B-squared
Silver Member
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.
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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