Monkey off my back

[abathmatt]

203 days ago I had a heart attack at the end of an 18 mile training run, I was training for a double ultra marathon at the time.

I had known for 25 odd years that I had atrial fibrillation but apart from costing me more on health insurance it wasn't a problem to me, I tried to stay as healthy as I could, hence the running.

I had a stent fitted to my LAD 5 days after my heart attack, and 12 days after that I went for my first run, nervous as hell but I did a mile in 11 minutes and it felt so good to be back doing the sport that I loved.

I have gradually built up my running now, and today for the first time since my heart attack I ran 18 miles 😀 and faster than I ever have before. I been so nervous all week leading up to this run, but it seems that it was all in my head

I know I was very lucky to recover so quickly and I am so grateful to the wonderful NHS for putting humpty Dumpty back together again.

Moral of the story is you can still be you after a heart attack, you just need to carefully and brave

#BetterNeverStops

[abathmatt]

I'm gluten free so my diet isn't carb rich

[barniecroft]

Thats impressive - can I ask how old you are (might give me some confidence in starting to run again after my heart attack)

[abathmatt in reply to barniecroft]

I will be 49 in September

[Zena166]

Wow. I wish I were that brave!! Very impressed and wished I could get the monkey off my back as I seem to be going backwards!! Very impressed and I have exercise envy! Take care. Zena

[abathmatt in reply to Zena166]

Don't know if I'm brave or stoopid, but I know if I don't run I'm not me

[Dhomewood]

Inspirational - well done mate!

[abathmatt]

Yes but it is found in high quantities in bread and pasta which are carb rich foods which I can't eat

[Marco2764]

Thanks for your post, that's good to hear that someone can rebuild their lives back to that level. I have never been able to run great distance but enjoy my hill and cardio training. Having been through the procedures you have, i presume you have left hospital with the standard package of medication including beta blocker. How do you manage to run at that level when taking a beta blocker restricting your bpm and breathing. Or is that athletes can ask for something different to bisoporol.

Thanks

[abathmatt in reply to Marco2764]

I'm on 1.25 mg of bisoprolol but it doesn't seem to have a huge effect on my heart rate when I exercise. My resting he is down to 45 though.

[Rosei]

I love exercising but find it very difficult in this extremely hot weather. I had a heart attack 18 months ago, I was slim and have had a diet for years that was low in cholesterol, even so my level was 5.6, although the Dr said I have more HDL than LDL., sometimes you just can't win, I feel lucky because I am 83. And hope to have a few more years left.

[mandm65]

Hi mate,

Glad to see another runner/athlete going back to what they enjoyed most and put the life changing condition behind. I know the feeling, have been there and got the t-shirt :-).

Listen you really amazed me with your rapid progress, truly inspirational.

Well done for getting 18M under the belt, I have this sneaky feeling that soon you will be attempting a marathon/ultra marathon!

If you ever need a bout of motivation, doubt it you would, but here is the link for some tips.

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

All the best and keep us updated as you make progress.

[abathmatt in reply to mandm65]

Doing North Norfolk Coast Path marathon on my 49 the birthday.

[mandm65 in reply to abathmatt]

wow impressive, what a way to celebrate your 49th. I do advise to take it easy and keep hydration part going. Unsure if you are given parameters to work with? if you are then i would stick to those parameters, they are there for a reason. It feels as though that the Cardio team is out on a mission to limit our freedom of running but i do understand why they are cautious.

Take it easy.

[WeezeMcCheese]

Welcome back!

[mandm65 in reply to WeezeMcCheese]

thanks, hope you are doing well

[Didnotfinsh]

Congratulations on your comeback,I two had a HA while running Manchester marathon at 15 miles.1 stent fitted left artery 100% block.unforntuantly I have some damage to my heart on the pumping side so recovery has been slow.Good news is I’m back out there running with my club ,only very slowly and keeping a check on my heartbeats.I would urge you to take great care when you are out running you had an incident and you really don’t want to push yourself to hard.Best of luck to you but seriously look after you’re heart.

[abathmatt in reply to Didnotfinsh]

Thank you for your encouragement and your cautionary advice. I have a smart watch that records my heart rate 24/7 and I have changed my diet, nothing higher than 8% saturated fat. And I don't drink alcohol. I'm now a stone lighter than this time last year and feeling so much better.

I have come to terms with the fact that my heart is probably the thing that's going to kill me, if I give up running will I live longer? Maybe not but it will definitely feel like it.

Whilst my running is not competitive in the sense that I am not quick, I need targets in my life. Before my heart attack I had run every day for 1,777 days. Breaking that streak screwed me up more than the actual heart attack.

I do appreciate what you are saying and you are not the first person to tell me this, but if you're gonna die, die with your boots on and your teeth out, or in my case doing something that you love.

Good luck with your recovery, thanks Matt

[Didnotfinsh in reply to abathmatt]

I know exactly where you are coming from,I also love running and also desperate to get back but also desperate to live.Take it easy buddy and happy running.

[Marco2764]

Thanks for the reply. I am on 1.25mg bisoporol also, resting is 48. My max heart rate is now 125 down from 175 and i puff like an old steam train, i am sure you can hear me on the next mountain. I suppose it just shows how we are all made a bit different, it frustrates me to hell

[abathmatt in reply to Marco2764]

I haven't seen a noticeable drop in my heart rate at all but Atrial fibrillation means HR is all over the place anyway

[mandm65 in reply to abathmatt]

What meds you are on?

[abathmatt in reply to mandm65]

Apixaban 5 mg twice a day

Atrovastatin 80 mg at night

Bisoprolol 1.25 mg in the morning

Clopidogrel 75 mg in the morning

Ramipril 2.5 mg at night

And glyceryl trinitrate spray as needed (never used yet)

[jimmyq]

Congratulations! Well done! I am very pleased for you.