Tag Archives: Heart Attack

Things that go bump in the night

What is happening to me!? I’m beginning to feel like I’m featuring in a low budget sitcom, being exposed to life’s “amusing” twists and turns. You’ve got to laugh! (I’m not sure what the alternative would be!).

Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

Yesterday’s tooth trauma was followed up by an even more comical middle of the night incident…

Since the Heart Attack I have been prone to dizziness when I stand up too quickly. Usually this means feeling a bit wobbly, a sensation that typically passes in a few seconds. However, on two occasions now, middle of the night bathroom visits have resulted in comedy collisions.

One of the problems is that it’s only after I have started moving that the dizziness hits – It takes a couple of seconds to kick in. During these night incidents, I’ve been able to maintain my balance, my momentum and my course. Unfortunately however I lose my bearings, my perspective and as it tends to be dark, my vision. The net effect is that I keep walking until one of the following happens:

I regain full consciousness and control; or
I hit something.

Unfortunately our bedroom is not that large! So, option 2 it tends to be,

The first time this happened I had a minor collision with a door frame. Nothing serious, Quickly forgotten.

Last night, however, it was a large, heavy bookshelf that interrupted my night-time stroll. From what I can piece together, I hit it with three parts of my body almost simultaneously. My head, my right hand and my left foot. I managed to dislodge something sharp and then proceed to stand on it. Quite hard.

I’m sure it would have looked hilarious on camera. By this time I was disorientated, in pain and bleeding profusely from the underside of my big toe.

On the positive side, it was a huge relief to Louise that the ruckus was not directly Heart related. The last time we had a night time “incident” the outcome was a little more traumatic. (See Father’s Day (Approx. 00:30))

To cut a slightly long story short, I ended up in A&E (Accident & Emergency) first thing this morning being checked out and patched up. Fortunately Louise’s night-time treatment using Daughter #1’s “Foot Treatment Kit” was spot on.

This little piggy went to market…

While flip flops are likely to be my preferred form of footwear for the next few days, there shouldn’t be any lasting damage.

Golden Rule #1: Stand still for 5 seconds after standing up to allow any dizziness to disperse.

Golden Rule #2: Don’t drink cups of tea within an hour of going to bed.

Milestones along the way

2 Replies

Today I visited the British Heart Foundation website about 15 minutes before registration for the London to Brighton Bike Ride opened. To be honest, it was a complete coincidence. I was actually going to read the latest news on Heart Research, but found myself in a “Waiting Room”, approximately 650th in the queue. So I waited.

London to Brighton is an annual event. I have watched it from afar but never participated – For a few years I lived just off Clapham Common where it starts. It attracts thousands of people (27,000 last year) so the atmosphere looks amazing. I always fancied it, my non-participation was mostly due to laziness. Given I was already in the queue , I figured “Why not?”.

This is the 3rd event I have lined up for the Summer. I’m really excited about them all. Each will act as a mini-milestone, something to focus on and build up to. Each has a slightly different motivation too…

The Euro City Cycle is really for me. It’s over four days, and was the challenge I set myself back in August when I really didn’t have any idea what I’d be capable of. I guess in a way it was two fingers to the Heart Attack and putting the Rehabilitation I was undergoing into some context.

It seems like a lifetime ago now, but many of the anxieties still exist, just not to the same degree. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when I finish the event in Brussels (other than a bit sore of course!).

London to Brighton will be a community event. it’s the British Heart Foundation’s flagship fundraising event so there’ll be a big team there. I would imagine there will also be a number of people other than myself doing both events.

I think there is something magical about large crowds. I’ve always got a buzz from attending big sporting events, or concerts. On a couple of occasions I’ve had the privilege of being in the middle as a competitor. I think London to Brighton will be a bit of both: Spectator and Participant at the same time.

It happens that London to Brighton takes place on the anniversary of my Heart Attack. That will make it a little bit more special. It will be a really nice way of closing out the year and looking forward to the future.

Finally, I have the Ride the North event in late August: Inverness to Aberdeen over two days. This is probably the most challenging (a bit more bumpy than Belgium and Holland!), so lucky it’s last! I’m going to participate in with some friends, so it’ll have a different feel to the others.

Of course, the plan is to raise money for the British Heart Foundation over the course of the year too (You can help by donating here), but selfishly there’s a lot more to it for me.

***

I’ve never done anything like this before. In a way it’s strange that it took a Heart Attack to prompt me into action. At the same time it had to be something fairly drastic to break the habits of the past.

Either way, I’m excited about the summer’s plans and passing some memorable milestones on my journey!

