Mr_Magoo's Wake Up Call

self | 11-23-2002 | Mr_Magoo

[Bahbah]

Magoo, it is so great to hear from you. You write so well that I felt like I lived through this with you in a small way. I know this; you have a big heart and God loves you. Bless your darling mother for trying so hard to get the word out.

[Mr_Magoo]

Please do it Sam. I don't want you to go through what I did. I don't want anyone to.

[doosee]

We don't ever want to say, Oh Magoo, you've done it again!! Stay in good health.

[lodwick]

Thanks Magoo - God be with you and yours. JL

[Alberta's Child]

It's great to see that you're doing well (relatively speaking, of course), Mr. Magoo.

I hope this makes you feel better -- Those "lifestyle changes" you've mentioned will probably be much easier for you because you will be doing them all at one time. It's hard to quit smoking, it's hard to exercise, and it's hard to change your diet. But if you do them all at the same time (and I would add that getting a good night's sleep every night will help, too) it will require such a dramatic overall change in you that you're less likely to notice any one of them.

Good luck, and keep us informed of your recovery!

[alfa6]

Tip o' the hat to ya Mr_Magoo I am glad to hear that you are on the mend. Keep up with the exercise and diet and best of luck to you.

DouglasKC get that scan done, money well spent if nothing else for the piece of mind. I to am 6' tall and weigh anywhere from 210 to 225 depending on what is going on. About 5 years ago when I was 44 or 45 I got to work about 5:30 in the am and had this crushing chest pain that lasted for about 30 seconds or so. I was just on the point of having the guard at the gate call the wagon when I felt better, instantly. It so happened that this was Dr day at the plant so I called the plant nurse and had him put me down for first on the list. They did an EKG on me at work and the DR really could not find anything obviously(?) wrong with me. Just onery I guess.
I was concerned not only for the obvious reasons but because my mother had dropped dead of a massive heart attack at about the same age. On the advice of the plant Dr I saw my primary Dr, told him what was up and he got me into the treadmill guy right away. The good news was that they could not find anything wrong. the bad news was that I had to get off my arse and do some sort of exercise. SO now I walk to work most days, its just over 2 miles each way, and I can usually make it in about 32 minutes.
So get that scan done and get on some sort of exercise program, after clearing it wiht your DR. of course. Good luck to you

Best of Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[shezza]

Glad to see you back, and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[freeland]

I am sure that you are right and I will add mine to their for your full recovery and continued health.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I hope you are able to quit your smoking habit and begin a good recovery; am glad it was not fatal. My father smoked and it shortened his life; another relative died recently of lung cancer. But she never smoked in her life, it was the result of 2nd hand smoke. Not to say that smoking was the cause for you, but glad to see you identifed one area you can do something about. From an ex-smoker, you can do it. Glad to see you're back.

[Aeronaut]

Very glad you pulled through Mr Magoo. The Lord is good.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Hey, a Christian nutrionist, Pam Smith, has a nice book out titled "Eat Well, Live Well" which you may enjoy. She doesn't advocate fad or crash diets but smart eating. She also has an online forum. You might enoy her material. God bless, and glad to see you again.

[Teacup]

Welcome back! Continued prayers for a full recovery. Thank you for the info. Hey ladies, this goes for us too. Heart problems are big in women too. Let's all heed Mr. Magoo's message and take care of ourselves.
Mr. Magoo, 2 years ago Mr. Teacup was in the hospital for 5 days with an irregular heart beat. Ever since then, we take this sort of thing very seriously.

[Palladin]

Great artcle, Magoo. Happy to have you back with us.

I hope everyone here will take your advice to heart!

[Teacup]

Bump this post to the top!! Amen!

[LonePalm]

I'm glad you are still around to write this. It is amazing the things that have to happen before you can see clearly.

18 months ago, just after my 46th birthday, I saw my family doctor on a Saturday morning. I was 5'9" tall and weighed 310 pounds. Not a pretty sight. When I got to see the doctor, he was flipping through my records wondering why I hadn't been to see him in a long time. I complained about chest pains. I suddenly had his complete, total, and undivided attention. After listening to my chest, he told me to drive directly but carefully to the Monmouth Medical ER and that they would be waiting for me. Don't worry about where to park, just park out of the way near the ER entrance.

I did as he instructed. There was a guard waiting for me to park my van. My son and I were ushered quickly inside. I was very uncomfortable being the center of attention in a semi-busy ER. They did an immediate EKG and took samples for cardiac blood work. I spent an unhappy weekend in the cardiac unit. Five EKGs and six sets of blood work later I was discharged.

Evidently there are three causes that would explain my particular chest pains. Only number one, heart problems, will kill you. I had number two, stomach problems. I had stomach surgery that June. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. The chest pains are gone, the stomach pains are gone, the sleep apnia is almost gone, and the carpal tunnel doesn't bother me anymore.

Oh, BTW, I'm down 86.5 pounds from my high and still losing weight. I look more like a human being instead of a balding doughboy.

Your body will tell you things if you will listen. I'm glad it wasn't too late for either of us.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[fellowpatriot]

So glad to hear that you're on the mend!

My husband had a heart attack at the age of 39. His mother passed away from the disease 9 months earlier.

The day of the heart attack he had gone in for a stress test - because of his age, the doc didn't seem to be too worried that his blood pressure was up, was going to wait till she heard from the cardiologist before she prescribed anything.

They ended up doing angioplasty the next day to clear his main artery so that he would survive long enough to have bypass surgery. He was also put on a balloon pump to give his heart a rest before the bypass. Three days later, he went in for six but ended up with four bypasses - not enough places to attach the veins.

The docs couldn't tell us enough how lucky he was to be alive! Most people in their 30's and 40's don't take the warning signs seriously (if they're lucky enough to get them).

He has totally changed his lifestyle and just had his 5 year checkup and is doing great!

I highly recommend that you log onto www.lef.org and read about their recommendations of what supplements to take. They have done wonders for my husband! His cardiologist was so impressed in the improvements in his bloodwork that he is now recommending this to his other heart patients.

Watch the low-fat diet - it is very high in carbs and you will gain weight which is not good. My husband is no longer on the diet that the hospital gave him - I think it's designed to promote repeat customers! Avoid saturated fat and carbs. The Atkins diet is good. My husband has used it for the past four years, and along with working out, has managed to maintain a decent weight.

Take care and God bless you!

[jmc813]

Great to hear you made it through. Never underestimate the power of a bunch of Freepers praying for you. God bless.

[SAMWolf]

I will. My dad went through it back in the late 80's. He still has problems.

[JulieRNR21]

So happy to learn that you have come through the heart surgery and are making progress in your recovery.

Your message is an important one that could benefit many Freepers. I know that I will be asking my doctor about a heart scan.

I hope will continue to listen to your doctor & stick to those life style changes you describe.

We need you posting on FR for many many years!

Here are some special Freeper angels (from my profile page). Keeping you in my prayers.......Julie