Carolyn Thomas at Heart Sisters wrote an excellent blog about medical i.d. today called Why aren’t you wearing your medical I.D?
I'll have to admit that I went until just last month--a full 20 months without wearing any kind of medical i.d. I really never thought much about it until I traveled to Ohio on business with my co-worker, Claudia. While we were there I realized if something happened to me, all she would be able to tell them is that I'd suffered a previous heart attack. She would never be able to tell them I have 5 stents in my LAD and that I am taking carvedilol, plavix, simvistatin and asprin.. She would never be able to tell them that I am allergic to penicillin and latex. She would never be able to give them a contact number of someone back home. Actually, if something happened to me at home, I am quite sure even my husband and children would never be able to rattle all of that off!
When we got home, I started looking for a bracelet. Most places they are so sporty and I was looking for something that was not quite so sporty. I found this great website called Lauren's Hope and I ordered the one called Cambay Cuff Stainless Steel Medical ID. The total cost with shipping was around $63.00. Check them out, they have great products and, I was pleasantly surprised to find out they are just north of the river in Riverside, MO. I really love their products!
I still intend to subscribe to Medical Alert Services as Carolyn highlighted in her blog so that I can have a more complete medical history on file. While my Lauren's Hope bracelet is wonderful and I love it, Medical Alert Services allows for a complete medical history to be available to emergency responders. It is basically your own version of an electronic medical record that they use in doctors offices and hospitals.
I know that no one ever expects to be in an emergency situation. Trust me that I couldn't believe it when I was in the ambulance. Lucky for me, I was conscious and could talk to the paramedics and to the nurses and docs on the fabulous cardiac team that was waiting for me when I arrived at the hospital. If I hadn't been, they would not have known I was allergic to latex or penicillin.
There are a whole host of diseases and reasons why you should consider medical id.
If you have never checked out Carolyn's blog, go check her out at http://myheartsisters.org/. She has great heart information!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Feeling A Little Triumphant Today
When I first had the heart attack, I vowed to lose all the weight that I needed to lose. I lost quite a bit of it--30 pounds. I got lazy and gained back all 30 pounds. Seeing as my cardiologist is going to have a fit when I go back, I have been able to refocus this week!
What worked for me was to plan food every weekend for the upcoming week. I spent half a day shopping and another half day portioning out food for the week. Last year after I went back to the cath lab for additional stents, had our company's User Summit, SMS 25 year reunion, BV/BVN 25 year reunion and went on vacation, I was too busy to continue to plan out what I was eating each week. Once I got too busy, I broke the habit. I am an all or nothing person. I am either eating good or eating crap. There is no mixing the two.
Seeing as I know for sure that eating crap it bad for me, I feel rather triumphant today:
This, my friends, is all of my fruits and veggies (lots of kale) that I need for the week. Not to mention that I have been up every morning for eight days working out. I am back on the wagon! Cheers to that!
What worked for me was to plan food every weekend for the upcoming week. I spent half a day shopping and another half day portioning out food for the week. Last year after I went back to the cath lab for additional stents, had our company's User Summit, SMS 25 year reunion, BV/BVN 25 year reunion and went on vacation, I was too busy to continue to plan out what I was eating each week. Once I got too busy, I broke the habit. I am an all or nothing person. I am either eating good or eating crap. There is no mixing the two.
Seeing as I know for sure that eating crap it bad for me, I feel rather triumphant today:
This, my friends, is all of my fruits and veggies (lots of kale) that I need for the week. Not to mention that I have been up every morning for eight days working out. I am back on the wagon! Cheers to that!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
It Can Happen to You
Do you know what numbers you should know? Click here to find out what numbers you should know. Go ahead, I'll wait. So, you've clicked and now you have learned from the American Heart Association what numbers are important. I hear you saying, my numbers aren't bad, I'm not at risk. Are you sure? My blood pressure was 110/70 and my total cholesterol was 134 and I had a massive heart attack. So tell me now that you aren't at risk if your numbers are good. You exercise so you aren't at risk? Well, meet Jen at My Life in Red. She is a distance runner and suffered a heart attack. You don't have any family history of heart disease so you aren't at risk? Neither did I and have I mentioned that I suffered a massive heart attack?
You've been to the doctor and he or she has told you you need to lose weight but you don't listen because you don't have any other risk factors so how bad could extra weight be by itself? Well, the American Medical Association has classified obesity as a disease. Do I agree with that? No, but I'm not a doctor. I think it is an epidemic of bad decisions. Before you start throwing stones at my bluntness, I am medically classified as obese. I am this way because of a culmination of bad decisions in my 44 years. Too much sugar, too much fat and nacho cheese as a primary food group. Admittedly mostly because my kitchen hates me and my smoke detectors serve as my oven timer most days. Does that mean I am diseased? Well, quite honestly yes but not with obesity, with heart disease as a result of my bad decisions. I think calling it a disease gives people a free pass to think that this is a disease so they don't need to do anything to address it. It is a pass to continue to live a western lifestyle that thrives on indulgence. So, if your doctor tells you that you need to lose weight, are you so arrogant as to think that it really won't cause you any problems if you don't? It leads to heart disease, stroke and cancer. I struggle with mine daily, so I'm not saying it isn't a struggle. What I am saying is that you should should take the struggle seriously.
I read all the sentiments from folks as they learned of the death of James Gandolfini. All I could think is the one take away I wish that everyone would take away from this is not oh, how sad. I wish what everyone would take away is that if it can happen to him, it can happen to everyone. If it can happen to me it can happen to you.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Falling Off the Vegan Wagon
I have fallen off the vegan wagon. This takes me back far in the other direction of finding the skinny bitch. I keep saying I will get back to it and then I find a reason not to. Last week, I went to Cincinnati on business, the week before, who knows! I have found excuse after excuse not to get back to it.
In reality, I did not go vegan for weight loss. I went vegan because I knew it was the healthiest choice for someone that is post STEMI. I went vegan for all of the right reasons. The thing about being vegan is that it requires a lot of planning. I am so not a planner. I basically go through life flying by the seat of my pants. While I am almost always having a good time, that leaves very little time for planning and structure.
In the beginning, it was so frightening to have had such a massive heart attack. Less than 20% of women survive a STEMI and of those that do, 42% die within the first year. That was nerve racking and scary. It scared structure into me:). As I've gotten farther away, it is less scary.
I read this article titled Being Vegan: A Gift to My Children on Father's Day. It so hit home that the reason for going vegan was so that I get to be around for my kids and my granddaughter. I get to see them grow up and become fabulous young adults. I get to grow old with my husband. I only get to do this if I get back to taking the kind of care of myself that I know I need to.
