Team Beachbody Guest

In early January 2009, I started Power 90 to get back into decent shape...

Also, in January of 2009, I had my annual physical, and as usual, everything
was fine - bloodwork, cholesterol, fingers in places they don't belong, etc... I
had started P90 about a week prior to my checkup, and about a week after
my checkup, I had a bit of a heart palpitation / flutter while working out.
Listening to Tony's admonishments about "...if you got a little stitch, take it
easy...", I sat down for about 20 seconds and the flutter went away.

I figured I had these kind of flutters on occasion in the past, and they weren't
anything...but decided to go ahead and schedule an appointment with a
cardiologist, especially with a 1 year old son and another one on the way, I
figured it would be a good idea. The cardiologist checked things out, and
said my EKG was a little abnormal and although it may be nothing, referred
me to get a nuclear cardiac stress test.

On Monday, 3/9/09, I had the cardiac stress test, and failed miserably...my
EKG was all over the board, with severe ST elevations while under stress. I felt
"fine" as I always do when I work out, no chest pains, no shortness of breath,
no tightness, etc... The doctor on call sat me down and said "you need to get
yourself to the Emergency Room - NOW". He indicated that my results are
consistent with severe coronary blockage. I WAS FLOORED! I felt just fine, and
am only 41!

Anyhow, I drove myself to the ER, and they whisked me immediately back to a
room, and had tubes in me, drawing blood, poking and prodding faster than I
could even think about what was going on. Before you know it, I am wheeled
into the Heart Cath lab...a tube the size of a drinking straw was inserted in
my femoral artery at the groin and snaked up into my heart... where they
discovered a 95% blockage in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) coronary
artery... affectionately known as "the widow maker" by the doctors. I had
angioplasty (a small balloon inflated at the blockage site), and a coronary
stent (a wire mesh tube to hold the artery open) inserted... all this happened
within 2 hours from the stress test to the stenting procedure.

One day in the hospital, and I was sent home with an excellent prognosis,
and just need to take it somewhat easy for a short period. Full recovery is
expected, and I can resume normal hard workouts very soon. I plan to go
back to level 1/2 and "start over" again.

The couple of amazing things that came out of this story:
1) This circumstance (asymptomatic, in great health otherwise, etc.) is not
super uncommon - and the stories that you hear about of the "30- or 40-
something guy in great shape who drops dead in their soup" ... was averted!
yeah!
2) Tony's instructions on the "...little stitch in the chest", could have saved me
from an exploded artery, heart attack, or stroke...Thanks, Tony!
3) The Doctor said "it is probably a good thing you were working out", as my
heart had begun growing "collateral" arteries to supply the oxygen starved
parts of my heart. Thanks, P90!
4) I am so thankful for dodging a bullet... I will start P90 over again gladly.

----

Update on 3/31/09: Today I Re-started the program... Last Friday, my
cardiologist gave me the "all clear" - no restrictions - do whatever it is I want
to. Basically, I am to consider myself "fixed" and able to carry on a long
healthy life, with more frequent cardiology check-ups, of course! I re-started
Power 90 with 1/2 workouts, but they felt pretty easy, so I'll probably be
busting through 3/4 and Master pretty quickly.

Remember - if you have a little stitch, take it easy!