During my heart-sick times, I lost weight. But I lost weight because I was working on a better me.
I'm now hovering between 203 and 205.
Whuff!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Still kickin', healing, and growing
Dr. Allred saved my life. I can breathe, run, walk, take stairs, and I have more stamina than my teenage children.
Still, no smokes, my weight is ideal (thanks to wonderful companionship and kindness from the most beautiful Flower in the Garden).
I am healthier and happier than I have been in my entire life.
And there is more life yet to come.
Yesterday, Dr. Allred gave me the green light: I don't take heart meds any more. Just aspirin and a decent diet/exercise.
I am open to the good things the Universe can offer. I am learning to expect the best instead of the worst.
Still, no smokes, my weight is ideal (thanks to wonderful companionship and kindness from the most beautiful Flower in the Garden).
I am healthier and happier than I have been in my entire life.
And there is more life yet to come.
Yesterday, Dr. Allred gave me the green light: I don't take heart meds any more. Just aspirin and a decent diet/exercise.
I am open to the good things the Universe can offer. I am learning to expect the best instead of the worst.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Regrowing the heart with health, then love
Radio frequency ablation (RFA)
Atrial fibrillation with rapid heartbeat
Tachycardia
Stroke
Heart disease
Mortality
Death
The above words filled my ears for a long time. And my soul's heart, too... I suffered from decades of stress and insufficient sleep. I ran a business and a full-time job at the same time, sometimes with other part-time work on top of them. I learned and worked and worked and fulfilled my family's needs, often without regard to my body and my soul's health.
A little more than a decade ago, all the stress and work and sleep-deprived nights caught up with me. I began to have periods of time where I felt lightheaded and had a great deal of pain in my rib cage, arteries, and heart region. Doctors' visits ruled out clogged arteries and indicated that I was not having heart attacks or myocardial infarctions. The doctors told me to quit smoking (I did just that, just less than 5 years ago), I all but gave up caffeine, I took medicine to lower my stress and anxiety, and I took heart regulation medicines like amiodarone and atenolol.
I still had periodic episodes of heart problems, primarily with severe atrial fibrillation and rapid heartbeat. The pain, anxiety, and light-headedness were stunning and completely impossible to ignore. Or, for that matter, it seemed (past tense) impossible to treat.
No matter the medicine, no matter the rest I got, no matter the food or diet I changed, it was to no avail. The problems I had just increased over the years. The severity increased. My tolerance to the pain and the inability to think increased. And, unfortunately, the frequency increased.
This year, I had many severe events in rapid succession - despite the fact that I am happy, healthy, I get plenty of sleep, work only one job, and I care for myself. These severe events were a new wake-up call. I started frequenting the offices of different cardiologists and talking about my mortality. I was told that stroke and heart failure were imminent, and that something would have to happen soon to turn this issue around.
My mortality loomed and scared me and my mate to death. We both struggled with the fragility of a body that was once so very strong and could endure so very much. She was scared of losing me, I was scared of dying and leaving my family behind. The family was strong about this issue, but it was still an enormous drain on all of us.
I ended up seeing a new cardiologist in my hometown and finding that he knew of RFA cardiology treatments for people with my issues. In short, a day-long visit to the hospital and surgery changed my body's life forever. The operation was a total success.
I still take a very limited amount of heart medicine, but only as a precaution. The cardio RFA procedure was nothing short of a miracle. I have not had a single episode of any kind of heart issues - once I passed the ten day mark (The first ten days would make a great additional post, once I have the time.)
I have a new lease on life. For the second time in only about four years, I have a fresh start and an outlook that truly warm and optimistic. I'm quite blessed.
I know that the same medical treatments don't work with everyone... Please take the time to talk to doctors about your health, and don't be afraid to ask more than one doctor about important things...
Smober? Still am!
Down from 237 lbs in 2007 to 207 lbs now.
w00t.
Atrial fibrillation with rapid heartbeat
Tachycardia
Stroke
Heart disease
Mortality
Death
The above words filled my ears for a long time. And my soul's heart, too... I suffered from decades of stress and insufficient sleep. I ran a business and a full-time job at the same time, sometimes with other part-time work on top of them. I learned and worked and worked and fulfilled my family's needs, often without regard to my body and my soul's health.
