Is there still drumming life after a heart attack?

I don't like to talk about it, but I had one in 2007. The main reason was my old cardiologist is an idiot. Before the heart attack I went to him because I wasn't feeling well, plus I had an EKG printout from a $350 tabletop EKG machine that said clearly "Borderline EKG" right on it. He did a nuclear stress test (which I don't trust at all now that I know how it works) and he told me to stop drinking so much. Ten months later, I had the heart attack. If I had an angioplasty when I first went in, I never would have had it. I now have 4 stents in my coronary arteries.

Since then, I did quit drinking and I have run 4 marathons, finishing the most recent one in 4:24. My primary doctor took me off my blood pressure meds, and my resting pulse rate is in the low 40's (due to the running). I run, on average, 30 to 50 miles per week, I haul my drums up and down from my basement, and I gig at least once a month. What your doctor was telling you about is called EF (Ejection Fraction) which is a measurement of the ratio of the contracted to the at rest volume of your left ventricle as measured in an Echocardiogram. Don't pay any attention to it; it doesn't mean a damn thing. Mine has been measured anywhere from 35 to 65 depending on who did it. I doubt that with a heart rate of about 42, I have a problem with heart pumping function.

Don't let this stop you and don't let anyone tell you you can't fully recover - you can. Granted, the fact that I was so PO'ed by my original cardiologist, did drive me to do things a lot of people don't do. At least it taught me to choose my doctors carefully and do whatever I can by myself. Good luck and let me know how you're doing. Drop me an email if you like.
 
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Thanks for the very beneficial response. My cardiologist says that the heart works at approximately 60% efficiency (If I heard him right). He said after the heart attack mine was working at about 40-45%. I have since the attack started walking around the neighborhood and even took a very abrieviated bike ride of about 4 blocks. I did not become winded in any way. I have not yet sat down behind my drums because the doctor said to give it at least a week (Which will be tomorrow from the day he told me that advise). I have been eating a lot of salads which do produce gas and bloated stomach feeling which cause more breathing discomfort than any of the small exercises I have done recently. I am not a smoker but do have very bad dietary habits which I have since revised to eat more foods like fruits and greens and no red meat. I feel much better and understand that this will also improve even more in the very near months ahead if I maintain the better dietary habits and cardio-type exercise. I have since lost 7 lbs in a week and look to lose another 20 in the next couple of months.

Sounds like you're doing great, keep it up!
60% is a perfectly normal EF. It's a sign that your heart is beating normally.

B squared, congrats to you also on your accomplishments. Too bad about the circumstances that led up to it.
 
I don't like to talk about it, but I had one in 2007. The main reason was my old cardiologist is an idiot. Before the heart attack I went to him because I wasn't feeling well, plus I had an EKG printout from a $350 tabletop EKG machine that said clearly "Borderline EKG" right on it. He did a nuclear stress test (which I don't trust at all now that I know how it works) and he told me to stop drinking so much. Ten months later, I had the heart attack. If I had an angioplasty when I first went in, I never would have had it. I now have 4 stents in my coronary arteries.

Since then, I did quit drinking and I have run 4 marathons, finishing the most recent one in 4:24. My primary doctor took me off my blood pressure meds, and my resting pulse rate is in the low 40's (due to the running). I run, on average, 30 to 50 miles per week, I haul my drums up and down from my basement, and I gig at least once a month. What your doctor was telling you about is called EF (Ejection Fraction) which is a measurement of the ratio of the contracted to the at rest volume of your left ventricle as measured in an Echocardiogram. Don't pay any attention to it; it doesn't mean a damn thing. Mine has been measured anywhere from 35 to 65 depending on who did it. I doubt that with a heart rate of about 42, I have a problem with heart pumping function.

Don't let this stop you and don't let anyone tell you you can't fully recover - you can. Granted, the fact that I was so PO'ed by my original cardiologist, did drive me to do things a lot of people don't do. At least it taught me to choose my doctors carefully and do whatever I can by myself. Good luck and let me know how you're doing. Drop me an email if you like.


One of my biggest concerns is that I live alone. If I had a re-occurence, would i survive, even if I called 911. I was lucky the first time because my brother was visiting from out of town and he was able to get me to the hospital in time. I know if I stick to the healthier diet and get plenty of cardio exercise, I should be able to minimize the chance of a re-occurance but there is no doctor that will give you the credence of "you're clear and you won't have another one." Also, I am now taking so much medication I constantly feel like I'm in a fog at times. I wonder how long that will last? Will I ever be able to get off the medication? I know it will take time but is it for the rest of my life? Let's face it, doctors are also afforded royalties from the pharmaceutical companies when they prescribe their products. Will good diet and exercise eventually rid me of the need to have to take, Lipitor, blood pressure meds, blood thinner meds, etc? If the heart attack doesn't kill you, the meds will in time. During some times in the day I still feel some very small chest pains (Its hard to call them pains) or when gassy, able to take a complete breath. Is this normal? Of course I will consult with my doctor but wonder if any who have also suffered an attack had these type of things. I go today for my first follow up. I hope he gives me something positive.
 
