Father's Day, Weight Loss, and Heart Attacks

[taekwondave]

So, my dad has actually been losing a lot of weight lately. 65lbs to be exact. Over about 6 months. He was at 265 and is now at 200. Incredible. Had a heart attack about 6 years back and struggled to change his habits. Last December he basically started doing a version of the Slim Fast diet. He has a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and then finds something healthy for dinner. He hasn't bothered going to the gym--that makes the calorie counting too complicated. He just does like 100 push ups and sit ups every day and keeps track of the steps he takes with a pedometer.

Anyway, he collapsed at church on father's day and was unresponsive for about 10 minutes. The paramedics came and we all assumed he had another heart attack. As it turns out his heart is healthier than it's been in decades (says the EKG) and the reason for passing out and slowed heart rate was the blood pressure medication he had been off of for the last three months--he measured a spike in his BP and went back on the same dosage he was taking when he weighed 265. The stuff nearly stopped his heart. Quick fix for that kind of thing though apparently: just lay down. Blood goes back to the head, you regain responsiveness.

Freaked us all out. Heck of a father's day. But it's nice to know I'll probably have my dad around a lot longer than I once feared.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Glad to hear the ultimately good news, TKD. Must have been a terrible 10 minutes for all concerned. It's always nice to hear weight loss and fitness success stories.

[byu71]

So, my dad has actually been losing a lot of weight lately. 65lbs to be exact. Over about 6 months. He was at 265 and is now at 200. Incredible. Had a heart attack about 6 years back and struggled to change his habits. Last December he basically started doing a version of the Slim Fast diet. He has a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and then finds something healthy for dinner. He hasn't bothered going to the gym--that makes the calorie counting too complicated. He just does like 100 push ups and sit ups every day and keeps track of the steps he takes with a pedometer.

Anyway, he collapsed at church on father's day and was unresponsive for about 10 minutes. The paramedics came and we all assumed he had another heart attack. As it turns out his heart is healthier than it's been in decades (says the EKG) and the reason for passing out and slowed heart rate was the blood pressure medication he had been off of for the last three months--he measured a spike in his BP and went back on the same dosage he was taking when he weighed 265. The stuff nearly stopped his heart. Quick fix for that kind of thing though apparently: just lay down. Blood goes back to the head, you regain responsiveness.

Freaked us all out. Heck of a father's day. But it's nice to know I'll probably have my dad around a lot longer than I once feared.

Very happy the outcome was what it was.

A few years ago my Dr. changed my BP presciption. The next morning at work I got dizzy, short of breath, achy and felt like I was going to pass out. I just sat there two embarassed to tell anyone for fear the would have the medics come. That was kinda dumb.

Anyway enough of the dissiness passed that I called the Dr. and he had me go straight to the ER. It was finally figured out the dosage was too high and now I break the pills in two.

[San Juan Sun]

Beta-blockers are a helluva drug. Glad he's doing well, tkd.

[CardiacCoug]

Glad he's OK Dave.

Yeah that happens pretty commonly -- people lose a bunch of weight but keep taking the same blood pressure medicines at the same doses. It's easy to get over-medicated in that situation when you just don't need the meds or at least the same doses of meds anymore.