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Aged 46, I had been going to the gym regularly and although a relatively big lad my stats when taken at the gym or by the doctor were always better than average. Usually warming up on the cross trainer for thirty minutes I began to start struggling and 30 mins became 25, 20, 15 until literally I was having to come off after a few minutes.  The final straw came when my dog chased some smaller dogs and my heart felt like it was in my mouth.

Never ever having had a sick note in my life, never taken drugs, apparently healthy my doctor didnt think there was too much wrong with me, indeed an ECG at the surgery illustrated graphs that were pretty normal but on the top left hand corner of the graph sheet it said "failed". 

Scheduled to see a doctor at the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic in Burton, no chest pains, no pins and needles in my arms, the doctor thought I was wasting his time. First test ECG: failed!, second test treadmil: first two stages fine but my problem kicked in at 144 heart beats (the third stage), he said I had a problem!

Not knowing the exact nature of the problem, my heart scan showed no enlargement, no faulty valves, the doctor immediately rang Glenfield Hospital at Leicester who advised an angiogram.

Three years ago, January 25th, afternoon had my angiogram at Leicester.  A major blockage of my main aeorta was found but very low down. Three options. First option was to walk out but I was told that I would have a heart attack in the next six months and they couldnt say if I would survive it. Second option a stent, but with the blockage low I had higher than average odds of stroke or heart attack during the procedure. The third option was a heart bypass and this is where my luck broke! Never having smoked, my other arteries were clear (for my age) and so they hoped to feather a chest artery in after the blockage. That meant that they were using a vessel that was used to carrying blood under pressure and that there would only be one "end" that required attachment. Went for the bypass! Your admitted then! Bloody hell, "your admitted then": it hit me! This was thursday afternoon, Monday afternoon I had the operation............didnt feel athing! You are on that many pain killers, visitors said how pale and ill I looked but hey, I had survived!

Of course there are good days and bad days. A positive outlook is so important. 52 miles from Manchester to Blackpool may not be far for some but the most I have ever done is 17! Looks like I am going to have a sore back side! 

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