Can I recommend two books to you? If you read them with an open mind, I really think you may enjoy them. They are "Why We Get Fat", by Gary Taubes and Protein Power: The High-Protein/Low-Carbohydrate Way to Lose Weight, Feel Fit, and Boost Your Health written by two doctors.

I have been in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years as a personal fitness trainer and I think we are going to see a lot of changes in terms of dietary recommendations in the future. I read as many books as I can in order to stay up to date with the latest trends, but these two books really opened my eyes to the other side of the discussion. You will understand why most health advocates now recommend the low Glycemic carbohydrates.

I hope you see a full recovery and are able to get back on your feet. Good luck.
 
One of my biggest concerns is that I live alone. If I had a re-occurence, would i survive, even if I called 911. I was lucky the first time because my brother was visiting from out of town and he was able to get me to the hospital in time. I know if I stick to the healthier diet and get plenty of cardio exercise, I should be able to minimize the chance of a re-occurance but there is no doctor that will give you the credence of "you're clear and you won't have another one." Also, I am now taking so much medication I constantly feel like I'm in a fog at times. I wonder how long that will last? Will I ever be able to get off the medication? I know it will take time but is it for the rest of my life? Let's face it, doctors are also afforded royalties from the pharmaceutical companies when they prescribe their products. Will good diet and exercise eventually rid me of the need to have to take, Lipitor, blood pressure meds, blood thinner meds, etc? If the heart attack doesn't kill you, the meds will in time. During some times in the day I still feel some very small chest pains (Its hard to call them pains) or when gassy, able to take a complete breath. Is this normal? Of course I will consult with my doctor but wonder if any who have also suffered an attack had these type of things. I go today for my first follow up. I hope he gives me something positive.

some general comments
-if you have a cardiac rehab or support group, it might be a good idea to join and be with other people who have been through it

-it is perfectly normal for people to "focus" on symptoms that may be related to an injured body part. soon you will learn what is "normal for you"

-contrary to what many people believe, doctors do NOT get royalties from industry for prescribing drugs. It's illegal. Lipitor is now generic, probably most of what you are taking is, so there isn't really anyone to get involved with a shady back room deal anyway.

-with the lifestyle changes you are making and the meds you are on, you are at lower risk of dying suddenly then you were 1 month ago.

-I'm betting your doc is going to give you some good news.
 
These are fantastic answers.

DrummerWorld: Best forum anywhere, for just about anything!
 
One of my biggest concerns is that I live alone. If I had a re-occurence, would i survive, even if I called 911. I was lucky the first time because my brother was visiting from out of town and he was able to get me to the hospital in time. I know if I stick to the healthier diet and get plenty of cardio exercise, I should be able to minimize the chance of a re-occurance but there is no doctor that will give you the credence of "you're clear and you won't have another one." Also, I am now taking so much medication I constantly feel like I'm in a fog at times. I wonder how long that will last? Will I ever be able to get off the medication? I know it will take time but is it for the rest of my life? Let's face it, doctors are also afforded royalties from the pharmaceutical companies when they prescribe their products. Will good diet and exercise eventually rid me of the need to have to take, Lipitor, blood pressure meds, blood thinner meds, etc? If the heart attack doesn't kill you, the meds will in time. During some times in the day I still feel some very small chest pains (Its hard to call them pains) or when gassy, able to take a complete breath. Is this normal? Of course I will consult with my doctor but wonder if any who have also suffered an attack had these type of things. I go today for my first follow up. I hope he gives me something positive.

You should have your medications decrease as time goes on. Coumadin and Spirolactone were the two worst and I got off of both of them relatively soon. after. Plavix and Lipitor are generic and shouldn't bother you. As a matter of fact, the Lipitor will really help your cholesterol. Mine is 115 with a 56 LDL and a 51 HDL. The generic Coreg is a problem because I have naturally low blood pressure. I'm down to the smallest dosage there is and I still have to skip it on runs over 20 miles. The pains you're feeling are normal. Read some internet threads from more survivors and you will learn that almost everyone has those. There is a bit of an adjustment period where you need to put trust in your judgement. Carry a cell phone and be patient. You recover a little each day, and if you stick with it, over time you can amaze yourself Relax, it sounds like you are right where you should be.
 
I'm glad to hear you're on your road to recovery. What you can and can't do should be up to you and the specialist actually treating you. And if you don't like what they're saying, you can get another opinion from another specialist who examines you and your specific situation.