Christmas preparations

3 Replies

Christmas Dinner is going to be a bit different in our house this year…

The centre-piece of Christmas Day, in the past it has been the focus of weeks of preparation. We gather tips, tricks and recipes from all the major TV Chefs through religious dedication to each of their “Christmas Specials”. Over time, layer upon layer, a luxurious feast is conjured up in our minds.

For some, the Christmas preparations take a little longer to complete!

A “gravy” day and a “stuffing” day preceded the main event. Christmas Eve was spent in preparation, the first of the bottles of Christmas wine were cracked open to raise the spirits and foster the creative juices.

Lists were written and re-written; trying to make sure that nothing was forgotten in the dark recesses of the fridge and that it all arrived, cooked to perfection, in precise synchronisation.

Not so much so far for me this year…

This time around it’s taken a while for my excitement and enthusiasm to build, I think largely because a healthy diet and abstinence are incompatible with Christmas “highlights” (habits or traditions?) of old.

My contribution to preparations started yesterday with a trip to M&S to collect the Christmas order… not an insignificant task as it turned out. I heroically stood in line for 90 minutes, holding my nerve as our allotted “window” came and went. The relaxation techniques I learned at Cardiac Rehab came in handy as I “patiently” waited my turn. Others didn’t fare so well… losers! How can the Christmas rush come as a surprise to large stores?

Having safely commandeered the supplies, today marks the start of the preparations proper. I’m not going to worry so much about what I eat on Christmas Day, but I’ll still going to err on the side of healthiness and restraint.

Slabs of extra butter have been removed from the ingredients list and no geese will be harmed in the making of our Roast Potatoes this year. I love Roast Potatoes… crispy on the outside and fluffy in the centre. Goose fat used to be the Christmas “treat” that made them extra-indulgent and tasty. As I haven’t enjoyed a Roast Potato since June, I think even an ordinary one will do the trick!

Are you feeling peckish yet?

Fortunately Turkey is good, I can pile into that, and of course the Vegetables are generally OK (although look at the packets on prepared veg, you never know what they’ll add!). I’m even going to have a little gravy… very exciting!

Right… that little monologue has got me right in the mood, and it’s just started snowing outside! Brussels Sprouts, here I come!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I might even allow myself a tasty dessert!

(Not) Hitting the wall

2 Replies

I sometimes worry about the frame of my Turbo Trainer failing and me being catapulted into the wall of my office at 25-30 miles an hour…

… but I’ll take my chances.

I am definitely an indoor cyclist at the moment. I’m clocking up the miles on my Turbo Trainer, without moving an inch (and long may it stay that way!). Cycling standing still.

Not the most glamorous location, but it works!

I’m sure the cyclist purists wouldn’t approve, but it’s a convenient way for me to get regular exercise. It will also help build the strength in my legs and my “engine”. Given I had precisely zero miles under my belt in July, every little helps.

The weather really hasn’t been conducive to getting outside either, so this is what it has to be. Having negotiated the winter solstice, the days will start to get longer again offering the promise of evening outside on the bike… in time.

Working out on the Turbo Trainer is different to cycling outside in many ways:

Firstly, you have to pedal continuously as you don’t get any benefit from free-wheeling. This means continuous pressure and continuous effort. A good, controlled work out is guaranteed!

Unexpected Turbo Trainer incidents to one side, it’s obviously safer. It’s very hard to fall off a fixed bike, and there isn’t any traffic to negotiate. Being seen isn’t an issue and there’s no need to navigate pot-holes, ice or any other obstacles that may present themselves.

A very high tech set-up… the picnic table and cardboard box work a treat!

When you’re standing still you obviously don’t get any wind resistance or experience any friction from the road. This makes clocking up the miles a bit easier. The difference when cycling outside amazing, particularly the impact of dodgy road surfaces.

It feels much hotter cycling inside. That sounds a bit silly as it is much warmer, but without a cooling breeze to help moderate the temperature, the only outlet is sweat. I sweat a lot. A variety of towels have been commandeered to help fight back. It’s really not a pretty sight!

One of the areas that concerns me a bit is that I’m not getting a chance to build my bike handling skills. As a result, I’m less elegant and generally more of a liability when I get outside. I just have to gain comfort from the fact that this will come in time. The more time I can spend outside when I finally get there, the better.

Finally, and importantly for me, working out at home eliminates all concerns about me experiencing issues when I’m out and about cycling on my own. Fortunately I haven’t experienced any problems yet, but the concern is always there (for others as well as myself). Being within earshot gives everyone an increased level of comfort.

