Around 1980, I had my first angioplasty (balloon) procedure to clear my blocked heart arteries. I was back to work in a few days … feeling better than I had felt in a long time. For over 25 years, I continued to smoke and eat whatever I felt like eating. Of course, I continued to have more angioplasty procedures performed and even had stents installed to try to keep my arteries open. I was taking
cholesterol drugs along with Plavix and thought life was good.
In 2010, one of my buddies died from heart problems. I myself had been short of breath and knew it was probably time for another balloon procedure. I saw my
cardiologist and had a catherization performed, but my luck had run out. I was no longer a candidate for a balloon procedure; I needed a bypass.
I was told to go home for a week and get the Plavix out of my system and quit smoking! Driving back to the hospital a week later (March 2010) for my bypass, I told my wife that I didn’t think I was this nervous as when I was going to Vietnam.
I wound up having a triple bypass and was in the hospital for four days. After resting up at home a few weeks, I went through physical therapy and met with a nutritionist. I am proud to say I have not had a cigarette since my bypass and have changed my eating habits immensely. My wife and I used to kid people that we were on the “earth tone” diet … only eating foods that were brown/beige such as
french fries, burgers, etc. These days we’re eating Laura’s Lean Beef and lots of fruits and vegetables.
For my last birthday, my family bought me a bike. My wife and I love to go bike riding at a local park. I haven’t felt this good since I was in my 20′s.
This is a picture of me and one of my five grand-daughters the day I came home from the hospital following my triple bypass. Hopefully because of my new healthy heart habits, I'll be around to dance at each of my grand-daughter's weddings.
Love your goal to dance at their weddings, that’s definitely something to live for! Thanks for sharing your story, very inspiring.