Getting back up again, sometimes it’s an effort

[Keep-it-ticking]

So last week I had 4 more Stents fitted, giving me a total of 15. 6 years ago I had a quad CABG, been living with heart issues for 20yrs. I’d finally got myself fit again, sub 30 min Parkrun, 50k trail run completed last year and managing to go running for long distances. Didn’t expect to have another MI or how complex the recent stenting was. Walking every day again and managed 5k this morning. Some days it just feels such an effort after years of knock backs. I know my fitness has probably saved me as it’s strengthened my heart muscles.

[Hidden]

You are a true real life superman.Keep on running.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I’m certainly no hero but I get my inspiration from many that I know.

[Prada47]

Hi Ticking

I can't help wondering if your fitness is trying to kill you or if it's protecting you !!! It's something I don't think any of us know. A friend of my sons died during his 5th Marathon and he was only 25 ? What does your Cardiologist say about your extreme fitness regime. Out of curiosity what age group are you in ?

Regards Stay Well Stay Safe stay Alert

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Prada47]

Hi Prada,Thanks I’m 58 now they have told me that the fitness is what’s kept me alive. After 3 hours on the table last week the first thing they talked to me about was my run timings 😁. Told me just to ease back into it and should be back to normal next year 🤞

[xr1450 in reply to Keep-it-ticking]

Certainly makes you wonder about how and why your arteries are getting clogged up enough over and over to keep requiring more stents. I'm assuming you eat really healthily and dont smoke ect, so you won't be doing any of the things they say cause all this. I've always been dubious as to whether they are right about the causes of clogging of the arteries since I read an article about mummy's they scanned that were between two and four thousand years old and found 60% had the problem, they were fairly young and they didn't have processed or junk food.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to xr1450]

No idea why they clogged up, changed lifestyle,diet, stopped smoking and kept fit. I feel it is what it is, so decided it won’t define who I am. The parts outside of my control I don’t waste time or energy on.

[Beith]

Keep-it-ticking - that's a remarkable record. I had a triple CABG last year and thought I'd been 'in the wars' but 15 stents as well as CABG - wow! I didn't think there were enough arteries to cope with 15 stents. Just out of interest, have any of the bypass arteries/veins had to be stented? I too believe that exercise can only be good for us and will be out on my bike when the sun has gone down for a 10 mile run. Having been through what you've been through already, I think you'll keep on fighting back. Best wishes.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Beith]

Hi, hope you enjoyed the bike ride, re the stents, 8 are in the RCA from top to bottom, called a full metal jacket, got others in LMA,LC and LAD. On of the bypass graft arteries has been stented but the veins are holding up well. Stay safe and well.

[Hidden in reply to Keep-it-ticking]

I didn’t think they could stent the Left main, that is complex.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Hidden]

It was a very complex and time consuming event, I was in the lab for about 3 hours, there had been a meeting prior to discuss whether or not to attempt it.

[Hidden]

Well done Man your an absolute warrior. So good to see a post from someone with such a positive attitude, I wish you all the luck in the world and keep on chipping away at that park run, when we ever get back to them that is!

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Hidden]

Hope you’re staying safe and well, wouldn’t ever consider myself a warrior but I refuse to let this thing beat me. I see a lot of people form there identity around there illness and are synonymous with it, most people don’t know about mine outside of a small circle. Personally I think if we don’t have goals to aim for we might as give up.

[Orangepeel60]

Fantastic well done. I have come back twice and like you my fitness saved me.

You are an inspiration to us all. x

[fergusthegreat]

Excellent news that you have lived 20 years with heart disease, with many more to go no doubt.

Your story gives us all reason to be positive.

[Smerblue]

Hi, thanks for this post. I was told that my fitness saved me last year after my first HA. At 52 I was running 49 min 10Ks and had PBs and competing with guys in their 20s at boot camp. You've gone through so much looking at your history. I hope I can stay half as strong. Keep ticking.

