Thanks everybody for your posts, emails, texts, and phone calls.
I am proof that you can't escape your family history and genes. My father and my sister had heart attacks and I finally was bitten by the cholesterol demon.
Unlike my Dad who died before he could get proper help, I was lucky and got to the hospital before serious damage was done to my heart. My Dr says I should recovery fully and be back on the golf course very soon! Modern medicine is truly miraculous.
I was lucky that a hospital is only 5 minutes from my house and that my best friend pulled into my driveway at the very moment I realized I needed to go to the emergency room.
Symptoms of a heart attack:
• Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
• Sweating.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
• Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
• A fast or irregular heartbeat.
Speed in receiving treatment is the #1 factor in someone surviving a heart attack and minimizing the damage. If you ever experience the above symptoms DO NOT TAKE A CHANCE... call 911 and get your ass to the hospital. Trust me... it's better to be safe than sorry.
Also, keep aspirin handy. I took a handfull of low dose aspirin when I knew I was in trouble (which was all I had) and the Dr said it was an important factor in softening the blow of the attack.
Thanks, again, for all your well wishes and prayers.
See you soon!
Mike
PS - received three stints this morning. Have to come back in 4-6 weeks for two more.