Heart to heart

[Entabeni]

I’m Tom, seventy three, and always been very active and considered myself to be quite healthy until I was knocked for six when I suffered a blockage of the left anterior descending artery (widow maker) in February of this year. I think having the heart attack at home probably saved my life as, in normal times, I would have been well away from home and often walking in a remote country location. As it happened the paramedic, closely followed by an ambulance, arrived within 10 minutes of my wife’s 999 call. We live quite near to the Leicester Glenfield Heart Unit and it was approx 8 minutes from door to door - and straight from the boot of the ambulance to the cath lab. I cannot thank all involved enough, as they saved my life. Anyway, 4 days and 4 stents later I was home and starting my new life on the road to recovery. I also had a restriction in the RCA but a recent cardiac stress perfusion MRI showed it to be much improved. Just prior to my HA I had an aviation medical at East Mids Airport and the ECG was fine. Like any medical, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll make the door. After 32 years it was about time to hang up my flying boots and find other interests. Onwards and upwards. Happy days and many daily tablets.

[MONIREN]

Hi there, so glad help was so close! As I'm sure your family is. Pity that your wings are clipped, it must have been a great feeling, at 66, I've never been in a plane, no opportunity. Sounds like you are ready for the new normal, new journey, it's not always the one we would have chosen, but every day is a plus! Welcome to this forum. Take care. Moni

[Hidden]

Hi Tom

What a great attitude to life you have.

Impressive after your HA. So glad you were at home and got help.

Hope your wife is OK? She must have had a shock.

Welcome to the Hearties ❤️

❤️Maisie❤️

[Gladwyn]

Even with your feet firmly on the ground you’ll always be flying high whenever the mood takes you with all those years of experience behind you. I wish you well Tom and many more years to look forward to and new experiences. 😀

[Edwen_]

Hi Tom,

A similar thing happened to me three years ago late one evening. My wife insisted on taking me to the hospital. If I had been alone I would have gone to bed and tried to ignore the pain. This is why married men live longer than single men. Best wishes

[Entabeni in reply to Edwen_]

Too true 👍

[RufusScamp]

It's great that you have such a positive attitude to your condition. That is so important. I wish all the best to you and your wife.

[Isobel1]

So glad you were taken to the hospital quickly Tom . Thank goodness you weren't flying when it happened . You have an amazing attitude.

[firstlight40]

Well I'm sorry that you feel you need to give up flying. For me, having an HA at 56 made me initially think I was going to not be able to fly again after doing 500,000 miles since 50 with my wife - mostly on holiday. But 6 weeks after stents 4-6 in my LAD I was off again with her to Jamaica (10 hour flight).

I completely respect your choice but wouldn't give up so easily, as you now know your heart is in better condition now than before the stents when you were going to fly after your medical. The only thing that would now stop me would be insurance but we just took out an annual worldwide travel insurance covering both of us (and my condition) for £370.

[Entabeni in reply to firstlight40]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. My pilot medical has been suspended and it would be a long hard and expensive slog with the CAA to revalidate my pilot's licence. Even if my medical was reinstated, it could easily take over 12 months from now. If I went for a basic LAPL medical the CAA would no doubt still require me on a treadmill stress ECG at Gatwick as well as an echocardiogram, not to mention all the correspondence between my GP, consultants and the CAA. All this would have to be private and I would have to pay considerable costs. I have already sold my interest in the aircraft and will now concentrate on exercise, my health and my music - and our assossiation with a certain rhino orphanage.

[firstlight40 in reply to Entabeni]

Oh sorry I misunderstood you, not realising you were a pilot!

[Entabeni in reply to firstlight40]

Safer on the ground wishing I was up there, than up there wishing I was on the ground.