About to hit 44..3 years after heart surgery and 2 heart attacks

[themyth2009]

Hopefully this thread will motivate some to work out harder and stay on top of health.

These photos were taken exactly 3 years after quad by-pass surgery. Been a struggle for sure still trying to find my way back but never going to stop trying.

[NJNoodles]

repped

[fam62]

Holy crap man you look amazing! And after having that quad bypass you came back stronger than ever which is very inspiring for those suffering from similar ailments as you!

[themyth2009]

repped

Thanks

Holy crap man you look amazing! And after having that quad bypass you came back stronger than ever which is very inspiring for those suffering from similar ailments as you!

Actually not close to stronger than ever unfortunately on a lot of lifts my old warm up sets are now my max. I used to dead lift 405 for an easy 12 reps. Doubt I could do it once now since well I dont deadlift. Bench press is horrible. Most I have done is 275 for single I used to get it for 6-8.

Still not going to give up trying though.

[fam62]

Thanks



Actually not close to stronger than ever unfortunately on a lot of lifts my old warm up sets are now my max. I used to dead lift 405 for an easy 12 reps. Doubt I could do it once now since well I dont deadlift. Bench press is horrible. Most I have done is 275 for single I used to get it for 6-8.

Still not going to give up trying though.

I was referring to mentally stronger, that you have come such a long way from a situation like that! And you are committed to gaining your strength back and made great progress is commendable!

[SinisterGains]

Great work and inspiration man. Looking good.

[themyth2009]

I was referring to mentally stronger, that you have come such a long way from a situation like that! And you are committed to gaining your strength back and made great progress is commendable!

Thanks still hoping I can keep going a long way. Mentally stronger for sure. That was one of many positive things about the experience.

Great work and inspiration man. Looking good.

Thanks much appreciated.

[Mehhzyy]

You look great dude. Good inspiration.

Sent you a private message btw.

[themyth2009]

You look great dude. Good inspiration.

Sent you a private message btw.

Thanks your a dead man for sure ha ha

[tucci420]

What an inspiration man. Awesome. Keep it up.

[Canadiantuxedo]

You done did good op

[ken4426]

I had my aortic valve replaced about a year and half ago, so I can relate. Prior to my replacement, was not allowed to lift weights, at all. Great inspiration, and I agree with the cardiovascular checkup for both children and adults. It is important.

[themyth2009]

What an inspiration man. Awesome. Keep it up.

Thanks, repped

I had my aortic valve replaced about a year and half ago, so I can relate. Prior to my replacement, was not allowed to lift weights, at all. Great inspiration, and I agree with the cardiovascular checkup for both children and adults. It is important.

I think its the same surgery. How do you feel now?

[ken4426]

Thanks, repped



I think its the same surgery. How do you feel now?

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve that produced a very clear, distinct murmur even when I was a baby. So I have been followed my whole life. Following a regular checkup stress test, they told me that I needed to have the valve replaced (I got a mechanical aortic valve). I did not have any symptoms, and the doctor said that he wouldn't have really expected me too that the valve was just starting to degrade to a point that he was not comfortable.

Because I did not really have any symptoms, I did not notice a huge change following the surgery, expect that my sleep dramatically improved for some reason. Prior to the surgery, I would have pretty frequent episodes of insomnia (month to month and half solid of not being able to fall asleep or waking up and not falling back to sleep, etc.). Following the surgery, they have diminished significantly. Also, I would say that maybe I have a little bit more endurance.

Yourself? Notice any changes?

[themyth2009]

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve that produced a very clear, distinct murmur even when I was a baby. So I have been followed my whole life. Following a regular checkup stress test, they told me that I needed to have the valve replaced (I got a mechanical aortic valve). I did not have any symptoms, and the doctor said that he wouldn't have really expected me too that the valve was just starting to degrade to a point that he was not comfortable.

Because I did not really have any symptoms, I did not notice a huge change following the surgery, expect that my sleep dramatically improved for some reason. Prior to the surgery, I would have pretty frequent episodes of insomnia (month to month and half solid of not being able to fall asleep or waking up and not falling back to sleep, etc.). Following the surgery, they have diminished significantly. Also, I would say that maybe I have a little bit more endurance.

Yourself? Notice any changes?

Do you have to get cracked open for that procedure?

For me I noticed a big change about 3-4 months after surgery. I could run without a headache, I had not felt that good in years. Then 2 arteries blocked right back up and I was back in hospital. I have struggled a lot since then. Everything hurts, I cant run, my strength is for ****. I think part of that is from surgery my core just dont feel the same and is not very strong. It hurts for me to put pressure on my rib cage of any kind.

But overall I feel pretty good. If I was not a regular gym goer I would probably feel normal.

I think I am getting leaner but hard to tell since I took photo are eating.

