I had a heart attack while cycling
I had a heart attack while cycling
I had a heart attack while cycling
"I was a sportsman my whole life long. Exercise and being fit was the order of the day. In fact, I was at my fittest when it happened to me..." So begins Willie Wasserman the story of the biggest health challenge of his life - a heart attack.
'I had a heart attack while I was on my bicycle. I was doing extremely well in the race, and was ahead of the pack. I had no idea that the weird feeling that I suddenly felt in my chest was actually my heart, so I finished the race - still ahead of the other cyclists. "
When WIllie returned home later that day he was feeling much better and the "bad feeling" in his chest had disappeared. Then he took a bath...
"Another very bad feeling struck me - again in my heart. I still did not realise I was having a heart attack. I went to lie down for a while. I had a cold fever and although it was very hot that day, it felt like winter to me. My wife went to the pharmacist later to get me some pills for nausea. After I had them, I felt much better. It was as if nothing had happened."
Willie and his wife went cycling the next day. "Suddenly I felt a severe pain in my left arm. It was so bad that I could hardly keep my bicycle upright." Back home it was again as if nothing had happened, so he just went on with the rest of his day.
The next day - a Monday - he told a colleague what happened and decided to go see his doctor. "She took some blood samples, did a complete medical checkup and told me that she will let me know the results as soon as possible. I was on my way home when the doctor called me and told me to go straight to hospital. She had just received the blood results and it indicated that I had a severe heart attack over the weekend. I was so shocked and initially refused to go since I had no one to look after my one child, who was staying with me. However, she insisted, so I made a plan."
Three days later Willie underwent a tripple bypass operation.
"My life took a dramatic change afterwards. I was afraid to go cycling again and it was only six months later that I overcame my fear."
This is not the only thing that changed in his life. He became very aware of his family, his children - and also the small, but important things in life. He also started educating himself on heart topics - and - changed his lifestyle. "I started using food containing the Heart Foundation logo, low-sugar cold drinks, no fatty meats etc. It was difficult to keep up a 100% with the diets, however, as it wasn't in my budget."
Then Willie got back into the saddle again.
"I started cycling, but took it very slow in the beginning. One thing I can tell you is this: I will never again exercise so hard as I did before my illness. These days, I try to stay fit and in good shape, but I don't overdo it."
In 2006 he decided to "give the Argus another go". "I did it to please myself and to see whether I was still able to do it. I was very nervous, but decided to go ahead. My wife also did it with me. I was very, very relieved when i finished the Argus. Mostly, I was proud of myself. Also, my time did not differ that much from my time in the previous race."
"I don't think any heart operation can be easy on any person. All I can say is, live life to the full and take opportunities when they come your way. But yes, it was scary. And yes, I cried many times. So what. I got another chance and I am going to try and make the most of it!" .
BeingSam is a movement for men over forty to empower themselves when it comes to their own wellbeing and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. For more info visit www.beingsam.co.za
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