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Thank you all for the good wishes, I deeply appreciate it - and as a number of you have said, I'm feeling very lucky to have caught it so soon.

If you're going to take one lesson from this thread, man, if your chest hurts, see a doctor. Early in my attack, the pain in the chest was mistakable for 'sore pecs', so I attributed it to a workout the previous day... but sore pecs don't keep you from drawing a full, deep breath, and if I'd waited much longer, I could have suffered real damage to the heart tissue.
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Ron, four?!? Wow, so you know exactly what I'm going through! I'd been wondering - how long will I be laid up? Its still very tiring - even PureSim "wears me out" after an hour or two right now, and visiting Blockbuster to pick out a few movies was an epic adventure. I feel like an old man!
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Edward, yes, actually, we've got a good guess what caused the blockage. I'd known I had an extremely elevated cholesterol level since I was a child. My dad had a heart attack at age 38, and his total triglycerides were over 500 - (where over 200 is considered bad news). I got quite a chuckle when the chief cardiologist at Stanford came down to talk with me - apparently he'd watched my operation due to 'professional interest' [:D] - and he said "I suggest you seriously consider a vegetarian diet"... I've been vegetarian for 17 years, which, in combination with drugs, had kept my cholesterol under 300... but clearly that wasn't good enough!

The good news is, I've had a loud wakeup call to how seriously to take it, and we'll be addressing it with more drugs, more exercise, and less pizza. [;)] My dad's closing in on the 20-year anniversary of his, and he's healthy, trim, and has never had a recurrence, so there's hope I can do the same.

Glad to hear you made it ok, Am.  Question: were you taking regular physicals?  I know you're only 32, but just asking.

Thanks. [:)] Yes, I was, and having blood drawn to measure cholesterol was part of that regular monitoring process.

So just really, really bad genetics it sounds like on cholesterol, right?

Gads, I have that too, but nowhere near that bad.

more exercise

It's good to have you back. When I read this thread yesterday, I was going to be lazy and play some OOTP. Instead I went running.

Glad you are OK.
Have a speedy recovery.
 

Hmm I'm only 26 but with you having a heart attack at 32 it makes me wonder if I should go get a general checkup and start taking better care of myself... 

ORIGINAL: Sitting Duck
So just really, really bad genetics it sounds like on cholesterol, right?

Yeah, its a very rare genetic condition, essentially Mendellian and dominant, so it was a 50-50 shot whether I'd get it or not. I did, my brother didn't. Unlucky.

ORIGINAL: lynchjm24
It's good to have you back. When I read this thread yesterday, I was going to be lazy and play some OOTP. Instead I went running.

**grin** Thanks, and glad to hear it!

ORIGINAL: akcranker
Hmm I'm only 26 but with you having a heart attack at 32 it makes me wonder if I should go get a general checkup and start taking better care of myself...

It can't hurt! Get a general checkup and have them check your cholesterol - risk of heart attack seems to be a blend between a 'levels over time' and 'current level'; the good news is, if its high, you can do what you need to to bring it down, like my dad did, and reduce future risk.

I glad your ok.

Once in a great awhile my heart feels like its beating too fast. I feel no pain.

I just have to sit and relax a little and then I feel normal again.

Is that something to worry about?

That was nothing at all like my symptoms, and I'm not a doctor.

Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) can range from 'nothing to worry about' to serious in its own right; if you're concerned about it, mention it to your doctor.

fast heart beats or irregular heart beats could be due to lots of caffeine so if your drinking alot of coffee or soda I would cut back on it.

Cut down on caffeine yes, but if you're having frequent palpitations you probably should talk to your doctor.

Its good to hear you were smart about it and went to the hospital so they could take care of it before it became more serious.  It sounds like they got you fixed up well and you're all set now.  I wish you the best in the rest of your recovery, Amaroq.

amaroq

All here wish you the best and fastest recovery and Glad you are doing better.Man I know how you feeling. Five years ago I went threw the same thing. Sitting minding my own P AND Q than all hell breaks loose. maybe we can exchange e-mail and talk about it.

our prayers and thoughts are with ya.
big papa gil