A little more than a decade ago, all the stress and work and sleep-deprived nights caught up with me. I began to have periods of time where I felt lightheaded and had a great deal of pain in my rib cage, arteries, and heart region. Doctors' visits ruled out clogged arteries and indicated that I was not having heart attacks or myocardial infarctions. The doctors told me to quit smoking (I did just that, just less than 5 years ago), I all but gave up caffeine, I took medicine to lower my stress and anxiety, and I took heart regulation medicines like amiodarone and atenolol.
I still had periodic episodes of heart problems, primarily with severe atrial fibrillation and rapid heartbeat. The pain, anxiety, and light-headedness were stunning and completely impossible to ignore. Or, for that matter, it seemed (past tense) impossible to treat.
No matter the medicine, no matter the rest I got, no matter the food or diet I changed, it was to no avail. The problems I had just increased over the years. The severity increased. My tolerance to the pain and the inability to think increased. And, unfortunately, the frequency increased.
This year, I had many severe events in rapid succession - despite the fact that I am happy, healthy, I get plenty of sleep, work only one job, and I care for myself. These severe events were a new wake-up call. I started frequenting the offices of different cardiologists and talking about my mortality. I was told that stroke and heart failure were imminent, and that something would have to happen soon to turn this issue around.
My mortality loomed and scared me and my mate to death. We both struggled with the fragility of a body that was once so very strong and could endure so very much. She was scared of losing me, I was scared of dying and leaving my family behind. The family was strong about this issue, but it was still an enormous drain on all of us.
I ended up seeing a new cardiologist in my hometown and finding that he knew of RFA cardiology treatments for people with my issues. In short, a day-long visit to the hospital and surgery changed my body's life forever. The operation was a total success.
I still take a very limited amount of heart medicine, but only as a precaution. The cardio RFA procedure was nothing short of a miracle. I have not had a single episode of any kind of heart issues - once I passed the ten day mark (The first ten days would make a great additional post, once I have the time.)
I have a new lease on life. For the second time in only about four years, I have a fresh start and an outlook that truly warm and optimistic. I'm quite blessed.
I know that the same medical treatments don't work with everyone... Please take the time to talk to doctors about your health, and don't be afraid to ask more than one doctor about important things...
Smober? Still am!
Down from 237 lbs in 2007 to 207 lbs now.
w00t.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wow. More than 4 1/2 years now
It has been more than four and a half years since I quit smoking.
I've also kept my weight in a more reasonable range. I'm now hovering around 208 to 210. More than 27 pounds lighter than when I was in my previous life.
Also, and as importantly, I'm eating better. I'm also living more healthy: I get more sleep; I get up and move around more often; and my heart is better.
After my July 28 cardio ablation heart surgery, my heart is stable for the first time in more than a decade.
I am better. It's been a long road, but I'm better!
I've also kept my weight in a more reasonable range. I'm now hovering around 208 to 210. More than 27 pounds lighter than when I was in my previous life.
Also, and as importantly, I'm eating better. I'm also living more healthy: I get more sleep; I get up and move around more often; and my heart is better.
After my July 28 cardio ablation heart surgery, my heart is stable for the first time in more than a decade.
I am better. It's been a long road, but I'm better!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Still humming away!
Today is a milestone for me.
Today, I have been a non-smoker for 4 1/2 years. On January 22, 2007 at 10:00 P.M., I had my last cigarette - it was foul and I didn't like it at all.
I've never looked back.
At the peak of the most difficult time of my life, I weighed 237 pounds and my heart had begun a spiral downward.
Today: I have the healthiest heart I've had since my teenage years.
Today: I am down to 211 lbs.
Today, I have been a non-smoker for 4 1/2 years. On January 22, 2007 at 10:00 P.M., I had my last cigarette - it was foul and I didn't like it at all.
I've never looked back.
At the peak of the most difficult time of my life, I weighed 237 pounds and my heart had begun a spiral downward.
Today: I have the healthiest heart I've had since my teenage years.
Today: I am down to 211 lbs.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Biking and now lost weight
When I first started this blog, I was hovering between 237 and 240 lbs. I have been exercising in moderate ways all this time, but mostly just good fast walking, parking the car far from entrances, cutting the grass, and other plain old good exercise things.
