Post by zebedee on May 25, 2013 8:01:42 GMT
Hi everyone, Redleader has given me the ok to tell you about my charity ride next month.
Exactly one year ago today, 25th May 2012, my life changed forever. I suffered a heart attack. It was completely out of the blue, I had no warning signs.
I was changing the brakes on Mrs Zeb's car, when I felt a tightness in my chest. After going indoors and lying down for a few minutes I felt a bit better, but when I went to get up, the pain really hit me. Crushing pain in my chest, managed to call out and Mrs Zeb dialled 999. I knew then that I was having a heart attack.
I was rushed to hospital, all sorts of things attached to me and they stabilised me with an Arterial ballon pump.
I was then transferred to St George's hospital in Tooting London.
Then on the 28th May I underwent a Triple Heart By-pass operation. Wow, my life was changing forever. 48 years old with a 3 year old daughter, I felt so old. All sorts of things were running through my mind when I was in that hospital. I thought my career was over, that I would be like a doddering old man who couldn't even walk to the end of the road.
After 3 months of recovery I could start my rehab programme, a course run jointly by the NHS & the British Heart Foundation.
It was at this time that I also purchased my T3, as I was already doing very short rides on my mountain bike, but I wanted a roadie.
The course was superb, very well run and I had a great time there. Very gentle exercising and talks on what to expect in your future. And it didn't cost a penny.
Unfortunatly I had a set back in my recovery, I started to get chest pains again. And after more tests and investigations it was found that I needed another operation, as I had another blockage in one of my arteries. All exercise was to stop until the problem was sorted.
So back in hospital on the 30th November, to insert a Stent in the blocked pipe.
Operation was successful, but had to take it easy for 6 weeks. Started exercising again in the middle of January, gradually increasing the intensity. I was loving being out on the T3, the best £300 spent ever.
I was given the all clear to return to work at the beginning of Febuary, and also to listen to my body as to how hard to exercise. I was raring to go. I haven't looked back since.
My diets changed and I'm certainly exercising more, I've been given a second chance, and I'm taking it with both hands.
So I've set myself the goal of riding the London to Brighton ride. It's the BHF's flagship event, and it's my small way of trying to give something back to an organisation that helped me and is doing great work trying to beat heart disease.
I've not ridden that far yet (it's 56 miles), but my fitness is improving and I'm confident that I can complete it. I'm getting out on my T3 as much as I can, work and family commitments allowing.
I've set up a JustGiving page for donations, so if you've got any spare cash and would like to sponsor me, please visit my page......here's the link
www.justgiving.com/Mark-TaylorL2BHeartCycle
The link is also my signature at the bottom of all my posts.
Thanks for taking the time to read this rather long post (sorry about that, I do ramble on at times), and thank you RedLeader for letting me post this.
Zeb
Exactly one year ago today, 25th May 2012, my life changed forever. I suffered a heart attack. It was completely out of the blue, I had no warning signs.
I was changing the brakes on Mrs Zeb's car, when I felt a tightness in my chest. After going indoors and lying down for a few minutes I felt a bit better, but when I went to get up, the pain really hit me. Crushing pain in my chest, managed to call out and Mrs Zeb dialled 999. I knew then that I was having a heart attack.
I was rushed to hospital, all sorts of things attached to me and they stabilised me with an Arterial ballon pump.
I was then transferred to St George's hospital in Tooting London.
Then on the 28th May I underwent a Triple Heart By-pass operation. Wow, my life was changing forever. 48 years old with a 3 year old daughter, I felt so old. All sorts of things were running through my mind when I was in that hospital. I thought my career was over, that I would be like a doddering old man who couldn't even walk to the end of the road.
After 3 months of recovery I could start my rehab programme, a course run jointly by the NHS & the British Heart Foundation.
It was at this time that I also purchased my T3, as I was already doing very short rides on my mountain bike, but I wanted a roadie.
The course was superb, very well run and I had a great time there. Very gentle exercising and talks on what to expect in your future. And it didn't cost a penny.
Unfortunatly I had a set back in my recovery, I started to get chest pains again. And after more tests and investigations it was found that I needed another operation, as I had another blockage in one of my arteries. All exercise was to stop until the problem was sorted.
So back in hospital on the 30th November, to insert a Stent in the blocked pipe.
Operation was successful, but had to take it easy for 6 weeks. Started exercising again in the middle of January, gradually increasing the intensity. I was loving being out on the T3, the best £300 spent ever.
I was given the all clear to return to work at the beginning of Febuary, and also to listen to my body as to how hard to exercise. I was raring to go. I haven't looked back since.
My diets changed and I'm certainly exercising more, I've been given a second chance, and I'm taking it with both hands.
So I've set myself the goal of riding the London to Brighton ride. It's the BHF's flagship event, and it's my small way of trying to give something back to an organisation that helped me and is doing great work trying to beat heart disease.
I've not ridden that far yet (it's 56 miles), but my fitness is improving and I'm confident that I can complete it. I'm getting out on my T3 as much as I can, work and family commitments allowing.
I've set up a JustGiving page for donations, so if you've got any spare cash and would like to sponsor me, please visit my page......here's the link
www.justgiving.com/Mark-TaylorL2BHeartCycle
The link is also my signature at the bottom of all my posts.
Thanks for taking the time to read this rather long post (sorry about that, I do ramble on at times), and thank you RedLeader for letting me post this.
Zeb