I can say that I know of two drummers who had open heart surgery. On the same day, in the same hospital and with the same surgeon. Which is a really odd coincidence since one of them was originally going someplace else and ended up there. One of them, Ron E. Beck (ex Tower of Power) was out jamming a month later and gigging after a couple months. The other was a bit heavier and had a valve replaced. He took about 5 or 6 months to be out gigging again. Now almost a year later, both have full calendars and no issues. So there can be life and drumming after heart problems. How much in your case is between you and your cardiologist. But if you're doing mild exercise already, my layperson view is that you have a really good chance of getting most if not all of it back.

Maybe show your cardiologist some of the stick workouts you do and have him evaluate how it affects you. You should be able to bring a pad and sticks to his office and let him watch you do rudiments for a few minutes. Similar to a treadmill stress test. If he clears you to do that, think of it as an opportunity to clean up your hand technique for awhile before he releases you back to the kit.
 
Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the positive responses and well wishes. The information those have posted is knowledgable and sincere. I thank all of you drummers in our community known as DW. I was given the clearance from my cardiologist yesterday that I can resume playing my drums....
 
Wow Bob, big stuff, & a big wakeup! I'm sorry to hear of this. I have no direct experience that relates specifically to heart attack, but I do have experience of drumming after life threatening illness. So long as you're physically somewhere close to functioning, the rest is all mindset. Any slight deficiencies can be corrected through finding different ways to do things. Drumming helped me avoid slipping into that dark space that all who have been there know about.

Positive vibes coming your way Bob :)

Thanks for the kind word Andy.
 
While my heart is supposedly healthy as can be, I did recently have major surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in my esophogus. While they didn't need to "crack me open", they did need to access two points - one in the abdomen and one through the neck. So I have major incision scars in both areas. While in general and on the surface everything is healing well, it still will take a few months before I will completely heal internally. I recently went back to practicing and playing with my church band, but the effort and stamina needed for this is much less than in my rock band (only six songs per night). I'm going to stick with these efforts for now and see how it goes - so far so good. My rock band does have a gig at the end of March, and I've agreed to sit in on a few songs. There is no way I could be ready for three 45 minute sets, along with singing lead and background vocals. So I'm glad they have a fill-in drummer until I'm ready to come back full time. While I want to dive in with both feet, I have to learn to control myself and take this one step at a time.

Regarding your situation, you want to make sure playing drums is part of the healthy solution moving forward. So as others have mentioned, diet is a huge part of that. Also, listening to your doctor and body are crucial. If you feel you are straining or pushing too hard, definitely cut back. I would assume, like me, you need to go back to the doc for regular testing and observation, which should give you a good indication of how your overall health is.

I am so glad you are still with us and that you've been given a second chance (or third). I pray that you have continued health and the happiness that comes with playing drums for a long time to come. ROCK ON!
 
While my heart is supposedly healthy as can be, I did recently have major surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in my esophogus. While they didn't need to "crack me open", they did need to access two points - one in the abdomen and one through the neck. So I have major incision scars in both areas. While in general and on the surface everything is healing well, it still will take a few months before I will completely heal internally. I recently went back to practicing and playing with my church band, but the effort and stamina needed for this is much less than in my rock band (only six songs per night). I'm going to stick with these efforts for now and see how it goes - so far so good. My rock band does have a gig at the end of March, and I've agreed to sit in on a few songs. There is no way I could be ready for three 45 minute sets, along with singing lead and background vocals. So I'm glad they have a fill-in drummer until I'm ready to come back full time. While I want to dive in with both feet, I have to learn to control myself and take this one step at a time.

Regarding your situation, you want to make sure playing drums is part of the healthy solution moving forward. So as others have mentioned, diet is a huge part of that. Also, listening to your doctor and body are crucial. If you feel you are straining or pushing too hard, definitely cut back. I would assume, like me, you need to go back to the doc for regular testing and observation, which should give you a good indication of how your overall health is.

I am so glad you are still with us and that you've been given a second chance (or third). I pray that you have continued health and the happiness that comes with playing drums for a long time to come. ROCK ON!

this is my second chance. I don't plan on getting a thrid. Major diet chages have already begun as well as daily exercises. I will need to go for periodic observations too. thanks for the kind response and I hope you will feel better and continue on your journey to recovery.
 
Some years ago I went out with a heart attack survivor. He was fine apart from a tender sternum. Good luck with the new diet and lifestyle, As they say, everything in moderation.
 
Bob - very sorry to read of your situation but more than glad to hear of your ongoing recovery efforts.

I read this in great interest as I'm now on the unhealthy levels of blood pressure concerns. Trying holistically to get them under control myself. Exercise, stopping the junk food intake and reducing coffee intake has been first.
 
Bob - very sorry to read of your situation but more than glad to hear of your ongoing recovery efforts.

I read this in great interest as I'm now on the unhealthy levels of blood pressure concerns. Trying holistically to get them under control myself. Exercise, stopping the junk food intake and reducing coffee intake has been first.


That's where it started for me...elevated blood pressure. Your change in diet will most definately help with lowering your blood pressure, good luck!
 
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