Tomorrow is the day. Here's to your health and mine on this Father's Day!
In reality, I did not go vegan for weight loss. I went vegan because I knew it was the healthiest choice for someone that is post STEMI. I went vegan for all of the right reasons. The thing about being vegan is that it requires a lot of planning. I am so not a planner. I basically go through life flying by the seat of my pants. While I am almost always having a good time, that leaves very little time for planning and structure.
In the beginning, it was so frightening to have had such a massive heart attack. Less than 20% of women survive a STEMI and of those that do, 42% die within the first year. That was nerve racking and scary. It scared structure into me:). As I've gotten farther away, it is less scary.
I read this article titled Being Vegan: A Gift to My Children on Father's Day. It so hit home that the reason for going vegan was so that I get to be around for my kids and my granddaughter. I get to see them grow up and become fabulous young adults. I get to grow old with my husband. I only get to do this if I get back to taking the kind of care of myself that I know I need to.
Tomorrow is the day. Here's to your health and mine on this Father's Day!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
I Wouldn't Give It Back
I have had a great couple of weeks. I have done some things I wouldn't have done if I hadn't had a heart attack. So, this gets me thinking. I have spent a fair amount of time over the last 20 months wondering why this happened to me. Admittedly the first bit of wondering post heart attack was spent in a self-pity but once I emerged from the Post Heart Attack Stun, the wondering is not spent in self-pity but in more of a state of amazement.
I have met some amazing people along my journey. I have met amazing people through this blog and through the Facebook page. I get great messages sent to me and I love hearing all of your amazing stories. Each story is so unique yet eerily similar. In the end, some have survived, and some have not. There is very little other than luck that separates those that survive from those who don't.
I have met women who have not wanted to tell their stories but somehow seem comfortable sharing it with me. Being a woman who has survived a heart attack puts me in a unique kinship with these women that I meet. Perhaps the fact that I am online makes it "safe" to share their stories. This makes me incredibly happy because the intent of the blog now is to share my story and my successes and failures in getting healthy in the hopes that it motivates others to learn abut heart disease. In the beginning though, I figured the blog was just so that I could make sense of what being a heart attack survivor meant to me. I am constantly amazed that anyone even finds my blog but they do and they actually read it! I love that sharing my story allows others to feel comfortable sharing theirs. Even if they never share it with another person other than me, there is something totally cathartic about sharing the story. It is why I do this.
The experience of becoming a Go Red Ambassador for the American Heart Association has been tremendous. I have already met some amazing women and I am looking forward to getting to know all of their stories. I have met my friend Julie through the AHA. She bleeds Crimson and Blue so you know we are fast friends! Rock Chalk! On June 1, she and I walked the 5K Color Run:
Last night, I had the incredible honor of representing heart disease survivors on the field of the Kansas City Royals. They donated $10,000 from the proceeds of their event last night, Girls Night Out at The K to the American Heart Association--Kansas City. We arrived early and volunteered passing out stuff at the gates as women arrived for the event and then went down on the field during the pre-game. The Royals won and it was Fireworks Friday!!
Meeting these incredible women and all of the experiences that I would not have had otherwise make it worth it. I would never give back the heart attack or the heart disease. I would never give it back--ever! I live life with a much deeper appreciation for the relationships and experiences I have. I live life reconnecting with people that I haven't seen in many years! These relationships are very important to me---each and every one of them. I live life sharing my story and hoping that people pay attention and understand their risk of heart disease. Not just my female friends, but also my male friends. Even though I stress that heart disease is the number one killer of women -- 1 in 3, it is the number one killer of all Americans. So, my male friends are at risk as well. I know people have been paying attention because I get Facebook messages and emails from friends telling me that they have made changes in their lives or have gone to see their doctors because of my story. I am so thrilled and honored when they share this with me! Bring on the role of heart attack survivor as I will embrace it always!
On a totally different closing note---Rock Chalk Jayhawk and congrats to the Outdoor Track and Field National Champion Lady Jayhawks!
I have met some amazing people along my journey. I have met amazing people through this blog and through the Facebook page. I get great messages sent to me and I love hearing all of your amazing stories. Each story is so unique yet eerily similar. In the end, some have survived, and some have not. There is very little other than luck that separates those that survive from those who don't.
I have met women who have not wanted to tell their stories but somehow seem comfortable sharing it with me. Being a woman who has survived a heart attack puts me in a unique kinship with these women that I meet. Perhaps the fact that I am online makes it "safe" to share their stories. This makes me incredibly happy because the intent of the blog now is to share my story and my successes and failures in getting healthy in the hopes that it motivates others to learn abut heart disease. In the beginning though, I figured the blog was just so that I could make sense of what being a heart attack survivor meant to me. I am constantly amazed that anyone even finds my blog but they do and they actually read it! I love that sharing my story allows others to feel comfortable sharing theirs. Even if they never share it with another person other than me, there is something totally cathartic about sharing the story. It is why I do this.
The experience of becoming a Go Red Ambassador for the American Heart Association has been tremendous. I have already met some amazing women and I am looking forward to getting to know all of their stories. I have met my friend Julie through the AHA. She bleeds Crimson and Blue so you know we are fast friends! Rock Chalk! On June 1, she and I walked the 5K Color Run:
Last night, I had the incredible honor of representing heart disease survivors on the field of the Kansas City Royals. They donated $10,000 from the proceeds of their event last night, Girls Night Out at The K to the American Heart Association--Kansas City. We arrived early and volunteered passing out stuff at the gates as women arrived for the event and then went down on the field during the pre-game. The Royals won and it was Fireworks Friday!!
Meeting these incredible women and all of the experiences that I would not have had otherwise make it worth it. I would never give back the heart attack or the heart disease. I would never give it back--ever! I live life with a much deeper appreciation for the relationships and experiences I have. I live life reconnecting with people that I haven't seen in many years! These relationships are very important to me---each and every one of them. I live life sharing my story and hoping that people pay attention and understand their risk of heart disease. Not just my female friends, but also my male friends. Even though I stress that heart disease is the number one killer of women -- 1 in 3, it is the number one killer of all Americans. So, my male friends are at risk as well. I know people have been paying attention because I get Facebook messages and emails from friends telling me that they have made changes in their lives or have gone to see their doctors because of my story. I am so thrilled and honored when they share this with me! Bring on the role of heart attack survivor as I will embrace it always!
On a totally different closing note---Rock Chalk Jayhawk and congrats to the Outdoor Track and Field National Champion Lady Jayhawks!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The 2013 Kansas City Heart Walk
Last Saturday morning was the 2013 Greater Kansas City Heart Walk. My company had a team. We had quite a turnout and quite a good time! My mom and dad arrived from Florida on Friday so they were able to walk with us. My kids and husband got up at 4:45 that morning so we could arrive early to help set up. I was so proud of my girls. They help set up all of the trash cans and recycling boxes at the tents. They helped set up the SMMC tent and then the Hy-Vee refreshment tent.