[themyth2009]

I know no one cares but 3 weeks later update

[acrobat2000]

Just curious- were u previously a smoker or did that coronary artery disease just run in the family? high stress job?

[themyth2009]

Just curious- were u previously a smoker or did that coronary artery disease just run in the family? high stress job?

Never smoked in my life but I have a genetic disorder with hypercholesterol. Untreated my total chl is close to 600, ldl 400+ and HDL less than 25. Oddly the numbers alone dont mean anything. My moms are worse and she is 70 never had a heart problem and she has never taken a pill in her life. However, her mom and brother both died of heart attack at 43. Her sister had triple bypass at 28. She had it again at 65. Currently she is 75 and still kicking which gives me some hope.

[Stevebaby]

Congrats and you look great of course. Was wondering...now that you have been through all this ...is the prognosis good? Can you return to a normal life or is there still concern? Best of luck to you and thanks for sharing your story. It must have been such a reality check into ones own mortality. Glad you are doing well. Regards

[acrobat2000]

ah do you eat a Cardiac diet as well?
You could go the Bill Clinton route and just become a pseudo vegan

[themyth2009]

Congrats and you look great of course. Was wondering...now that you have been through all this ...is the prognosis good? Can you return to a normal life or is there still concern? Best of luck to you and thanks for sharing your story. It must have been such a reality check into ones own mortality. Glad you are doing well. Regards

Thank you. Prognosis well was not good after 2 of the grafts occluded in 5 months but I did listen to a word they said. I can lead a normal life for sure things I cant do: run, any kind of activity out in the cold weather, etc. I am supposed to try to limit my heart rate to 120-130 range. For some reason now when my heart rate goes up it takes forever to come down. I used to have to stay 10 minutes after class every day in cardiac rehab because you cant leave until heart rate goes to normal. Theory was heart attacks did some damage to the heart but nothing they can see. Yeah a big time reality check but oddly I was smiling and felt great night before I had heart surgery. I was blessed to have a better life than I ever thought possible. At the end of the day all that matters is the things you tried to do regardless of success or failure and the quality of the people you had in your life.

ah do you eat a Cardiac diet as well?
You could go the Bill Clinton route and just become a pseudo vegan

I eat a diet very low in saturated fat which is the consensus among the doctors I have seen. I am in a medical study for a trial drug at UM. The doctor is supposedly an expert in hypercholestrolism and he told me that a vegan diet will not have a benefit vs a diet low in saturated fat. One of my brothers went vegan as he thinks its could have a benefit.

[JohnJamesJoseph]

You are a lucky man, sir. Not many folks survive one heart attack, let alone two.

Keep up the good work, and never give up!

Best always!

[keys92]

You look great, OP! Thanks so much for sharing.

It's posts like these that seriously motivate me to get out and overcome the obstacles that stand the way of me accomplishing my fitness goals. I'd rep you if i could...

[themyth2009]

You are a lucky man, sir. Not many folks survive one heart attack, let alone two.

Keep up the good work, and never give up!

Best always!

I didnt feel so lucky at the time ha. But was lucky since I didnt even realize first heart attack was one because my symptoms were not typical. I went to sleep after which is the worst thing you can do. The cardiologist told me he could not believe I was still alive. He said I had 28% heart function and 100% blockage in all arteries. Theory was I had worked out so much I had a great collateral network that kept me alive. Well that is what I recall hard to remember when you wake up from a cath.

You look great, OP! Thanks so much for sharing.

It's posts like these that seriously motivate me to get out and overcome the obstacles that stand the way of me accomplishing my fitness goals. I'd rep you if i could...

Thanks glad to motivate now go out and get it done.

[themyth2009]

Dam hit 44 today....

[ken4426]

Yes, had to get cracked open. As I’m sure that you know, very surreal procedure.
I was able to lift 3 months after the surgery and felt some pressure on my chest and rib cage. After a few months, that eventually fell off, and I do not feel anything now.
Because I wasn’t able to lift prior to my surgery (lifting would have further damaged my bicuspid aortic valve), I don’t have a good comparison for before/after the surgery for strength. One that item that did improve, significantly, was my sleep. Prior to the surgery, I would have frequent episodes of insomnia. Since the surgery, I sleep much better.
Also, my heart relaxes quicker as well. Before the surgery, I would play dek hockey, and it would take hours following a late game for me to fall asleep, and I could my heart just beating. A lot of the guys would say that it would take a while following a late game to fall asleep, but I was longer than most.

Look good for 44, regardless of birthday. Hope to be where you are in a couple years.

[IvanNorge]

Awesome inspiration to all of us, OP! Looking great, mirin ! Repped

[chrismophat]

yeh man

[induced_drag]

Another bump! Just looking though old posts. Myth was one of my biggest inspirations/motivations when I found this forum.

Not sure last time he logged in....but if he ever does, I want him to see this. Thanks man! Hope you are well.