In the past few weeks, Margaret and I have been riding bicycles. Wonderful, one-speed cruisers, enjoying the wind in my fur and the company of an awesome woman - riding around on our bikes on the back streets of our little town. Life is good.
I'm now hovering between 212 and 215 lbs. My goal? Staying under 210. Stay tuned. We'll see where things go!
In the past few weeks, Margaret and I have been riding bicycles. Wonderful, one-speed cruisers, enjoying the wind in my fur and the company of an awesome woman - riding around on our bikes on the back streets of our little town. Life is good.
I'm now hovering between 212 and 215 lbs. My goal? Staying under 210. Stay tuned. We'll see where things go!
Wow. So much time has passed. Nicotine-free and now...
It's been 4 years and more than 4 months since I quit smoking. I've not had any nicotine of any kind since my quit date, 1.22.2007 (10:00 P.M. exactly).
And now, to strengthen my heart, I've had no caffeine for more than two weeks. I had cut down dramatically some time back, but have now pretty much left it in the dust. No headaches or sleepiness now. Just plain sodas, water, decaf, and good stuff like juice and milk. Well, maybe a beer now and again!
My life is on a tack that's pretty hopeful. And I've gotten to this part of the Journey to Bodhi without nicotine!
Peace to all. Back soon.
And now, to strengthen my heart, I've had no caffeine for more than two weeks. I had cut down dramatically some time back, but have now pretty much left it in the dust. No headaches or sleepiness now. Just plain sodas, water, decaf, and good stuff like juice and milk. Well, maybe a beer now and again!
My life is on a tack that's pretty hopeful. And I've gotten to this part of the Journey to Bodhi without nicotine!
Peace to all. Back soon.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Still hanging in there!
Today, I am STILL smoke-free and my real weight is only about ~10 lbs more than it was when I graduated from college. I actually lost weight this past 12 months.
No Smokes. No kidding. No worries. I'm not looking back!
From my http://quitnet.com gadget (edited for brevity):
1504 days, 15 hours, 54 minutes and 14 seconds smoke free.
52663 cigarettes not smoked.
13 months, 12 days, 6 hours of your life saved.
Your quit date: 1/22/2007 10:00:00 PM
No Smokes. No kidding. No worries. I'm not looking back!
From my http://quitnet.com gadget (edited for brevity):
1504 days, 15 hours, 54 minutes and 14 seconds smoke free.
52663 cigarettes not smoked.
13 months, 12 days, 6 hours of your life saved.
Your quit date: 1/22/2007 10:00:00 PM
Friday, January 28, 2011
More than 4 years now without nicotine and a milestone of large proportion
This past January 22 (a few days ago, 1.22.2011) marked the fourth anniversary of my cessation of smoking and nicotine use. I smoked my last cigarette at 10 P.M. on 1.22.2007 in the basement bathroom of Rowan St.
Chantix took my initiative and desire and helped me to make the crucial steps away from nicotine and from the act of smoking.
My determination to remain smoke- and nicotine-free has truly paid off in better health, better cash flow, and so many other things... there is a long list of what is improved...
I don't miss smoking or nicotine highs, even though I now commute about an hour a day (in each direction). My car smells great, and my family is still very much better off without cigarettes in our daily life.
Today, January 28, 2011, the lease ended on my little rental house in Raleigh. Rowan St. is sold, the apartment is long gone, and the rental house is back in the hands of its owners.
I am no longer a Raleigh person. I have moved on to a new life.
I have truly gotten a new life. And joy is with me as is the most beautiful Flower in the Garden.
Peace. Vivid Peace.
Chantix took my initiative and desire and helped me to make the crucial steps away from nicotine and from the act of smoking.
My determination to remain smoke- and nicotine-free has truly paid off in better health, better cash flow, and so many other things... there is a long list of what is improved...
I don't miss smoking or nicotine highs, even though I now commute about an hour a day (in each direction). My car smells great, and my family is still very much better off without cigarettes in our daily life.
Today, January 28, 2011, the lease ended on my little rental house in Raleigh. Rowan St. is sold, the apartment is long gone, and the rental house is back in the hands of its owners.
I am no longer a Raleigh person. I have moved on to a new life.
I have truly gotten a new life. And joy is with me as is the most beautiful Flower in the Garden.
Peace. Vivid Peace.
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