Once again this year, I am totally humbled by the support I have received. It never ceases to amaze me that I have such awesome friends and family!
I did not share here what I shared on my personal Facebook page last Friday until today. The day was unexpectedly emotional for me and very personal. My gratitude for life expands each time I see the support of those I know and love. When an event like this comes around I become unusually emotional and it was a day of grateful, happy tears last Friday. I recovered from that and share some of it now:
The 2013 Kansas City Heart Walk is tomorrow. We still have folks signing up for our team today. I am very thankful today. I have received such fabulous support from my co workers at friends and family and am excited to have them by my side as we walk to raise money to further the education and research efforts for heart disease. Heart disease comes in many forms, mine happened to be in the form of a heart attack that I was so lucky to survive. Tomorrow I walk for my friends Beth G, Jen T, and Stacy C., that is all I can say about that without tears ladies. I also walk for my newly found Heart Sisters Keri, Liz, Shelly and Julie--what a wonderful fabulous group of ladies I have met through the American Heart Association - Kansas City! I am walking for my late father-in-law. He died of a heart attack before I met my husband and my girls and I never got the chance to know him. I know I would have liked him because he did such a fabulous job in helping to raise the wonderful man I married! I am walking for me because I narrowly survived my heart attack. I walk for YOU. I walk for YOU because it is my sincere hope that heart disease NEVER touches any of your lives. I hope that through my efforts and the efforts of others that we will further education and further research so that we will some day see that heart disease is no longer the number one killer in the United States. I look through the names on my friends list of FB and realize how long I have known some of you and how blessed I am to have such long time friends. More importantly, how blessed I am to still be here to enjoy these friendships! Love to you all!! A very special thank you to my friend and co-worker, Rebecca! You rock and I have tears now!
Once again this year, I am totally humbled by the support I have received. It never ceases to amaze me that I have such awesome friends and family!
I did not share here what I shared on my personal Facebook page last Friday until today. The day was unexpectedly emotional for me and very personal. My gratitude for life expands each time I see the support of those I know and love. When an event like this comes around I become unusually emotional and it was a day of grateful, happy tears last Friday. I recovered from that and share some of it now:
The 2013 Kansas City Heart Walk is tomorrow. We still have folks signing up for our team today. I am very thankful today. I have received such fabulous support from my co workers at friends and family and am excited to have them by my side as we walk to raise money to further the education and research efforts for heart disease. Heart disease comes in many forms, mine happened to be in the form of a heart attack that I was so lucky to survive. Tomorrow I walk for my friends Beth G, Jen T, and Stacy C., that is all I can say about that without tears ladies. I also walk for my newly found Heart Sisters Keri, Liz, Shelly and Julie--what a wonderful fabulous group of ladies I have met through the American Heart Association - Kansas City! I am walking for my late father-in-law. He died of a heart attack before I met my husband and my girls and I never got the chance to know him. I know I would have liked him because he did such a fabulous job in helping to raise the wonderful man I married! I am walking for me because I narrowly survived my heart attack. I walk for YOU. I walk for YOU because it is my sincere hope that heart disease NEVER touches any of your lives. I hope that through my efforts and the efforts of others that we will further education and further research so that we will some day see that heart disease is no longer the number one killer in the United States. I look through the names on my friends list of FB and realize how long I have known some of you and how blessed I am to have such long time friends. More importantly, how blessed I am to still be here to enjoy these friendships! Love to you all!! A very special thank you to my friend and co-worker, Rebecca! You rock and I have tears now!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Recovery
Recovery is a funny term. When I first had my heart attack, they are literally running with me down the hall to the cath lab (I suppose that should have been an indication of the seriousness of my situation but it was not), and I ask them, "How long will it take to recover from this?" They told me right then usually about two weeks. So, my initial thought was it would be two weeks and I would be recovered. It turns out, the actual physical recovery from the stent placement was about two weeks. At that point, I could have never understood what recovery actually meant.
Eighteen months later, I understand just how funny the term recovery is. There are so many definitions of recovery. The initial recovery from the heart attack in ICU, the continuing initial recovery from the actual cath procedure and continued physical recovery with cardiac rehab.
The biggest struggle for me in recovery has been the literal recovery from my old life, after all, my old life is likely what caused my heart attack. I have had to change all of the habits that are the least bit unhealthy.
There is recovery from the intense fear that has engulfed me. The fear that I would die from the side effects of the first heart attack or that I will have a second massive heart attack and not recognize the signs because they can be so different. The recovery from the emotional impact is far harder than the recovery from the physical impact. The emotional impact is ongoing and far reaching.
I have come to understand that with heart disease that there is no end to the recovery. There is only a new phase of the recovery and with each new phase I have a new respect for heart disease.
Eighteen months later, I understand just how funny the term recovery is. There are so many definitions of recovery. The initial recovery from the heart attack in ICU, the continuing initial recovery from the actual cath procedure and continued physical recovery with cardiac rehab.
The biggest struggle for me in recovery has been the literal recovery from my old life, after all, my old life is likely what caused my heart attack. I have had to change all of the habits that are the least bit unhealthy.
There is recovery from the intense fear that has engulfed me. The fear that I would die from the side effects of the first heart attack or that I will have a second massive heart attack and not recognize the signs because they can be so different. The recovery from the emotional impact is far harder than the recovery from the physical impact. The emotional impact is ongoing and far reaching.
I have come to understand that with heart disease that there is no end to the recovery. There is only a new phase of the recovery and with each new phase I have a new respect for heart disease.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Anger
I volunteered at a Go Red event last Tuesday night. It was there that I met Christi, a fellow Go Red Ambassador. We talked and I told her I was new to volunteering and the Go Red Ambassadors. I explained that it was all too new last year for me to really feel like I wanted to shout my story to anyone that would listen.
What she said to me surprised me. She so freely said that the reason I didn't want to take part in any of sharing my story on this level was due to the anger stage. I have always felt the grief of losing what my life was like before my heart attack but I have never really thought of it as being angry.
I came home and pondered the anger angle. I realized it really was a combination of anger and grief. I was really angry. I didn't even wear red on Go Red day in 2012. The anger has faded and the grief is gone. It is replaced by a sense of purpose. The purpose of sharing my story so that others will take their health more seriously. The purpose of sharing my journey so that others can survive like I did. There is still a lot of searching the reasons but these two seem like a pretty good starting point.
