Heart Attack - James Beasley

[James E Beasley]

I'm usually private about personal stuff but by making this post I may just save someone. On 15 Sept completely unexpected I had a heart attack. Two months prior I completed my mandatory Medicare Wellness Physical because I turned 65. I left that physical with a clean bill of health. Never had high blood pressure, not overweight, work my ass off every day so I'm physically fit. I had noticed over the preceding 3 to 6 months I was running out of energy quicker than normal. I concluded that was just what comes with age. Wrong! On the 15th I was shoveling some dirt and started feeling bad, and I started having bad indigestion, belching and chest pressure. After a while of that, pain started in my left arm. That's when I figured this was serious, maybe even a heart attack. Wife called 911 and 45 minutes later a doc was putting three stints in me. Had a 90 and 80 percent blockage in two arteries. Moral to the story is listen to your body. I should have recognized the tired and weakness spells as something not right. I'm doing good recovery wise, allegedly no permanent damage to my thumper. Supposed to take it easy and have to take a butt load of medicine daily. Hopefully I'll be back to normal soon. Any spare prayers will be appreciated. See ya. James Beasley

 

[Tom Foley]

Damn buddy ! Glad you made it . Have you ever had a nuclear stress test done ? I did about ten years ago and it was really tough but showed no blockages . Hope to see you soon one day . Been a while .

 

[Mike Rook]

Hi James . . . I don't know you, but I absolutely respect and appreciate the sharing of such personal news. I think we all need reminders (particularly true of men I believe) that we need to a) listen to our bodies, and b) not be afraid of regular medical attention and support. I believe it's that attention and support that takes a potential tragedy and turns it into a nuisance/bump in the road with good long term outcomes/prognosis. Happy to hear you're doing well, fight the good fight and while we may never meet, know your words make an impact to many that read/hear them. Thanks!!

 

[El Zorro]

Hi James,
I always knew you were a smart guy. Glad you were able to get to a hospital and get things fixed. We miss you out at Smithfield running boats. Do what the doctors tell you to do and get well soon, my friend!

Dick Tyndall

 

[Kez]

Hi James,
I will pray for you and wish you a quick and full recovery. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Kez

 

[Gary Parker]

Hi James

Glad you are on the road to recovery and we can all appreciate the "heads up" about heart disease because it is the no. 1 cause of death for men in both the US and for us here in Australia. Your warning is an example of the type of mens health warnings that can and should go further leading to more attention, prevention and, hopefully, the early detection of heart disease and cancers including lung cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal or bowel cancer.

I thought I was very aware of mens health and threats to mortality as a survivor of prostate cancer but I recently had a "close call" with melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer. From nowhere a nasty lump developed on my temple and I rang my GP for an appointment to check it out but was offerred and accepted a full head to toe skin check instead. The lump I was worried about turned out to be nothing but a blemish on my shoulder was identified, excised, analysed and came back as a melanoma. My melanoma had not spread but if left to develop these cancers can metastasize in other parts of the body so it's very regular skin checks for me now for life !

Best wishes
Gary

 

[Sonny Cook]

Glad you recognized the signs, and went to ER. and Recovering. !!!!!! I Being 67, now worked hard in Old Field, from 18 years old and through college till my late 30's Marine Shop owner , Boats ,Outboards Repairs, Custom Aluminum Welding shop owner for over 30 years. I had Abif for years thought it was just getting old, Stress from a Very blessed Family run , My two Kids and I, small business! Not fun feel ing A fib when 80 ft under water scuba diving, in my early 60's. I worked 5 1/2 days a week in my shop 65+ to 80 hours a week. Only found out when i went for colonoscopy at 65 and found i had Kindey cancer, Never no signs!!!!!!!!! Got it out and thank the good lord !! Cancer free so far. I got the A Fib Fixed, Still very active But understand some weird feeling better to get checked !!! Just lost a Very long term Friend , 57 very active in the Offshore Guide Fishing and hunting business, This week. He passed guiding on a Mountain for Elk in Co. Was at my house helping him work on his boat to Finnish out guiding Snapper season this week, from Heart Attack. Left Wife 3 kids 22 17 and 12 and one young Grand Daughter less than a month old. Heck i thought i was in good Shape for my age now 67, Still blessed after 5 hip operation on one hip. Kidney cancer , Afib. Now i get checked from Cardio Dr., now every two years he says, Still great, probably from all the Deer and fish , i eat and stay active!! urologist, yearly and Medicare wellness check, A joke , Money for the Dr, to run a couple simple test,. Had Kidney cancer a Dr. missed for over 4 years.!!!
Guys Dont pass stuff off and something else, have life long friend, just found out this week stage 3-4 Pancreatic cancer, after refusing to go to the Dr to get checked out for several years now when he had problems. Something dont feel right its our body's telling us something is not right !!! Yes a Pain, to go i know i live 3+ hours drive to Houston to the DR.s and Hospitals in the big city. So A full day plus Gone and traffic. Sorry for such a long post. But After this week and Reading James Post!!! Dont put off stuff and Be Silent Engines, Your Family needs you!!!

