Hi All, figured I would provide an update along with some details on the cardiac arrest I suffered ~4 weeks ago (2/13) while running in Hawaii. More details in this thread: Almost died this week, heart decided it wasn't happy.: Triathlon Forum: Slowtwitch Forums
Background: I am 46, no history of any heart or major health issues, low cholesterol, low BP, low RHR, eat healthy (but certainly have my splurges in the off season), train 10-15 hours a week year around. I have been racing tri's since 2009, I have been competitive the last 3-4 years (USAT All American, usually topish in my AG and sometimes sneak onto the overall podium in local races.) I usually race three 70.3s a year and finish in the 4:55-5:05 range. I (regrettably) hadn't had any heart checkups or really even an annual physical in years. I was healthy and just didn't worry about things too much. Many different posts on ST had gotten me thinking about doing lab work each year as a baseline and getting some checkups, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet (if you learn anything from my experience.... do not wait on this, no matter how healthy you think you are.) And "no", I didn't have any real signs leading up to the event. Maybe my performance/numbers from my recent workouts weren't quite as good as normal, (slightly higher HR, slightly higher respiratory rate, etc) but I am bit undertrained right now since everything keeps getting cancelled, so I didn't think much of it.
On Feb 13th we were in Hawaii/Big Island on vaction (staying at the Fairmont Orchid) and I went for a run. As I was finishing my run and coming up the drive into the Fairmont I collapsed. Luckly a worker at the Fairmont was driving by and saw it happen, he went to the hotel to get help and the security team from the Fairmont ran out and started CPR (they were fully trained.) Called 911, EMT's showed up (thankfully there is a fire station just a mile up the QueenK.) CPR continued and the EMT's shocked my heart once which got things moving but I needed a second shock due to vFib. I was down for about ~5 minutes. My breathing came back and they tossed me in an ambulance to the North Hawaii hospital where I was medivac'd to the ICU at Queens on Oahu. They cooled my body to 34 degrees for 2ish days while trying to figure out what was going on, I was medically paralyzed and unconscious. I was having a hard time breathing so I was intubated. Lots of tests.. they performed an angioplasty and found my descending left artery to have 90% blockage just before it started to branch out. Stent placed. The rest of my heart looked good, no other blockages of note. LVEF (left ventricle ejection function) found to be at 20%. Eventually they started waking me up, getting the tube out of my throat (but they almost had to put it back in due to O2 issues.) I spent 9 days total on the ICU floor, 5 or 6 of those were critical care (they could have moved me but decided to just let me stay in my room.) I developed pneumonia during the event, so they had to work to get that cleared up. On day 9 I walked out of the hospital on my own power which seemed to stun the amazing team of doctors and nurses that spent the last week putting me back together. I left very sore, weak, and breathing was still a bit of a challenge, but overall I was alive and happy to be moving forward with life. I spent the next 7 days with my wife and mom in Honolulu recovering and preparing for the flight home (we have little kids and they returned to Seattle with my wife's parents... family is so key during something like this.) Also, I don't remember anything from the actual event. Feb 13th doesn't really exist in my world, completely gone (that is about the only mental effects I seem to have, otherwise I am 100%.) I don't remember having breakfast by the ocean that morning with my kids, I don't remember going for a run or having a medical issue. Zero memory whatsoever.
Now I am home. My bloodwork continues to improve (numbers were all over the place, but things are pretty much back to normal.) My chest (from CPR) is healing... it is 1000x better than when I left the hospital. I am wearing a "life vest" 24x7 (portable AED.) My cardiologist in Seattle is encouraged (and a little shocked) that I'm doing as well as I am. Four weeks in and I feel good... mostly normal. Lots of meds but I have mostly adjusted to them. Because my heart suffered so much trauma I was instructed to "limit activity to "living life""... basically don't do much. I have been taking walks and doing some very very light spinning on my bike (HR below 80.) I won't lie... not training or doing anything is driving me crazy. I also can't drive at the moment, just a precaution. Just had an echocardiogram and my LVEF is back up to 55%-60% (which is in the normal range), so that is very encouraging after only 4 weeks. Next appointment with my Cardiologist is next week, which will really be the next big step on what the future holds. They still need to determine if I need an ICD.
A HUGE thank you to the staff at the Fairmont... really can't say enough about this. From the manager Barbie to her amazing security staff who saved my life. I will forever be indebted to this amazing crew who took care of me and also made sure my family had everything they needed to get through this. I am returning to the big island and the Fairmont in June as I was supposed to be racing Honu with my wife to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (this is actually 16th... last year was the planned "15".. but Covid;-/). So now I will be the cheering squad, but this is my wife's 1st 70.3, so I am happy to be out there cheering for her as she races for both of us:) My goal at the moment is simply taking one day at a time and cherishing every hug and kiss I get from my kiddos and wife... I tend to hold on a little longer these days. Life will go on, I have learned a lot and I have a new perspective on a few things medically.
As I understand things, the statistics of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest are very low... and then the likelihood surviving with zero mental or physical limitations is even lower. The more I read the more amazed and blessed I feel to still be here. (I am sure an expert can chime in on just what the statistics are on this type of situation.)
That's the story... happy to share anything, test results/numbers, along with answer any questions.
My race plans this year included: Oceanside, Honu, Washington 70.3, AZ 70.3 and Indian Well (lots of deferrals from last year :-/.) No idea if there is any chance of making it back for one of the late season races.. even if it was just a stroll to the finish line.