In the spirit of sharing my story I also volunteered at Kansas City's Half Day for Your Heart Luncheon last Friday. It was a great time and I met some more amazing ladies. Being a Go Red Ambassador is just what I needed. I am with women who understand what I've experienced. It is very refreshing!
My great friend Brian was at the lunch and it was fun to have a good friend of mine there:
Next up, Greater Kansas City Heart Walk!
What she said to me surprised me. She so freely said that the reason I didn't want to take part in any of sharing my story on this level was due to the anger stage. I have always felt the grief of losing what my life was like before my heart attack but I have never really thought of it as being angry.
I came home and pondered the anger angle. I realized it really was a combination of anger and grief. I was really angry. I didn't even wear red on Go Red day in 2012. The anger has faded and the grief is gone. It is replaced by a sense of purpose. The purpose of sharing my story so that others will take their health more seriously. The purpose of sharing my journey so that others can survive like I did. There is still a lot of searching the reasons but these two seem like a pretty good starting point.
In the spirit of sharing my story I also volunteered at Kansas City's Half Day for Your Heart Luncheon last Friday. It was a great time and I met some more amazing ladies. Being a Go Red Ambassador is just what I needed. I am with women who understand what I've experienced. It is very refreshing!
My great friend Brian was at the lunch and it was fun to have a good friend of mine there:
Next up, Greater Kansas City Heart Walk!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Love My New Doc!
I love my new cardiologist, Dr. Yang! She is awesome! I went to my first appointment with her with very little hope of being impressed. I am the first to admit when I am wrong and boy was I wrong.
She had all of my records and had reviewed them. She spent an hour or better with me. We went over every detail of my history prior to and since my heart attack. She concentrated only on me and together we devised a treatment plan. They ran an EKG in the office and she said by the looks of that, if she hadn't already known I had a heart attack, she would not have guessed I had any cardiac history. She was also open to the nutrition aspect that I place a lot of importance in. She made me feel very comfortable about choosing plant based nutrition. That is tops in my book!
My blood pressure is under control which is good news. I left with orders for lab work and an echo cardiogram. The results of the echo came back and I got all good results back on Friday. My heart is functioning with no permanent heart damage from my heart attack. Time is key and I was quick to get to the hospital! I have disease in my arteries, but luckily not the actual heart muscle! It is the best news available and I feel very lucky to get it!:) I was glad not to have to go over the weekend waiting on test results
This week brings three Go Red Ambassador events culminating in Friday's Half Day for Your Heart luncheon. I am looking forward to it!
My company has jumped on board in supporting the American Heart Association and we are walking the Kansas City Heart Walk in 4 weeks. We have about 30 people walking. You know it warms my heart and makes me teary eyed to see the support! Pics to come. On another note, I downloaded the couch to 5K app on my phone. It is couch to 5K in eight weeks. We will see! One of my staff members has breast cancer and some of us at work have decided a breast cancer 5K in October is our goal. We can get healthy and support causes that are near and dear!
She had all of my records and had reviewed them. She spent an hour or better with me. We went over every detail of my history prior to and since my heart attack. She concentrated only on me and together we devised a treatment plan. They ran an EKG in the office and she said by the looks of that, if she hadn't already known I had a heart attack, she would not have guessed I had any cardiac history. She was also open to the nutrition aspect that I place a lot of importance in. She made me feel very comfortable about choosing plant based nutrition. That is tops in my book!
My blood pressure is under control which is good news. I left with orders for lab work and an echo cardiogram. The results of the echo came back and I got all good results back on Friday. My heart is functioning with no permanent heart damage from my heart attack. Time is key and I was quick to get to the hospital! I have disease in my arteries, but luckily not the actual heart muscle! It is the best news available and I feel very lucky to get it!:) I was glad not to have to go over the weekend waiting on test results
This week brings three Go Red Ambassador events culminating in Friday's Half Day for Your Heart luncheon. I am looking forward to it!
My company has jumped on board in supporting the American Heart Association and we are walking the Kansas City Heart Walk in 4 weeks. We have about 30 people walking. You know it warms my heart and makes me teary eyed to see the support! Pics to come. On another note, I downloaded the couch to 5K app on my phone. It is couch to 5K in eight weeks. We will see! One of my staff members has breast cancer and some of us at work have decided a breast cancer 5K in October is our goal. We can get healthy and support causes that are near and dear!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Making Peace with Medicine
When I first suffered such a massive heart attack and survived, I was just glad I survived. They pumped me full of all kinds of drugs in the ICU. I didn't realize the number of drugs I would ultimately be taking when I went home.
When it became clear that I would go home taking all the drugs that they were pumping through me via IV in pill form, I was pissed to say the least. Me? Take all these pills? Really? I rarely took ibuprofen. Here I am with two blood pressure pills, a cholesterol pill, blood thinner and aspirin. That is six pills a day that I have been cautioned against missing. Really, it was stronger than that---take all these pills and don't miss them or you could die.
Here is the thing, I don't take meds. I have a hard time finishing a course of antibiotics. Before you ask, yes I know that is a terrible thing. I am just not a planner. I fly through life mostly by the seat of my pants. Living life like that makes for a fabulous time! The problem is that you have to be a planner to take meds regularly. Plus, I was someone that the day before my heart attack had a total cholesterol of 134 and a blood pressure of 110/70. It was inconceivable that now, three days later I was on a lifetime of six cardiac pills a day.
When I went to the second cardiologist I wanted him to prove to me that I needed to take all these meds. I had a hard time because I had changed my entire life style and you want me to still take the same drugs that some one who drinks, smokes and eats chicken fried steak and gravy for every meal after a heart attack takes? How does that make any good sense? How is it that there is a standard of cardiac meds that I have to take when each patient is not the same?
He and I discussed it for a long time and reluctantly I agreed to continue them. He made some very good points. He could tell that I was a medical googler and promptly gave me the links to the studies we discussed so I could read it myself. I am a firm believer in questioning your doctor and I do.
As I get farther from my heart attack, I have become accustomed to taking the medicine. I also have warmed to the idea that if I want help staying alive, I probably will always take them. It has become increasingly more important to me to stay alive than to be pill free. Besides, perhaps I have always needed a little guidance in the planning department. It forces me to plan a little!
I saw a new cardiologist yesterday and she busted my bubble about being able to quit the Plavix once I hit the year after the last placement of drug eluding stents in my LAD. (The new cardiologist is another post all in itself.) Yes, I have had stents placed in the same artery twice. June 11 would have been a year and I was told that I could stop taking the Plavix after a year. As much as I have been looking forward to stopping that pill, I listened to her reason and actually felt relief that she wants me to continue taking it. I have come to realize that even if I don't consider it good medicine to treat all cardiac patients the same, I have grown used to the peace the pills provide me.
