Back in Feb, 1998 I was setting up a new home computer, a frustrating experience to say the least, and in the process I was smoking cigarettes one after the other...Suddenly, I had a weird pain at the top of my right shoulder. It was scary enough that I got up from the computer and walked around. The pain eased and went away in about five minutes. About this time my wife arrived home from work. I told her about the pain and laughed saying that I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance. Ten minutes later the pain returned and I decided to go to a minor emergency clinic nearby. In the crowded waiting room I bucked the line and told the desk clerk that I thought I might be having a heart attack. They immediately summoned a Doctor and after an electrocardiogram the Doctor summoned the Paramedics and I was rushed to the emergency room at a nearby hospital.

It was later determined that I had had a heart attack on the back side of my heart. I quit smoking. In fact, the last cigarette I smoked was five minutes before the heart attack. Was it hard to quit. Well, I smoked for forty years but when the doctor told me I could go home and live a normal life if I quit or I could go home continue smoking and die, it was easy. I just quit...I also started exercising and went on a low fat diet...All that was five years ago and I have had no further problems. I feel better than I ever have, have more energy and do what ever I want. I control my cholesterol with drugs and exercise. I take a beta blocker twice a day and an aspirin plus a regiment of vitamins. I also see my cardiologist every other month and get a complete physical once a year that includes a flu shot..

My wife and I ride a big touring motorcycle and we have just recently returned from a 4000 mile trip to the Grand Canyon. We also ride bicycles and go hiking in the Smoky Mountains now and then. We lead very active lives. Even after quitting smoking I have managed to keep my weight down to 190. That's what I weighed prior to the heart attack. I do take blood pressure medicine and my BP is usually in the neighborhood of 135 over 70. My occupation requires that I take a treadmill stress test once a year since I've had a heart problem and I've never had a bit of trouble passing them...

I decided to put this story on this site so that others will know that a heart attack is not the end of the world. With discipline, a good doctor and a positive attitude, us special people can live long and healthy lives.