The Euro City Cycle in May has given me a real focus. When I first decided to do it, it seemed like a HUGE challenge. I’m feeling increasingly confident that I’m going to be physically capable of completing the 300 miles over 4 days. The fact that I can continue to train despite the worst the winter weather can throw at me is a real bonus.

Happy cranking!

Not very Festive

1 Reply

My wife says thinking about Heart Attacks isn’t very Festive.

I agree.

I also think that having a Heart Attack isn’t very Festive. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend one at any time of the year. They can be inconvenient.

Unfortunately Christmas is a risky period. Apparently Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are the three days on which you are most likely to experience a Heart Attack.

I’m no medical expert, but when you read about the contributory factors, there appear to be some fairly basic things you can do to reduce your level of risk:

Keep moving: Make a conscious effort to keep up with your exercise. Take the dog for a walk. Go for a swim. Do something. Don’t let the poor weather or the warm fire stand in your way!
Avoid excess: Enjoy all the trappings of the Festive Fare, but be aware of when enough is enough. Eating too much places strain on your Heart. Do not eat and drink so much that you run the risk of “that heartburn feeling” being something other than “heartburn”.
Chill out: Unfortunately the Zen Meditation Book you receive on Christmas Morning is unlikely to be immediately effective in relieving the stresses and strains that the Festive Period can bring. Create some “me” time. Maybe a breath of fresh air and a little light exercise?
Don’t overdo it!: Exercise is good, but too much exercise can be dangerous. For example, (and much to my wife’s annoyance!), shovelling snow is not great for the Heart. It’s basic stuff, but warm up properly and don’t overdo it!
Keep taking the pills: Keep up your good habits, like taking medication. Don’t let changes to your routine or environment distract you.
Keep warm!

Possibly most importantly… do not ignore the warning signs. Apparently it is common for people to ignore pain or discomfort, not wanting to “cause a fuss”. As a result, they wait rather than seeking medical attention. This can make the difference between life and death. Don’t!

Reminder of Heart attack symptoms: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Heart-attack/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

OK. Sermon over. Now, where are the Mince Pies?

It’s all about me

2 Replies

I originally wrote the majority of the following on 28th June, within two weeks of having my Heart Attack. At the time I wasn’t comfortable publishing it. A post I recently read, written by the wife of a Heart Attack Survivor (Wherein the Sh*tty-A$$ Heart prevails), reminded me of it.

Life is good for us now. We’ve come a long way since June. So, no particular reason for publishing this now, but I thought I’d share it to help complete the story.

***

It’s all about me

Actually it’s not. Not even remotely.

When everything is going well and life is “tickety-boo”, it too easy (for me at least) to get caught up in my own world. Oblivious to most of the goings on around me, at least those that don’t impact me directly. I look after myself, deal with my business, and expect everyone else to deal with theirs.

Up until now, this is how I’ve tended to operate. It’s how I am.

I don’t feel so independent any more. My bubble has been burst. The whole Heart Attack episode has given me a heightened awareness of the many personal dependencies, connections and influences there are in my life.

Of course, there are the children; totally dependent, innocent, scared. There’s never a good age, but my girls are too young to see their Dad in a hospital bed. They are too young to have to deal with something like this, I felt terrible for putting them through it. They have been very brave. They provide support and make us laugh. Just being around introduces a sense of normality to proceedings.

Louise, my wife is now more of a Nurse, Carer and, of course, Mum. She holds things together. She is generally cautiously positive, planning my recuperation and beyond. I’m sure there are times when she is scared too. It sounds silly when you write it down, but me dying would have a much bigger impact on her than on me. I don’t really think about it… she does, a lot.

Then there’s our Family and Friends, Business Partners and Clients. The news of the Heart Attack will impact each and every one in a slightly different way. For some the news will generate the biggest impact… Why? How?. For others it’ll be the consequences, immediate and longer term… So what?, What now? What will change?.

After the surprise or even shock, with most people there is genuine concern for me combined with a hint of selfish curiosity; “What could this mean for me?”. I totally understand. What else would you expect? Apparently the 40-somethings are concerned… sales of salads are rocketing in the office.

Even strangers pay more attention than normal. They want to understand how it could have happened, how can they prevent it from happening to them. I wish it was simple…

Me: “I had a Heart Attack because I used to eat 15 Snickers a day.”
Them: “Oh, that’d do it.”
Me: “I’ve given up Snickers so I should be fine now.”
Them: “Oh, that’s a relief!”
Me: “Do you eat too many Snickers?”
Them: “No.”
Me: “So, you should be fine then. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Them (Smiling): “Yes, thanks.”

