Heart Attack Survivor

#1

Hey…new guy here.

In March of 2015 my girlfriend and I were shopping for dog food at Costco when I started feel off, almost nauseated. It felt like waves of unidentifiable discomfort moving in waves from the left to the right side of my abdomen. In order to keep a long story short, I was having a heart attack, a STEMI, a widow maker…the big one. I learned that at 45 years old I was 99% occluded and darn lucky to be alive.

My father survived a heart attack at 46 and my uncle died from his at 42. I believed I was safe because I didn’t share their bad habits. My vices were Doritos and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I was wrong.

The first couple of months is it was easy to eat “healthy.” I dropped 20lbs somewhat easily eating the diet the doctor prescribed. But, as time passed I found it easy to cheat. I gained all of that weight back, and more.

Today, that girlfriend has become my wife and we are one month into our Keto journey. Weight is dropping, waist lines are slimming, energy is bountiful. I will more than likely lurk more than share, but, maybe not. I’ve learned so much here already and have been voraciously listening to the the Dudes podcast. Thank you for what you’ve built here.

(Bacon, Not Stirred) #2

Glad to have you! Congrats on taking the first step towards becoming healthier!

(Nick) #3

Welcome! And congratulations for breaking through the dogma to find this modality. Beware, though: if you doc ever finds out you’re eating like this, they may be the ones who have a heart-attack in response. Be prepared for that :wink:

#4

I’m thinking of putting together some research for him to peruse if the question of diet comes up. Meanwhile, I’ll let test results speak for themselves.

(paul ) #5

WELCOME! My story is very similar. Although not the widow maker I got 2 stents 9 years ago. Lost the weight cause I was scared. Then thought I was bullet proof cause of the meds and got fat again. Keto 8 months lost almost 70, off statins, and 1 BP Med looking to get rid of more. IF and EF once a month for 3 days. Then I eat like 3 meals a day once. I try and keep my body guessing. 8 go for my first blood work this week. My pic is in photo thread. You can do this and be very happy.

#6

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if I’ll ever get off my meds? Time will tell.

(Kay Mac) #7

I am a heart attack survivor, its been 5 years now and it happened when I was 46 while surfing …1 stent in circumflex artery …minimal damage I was told WAS a smoker …next day after I wasnt!! . Im locked into this … Im hoping for success and realize there will be sticking points to go through… just inspired by stories like yours … THANK YOU!!

#8

Best of luck my friend. We’re all in this together.

(Missy) #9

How did you decide to go off statins? Did you have a supportive cardiologist? Did you find any way to evaluate how statins were working in your body?

My husband had a heart attck 1 year ago and had a stent put in. He’s been keto for 3 months. We are doing our best to work with his medical team to understand options.

I have been surprised that there is no attempt to monitor the effectiveness of his treatment. No calcium score no carotid artery ultrasound. How do we know if the side effects are worth it?

Thanks for any input you can share.

(paul ) #10

Well I felt like S**t on statins after 8 years. No leg pains or anything like that , but Libido zero, performance zero. Foggy, and my diet was doing all the work anyway. As I researched statins I found that 1% increase in survival rate was not worth it. So I went off, lost all this weight and still losing. And guess what? dont need them. My cardiologist dosent like the idea but its my choice and I am proving him wrong. He took me off plavix, and 2 bp meds. There are keto Dr’s out there the problem here in JErsey is that they dont take insurance and want $700 up front. I will probably do it next year. I stayed on Lipidor ever after being on Keto for 6 months. (scared) I wanted to get my fasting glucose levels down first. which I did but it took time. Now in a 34 waist, no statin, feeling manly if you know what I mean and glucose down to 90 ish fasting 80. The key for me has been intermitten fasting and extended fasting.

(jsal) #11

Thanks for sharing. I recently had a minor heart attack (is there such a thing?) and 2 stents inserted. Cardiologist strongly recommended I start statins because of the heart attack. Whilst he agrees that statins are over-prescribed, he believes there are other benefits (reduction of inflammation???) for those that have had a heart event. I am not entirely convinced, but have read and heard that statins should be taken by those that have had such an event. Can anyone point me to further material on this? Most statin articles discuss the over-prescription of the drug and the futility of lowering cholesterol, when cholesterol is not the cause, but I have yet to find material on the benefits/importance post a heart event.

On a side note… I have been on the statins for about 4 weeks and am having some muscular aches/pains… well documented statin side effects. I am also experiencing red skin blotches on many parts of my body - probably reaction to one of my new drugs… may or may not be related to the statins.

Any insight much appreciated.

(Abhishek Anand) #12

I would check the hsCRP level (a marker of inflammation). Statins (e.g. Crestor) do bring it down. But on a keto diet, chances are that your hsCRP is already lower than what statins achieved in trials, e.g. see the Jupiter trial.
If you choose to believe industry-funded studies, here is a summary of the effects of statins:

#13

Thanks!

(jsal) #14

Thanks for the tip. I will follow up on that.

(paul ) #15

I am do for blood work. I been really following ketodaves work its amazing and a little over my head , but I am also convinced that inflammation is the key. But not to long ago I was convinced that eating pasta and zero fat and oat bran was the key also. So who knows? All I know is that I look good (I think) I feel good and I an a 34 pants going to 32. One thing I know is that sugar and inflammation will kill you. Insulin resistance is bad, and that fasting both IF and EF is the key (for me only). SO the journey continues. I really enjoy the sharing all of you bring to the table. Thanks so much!!!