[Hidden]

Hi keep-it-ticking

What an inspiration you are, with all your heart probs, you are keeping up the fitness regime

Yes, absolutely agree that it's probably saved your life

I had triple CABG in Feb 17 (familial heart issues)

And was a v keen cyclist all my life, competitive till 45, 70 now

And have built up the fitness again with my nippy group!

Keep it up!

Alps - my favourite cycling hol!

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Hidden]

Hi, well done and that’s a great mindset to have.

[123ghana]

Proud of you .

You are an inspiration to others .

Well done

[Phil-52]

I know exactly how you feel. I was a regular club runner (1:34 half marathon) prior to my quad bypass four years ago. I was determined to continue running after my op and completed a 56 Min 10k EXACTLY 12 months from my hospital discharge. My surgeon said my fitness had been key to my speedy recovery.

Keep on running & don't let them take you without a fight

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Phil-52]

That’s a cracking pace Phil, well done and a brilliant mindset you’ve got too.

[Phil_London]

All such inspiring news, Thas a boost to us all I keep thinking I am o er doing it with one stent to LAD and keep wanting to do more but never sure,I have my Garmin and watch my HR like a hawk when I am cycling or running and ease back when it reaches 145/150, I have the energy to go faster but get scared about taking my HR into the 160/170. I am now 1 year post stent and off the meds. Should I be worried, I am now 2 years into a life change now 53 and hardly drink anymore, watch my saturated fat intake to keep it less than 15mg a day or less than 10mg most days, keep my sugar intake low, veg, fruit the complete works and still get scared of the next episode if I push to hard. resting HR is now 50 or less, accelerates quick when I excersise how far should I go!! latest concern is what everybody wants and that's a good BP, the last week it's been 100/60 now I think have I done to much and it's too low!! and want to see higher figures, it's a mine field of what's best and what's right.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Phil_London]

Well done on the life change, I’m not a health professional so couldn’t advise on the BP but I know there are a lot factors that can influence it, fluids and caffeine etc. If I’m honest I don’t check either my HR or BP too often as I’ve done that in the past and became obsessed by it. Went out for a 10k walk yesterday and it felt ok, so I looked at the stats afterwards and everything was ok. Good luck and stay safe.

[Trog1]

I take me hat off to you, you sound like an amazing person. When I had my sudden out of the blue diagnosis and an emergency triple CABG at just 58 I was left frightened, with ptsd, anxiety and AF. I’ve lost weight, changed to even healthier eating and got used to taking regular meds but still get some anxiety. Seeing your post has made me decide its time to take myself in hand and try harder to overcome any problems I still encounter so that I can enjoy my life. I wish you all the very best and hope to see more of you on the forum.

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Trog1]

Thanks, anxiety is normal, it’s how we manage it that matters, I just don’t want to it control me, if that makes sense. My family are often on at me saying I do too much, my response is,I do it to stay alive and live a life, I’m not a victim, just been inconvenienced by it all. Good luck and keep looking forward. Is the Trog name in reference to the RCT ?

[Trog1 in reply to Keep-it-ticking]

No, thank you. Regarding the anxiety, I’m still a bit of a work in progress as I did feel somewhat of a victim at the time as all the tests I’d had only months earlier showed nothing was wrong but ectopic beats. Then I had a H A. It was my arteries not my heart and due to a genetic condition which we now realise many of my family had unknowingly passed away with it was a big shock causing many issues and the need for a triple CABG. However, a year on I am getting there. I do realise just how lucky I was that it was found and as the surgeon said “mended”. I really do like your philosophy of not letting it control you - I’m really going to take that on board as I feel it will help. In answer to your question, Troggy is a nickname name my husband has always called me since I was 18 - neither of us know why but it just stuck - it’s a good job I have a sense of humour!

[Keep-it-ticking in reply to Trog1]

My wife’s nickname for me is nowhere near as nice 😁