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AHealedLife Survival Stories

Working in a career that requires lots of travel can be fun seeing the World, but at the same time it can be harmful to your health. We all are guilty of living unhealthy lives. I probably would get the blue ribbon for this award. When you are away from home and you have to eat on the go and can make things worse if you are not concerned about what you eat, and I would eat anything.

I am a 40 year old male that feels like I am ten foot tall and bullet proof. I felt I did not need to go to the doctor to be told all the things I do wrong. I had my first physical in October 2007. After receiving the results a few weeks later, that is when I found out my total cholesterol was 470 and it should be below 200. Like many of us have done in the past I was prescribed Lipitor for treatment and did not take it as prescribed. As a matter of fact I still have the bottle from 2007 that is full of pills.

With my career I fly a lot. As a matter of fact from April to December I flew from Atlanta to Las Vegas every week and from Atlanta to Los Angeles every week. I worked out in the hotel 2-3 times per week. For some unknown reason in September I started getting exhausted quicker than I did before. I felt something was not right. I called my mother and ask her to schedule me an appointment with the family physician in December 2008 during Christmas Holidays. I arrived to see the Doctor on December 23, 2008. For 30 minutes all he discussed was my previous physical from a year ago and scaring me of possible heart disease. He wanted to send me to a Cardiologist the next day (Christmas Eve), but was not able to and I went the following Monday.

The Cardiologist set me down and starting discussing a questionnaire with me over past health and family conditions. After the visit he ordered an ultrasound of my heart to look at my heart valves and the muscles and everything come back a-ok. I then met with him again and he advised me to be back in his office the next morning for a Nuclear Stress Test. The next morning I was ready to ace my test. I had gym short on and running shoes. During my test, the technicians advised me that being 39 years old my heart target should be 155 beats per minute at peak. Needless to say I after 15 minutes of sweat and exhaustion I could not get my heart rate over 120 beats per minute. I laughed when it was complete that it must be the SMOG in Los Angeles.

A few days later I received a call from the Cardiologist and he discussed with me of a possible blockage but wouldn’t know for sure until he performed a heart catheterization. He was able to schedule the procedure for the next morning at 7am. While looking inside performing the heart catheterization he found 5 blocked arteries (70-95%) in my heart. He then discussed with me that I would undergo Coronary Bypass Surgery as soon as possible.

Several hours laying in recovery due to hematoma’s occurring in my leg from the heart catheterization I met the surgeon that would perform the bypass surgery. I can remember one thing he told me that I will never forget. I told him I was scared and he told me to pray, but when I pray; don’t only pray for myself pray that God will be looking over him to have another successful surgery. The surgeon then admitted me to the hospital and I called my ex-wife to drive 60 miles to let me see my kids. I was very emotional the night before surgery. The next morning I was at ease, I had prayed and I felt God was all in control at this time. I went through an eight hour procedure successfully.

Some of you may have noticed that at the beginning of my story I said I am 40 years old, but during my surgery I was 39. I spent my 40th birthday in the hospital. That was one good birthday present. Also I want it to be clear I never had a heart attack but I do believe it was a matter of time before this happen. I feel better than I have ever felt. I was told today that my brother (32) will undergo a heart catheterization; I too hope he will be ok.

With warm regards,
Hiram Aldrich