The Body Can Be Forgiving

Five months ago I was in a bed in CCU. I had one STEMI, four days later a second heart attack, and a STENT implanted. I felt horrible and I thought my life was over. For weeks I was miserable.

Somewhere between 6-9 weeks post MI I started to feel more like my old self. I lost the shuffle walk and I was able to do more things. I comitted myself to cardiac rehab with exercise, compliant with my medications, diet improvement, and the two most improtant things were giving up cigarettes (I am down to one per day) and keeping my diabeties in control.

As of today- five months later my EF has improved from 35% to 58%. My Hemoglobin A1C is remarkable it has gone down from a dangerously high 14.4% to a good 6.9%. I can walk 2.5 mph on the treadmill indefinitely... but most of all I can live.

As I have recently said and learned is that having a heart attack is not the end of the world. It is a rude awakening and a lifestyle change but it isn't a death sentence. I will always have CAD and I will always have to live a healthy life style but that doesn't mean that I can't have a sweet treat or a french fry every once in awhile. My moods may swing but probably not as much as they did during the first five months. I spend a heck of a lot of money on healthcare--- but you know what--- I am worth it.

I want to thank all of you who have been supportive to me and others over these last few months. My life isn't perfect and I don't always feel good but I have made the GO RED choice... "I choose to live." I also want to thank my body for being so forgiving and allowing me this second chance.