When it became clear that I would go home taking all the drugs that they were pumping through me via IV in pill form, I was pissed to say the least. Me? Take all these pills? Really? I rarely took ibuprofen. Here I am with two blood pressure pills, a cholesterol pill, blood thinner and aspirin. That is six pills a day that I have been cautioned against missing. Really, it was stronger than that---take all these pills and don't miss them or you could die.
Here is the thing, I don't take meds. I have a hard time finishing a course of antibiotics. Before you ask, yes I know that is a terrible thing. I am just not a planner. I fly through life mostly by the seat of my pants. Living life like that makes for a fabulous time! The problem is that you have to be a planner to take meds regularly. Plus, I was someone that the day before my heart attack had a total cholesterol of 134 and a blood pressure of 110/70. It was inconceivable that now, three days later I was on a lifetime of six cardiac pills a day.
When I went to the second cardiologist I wanted him to prove to me that I needed to take all these meds. I had a hard time because I had changed my entire life style and you want me to still take the same drugs that some one who drinks, smokes and eats chicken fried steak and gravy for every meal after a heart attack takes? How does that make any good sense? How is it that there is a standard of cardiac meds that I have to take when each patient is not the same?
He and I discussed it for a long time and reluctantly I agreed to continue them. He made some very good points. He could tell that I was a medical googler and promptly gave me the links to the studies we discussed so I could read it myself. I am a firm believer in questioning your doctor and I do.
As I get farther from my heart attack, I have become accustomed to taking the medicine. I also have warmed to the idea that if I want help staying alive, I probably will always take them. It has become increasingly more important to me to stay alive than to be pill free. Besides, perhaps I have always needed a little guidance in the planning department. It forces me to plan a little!
I saw a new cardiologist yesterday and she busted my bubble about being able to quit the Plavix once I hit the year after the last placement of drug eluding stents in my LAD. (The new cardiologist is another post all in itself.) Yes, I have had stents placed in the same artery twice. June 11 would have been a year and I was told that I could stop taking the Plavix after a year. As much as I have been looking forward to stopping that pill, I listened to her reason and actually felt relief that she wants me to continue taking it. I have come to realize that even if I don't consider it good medicine to treat all cardiac patients the same, I have grown used to the peace the pills provide me.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Go Red Ambassador
At the beginning of February, I attended a casting call in downtown Kansas City to be a Go Red Ambassador. It was a lot of fun. My Vegas friend as I call her if you have followed my blog, Deb, went with me. So did my friends Diane and Tracy as well as my two daughters. You had to audition by giving an interview and telling your story. How hard is that--it's not like I am a stranger to telling my story. I will shout it to any one that will listen and then tell you even if you don't want to hear.
I was feeling pretty good about telling my story. I sat down across from one of the local news anchors and we got started. I did really good until she asked me about the emotional toll. I started in about the emotional toll only to look up and see the tears streaming down the face of my 14 year old daughter. I was a mess of tears after that. To be a year and a half out and still see your daughters cry over this really does make the emotional toll on them hit home. It is so easy to get wrapped up in this all being about me, but there is a whole other side to this. I try to include them in the process of everything I do. Even though I do that, I can see that I will never quite realize the emotional toll my story takes on them.
I had almost forgotten that I went down and auditioned when on the last day of February, I received an email from the American Heart Association Kansas City inviting me to join the Go Red Ambassadors. It was so exciting! I have been looking for a way to help spread the message of heart attack risk and this is the perfect venue. I went to my first meeting a couple of weeks ago and I had the honor of meeting some incredible women. I got to hear their stories and each was as moving as the next. I think I will feel right at home with this group! I look so forward to being able to do this.
On another note, my beloved Jayhawks are the number one seed in the South region of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Bring on the March Madness and Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
It is 61 days until the Greater Kansas City Heart Walk! Go Team PPMIS!!
I was feeling pretty good about telling my story. I sat down across from one of the local news anchors and we got started. I did really good until she asked me about the emotional toll. I started in about the emotional toll only to look up and see the tears streaming down the face of my 14 year old daughter. I was a mess of tears after that. To be a year and a half out and still see your daughters cry over this really does make the emotional toll on them hit home. It is so easy to get wrapped up in this all being about me, but there is a whole other side to this. I try to include them in the process of everything I do. Even though I do that, I can see that I will never quite realize the emotional toll my story takes on them.
I had almost forgotten that I went down and auditioned when on the last day of February, I received an email from the American Heart Association Kansas City inviting me to join the Go Red Ambassadors. It was so exciting! I have been looking for a way to help spread the message of heart attack risk and this is the perfect venue. I went to my first meeting a couple of weeks ago and I had the honor of meeting some incredible women. I got to hear their stories and each was as moving as the next. I think I will feel right at home with this group! I look so forward to being able to do this.
On another note, my beloved Jayhawks are the number one seed in the South region of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Bring on the March Madness and Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
It is 61 days until the Greater Kansas City Heart Walk! Go Team PPMIS!!
Friday, February 22, 2013
New Cardiologist
I have been looking for a new cardiologist. I had an appointment with a new doc yesterday but had to cancel due to snowmageddon here in the Kansas City area.
How do you go about finding a cardiologist when you are 44? It is not like I can ask my friends who they see. When I ask my friends, I am saying "Hey, what cardiologist does your mom or dad see?" When I go to the cardiologist, there are several people my age there but they are all bringing their parents to the doctor.
My first cardiologist that I met in the ER in the midst of a heart attack was a very gifted surgeon and he saved my life. I didn't care much for his follow up care. I chose a new doc because he was less than five minutes from my office. I really liked him and he did a fabulous job when I had to go back to the cath lab. I would have kept him as my doc because he was at least halfway open to the diet I have chosen and he was funny. I like funny docs. He chose to change his hospital affiliation and now he practices in Topeka. That is just too far for me to go.
So, I got on Cigna's website and pulled up cardiologists in the Kansas City area. This is a fairly good sized city and there I sat looking at a long list of cardiologists and not one inkling of who to choose. I have heard good things about the cardiology group at Olathe Medical Center. I have had a couple docs from there recommended to me. Turns out, neither one of them will take 44 year old women that are 16 months post MI as new patients--go figure. Of all things, my heart problems are not bad enough to see them. So, I chose a woman doc. She is 41 by her bio. I hope I like her.
The biggest thing I want out of a doc? I want a doc to acknowledge the link between nutrition, inflammation and heart disease. I am not talking about just the watch your salt kind of nutrition. I am talking about the link to nutrition and all kinds of diseases. I have an auto immune disease (psoriasis). Auto immune diseases cause inflammation and that contributes a lot to heart disease. When I went vegan, my psoriasis went away. When I slipped cheese and a little other dairy back in over the late summer and early fall my psoriasis came back. As I have taken it back out and gone totally vegan again, the psoriasis has gone away. If I can control that, I can control a lot of the inflammation in my body. I want a doc that does not dismiss all of this.
