A Happy Unicorn

“You are very fit.”

Is what I heard after I had been in the catheterization lab to remove the blockage in my heart. I appreciated this comment.

Because, I have, over the years worked at staying fit resulting in strong cardiovascular system (heart) and skeletal muscle (all the other muscles of the body), and muscle definition for a women my age.

I put the time in to build my resilience.

I am a Unicorn.

But of course why the medical team says that I am fit is because for a few seconds after arriving in the cath lab from the ambulance, all my bits and pieces were just out there for all to see!

During the process of getting past my many layers of winter clothing I had on that day, remember I had been biking, outside, in the winter, in the mountains at the age of 61.5, only 90 minutes ago when this all started, to access my innards to fix the blockage.

Of course in that moment I really didn’t care what anyone could see, they have to do what they have to do. What they do saves my life, so ya know suck it up, people got a glimpse.

No time to be modest.

No hesitation by the medical team to peel and cut clothes (awe, my favorite new sports bra). When speed is necessary and the clock is ticking and ya feel crappy none of that personal stuff matters.

Oiye.

Now four weeks later into my bonus life those muscles and fitness level helped me rebound sooner than later. Today, for example, I was so happy I was able to jump rope 100 times without feeling breathless. Ah the little things!

Success! 100 Jumps!

My previous fitness before the heart attack/SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection) combined with my gradual approach to getting back to moving and lifting weights paid off in my recovery now.

Over the years it has been important to me to maintain as much muscular strength as possible, and to keep my heart strong as an investment in my independent future.

To avoid sarcopenia (muscle wasting) I wanted to get back to it asap. It is key to not lose any time knowing how quickly the body would shed metabolically costly muscle during healing, from inactivity, low nutrition (I didn’t always have access to food due to prep for a procedure while in hospital), as well as lack of a stimulus to build that muscle.

Here’s how I got back to jumping rope 4 weeks later.

One week and 3 days after arriving home, I was back in the weight room. My plan was to listen to my body, do what I could using the parameters I was given upon leaving the hospital. The restrictions I had regarding activity were more about recovering from the procedure of implanting the defibrillator than the heart.

Not wanting to ever go back to the hospital because I did something to jeopardize the healing of the implant incision healing, or pulling out the wires now attached to my heart, was really good incentive to do as I was instructed. That was, lift no more than 10 lbs in the left hand, and don’t go overhead with my left arm.

Got it.

Fortunately that left me with a lot I could do.

My strength plan was written out by me in my notebook. My list of exercises kept expanding as I considered more and more moves I could do, feeling curious how it would feel to do these exercises.

Day 1, I nearly launched the 10 lb dumbbells to the ceiling when I went to do a curl. Having been using 25 lb dumbbells 2 weeks ago, but now down to 10 lb, I just over compensated for a moment. I curled with just a little too much oomph. Oops.

I corrected that and kept going. To be honest it felt great to move, not push just move. Fully aware of all this heart and body had been through, I was simply grateful to be above the ground and independent.

For leg exercises there are a variety of machines to use that wouldn’t involve my arms, so I was able to go heavier. It was nice to be tapering back from where I had left things weeks ago. It was amazing to feel as good as I did.

Thank you heart and skeletal muscles.

The curiosity of doing a box jump was there on that first day, but I reigned it in leaving it for the next day.

My plan was simple, keep using every muscle in my body-except the should press- each time I came to the gym. I planned on coming in every day to do something, challenge myself each time.

By mixing up the many lifts I have in my personal trainer toolbox, it kept me curious, and progressing, which was really fun.

When it came to the machines for leg exercises I would gradually challenge myself over the next few weeks, feeling my way through when to increase the weight. The arms I held true at the 10 lb limit for about 10 days before I graduated myself to 12 lb dumbbells.

Wearing my two heart rate monitors, one a wrist monitor and one a chest strap, I was able to satisfy my curiosity of how the lifting affected my heart. Not much, 80 beats per minute was the highest that first day back, which was about the same as life before the SCAD event. Of course the loads now were much lighter, but that’s okay knowing I’d get back to heavier lifts soon enough. I could relish in this down time/recovery time while rejuvenating my foundation.

My cardio consisted of me getting out for a walk each day aiming for at least 1 mile at a time.

My first humbling walk came 1 day, Saturday, after I left the hospital.

For 8 days in hospital I was not able to wash my hair, so that Saturday I booked a morning appointment to get my hair washed at the salon, 1 mile away. This was going to be a 1 mile up, hair wash, 1 mile home test. It was the longest cardio I would do since December 11-where at the 2 mile mark on my bike the heart attack hit.

Out the door I went at 10:30am giving myself 30 min to walk that mile. Not too much into the walk, it’s the tiniest, gradual little up hill, I had to slow down. This foreign feeling surfaced.

During my endless laps walking around the hallways of the hospital, the staff would ask me if had shortness of breath. No, no shortness of breath. My breathing felt the same as always. Honestly I don’t know what shortness of breath felt like.

Until this walk to the spa. I had never had this feeling before but can now say this is what the hospital staff must have been talking about. Shortness of breath vs heavy breathing from pushing myself during a run, for example, do not feel the same.

At this point I am okay with not learning new body sensations.

As I slow my pace I wondered if I had given myself enough time to do this walk. Most humans can mall walk 1 mile in 20 minutes. Wondering to myself “Am I going to get there on time?” and “ Oh wait, I have to also get myself home.” Looking at my heart rate via my watch it was 106, but felt like 180. “Well”, I thought, “this is new, yet informative. This must be what it’s like to feel breathless.”

Of course I did make it up as well as back via my own steam. Just much much slower as well as a bit more humbled about this recovery journey.

Also, She did a great job on my hair, it did look fabulous.

My quick recovery is attributed to being healthy going into this. I know saying I am healthy and having a heart attack seems an oxymoron. Obviously some conditions were in place for the SCAD/tear to occur, but the medical world does not know, no one knows, yet.

A random brick fell from the sky and happened to randomly land on me-at least that’s how it appears at this time.

My aim in sharing my recovery story is to inspire you reader to stay focused on your own health and wellness. Especially as we age.

I am not done yet, I know I can do better.

I’ll continue to make small 1% shifts, to grow.

Be a Unicorn.

I invite you to do the same. Make you a daily priority.

I know first hand many of you readers are doing that. This story can be a reminder why you are doing what you are doing: to have a strong heart, strong muscles, stay mobile, and comfortable, confident in your own skin.

We want to feel safe, not vulnerable or afraid to do something for fear the consequences will be bad or even devastating.

Yes, we want to age gracefully, remain independent and relevant in our family and community. We want to do the things we love to do at the highest level possible so, if, or when the sh*t hits the fan, at any age, we can rebound physically and mentally.

Make time in your day, you are worth it, you are important. Do your strength training, ladies lift heavy sh*t, more than those 10 lb dumbbells-yes you can. I said so.

Make food, eating enough of it, a priority. Ladies, the aim is to fuel sufficiently not see how little you can consume in a day to be “skinny”.

A strong heart muscle and skeletal muscle is the new sexy.

So are Unicorns.