Outdoorsmen with Heart Problems

[Bobby Bass]

Since I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure three years ago it has been in the back of my mind to start a string for other outdoorsmen with the same problem to share what they do. A fishing buddy of mine suffered a heart attack about a month ago and is having a hard time getting back to "Normal" hard part for him is he is 54 and is not ready to slow down any. Having a stent put in got him in and out of the hospital but he is having some bad days which I share with him having CHF I don't look forward to these hot days with high humidity. So anyone else have a problem with their ticker tocking?

[Tom7227]

Mine is OK but I handled workers comp claims for a number of years. What I saw time and again was that the guys that didn't get any counseling after having a heart problem did much worse than those that talked to someone. A life threatening event like a heart attack can scare the bejeebers out of many and if they don't learn to deal with it they become an emotional cripple. Thing is that counseling isn't the manly thing to do and so many reject it. Getting your head on straight likely won't make the ticker work any better but it will improve the quality of life that you have left.

My advice - don't sit around a mope and act like your going to die if you get constipated. Talk to a specialist and get the brain box back on track, learn that there's a lot left for you to do and accomplish, and then go out and do it. Sure, you're going to have limitations but chances are they aren't going to require that you sit in the recliner and watch crummy daytime tv the rest of your life.

[Bobby Bass]

Good to hear we have a healthy bunch here, no posts so I must be the only one who was trying to hook up a beer IV yesterday.

[jac714]

I had a "cardiac event" at 49, it has not really limited my life in many ways. I had two stents inserted went through the cardiac rehab my cardiologist recommended.

I can't run a marathon but I can get out for a walk, fish to my hearts content, if you keep in mind that you (unless you go through some serious conditioning and training) cannot act like you are 18 but it is not the end of the world.

[Archerysniper]

This hit's close to home for me. I had a good friend that died at 56 two fall ago, he was having lots of heart problems and a heart attack that almost killed him that required a quadruple bypass. However he recover from it and refused to change his diet or quit smoking, this all caught up to him in the hills of northeast Wyoming during a mule deer hunt he didn't make it back to camp after dark so we started a search party and it took us 3 hour but we finally found him on a hillside with a beautiful view over the valley it's like he knew and picked this spot to go out doing what he loved to do.

[Sifty]

I had the widow maker on October 13th 2008 at the age of 43.

I had been coaching pratice for my sons football team and we had been running some pass plays when it hit me. I thought I had just gulped in a bunch of cold air so I had my sweatshirt up to my mouth trying to breath in some "heated" air but it wouldnt go away.

We called practice and the only thing I could think of was to get home. My son and I got to the truck and he looked at me and knew somthing was wrong at almost ten years old he asked if he should drive. I drove us home and went into the house and my wife knew I was having a heart attack, she got some asprin in me right away and called 911. A quick trip that I don't remember to Regions and a 13 minute stent operation and I was on the right track back.

There are alot of things I have tried to keep in shape and eat right and somtimes it gets hard but to look back and remember my sons face that night makes it not seem so hard.

Funny how your outlook on life changes when something bad has happened, some of the things that put me over the top back then are no more then a bump in the road now.

Sifty

[EBass]

At 27yrs old I went in for a bad cold that lingered. Only to find out I had a heart mumur. So I had an echo the next day and got a call from the doc that night.

He told me to sit down and then told me that;

1)I have a leaky mitral valve. (so does my mom)

2)Enlarged aortic root. (John Ritter died from this)

3)Arrhythmia. (I had this since I can remember)

Then apologized.

Talk about depressing - sheesh.

Now I see a cardiologist every year and have an echo done. I take meds for the arrhymia which helps. Eventually I will have open heart surgery in the next 5-10 years,(not looking forward to that) but it hasn't changed since then and that was 10yrs ago. I'm not supposed to lift anything heavy, but I still do to an extent. I try not to think about it...

Any ways, you're not alone, life is short, fish hard and God bless

[Archerysniper]

Any ways, you're not alone, life is short, fish hard and God bless

Thank you for that line, some how it make me see thing differently.

[88fan]

I got a stent in May of 2010 at the age of 35. I went to the ER with what I thought was bad heartburn. Turns out I had a 99% blockage on the "widow maker". I too have trouble with the hot, humid days kicking my rear. Otherwise I feel the same as I did before. After finishing cardiac rehab I had the confidence to know that I could push myself and not "tip over". The biggest thing that irks me now is all the pills I have to take. Prior to my event I had quit smoking and had a checkup about a year prior and my cholesterol and BP were normal, a little overweight but still very active. Family history likely played a large role in my heart problems. My cardiologist told me I was lucky to even feel a pain, many people who have a blockage like I did have fatal heart attacks. If something doesn't feel right go to the doctor!

[Jarrid Houston]

I think that these threads defin are important and appreciate you dudes sharing! These can encourage others to watch what they eat, and get a healthy excersize program in place. After all , I know I wanna fish earth for more years to come!!!

[Gordie]

My father has CHF and has been plagued with a lot of health related issues from circulation problems in his legs to carotid artery surgery’s on both sides ,stints, total shoulder replaced and to much other stuff to list and a couple mini heart attacks

@

2 years ago 1st week of November he fell in the kitchen and hit his head causing a brain bleed they did surgery and lost him twice on the table but after several weeks of not thinking he was going to make it thanksgiving morning he came out of it. since then he has slowly fought his way back . what we call good for him .

He is walking and walks regularly, gardens, enjoys the birds, and time with the grandkids.

He just turned 74 and I get strength from him just knowing where he has been and been thru.

We found out the meds he was on is probably was caused him to fall that day and since then he has been to different doctors and that seems to have been straightened out.

[Bobby Bass]

Had another Heart Event last week, for those who have had this happen all I need to describe is it felt like some one stabbed me with an ice pick. A very quick reminder that even though I was feeling good I still have a problem to deal with. I was sitting at the desk doing nothing and it came from out of nowhere. A trip to the Drs. and some med changes and I have not had a repeat, yet. Now the wife does not want me fishing alone anymore or bird hunting, we are working on that restriction. Just goes to show you it can happen anywhere, be careful but don't stop enjoying what ya love to do.

[Dave]

Very happy to hear that you're still with us, Bobby. Take Care

[Gordie]

Glad yor OK Bobby I'll send some prayers your way take care

[upnorth]

Good to hear you made it, many don't.

[delcecchi]

I had a heart attack in 2005. Next morning I went to ER. When you walk in and say " I am having chest pain" you don't have to sit and wait or fill out any papers.

Ended up with quad bypass. Still going to rehab twice a week, walking on my own 3 or 4 or 5 times a week, and watching my diet. I was 59 when it happened.

Doing great so far.