So many docs just want to treat with medicine. I have been told by two docs that the medicines I take are standard treatment for heart attack patients. I am not really sure I like that no matter what changes you make in your life that it is just the same standard meds. Should I have to take the same standard meds as a heart attack patient that smokes and eats chicken fried steak and gravy? I am not so sure about this and I have yet to meet a doctor that has been 100% convincing. My appointment with my new cardiologist is now moved to April 1. We will see how she does. My greatest hope is that she is more open to treating with nutrition than my other docs have been.
How do you go about finding a cardiologist when you are 44? It is not like I can ask my friends who they see. When I ask my friends, I am saying "Hey, what cardiologist does your mom or dad see?" When I go to the cardiologist, there are several people my age there but they are all bringing their parents to the doctor.
My first cardiologist that I met in the ER in the midst of a heart attack was a very gifted surgeon and he saved my life. I didn't care much for his follow up care. I chose a new doc because he was less than five minutes from my office. I really liked him and he did a fabulous job when I had to go back to the cath lab. I would have kept him as my doc because he was at least halfway open to the diet I have chosen and he was funny. I like funny docs. He chose to change his hospital affiliation and now he practices in Topeka. That is just too far for me to go.
So, I got on Cigna's website and pulled up cardiologists in the Kansas City area. This is a fairly good sized city and there I sat looking at a long list of cardiologists and not one inkling of who to choose. I have heard good things about the cardiology group at Olathe Medical Center. I have had a couple docs from there recommended to me. Turns out, neither one of them will take 44 year old women that are 16 months post MI as new patients--go figure. Of all things, my heart problems are not bad enough to see them. So, I chose a woman doc. She is 41 by her bio. I hope I like her.
The biggest thing I want out of a doc? I want a doc to acknowledge the link between nutrition, inflammation and heart disease. I am not talking about just the watch your salt kind of nutrition. I am talking about the link to nutrition and all kinds of diseases. I have an auto immune disease (psoriasis). Auto immune diseases cause inflammation and that contributes a lot to heart disease. When I went vegan, my psoriasis went away. When I slipped cheese and a little other dairy back in over the late summer and early fall my psoriasis came back. As I have taken it back out and gone totally vegan again, the psoriasis has gone away. If I can control that, I can control a lot of the inflammation in my body. I want a doc that does not dismiss all of this.
So many docs just want to treat with medicine. I have been told by two docs that the medicines I take are standard treatment for heart attack patients. I am not really sure I like that no matter what changes you make in your life that it is just the same standard meds. Should I have to take the same standard meds as a heart attack patient that smokes and eats chicken fried steak and gravy? I am not so sure about this and I have yet to meet a doctor that has been 100% convincing. My appointment with my new cardiologist is now moved to April 1. We will see how she does. My greatest hope is that she is more open to treating with nutrition than my other docs have been.
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Last Heart Attack
I was at lunch with a friend I had not seen in many years today. We had a great time and before we knew it, two hours had flown by. She told me that she had started to watch "Forks Over Knives." She stopped it half way through so she could restart it and watch it with her husband. She told him she thought they might need to go vegan. (To find "Forks Over Knives", click here.)
I have mentioned here before and told her today that the very first hint I had that I needed to go plant based was about four weeks after my heart attack when I saw a show on CNN. It was called "The Last Heart Attack." It was the first inkling I had that I really needed to drastically change how I lived my life--more than just watching my salt and fat intake. It was really the first tangible information I had on how to prevent another heart attack.
I never, ever would have taken the time to watch this if I had not just had a heart attack. What I learned shocked me. Now, I have to tell you that it did not come as a shock to learn that nacho cheese as its own food group wasn't healthy for you. I just did not think that my diet as a whole was any worse than most. Boy, was I ever wrong. I'm not saying I would have changed my diet had I really known prior to my heart attack. You see, I was like many of you who will read this and think it will never happen to me. It did happen to me and I hope by the information that I am able to share that it will not happen to you.
I had never been able to find a link to the show until I was searching again today to send it to my friend.
In my opinion, it is a very valuable 39 minutes and 48 seconds. Although I know a lot of people turn their nose up at the thought of a plant based diet, trust me when I tell you laying in the ICU post massive heart attack can change your views on a lot of things. I will give you that it is not an easy way to eat in our culture of fast food and barbecues. At least for me, it takes a lot of planning. I still recommend watching this video so you can see if it makes sense to you.
I have mentioned here before and told her today that the very first hint I had that I needed to go plant based was about four weeks after my heart attack when I saw a show on CNN. It was called "The Last Heart Attack." It was the first inkling I had that I really needed to drastically change how I lived my life--more than just watching my salt and fat intake. It was really the first tangible information I had on how to prevent another heart attack.
I never, ever would have taken the time to watch this if I had not just had a heart attack. What I learned shocked me. Now, I have to tell you that it did not come as a shock to learn that nacho cheese as its own food group wasn't healthy for you. I just did not think that my diet as a whole was any worse than most. Boy, was I ever wrong. I'm not saying I would have changed my diet had I really known prior to my heart attack. You see, I was like many of you who will read this and think it will never happen to me. It did happen to me and I hope by the information that I am able to share that it will not happen to you.
I had never been able to find a link to the show until I was searching again today to send it to my friend.
In my opinion, it is a very valuable 39 minutes and 48 seconds. Although I know a lot of people turn their nose up at the thought of a plant based diet, trust me when I tell you laying in the ICU post massive heart attack can change your views on a lot of things. I will give you that it is not an easy way to eat in our culture of fast food and barbecues. At least for me, it takes a lot of planning. I still recommend watching this video so you can see if it makes sense to you.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Yummy Quinoa Recipe
My co-worker Rebecca made this great gluten free recipe. To make this fit my vegan, heart healthy no added oil way of life, I will leave out the feta cheese, leave out the salt and saute the veggies in water and not oil. She let me try a bite that she brought to lunch today and this was super yummy!
If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know I am a disaster in the kitchen, so here's hoping for a disaster free evening in the kitchen!
Garlic Jalapeno Quinoa
If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know I am a disaster in the kitchen, so here's hoping for a disaster free evening in the kitchen!
Garlic Jalapeno Quinoa
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Emotional Day!
Yesterday was the 10th Annual Wear Red for Women Day. I was not at all prepared for the emotion of the day. As I said, last year I did not participate in any Go Red activities because I was still too stunned that I had even had a heart attack.
