My Heart is Better Off

jjscholar

A little over 15 months ago on July 1, 2011, I almost died of cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure... I had to lose weight or die...

Since I started to lose weight about 15 months ago, my life has gone for the better... My cardio endurance has improved... At the beginning of this calendar year, my heart's ejection fraction or efficiency level had only been 27%... Because of this, I had to undergo implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation surgery as a precaution against sudden cardiac death... So far the ICD has not fired...

Last Thursday December 6, 2012, I had another echo cardiogram done. I had been able to get the results within 90 minutes after the echo cardiogram had been done... I found out that my ejection fraction had improved to 45%...

I know that it is still not normal... However, for now, I do not have to worry about my heart being so bad that I would need a heart transplant... There had also been a partial reversal of my cardiomyopathy... That is my heart is not as enlarged as it previously had been...

The three elements of my success are: (a) I had been able to stay away from junk food such as batter fried foods, fast foods, and red meat; (b) I workout at least 3-5 days per week; (c) I have been doing my favorite form of exercise which is cardio dance either generic cardio dance, Zumba, or hip-hop fitness... I have also been able to maintain my weight at between 175-180 pounds... In addition, I have done some resistance exercises...

Some may say that my program is weird... But, I would rather be weird and alive than normal and dead...

I believe that I am on my way to being able to live with an ICD longer than anyone in history in terms of life expentency... That is - I want to live to be at least 75 years of age... Right now, I am 46 about to turn 47 on December 21...

I know that my life is has not been perfect. I still get some dizzy spells, but I have been able to recover from them quickly...

The point of this is simply that I want to let people know that there is life after cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Change is possible... I know that it is not easy... But, it is possible...

Finally, not to be preachy, but everyone needs to stay away from junk food... I know that staying away from junk food is not easy... However, it is a matter of life and death as far as I am concerned... Please don't make the same mistakes that I made before July 1, 2011...

jd5351

Great news! Keep it up!

jenfett1

That is wonderful news!!! And great inspiration as well. I too changed my lifestyle due to heart issues and I am only 29. When I went in for a physical back in March the doc told me if I didn't do something I was on the verge of major heart issues. I am going this week to have my blood tests reran to see if I have reversed any of the damage done which my doc is confident that I have. I know my heart and lungs are far stronger than they have ever been and I hopeful that I won't go follow in my family footsteps with a stroke in my 30's.

Congrats on your success and wish lots of luck and long healthy life!

allystar87

Awesome work! That is amazing news!!!