Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Holiday Heart Attacks

Researchers have long noted a correlation between an increase in cardiac events and the Holiday season. There are many theories offered. In fact, there is an excellent article that you can find here. I found it quiet interesting that one of the main reasons for the spike is that we tend to put things off during the Holidays. Just last year I had total knee replacement surgery on December 30. It basically ruined much of the Holidays. It was the first time that we did not put up a Christmas tree. I made the decision for financial reasons. My deductible was met, but I can easily see myself putting off a nagging feeling of discomfort in my chest or some other warning sign. Is holding out for Christmas worth that being the last Christmas you will ever see.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

It's Happening

When I moved back to Memphis in 2006 I had a dream. I knew that there was a role for heart bypass survivors to play in the recovery of people about to face this life changing surgery. I talked to everyone that would listen. Not many would, but you know how it is when your idea is more of a passion than anything else. Over the past five years I slowly began to meet people who had been through the surgery and felt the same way I did. I finally met the greatest cardiologist in the world, Dr. Stacy Smith. She not only became my Dr., she also became an advocate. Then it all started to really come together when Methodist Hospital began to see the important role former patients could play in the recovery of their current patients. Last night I finally got to see the video which is really a dream come true for me. You can see it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSjVgZrdr08

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My Biggest Challenge

I struggle with my weight. There, I said it. You would think that after all that I have been through I would control the one thing that I ought to have some control over. Sounds easy enough, but since my bypass I have seen my weight fluctuate a good 30 pounds. I even find myself thinking that with all the good meds that I am taking it really doesn't matter what I eat. I know that is crazy thinking, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that way. Unfortunately, food is something that seems to give me comfort, and the really comforting food might comfort, but it usually isn't very good for you. I plan to write a bit more about this, but right now I just wanted to admit that I have a problem.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Does Someone Else Live in Your House?

As I write this I am in a hospital. I started out in the emergency room thinking that they would run a few tests and tell me that all I had was indigestion. Wasn't that what I thought six years ago? Well, I am now waiting for morning to come so I can experience my forth heart cath. As you might expect my wife is worried. I don't particularly like it, but there's not much I can do. I have tried to accept that heart disease is an ongoing part of my life. A few weeks ago my wife and I heard a psychologist give a talk where he described a marriage where one member of the couple had a chronic health issue. In his words it was like another person living in the house with the couple. When he said that Tina and I just looked at each other knowing he was right. I often feel guilty that I have brought this un-welcomed visitor to live with us. It might be heart issues or it could be other chronic illnesses like diabetes or cancer that has lived with a family for years.
I hope everything goes well tomorrow. I feel more at peace with myself than I did in 2004, but I still have so much I want to do and so many places I want to see. Most of all I want to see my grandchildren grow up and I want to grow old with my wife.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mark Norris



Mark was an espiring film maker. He seemed to be on the verge of really making it in the world of film. He died at 29 of a heart attack. People 29 don't die of heart attacks, but Mark did. Of course his parents are greaf stricken, and everyone else close to him is in shock. I found out that Mark had abnormally high colestrol levels. I am not qualified to speak about what, if anything, could have been done to prevent his death. My father was 69 when he had his bypass surgery. He seemed typical. He smoked until he was sixty and ate a Southern high fat diet. My brother was in his early fifties and was a heavy smoker when he went under the knife. I, on the other hand, was only 46 and a non-smoker when I had quadruple bypass surgery, and now I encounter a truly young man cut down as his career begins to take off. I guess the bottom line is that heart disease is just not a disease that we can not worry about until our retirement years.




Mark Norris 1982-2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Go Tell Your Story.


On Monday I got a call from the former director of the Memphis area of the Heart Association. When I served on their Advisory Council he was a real help and encouragement to me. He called to inform me that his father-in-law was hours away from heart bypass surgery, and he was nervous and really want to talk to someone who had been through the surgery. As soon as that call ended I made a call and spoke to both his father and mother-in-law. I could tell the call seemed to calm him down, and I knew that I had done some good.


All of you who have had bypass surgery have a gift to give others, and that is the gift of your story. Even if you had complications from your surgery you still have a story that can help others. I clearly remember before my bypass, now nearly six years ago, how much I wanted to talk to people how had been through it. I the years since my surgery I have had numerous opportunities to talk to people who were filled with fear, dread, apprehension, and a host of other feelings. With each one I have noticed the power of story to help them. I am sure to tell them that I am telling my story, and that there's will likely be different from mine. Even so, I watch each time I share my story how it always seems to resonate with each person in some way. This is especially true if I am able to speak with them after the surgery.


Remember. A gift is not a gift unless it is shared. Why not take the time and reach out to someone who could benifit from your story. As I have told my story to others about to go through heart bypass surgery I have been blessed myself. There is great healing power for yourself every time you reach out help another person.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Barbara Walters

Tonight my wife and I watched Barbara Walter's special on the heart. I sat through most of the program just shaking my head up and down in agreement. If you watched it you know that she not only told her own story of heart valve replacement surgery, but also told the stories of several other famous people from David Letterman to President Clinton. Even though I am just a normal person I felt that I would be at ease with each person featured on the special just because there is an almost instant bond between heart survivors. We all have the scar and in a strange kind of way over time you can become almost proud of your scar. It is your badge to the world that you lived through one of the most invasive surgeries there is. There were several things pointed out on the program that I believe need to be shouted from the mountain top.

1. More than one mentioned that after open heart surgery there is no way to describe how much weakness you feel. I remember that in the beginning just getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom was exhausting.
2. Whatever you do don't ignore symptoms. This was something that President Clinton admitted doing and he also admitted that it almost cost him his life.
3. Everyone is different in the way they recover, but I really liked something that David Letterman said. He told Walters that he knew he was recovered when he no longer thought of his surgery. For me that took a long time.
4. More women die from heart disease than men. Everyone women in this country know to get a mammogram but often ignore symptoms of heart disease. I just don't think most women realize that heart disease is a women's disease ever more than it's a man's disease.
5. Tell your story. I am sorry that each one of these people had to undergo such a serious surgery, but I am so thankful that they were all willing to tell their stories. I am always encouraged with I get to tell my story or when I get to hear someone's story. Not surprisingly, Robin Williams was telling jokes about his heart valve replacement surgery just weeks later. It helps to laugh.

To Barbara Walters, I thank you for putting together a special about a topic dear to me. It was excellent and I would love to have copies of it to share with others.