Hi everyone, I am Jim aged 61 and living on the Isle of Wight with Ruby, my long suffering partner. I have survived three heart attacks, been stented, had angioplasty and a coronary artery bypass graft to the the superior side of my heart as the inferior side was too badly damaged for a graft to be viable. In addition I am type two diabetic and have COPD. Over the last decade I have had all the side effects, depression, doubts, denial, in fact the whole gamut of reactions both physical and mental, to this condition. Finally though, I have started to feel better than I have in years, I became a mature student, (I am doing a BA in photography) we are enjoying long walks, we have cut our carbs and have started to lose weight. In between, thanks to lockdown, I discovered a brother that I knew nothing of, I was born in London in 1960 and my brother was born in Birmingham in 1946. Tying all these strands together, Ruby and I are walking along the Grand Union canal from London to Birmingham, starting on the 21st June to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, we hope to average about 12 miles a day, do it will take us 10 days or so. I feel that I have finally not only come to terms with my heart condition but I feel more positive about myself and my health than I have done in the last ten years at least!
Hello: Hi everyone, I am Jim aged 6... - British Heart Fou...
Hello
Inspirational stuff Jim, I take my hat off to you. Good luck to you and Ruby on your walk!
Thank you! I did sit in the doldrums for a long while, but I reached a crossroads of terminal decline or get up and do something!
Hi jimiow. What an inspiring and uplifting story. You should be congratulated both on your fund raising plans and positive attitude. I guess this attitude was a gradual process? I am struggling myself after a heart attack and 2 stents in 2019 to move past the denial stage and move forward, hopefully it will come soon! Best wishes to you both for your walk. The family history sounds fascinating. X
Hi Nettekin, thank you for replying. I can completely empathise with you. I went through all sorts of denial, depression, and had very morbid thoughts. At first I did not make the changes necessary, I had some side effects to the medication including weight gain, how my other half put up with me I will never know. I took up photography to give me something to do as I had been told I was virtually unemployable, it was finding something to do that I really enjoyed that has been key to my changing attitude. I found that especially studying with much younger people helped me. I was scared of getting older, but now I feel as though I have a second chance, I don't want to waste a minute and the more I do now, the better I will be in my 70's and beyond! If you ever want to talk or chat or need some help or anything, please send me a message.
What a inspiration I’ve woke up this morning feeling very low just read this and realised I can get through this
Hi Laneside, thank you and yes, you can get through this. It is scary and frightening, I went from feeling invincible to a world of self doubt and feeling vulnerable and scared. take each day, find something that absorbs you and enjoy each day. If you ever need to talk, we are here.
Thank you so much Jim for your kind words. Just thought I'd mention that I managed to reduce my diabetic score of 48 (just in the diabetic range) down to 41 (not diabetic) in 3 months using a low carb diet. Hopefully, your approach will have an effect too. I think in my case, I did not have enough time to cope with my heart attack before my beloved mother in law passed away unexpectedly. Then followed all the sorting out of her estate, followed almost immediately by me having an emergency cholecystectomy narrowly averting toxic shock and then of course straight into this mad world of the pandemic. So! No time really to deal with anything, so denial seems the easiest route. But I am working on it. X
From one Jim to another I find your comments inspiring… great news keep doing your photography.. maybe walk a Camino in Spain
Thank you. A walk in Spain sounds wonderful, we have walked a lot in Malta, not quite the same I know.
Hi Jim and Ruby. A great pic of you both looking very happy. Your story is inspirational. I'm waiting for bypass surgery, and am worrying about the pain afterwards. I'm type 1 diabetic and trying to eat the right things 😃, . Take care
Hi Barb, thank you and best of luck with your by pass. The recovery phase will pass, although sometimes it won't feel that way. For me the hardest part was coughing or sneezing, a pillow, cushion or rolled up towel clutched into your chest will help. It is sore but the benefits will soon outweigh the pain, I promise you, you will get better. I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck with the diet!
Thanks for replying. Can I ask , is the pain unbearable or OK to cope with ? I have such a low pain threshold lol. The other thing that really worry me is the tube down your throat , I really don't want to know about it as in I want to not be with it 100 % , I fear of coming around and panicking that I won't be able to talk to tell them to take it out. This probably all sounds silly 😀
The last thing its sounds is silly. When you come round in ICU you will have pain relief and you will be well looked after by a highly professional team, with all the medication I remember little about the first 24 hours! The recovery is bearable, I promise you, there are times it may not feel that way but you will get through it and come out the other side much better. I have been lucky with my partner who looked after me so well and that helps, but so does talking to people, especially on here. Our very best wishes to you. If you have doubts or need a shoulder just contact us!
That's absolutely fantastic Jim. Well Done and Keep it up!! 😊😊
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Hello
Hello :)
Hello
hello
Hello 
Hello - I'm new on here. 
Hello from a new member! :-)
Hello from a worried lady
Hello Folks. 
