It gets better

[HB-HB]

I haven't visited these pages in months, how are you people? I hope everyone is well or getting there. This will be an uplifting post.

Back in October last year I had 3 stents fitted after severe blockage of LAD and RCA. Started feeling better almost straight after and I made several very important lifestyle changes which I'm adhering to ever since.

I stopped smoking, gave up all alcohol, eating mainly whole foods, plant based. I'm not too strict with food, I'll have eggs, cheese, yogurt, fish and chicken but not as much and not as often as before.

I started running around to keep the ticker ticking and soon got to 5k under 30m. Than I ran 10k several times at about 57m. Those were my goals at the time, achieved. Some time last month it was 6 months after my treatment I had a check up with my cardiologist, same guy who put stents in. He complimented me on my healthy complection (I've dropped about 40lb) and was genuinly chuffed for me. He said, and I quote: "you shoud be a poster boy for British Heart Foundation, you really turned this around, good for you!" I asked him if I should run so much and he gave me the green light. So...

Last month I run my first half marathon, Hackney Half and I did it in 2h 0m 45s. I ran another half marathon 2 weeks later at Wimbledon Common, a lot harder track but I completed that too in 2h 17m, wasn't too happy but hey.

Now I run 2-3 times per week, between 5-12mi per session as I'm training for full marathon in Amsterdam in October. My plan is to complete 15mi this weekend and to add about 10-20% every week and I should be ready for the race by October. It will be a whole year since my treatment and I hope to celebrate it with a cigar and a cold one.

(Probably won't, I prefer water and herbal tea these days, like a proper fitness bore)

Good luck people, hang in there, it gets better.

[ChicagoGirl1961]

Wow, that is so incredible HB! Truly a remarkable accomplishment and inspiring. We share some similarities, as I too started running after being diagnosed with CAD 15 years ago. I also switched to a plant based diet although I also abstain from any animal products and have improved my heart health a great deal. Keep up the good work, what you're doing is amazing.

[Annaelizabeth]

What an inspiring post. You don't mention your age.

[HB-HB in reply to Annaelizabeth]

I'm 47, male.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

What a great running success, which will I’m sure give people with heart problems some really great aspiration.

However, sometimes such stories can feel quite out of reach for some.

Many of us are dealt a deal that just won’t allow such a BIG ‘success’. We have to work to much smaller and steadier successes. I remember being chuffed to bits the first time I walked up the rather slight slope of my garden, the first time I managed to wait in queue to order my own coffee, the first time I left the ground in exercise class!

For me, these very small steps are huge (after three heart attacks, three rehab programmes, leaky valves, unstable angina, AF, 9 stents and endless meds juggling), and achieved after repeatedly picking myself up and starting off again, and again and again.

I love reading success stories, and good on you. Anything that motivates, but it can feel a little out of reach for some,

[Orangepeel60]

Well done you. I am a year on from HA and 2 stents. Had chest pains for 8 months but pushed on with my fitness and now back to where I was, lifting weights and riding up big hills on my bike.

It’s good to be yourself again.

Keep on going. Great to hear

Neil

[Purpled]

Very well done, keep looking forward. Are you still taking statins and blood thinners or have they been reduced ?

[HB-HB in reply to Purpled]

Thanks. I'm still taking aspirin 75mg, clopidogrel 75mg, bisoprolol 2.5mg and artovastatin 40mh daily. Cardiologist said to stop clopidogrel in October and I will after my marathon as I don't wan't to make any changes before the race. I don't have any side effects to meds so far. Well, I had in hives in early days but that sorted itself out with antihistamine.

[Phil-52]

Hi HB-HB. Well done on the fitness kick. You'll love the Amsterdam Half. I've done it a few times now. The course is nice and you run the last 200m inside the stadium in front of a big crowd like a professional athlete.

Good luck

Phil

[HB-HB in reply to Phil-52]

Thanks Phil, I'm sure first half will be much easier to love. The second half is a bit more challenging. I'm going full marathon, whole 26.219 miles of it.

[Phil-52 in reply to HB-HB]

You're braver than me I did London in 2006 and vowed it was my last Marathon and that was BEFORE i had a dodgy ticker.

Have fun

[ChicagoGirl1961 in reply to HB-HB]

Before I ran my first marathon I was told you're not quite half way through when you hit the 20 mile mark because the last 6 plus miles are far more difficult than the first 20, and not to try and bank time by running the first half of race faster than you should or you'll really pay for it during the latter stages of the race. All true, and I learned the hard way to run a much smarter race in my second marathon.

[Zena166]

Brilliant news and so positive. Really pleased for you thank you for sharing it’s brightened my day (literally as it’s cold drizzling and only 12 degrees here in the frozen North!). I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to start running even though I would like to.!!Well done. Stay positive and keep sharing your story as it’s so inspirational. Thank you. Zena

[Ianc2]

Impressive reading, lost weight, changed diet, lots of exercise. A 47 you have just transformed your life expectancy. Brilliant stuff, good to read, It can be done.