 

[Alan Elzer]

Get well James, glad your doing better

 

[Roxyflash]

Was at work one day and fellow worker was complaining about his arm aches ask him do you real weak he said yes called ambulance for him he had a heart attack he recovered but nothing to let go glad your ok you never know when it’s going to hit you.

 

[James E Beasley]

**** buddy ! Glad you made it . Have you ever had a nuclear stress test done ? I did about ten years ago and it was really tough but showed no blockages . Hope to see you soon one day . Been a while .

Dont think so, but they did shoot some dye in me and ran me though a CT machine to check for blockage. Thnx for the concern Tom.

 

[James E Beasley]

Thanks to all for your best wishes!

 

[piper_chuck]

That sounds scary. It's good to hear that the prognosis from the doctors is positive. Will keep you in my thoughts and hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[Bill Gibson]

Glad you are doing good! I wasnt quite as fortunate...... 3 of the arteries were 99% blocked = a triple bypass, if that wasnt enough i developed an infection which become a brain abscess leading to brain damage which has created a number of life changing challenges to me, but im still here! Im glad that you are too James!

 

[Carl Van Houten]

James, It was good to talk to you yesterday. I know you already know this but you are one luck guy. I will see you this fall. Take care and don't push yourself too hard.

 

[carl cisneros]

James;
Know exactly how you feel buddy. had my heart attack june 23 2020 at the house. did the lawn, went and got a few things from the commisarry, put them away, started to feel wierd, and sweating like a stuck pig, layed on the couch
had my daughter call 911. felt like an elephant sitting on my chest. 2 stents later, doing great. Take meds daily like yourself and have to till forever. Just had my left shoulder replaced 3 weeks ago now. (already have both hips and 3 vertibrea (spelling) replaced)). And yes, I set off the metal detecters at the airports. LOL
Just do what they tell you and keep on the meds.

Carl Cisneros

 

[Bill Simmons]

I am glade to hear you are recovering. I am new to this and don’t really know anyone on here, but some have giving me great advice and helped me out on my build. I want to add that you will be fine, do what the Doc’s tell you to do and take those meds. I was 49 and worked out every day, was not over weight. I started to feel tired and would wear down faster. I too just thought it was an age thing. Then started getting strange pains in my neck area, I wrote it off to some meds I started taking for another issue I had. My wife said to get it checked out, I blew it off. Then one day I had burning pain in my chest. Went to the doc, next thing I knew I was in surgery had 3 by passes done. That was 16 years ago and I am fine now. I take my meds, I still work out, and I listen to my wife and what my body is telling me. Your going to be ok, keep doing what they tell you.

 

[James E Beasley]

Great info guys. Hope we educate and save someone by raising awareness on this. Have my follow up with the cardiologist today and hope to get a green light to return to duty status. Tired of Coasting! Lol.

 

[TJ Hammons]

Glad you're alright James! Get well and get that 21 valvola in a boat soon!

 

[Piston1]

Good you are doing well.
Here's my story. October 1, 2021 I wake up and went downstairs to my office. I have been teleworking since Covid started. Telework is the worst thing that can happen to a person. The inactivity wears your body. At around 08:30 I am in my office. Started having real bad shortness of breath, could not get enough air in my lungs. Wife called 911 and they transported me to the hospital. At 13:00 after EKG, Echocardiogram, and a Cathscan I found myself under the knife of a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Four bypasses later, a lot of Cardiac therapy and exercise I have a better heart. I now have a good ejection ratio, feel much better and can say I am back to normal with a stronger reconstructed heart.
Take care of your ticker,
JOSE

 

[Wasted wages]

One of the interesting things that I take away from most of these stories is, that it seems to take an "emergency situation " for doctors to get to the root of most cardiac problems...

I know my time is coming, and even though I have been dealing with A-fib most of my life, it seems like doctors, cardiologists, pulmonary specialists all wait for "the big one" before any serious action is done.
I watched it happen with my father, and it is happening with me ...

I do express my concerns with my doctors, they do the minimal routine EKGs,, stress tests,, etc, I take my medication faithfully everyday, but I feel like they should be looking into my concerns a little deeper...

I just hope when mine happens, I survive and they finally get to the bottom of what's going on..