How A Visit to a Public Hospital Changed My Perspective on Health!

a. In recovery with my wife holding my hand. b. Awake again but wired up to the gadgets! c. The ICU bed I was in after surgery

2018 was a big year! I started a new job in January and by the time June came around, I’d run a half marathon, and numerous 5km parkruns and was feeling pretty good about life.

Then on a couple of training runs, I got a tightening in my chest. I waited for it to pass before continuing my run, finishing faster than when I had started.

I ran a parkrun with my daughter and a similar thing happened. But it passed, so I carried on, putting it down to last night’s pizza.

Half marathon over, I started training for the Munich Marathon. And then it really hit me. Tight chest, pounding headache and serious jaw pain. I stopped to walk, and the pain subsided. I thought about driving home but still had 6km left on the run. I decided to walk the rest of the training run.

The walking went well. No pain. Nothing adverse. After the turnaround point, with no recurrence, I decided a slow jog would be okay.

Instant pain! Head pounding! Chest! Jaw!

Heart Surgery

Tests and consultations ensued. I was booked in with one of the best heart surgeons in Western Australia. Triple Bypass.

Three months off work. No running.