Wetstuff]

Za, Cool - a Survivor. ..and really quick to be back in the water.   Both, probably more than partially due to you already being fit.  I'm a little surprised wherever you had the ECG didn't have you transported right then.. 

Jim

[XLR8]

Good stuff and good deal to get back after it.  I hope you get many more waves...

[eastbound]

stay on it, man!

[tautologies]

Damn. Good to hear everything is okay. I must say that was a bit of luck combined with good sense to call the doc.

 I never call. Even hobbled around on a broken foot for 6 months that got immediate surgery when finally did call it.

Trying to learn that some stuff doesn't go away by it self.
How did they determine that you had a heart attack?

[Admin]

Glad you are still here, Wazz! 

Bizarre having that level of blockage with your health stats.  Are they still looking? 

[SuppaTime]

Same thing with my former neighbor - ran 2-3 miles every day, totally fit and healthy guy and he had a heart attack on one of his runs. Emergency surgery and he is now OK.

One thing about cholesterol is that the numbers that you see are gross averages for a large population but individuals can have bodies that tolerate a very different level from the average - above or below. My neighbor is like that - normal cholesterol is a deadly level for him so he now has to keep it far below the "normal".

[stoneaxe]

And if you do have a family history make sure you get checked regularly. My best bud just had an emergency quintuple bypass a month or so ago. Extreme athlete, and after having a stent placed in 2009 has basically had a kale diet and done every heart healthy thing you can think of. Good news is the docs said he'll be good to get back out in another month or so.

[Admin]

From reading the Zone lately I have modified my earlier opinion.  SUP is obviously lousy for your health.   

[SaMoSUP]

Wake up call! Thanks for sharing.

[supdiscobay]

Great to hear a good story about a heart attack.  Hoping for many more waves to come for you.

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Thanks Wazza for sharing!!

[PonoBill]

From reading the Zone lately I have modified my earlier opinion.  SUP is obviously lousy for your health.   

Life is lousy for your health.

[SlatchJim]

There's a thread back a couple months that documents my heart attack, but I'll admit that I only had one artery at 99% blocked, and  only had 2 stents put in that one.  Otherwise, we're in very similar health.  I even had mine while surfing like you. I had a family history, but not really that bad of one.

I was back in the water for about 45 minutes just 2 weeks after my heart attack and slowly worked back to normal length sessions of 2 to 4 hours.  Take it slow, do the cardio therapy, and you'll be as good or better than new in no time. Blood thinners make you bleed and bruise, so take precautions against that.

You'll probably have a new appreciation for each session now.  I do.  I also appreciate anyone who's been through it and lives to tell the tale.  Welcome back to the water.  I hope for many years and sessions for both of us.

[SUPcheat]

I am sorry to hear about the health misfortunes and close saves. It does make me grateful for my up until now most valued possession, my health, and makes me patient with my various minor aches and strains by comparison.

So far, all original parts in general working condition, but that could change anytime.

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You start noticing the herd beginning to thin in 40's, more in 50's, more in 60's.  However, don't like to dwell on the morbid any more than necessary.

My original British next door neighbors in Santa Cruz and their son all died within months of each other, totally unexpected.  I still miss them. Loved hearing their British accented chit chat as they socialized on their patio.