This year was such a different story. My day started with my girls and I getting dressed in our red:
Almost immediately yesterday morning, my friends and family started posting the nicest things on my Facebook page. I was already teary eyed from reading those things and I walked into work to find this:
My friend Rebecca was printing these stickers but our color printer had tanked so she was hand coloring them. That was all she wrote, I was crying! On top of that, there was a sea of red:
I have awesome co-workers!
I was caught off guard by the flood of emotions I found myself in yesterday. I am so lucky to have so many friends, family and co-workers that support me in my battle with heart disease. I surprised myself with just how much this day meant to me this year.
This year is a year to celebrate being a survivor and to continue my journey to health through nutrition and exercise. It is also a year to share my story in hopes that it helps someone else avoid or survive a heart attack. I hope that other women literally take it to heart!
In that spirit, I attended the American Heart Association - Kansas City's Girls Day Out and Go Red Casting Call:
I had my girls and my great friends go with me. It was an emotional interview and I cried. Sometimes the things that make my cry surprise me. My story is important and I would love to be able to reach a wider audience.
All of February is heart health month. Make an appointment with your doctor and discuss your cardiac risks--get checked out. Take to heart the stories you hear and realize that you could be the one in three women. Take care of your hearts!
This year was such a different story. My day started with my girls and I getting dressed in our red:
Almost immediately yesterday morning, my friends and family started posting the nicest things on my Facebook page. I was already teary eyed from reading those things and I walked into work to find this:
My friend Rebecca was printing these stickers but our color printer had tanked so she was hand coloring them. That was all she wrote, I was crying! On top of that, there was a sea of red:
I have awesome co-workers!
I was caught off guard by the flood of emotions I found myself in yesterday. I am so lucky to have so many friends, family and co-workers that support me in my battle with heart disease. I surprised myself with just how much this day meant to me this year.
This year is a year to celebrate being a survivor and to continue my journey to health through nutrition and exercise. It is also a year to share my story in hopes that it helps someone else avoid or survive a heart attack. I hope that other women literally take it to heart!
In that spirit, I attended the American Heart Association - Kansas City's Girls Day Out and Go Red Casting Call:
I had my girls and my great friends go with me. It was an emotional interview and I cried. Sometimes the things that make my cry surprise me. My story is important and I would love to be able to reach a wider audience.
All of February is heart health month. Make an appointment with your doctor and discuss your cardiac risks--get checked out. Take to heart the stories you hear and realize that you could be the one in three women. Take care of your hearts!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Go Red for Women
We are nearing February which did not mean anything to me last year. Last year I was still struggling with what my life would be like post heart attack. What did being a heart attack survivor mean to me? I really was not in the mind set to be able to celebrate being a survivor. There was so much emotion wrapped in all that I had experienced. In fact, last year on Wear Red for Women I did not wear red. Well, I did wear a little red but only by default that my beloved Jayhawks are crimson and blue.
This year is a whole different story. I have given out 100 Red Dress Pins to wear this Friday. I have shouted it from the roof tops! I am proud to be a survivor and will share my story with anyone that will listen. The more research I have done on heart attacks, the scarier it is. I hope that my story can help other women. To do this gives purpose to chaos.
The chaos was life immediately post heart attack when I had no idea what my limitations would be. Could I recover fully? I am among the most fortunate of heart attack survivors. I suffered very little heart damage. Have I mentioned why? Of course I have but to mention it again, I called an ambulance. Less than hour between start of symptoms and the cath lab. Time is of the essence as I showed in my post New Heart Attack Guidelines. I have a whole host of cardiac medicines I have to take and no matter what, will only be able to stop one of them ever. If that is the worst case scenario, I am very lucky!
The purpose emerging from the chaos is to educate you and whoever will listen to me that heart disease is real. It isn't something that will never happen to you. I thought it would never happen to me and it did. It happens to one in three women. It can and will happen to you if you do not take care of yourself.
This February, no matter what town you are in, find your local chapter of the American Heart Association and find out here what they have planned. All of them will have special events surrounding the 10th Annual Wear Red Day. Learn more about Go Red for Women here.
This year is a whole different story. I have given out 100 Red Dress Pins to wear this Friday. I have shouted it from the roof tops! I am proud to be a survivor and will share my story with anyone that will listen. The more research I have done on heart attacks, the scarier it is. I hope that my story can help other women. To do this gives purpose to chaos.
The chaos was life immediately post heart attack when I had no idea what my limitations would be. Could I recover fully? I am among the most fortunate of heart attack survivors. I suffered very little heart damage. Have I mentioned why? Of course I have but to mention it again, I called an ambulance. Less than hour between start of symptoms and the cath lab. Time is of the essence as I showed in my post New Heart Attack Guidelines. I have a whole host of cardiac medicines I have to take and no matter what, will only be able to stop one of them ever. If that is the worst case scenario, I am very lucky!
The purpose emerging from the chaos is to educate you and whoever will listen to me that heart disease is real. It isn't something that will never happen to you. I thought it would never happen to me and it did. It happens to one in three women. It can and will happen to you if you do not take care of yourself.
This February, no matter what town you are in, find your local chapter of the American Heart Association and find out here what they have planned. All of them will have special events surrounding the 10th Annual Wear Red Day. Learn more about Go Red for Women here.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Time to Go Red!!
Next Friday February 1 is Wear Red for Women day! So don your red and join in supporting the fight against Heart Disease.
I am so excited that my great hometown of Kansas City is having some really fun events surrounding this day! If you are in the area you can find a list of events on our local American Heart association page: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/OverlandPark/Kansas/Home_UCM_MWA023_AffiliatePage.jsp
They are having the second annual Red Dress Dash on the Country Club Plaza on February 1:
How will you be Going Red this year?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
New Heart Attack Guidelines
This is the Heart Attack I had. I am republishing this without permission, thinking no one will mind if it makes one person call 911 when they are having a heart attack! I found this on the Yale Heart Study FB page.
New Guidelines Seek to Streamline Care for Worst Heart Attacks: TIME is of essence in saving lives
By Robert Preidt
Streamlined guidelines meant to improve treatment of patients with the most severe form of heart attack were released Monday by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
The updated recommendations are for a type of heart attack called ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It occurs when a cholesterol plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms within an artery leading to the heart muscle, completely blocking the blood flow. This can lead to damage to a large area of the heart.
This type of heart attack strikes about 250,000 Americans a year.
"Time is of the essence in the evaluation and treatment of these patients," Dr. Patrick O'Gara, chairman of the guidelines-writing committee, said in an American Heart Association news release. "The sooner blood flow is restored, the better the chances for survival with intact heart function."
Percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatment when it can be done quickly. The treatment includes balloon angioplasty to open a clogged artery, followed by the insertion of stents to keep the artery open.
Patients who are taken to a hospital where percutaneous coronary intervention is not available should be given clot-busting drugs, if safe, followed by transfer to a facility where the angioplasty-stent treatment can be performed if needed, according to the guidelines published online Dec. 17 in the journal Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The guidelines noted that patient delay in reporting symptoms is a major obstacle to timely and successful care of STEMI, and called for efforts to improve patient recognition of heart attack symptoms and to make people understand the importance of immediately calling 911 rather than traveling to the hospital by car, for example.
Among the other recommendations:
Emergency medical technicians should perform electrocardiograms at the scene to speed patient assessment and treatment.
To reduce brain injury, cooling procedures should be started before or at the same time as cardiac catheterization.
Patients should be provided with care plans when they're discharged from the hospital. The plans need to be clearly communicated and shared with patients, families and other health care providers.
Referral for cardiac rehabilitation is a key part of a care plan.
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_132307.html
Executive Summary Guidelines:
http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1486352
New Guidelines Seek to Streamline Care for Worst Heart Attacks: TIME is of essence in saving lives
By Robert Preidt
Streamlined guidelines meant to improve treatment of patients with the most severe form of heart attack were released Monday by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
The updated recommendations are for a type of heart attack called ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It occurs when a cholesterol plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms within an artery leading to the heart muscle, completely blocking the blood flow. This can lead to damage to a large area of the heart.
This type of heart attack strikes about 250,000 Americans a year.
"Time is of the essence in the evaluation and treatment of these patients," Dr. Patrick O'Gara, chairman of the guidelines-writing committee, said in an American Heart Association news release. "The sooner blood flow is restored, the better the chances for survival with intact heart function."
Percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred treatment when it can be done quickly. The treatment includes balloon angioplasty to open a clogged artery, followed by the insertion of stents to keep the artery open.
Patients who are taken to a hospital where percutaneous coronary intervention is not available should be given clot-busting drugs, if safe, followed by transfer to a facility where the angioplasty-stent treatment can be performed if needed, according to the guidelines published online Dec. 17 in the journal Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The guidelines noted that patient delay in reporting symptoms is a major obstacle to timely and successful care of STEMI, and called for efforts to improve patient recognition of heart attack symptoms and to make people understand the importance of immediately calling 911 rather than traveling to the hospital by car, for example.
Among the other recommendations:
Emergency medical technicians should perform electrocardiograms at the scene to speed patient assessment and treatment.
To reduce brain injury, cooling procedures should be started before or at the same time as cardiac catheterization.
Patients should be provided with care plans when they're discharged from the hospital. The plans need to be clearly communicated and shared with patients, families and other health care providers.
Referral for cardiac rehabilitation is a key part of a care plan.
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_132307.html
Executive Summary Guidelines:
http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1486352
Thursday, January 10, 2013
American Heart Association's 10 Years of Fighting Heart Disease in Women
This is a great video that the American Heart Association published today. I absolutely love this! If you have no other reason to GO RED on February 1, 2013, GO RED for me!
Monday, January 7, 2013
New Year, New Determination
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holidays! We had a great holidays. I ate and ate and ate. I have eaten enough and put enough foods back into my diet that I have gained back almost all the weight I lost. I went vegetarian instead of vegan. That means dairy is not my thing. This requires a new determination to not only re-lose what I gained back but then lose the additional 23 pounds I had left. In the end it is about being healthy and feeling good, but the number on the scale really does matter to me.
In a solemn reminder to pay better attention to the fact that I am 44 and I have heart disease, an acquaintance of mine died on New Year's Day. I knew her years ago when we were kids. I did not remain close to her but many of my good friends did. There is a possibility she died of a heart attack--44 years old. See, the farther I am away from my own heart attack, the easier it is for me to forget. It is sobering moments such as this that lead me to a new determination not to let this kill me.
This acquaintance was the one in three. I am the one in three. My friend Beth is the one in three and my friend Stacy is the one in three. One of every three women has heart disease. Ladies, if you stood in a group of three women, are you sure that you are not the one in three with heart disease? How sure are you? As we begin this new year, please make yourself familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack and watch "Just A Little Heart Attack." Go see a doctor and discuss your risk factors.
Organization is the complete key to me being vegan. If I do not have something substantial pre-prepared for lunch and dinner, I just eat whatever. Eating whatever led me to my first heart attack and I really don't need it to lead me to a second. I really have to regain that organization. I have been struggling with this but have a new commitment to get it back.
I also have joined the local gym. The city runs it and it is super cheap to join and open 24 hours. I have a friend from Jr. High that is going with me. It is much easier to go when I know someone is going to meet me there. I have worked out four of the last seven days. I go again tomorrow. Wish me luck in this new endeavor!
As January gets under way, we can look forward to Friday February 1, 2013. This is the American Heart Associations 10th Annual Wear Red for Women Day. You can order Red Dress Pins at http://shop.heart.org/american-heart-merchandise.php. Celebrate and support the women you love with heart disease! If you don't have anyone else to Go Red for, Go Red for me!
In a solemn reminder to pay better attention to the fact that I am 44 and I have heart disease, an acquaintance of mine died on New Year's Day. I knew her years ago when we were kids. I did not remain close to her but many of my good friends did. There is a possibility she died of a heart attack--44 years old. See, the farther I am away from my own heart attack, the easier it is for me to forget. It is sobering moments such as this that lead me to a new determination not to let this kill me.
This acquaintance was the one in three. I am the one in three. My friend Beth is the one in three and my friend Stacy is the one in three. One of every three women has heart disease. Ladies, if you stood in a group of three women, are you sure that you are not the one in three with heart disease? How sure are you? As we begin this new year, please make yourself familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack and watch "Just A Little Heart Attack." Go see a doctor and discuss your risk factors.
Organization is the complete key to me being vegan. If I do not have something substantial pre-prepared for lunch and dinner, I just eat whatever. Eating whatever led me to my first heart attack and I really don't need it to lead me to a second. I really have to regain that organization. I have been struggling with this but have a new commitment to get it back.
I also have joined the local gym. The city runs it and it is super cheap to join and open 24 hours. I have a friend from Jr. High that is going with me. It is much easier to go when I know someone is going to meet me there. I have worked out four of the last seven days. I go again tomorrow. Wish me luck in this new endeavor!
As January gets under way, we can look forward to Friday February 1, 2013. This is the American Heart Associations 10th Annual Wear Red for Women Day. You can order Red Dress Pins at http://shop.heart.org/american-heart-merchandise.php. Celebrate and support the women you love with heart disease! If you don't have anyone else to Go Red for, Go Red for me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)