Two photos' that tell the story: Me in the ICU at the beginning of this whole thing and then me and my wife the day after I left the hospital.
______________________________________________
Team Zoot
Background: I am 46, no history of any heart or major health issues, low cholesterol, low BP, low RHR, eat healthy (but certainly have my splurges in the off season), train 10-15 hours a week year around. I have been racing tri's since 2009, I have been competitive the last 3-4 years (USAT All American, usually topish in my AG and sometimes sneak onto the overall podium in local races.) I usually race three 70.3s a year and finish in the 4:55-5:05 range. I (regrettably) hadn't had any heart checkups or really even an annual physical in years. I was healthy and just didn't worry about things too much. Many different posts on ST had gotten me thinking about doing lab work each year as a baseline and getting some checkups, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet (if you learn anything from my experience.... do not wait on this, no matter how healthy you think you are.) And "no", I didn't have any real signs leading up to the event. Maybe my performance/numbers from my recent workouts weren't quite as good as normal, (slightly higher HR, slightly higher respiratory rate, etc) but I am bit undertrained right now since everything keeps getting cancelled, so I didn't think much of it.
On Feb 13th we were in Hawaii/Big Island on vaction (staying at the Fairmont Orchid) and I went for a run. As I was finishing my run and coming up the drive into the Fairmont I collapsed. Luckly a worker at the Fairmont was driving by and saw it happen, he went to the hotel to get help and the security team from the Fairmont ran out and started CPR (they were fully trained.) Called 911, EMT's showed up (thankfully there is a fire station just a mile up the QueenK.) CPR continued and the EMT's shocked my heart once which got things moving but I needed a second shock due to vFib. I was down for about ~5 minutes. My breathing came back and they tossed me in an ambulance to the North Hawaii hospital where I was medivac'd to the ICU at Queens on Oahu. They cooled my body to 34 degrees for 2ish days while trying to figure out what was going on, I was medically paralyzed and unconscious. I was having a hard time breathing so I was intubated. Lots of tests.. they performed an angioplasty and found my descending left artery to have 90% blockage just before it started to branch out. Stent placed. The rest of my heart looked good, no other blockages of note. LVEF (left ventricle ejection function) found to be at 20%. Eventually they started waking me up, getting the tube out of my throat (but they almost had to put it back in due to O2 issues.) I spent 9 days total on the ICU floor, 5 or 6 of those were critical care (they could have moved me but decided to just let me stay in my room.) I developed pneumonia during the event, so they had to work to get that cleared up. On day 9 I walked out of the hospital on my own power which seemed to stun the amazing team of doctors and nurses that spent the last week putting me back together. I left very sore, weak, and breathing was still a bit of a challenge, but overall I was alive and happy to be moving forward with life. I spent the next 7 days with my wife and mom in Honolulu recovering and preparing for the flight home (we have little kids and they returned to Seattle with my wife's parents... family is so key during something like this.) Also, I don't remember anything from the actual event. Feb 13th doesn't really exist in my world, completely gone (that is about the only mental effects I seem to have, otherwise I am 100%.) I don't remember having breakfast by the ocean that morning with my kids, I don't remember going for a run or having a medical issue. Zero memory whatsoever.
Now I am home. My bloodwork continues to improve (numbers were all over the place, but things are pretty much back to normal.) My chest (from CPR) is healing... it is 1000x better than when I left the hospital. I am wearing a "life vest" 24x7 (portable AED.) My cardiologist in Seattle is encouraged (and a little shocked) that I'm doing as well as I am. Four weeks in and I feel good... mostly normal. Lots of meds but I have mostly adjusted to them. Because my heart suffered so much trauma I was instructed to "limit activity to "living life""... basically don't do much. I have been taking walks and doing some very very light spinning on my bike (HR below 80.) I won't lie... not training or doing anything is driving me crazy. I also can't drive at the moment, just a precaution. Just had an echocardiogram and my LVEF is back up to 55%-60% (which is in the normal range), so that is very encouraging after only 4 weeks. Next appointment with my Cardiologist is next week, which will really be the next big step on what the future holds. They still need to determine if I need an ICD.
A HUGE thank you to the staff at the Fairmont... really can't say enough about this. From the manager Barbie to her amazing security staff who saved my life. I will forever be indebted to this amazing crew who took care of me and also made sure my family had everything they needed to get through this. I am returning to the big island and the Fairmont in June as I was supposed to be racing Honu with my wife to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (this is actually 16th... last year was the planned "15".. but Covid;-/). So now I will be the cheering squad, but this is my wife's 1st 70.3, so I am happy to be out there cheering for her as she races for both of us:) My goal at the moment is simply taking one day at a time and cherishing every hug and kiss I get from my kiddos and wife... I tend to hold on a little longer these days. Life will go on, I have learned a lot and I have a new perspective on a few things medically.
As I understand things, the statistics of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest are very low... and then the likelihood surviving with zero mental or physical limitations is even lower. The more I read the more amazed and blessed I feel to still be here. (I am sure an expert can chime in on just what the statistics are on this type of situation.)
That's the story... happy to share anything, test results/numbers, along with answer any questions.
My race plans this year included: Oceanside, Honu, Washington 70.3, AZ 70.3 and Indian Well (lots of deferrals from last year :-/.) No idea if there is any chance of making it back for one of the late season races.. even if it was just a stroll to the finish line.
Two photos' that tell the story: Me in the ICU at the beginning of this whole thing and then me and my wife the day after I left the hospital.
______________________________________________
Team Zoot