OK, This Is WAY Off Topic...But Hopefully It Will Be Of Interest To Some...LONG.

[Bobbie]

mental stress about one's health is known to cause more problems. Hope I get to meet you the next time I come back down to VaBch.

 

[fishnchips]

That is a very inspirational story! Glad you are doing fine!!!! HH, Joe

 

[VT Dave]

Glad you're still with us buddy!

Dave

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Thanks Dave!

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Well, it inspired ME, so I was hoping to share that. Thanks!

 

[Gord (Tecumseh)]

Cause if it makes one person think about getting a check-up it will have been well worth sharing. My attack was a mild one in 1991 but the feeling is one you never forget. Unlike yourself, I was in bed and woke up in the cold sweat. All the other signs were the same as yours. I woke my wife and instead of having her call an ambulance, I asked her to drive me to the hospital (just plain stupid I guess). She did as I asked but I had her pass two hospitals to go to a third. While on the way, I lit up my last cigarette. Perhaps the dumbest action of all time but then again consider who did it.
Lucky to not require any surgery, I haven't had a smoke in 14+ years. I was in HR and at the time had to terminate people from their jobs (stress+). Add the smoking and I was a walking case study. Two years later, the company terminated me. STRESS++++ No recurrence of heart problems. A change in lifestyles and a change in attitude towards things that cause stress, a change in diet and a caring family all help to cope.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary. Hundreds more,

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Well that's a happy story too. Glad to hear it's going so much better.

Stress is one factor I didn't have. I work with computers and networks. What was my HOBBY in the Navy became my JOB in civilian life. So I'm one of those lucky people that gets paid to do something they love. Although, I WAS the front-runner for a job I applied for that was 3 months in the waiting, to see who got it. Two of us had second interviews. The announcement was expected to come on Friday...the day after I had the heart attack. Which is the main reason I went back to work on Tuesday. I ended up getting the job. I was REALLY sweating that...wondering if they would change their minds and consider me "damaged goods". I think people were dumbfounded when I was back at work in 4 days. Everybody told me they would have milked it for at least 4 to 6 weeks. State job, so you can imagine...

Stay healthy!

 

[MrPirate]

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE!!!!!!

you know my story, 41 and 20 lbs overweight. I just can't seem to get myself motivated, i just bout a bicycle and have started out slow. Since me and the old lady are getting divorced after fifteen years and mom just finished Chemo, life has been a little tough. Being single at forty is no fun, all the girls you want are twenty ( can see myself with swome one young enough to be my daughter) or my age and taken. Luckily I have good genes, my grandmother wil be 97 in october i just hope I have some of her
genes. I did the stress test thing a couple of years ago and had a panic attack and went to 190. The doctor said if i didn't die one the teadmill, quit worrying and lose some weight. I did quit smoking in 98 just switched to nicorette. I am trying to get out of the depressed slump and get my ass in shape. My ultimate goeal is something like mathew Mconaghey or Paul Walker, A stretch but worth shooting for. Heres looking to hearing from you for a long time..

Take care and keep it Rockin
Mark

 

[Rich in Virginia Beach]

n/t

 

[David from Suffolk]

You got one fine brother there stacey and I think a lot of him so I will keep an eye out for him when he is down at the beach late at night.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Thanks David!

 

[David from Suffolk]

I consider you a good friend and I know what you have done to keep your weight down and your heart strong. Keep it up and I will see you in the surf

 

[john in socal]

your story is an inspiration, all the best,,,John

 

[Stacey in West Palm Beach]

 

[n5pip]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for writing your story. And congratulations for making it a year. Too many times we take things for granted until it is too late. The last thing most people want to hear is, "lose that gut, quit smoking, etc., etc."
May you have many more days.

HH,
Stirling, N5PIP

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Thanks Pip! If I may call you Pip.

 

[Jim R.]

Hey Mike, congrats on the anniversary of a very eye opening experience. Hopefully you'll celebrate many more. I appreciate how you feel about the new perspective on life...I had a double by-pass when I was 59 years old - I'm now 73 and hoping for the best. I didn't have the pains you had but when I woke up to go to work on that morning it felt as if someone had put a strap around my chest and was pulling it tighter and tighter. Out came the words, 'Ok honey, time to call 911', and from then on it was in the hands of God. We all plod on until it's our time to depart this earth, and we never know where, or when or how, so as I'm sure you know it pays to keep our house in order. Again congratulations on an outstanding recovery year and wishing you many, many more. HH and good health. Jim

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Thanks Jim. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law have all had quad bypasses. My wife is the one of the familiy that hasn't had one. Yet. Yup, keeping things in order AND perspective...good stuff.

John Lennon once said "Life is what happens while you're making other plans."

 

[beachguy777]

Jesus, Mike, that was one hell of a post. Sorry, I didn't respond sooner, I've been too busy, worring, drinking, and overworking to get on the forum. Oh, hey, that doesn't sound too good. Sounds like I need to make a MAJOR change in my life too. Man you brought a lot of us out of the closet on this one. You couldn't have posted a much more important subject than that one, at least as far as I'm concerned. I had no idea you had such a bout. I love to hear a story with a good ending, and especially one with a "moral to the story" part. Well, quickly, here's my confession: I thought I had a heart attack a few years back but after extensive testing they said it was "only stress", only trouble is, from what I hear, stress can kill too. I've been fighting this for a long time and started drinking more to "try and relax", but it's only a temp band aid, usually ending up with more stress later in the day, and ill feeling physically. Ain't it funny? I went and bought a metal detecor to try and get more exercise, a good hoby, a feeling of acomplishment (when I find something good) and all the rest, but I'm usually too tird to do the middle of the night thing, probably because I'm way out of shape, drink too much and still fight too much stress. I hope I take your post as seriously as I am right now and, AT LEAST, try to do something about it. What a great story you have and you've truly set a great pace here for everyone of us, not only in the treasure hunting aspect of it but the health and vigor side too.
Sincerely, Marc Trainor. Oh, by the way, my cholesteral is about 20 points too high too, and I'm about 50 lbs. overweight.

 

[Stacey in West Palm Beach]

n/t