I wish it was that simple.

It’s tough because there are few easy answers. I want to be able to get my head around it all. I want to understand why it happened. I want to know what the implications are. I want to be able to explain it to everyone. Then I want to get back to normal.

Unfortunately that’s not going to happen. Some things may become clearer in time, others will remain a mystery. That’s life I guess.

So ultimately it is all about me… but not just me me, it’s about you me, and her me and him me too… it’s all about us!

In sickness and in health

2 Replies

I don’t know any of these people, do you?

Today is our 15^th Wedding Anniversary. A lot has changed since two fresh-faced, fun loving, enthusiastic youngsters got together and formed our very own Anglo-Scot alliance.

Most of the changes have occurred slowly and comfortably, as we’ve drifted into new habits over time.

Some changes have been sudden and life-changing; parenthood was thrust on us with the arrival of two beautiful bouncing babies (in reality they arrived one at a time with a little gap in the middle!).

Other big changes have taken courage, preparation and effort; amongst other things, we’ve upped sticks to live in a new country twice.

We have been very lucky together. We are fortunate that most of our marriage has been “for better” rather than “for worse”, and “in health” rather than “in sickness”.

Just the one glass, thanks!

***

Looking back on it, the events of the summer already seem like just a minor blip. They did however result in accelerated change… I guess Heart Attacks have a habit of doing that.

The obvious changes relate to my lifestyle. I am physically a very different person to 6 months ago. Mentally I guess I’ve changed too… some things that were very important in the past just don’t matter so much. I like to blame my medication for not getting so wound up about things, but it’s also down to the fact that I’ve developed a new perspective on life. Some might call it “balance”, but it still doesn’t always feel that natural to me.

Less obviously, the whole experience has changed Louise and “us” too. We don’t talk about it much, but I think we’re still in the “lucky to be alive” and “things could have been different” phase. This might fade in time, but it’s definitely a big factor now.

Louise has been great throughout the whole experience. I even got a bit of sympathy for the first few weeks of my recuperation. (A very rare occurrence!) She has been incredibly supportive throughout, and has even started to come to terms with my early morning swimming (although alarms at the weekend are strictly forbidden!). Again, I am very lucky.

The gifts we exchanged this morning summed up our current situation well: Flowers, Chocolates, Festive Liqueur & a pair of Swimming Trunks. Can you guess who received what?

***

Health scares change things… and they should, but we look forward to many more years of gentle, drifting change with the occasional moments of excitement… but only on our terms of course!!!

Changing treatments

Really not so cool…

Just the three of us

2 Replies

The maintenance work at the Local Pool finished yesterday bringing the week-long closure to an end. I don’t usually swim on a Saturday, but I was keen to get back in the pool, particularly as we have visitors this weekend and an early morning swim seemed like a good way of getting some exercise without impacting our plans for the day.

Not being a regular on a Saturday, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Given it had been shut all week I assumed the pool be busy.

I arrived to find 6 lanes marked out. Normally the swimming team would have been using 4 of the lanes but today they were all available to the public. There were some early comings and goings, but shortly after my arrival there were only three of us in the pool, and it stayed that way for the duration of my session. What a difference it makes to have a dedicated lane. A rare luxury. Bliss!

Sharing a lane can be frustrating!

After the session, one of my fellow swimmers asked me a question:

“What are you training for?”

I thought this was a fantastic question to ask in a Swimming Pool / Gym type setting. There’s no real downside… if you’re not training for something you’re likely to be pleased that someone considered you might be, and if you are it’s obviously a good conversation starter.

Personally, I was really pleased to be asked. It’s the first time anyone’s openly mistaken me for someone who’s fit for a long time. I took it as a sign that I’m making progress.

As it turned out, the chap I was speaking to is training for an Ironman event in South Africa in April next year (2.4 km Swim, 120km Cycle and a 28km Run). Clearly he has a little more conditioning under his belt than me!

The delights of competitive Open Water Swimming!

I have to admit, I was a little bit jealous. I suspect I’ll never be in a position to take on such a gruelling challenge. I’ll continue to set myself challenging goals, but they will always be within the context of my medical history, long term medication, etc.

I was recently asked a question about what I can’t do as a result of my Heart Attack. The list of things didn’t extend much beyond “some rides at Disney” and “scuba diving”. I suspect in reality the list is much longer, but I’m not going to add Ironman events to it just yet. Instead I’ll focus on doing what I can, taking it one step at a time. Who knows where the journey will end up!