I Had a HEART ATTACK // Part 1
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- On March 12th, 2021 Tim suffered a heart attack during Challenge Miami. 80% of the main artery in his heart was blocked. Meaning he was only getting 20% of the blood he should have been to his heart. Called the Widow Maker as its the most lethal blockage. Its blockage of the LAD (left anterior descending artery) which is the main artery supplying the heart with blood.
Follow Rinny on Instagram: / mirindacarfrae
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Video by Kenny Withrow
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So glad you pulled through Tim! Seeing those ER scenes made me have flash backs to when I was also on the ER bed with my HOKAs still on (I had a PE this summer). Stay strong with the recovery and I wish you and your family all the best!
Thank you so much for sharing and being so vulnerable with us, Tim. I can’t imagine how hard this experience has been for you and your entire family. You’re an inspiration to all of us who follow your + Rinny’s journeys, and we’re so grateful that you’re doing alright.
Take care Tim, You guys are legends of our sport and wonderful people, with the most awesome little ones. Health is the most important thing we have this was a hard watch and love how positive you both are, hope the recovery goes well and just take care man. Thoughts with you all. God bless
Tim and Rinny (and kids) - it takes courage to share a vulnerable part of yourself, especially to the entire world. Good on you for having the stones to share this! In March of 2020, one year exactly before your event, I went for my first training run (for a 70.3 that was later cancelled) after having been ill for a couple of weeks. Turns out it was COVID, and turns out I suffered a severe pulmonary embolism. While I can't say I've been exactly where you've been, I absolutely know the feeling of being stuck in an ER, suddenly weak and mortal when just yesterday you were the most fit in the room. The look on your face and the quiver in your voice hit me like a dump truck, because I know the worry and shock you felt as a dad and as a husband. Despite the shock of it, I'm very happy to see someone with a global platform share this story. It can only help others, including myself, to have that new perspective on life you speak about. My story is over a year old now and I'm back, in better shape than ever and ready for that deferred 70.3 to happen next month in Washington. You'll be back, and I can't wait to hear about your journey. Best of luck to you and your family!
Thanks for sharing Colin and great to hear you are better then ever now! I'll absolutely share my journey back with everyone too!
@@TOinTRI Thank you Tim and Colin for sharing your stories. Isn't it crazy how quickly our lives can suddenly change. It's a sobering wake up call for all of us that our health can never be taken for granted, no matter how seemingly fit we are. Life _is_ a gift indeed! Tim I look forward more than ever to hearing updates from you and your lovely family, especially your new perspective on life and how that possibly changes/shapes things for you going forward. Also would value and appreciate any insights you may wish to share in the future with regard to heart health (that you've learned). We celebrate you and thankful you came through this strong and healthy. You clearly have a greater purpose and much more to do! (edit: none more important of course than being a husband and father to your precious family). Take care 💗 🙏
Thank you very much for sharing, in the interest of preventing this for others athletes out there, I was curious if you had any cardiac screening (stress test, coronary calcium scan, etc.) or high-risk markers (high cholesterol, c reactive protein score) prior to the heart attack? If your Dr had any feedback that these tests would have helped warn of the plaque build-up maybe it would encourage others, middle-aged male athletes, to get screened.
As a triathlete, about 10 days older than Tim who has had a heart attack scare complete with ER visit (it wasn't... but scared me enough to start thinking!!!), I am really curious here also. I would like to know of cholesterol levels were high to begin with?
In our sport, we are continually told winners “ignore the pain” because “the brain is weak”. Your story highlights that it’s not always best to ignore the signs that something is wrong and if it kickstarts a wider discussion you’ll have done a lot of good by sharing it. Thanks - and all the best to you and the family, Tim.
Guess there is always a line in the sand to what a heart can survive ,
I was just at Boulder 70.3 and was hoping to see you on the course. Now I understand why I did not. I’m sure it was difficult for you and Rinny to open your home to the world, thank you for doing so. You’re a very lucky man!! Wishing you a speedy, and full recovery!!!
I actually had wondered where you’d been. Now I and we all know. Praise God you’re still with Rinny and the kids, and all of us!
Did you get a covid vaccine prior to that happening?
This hit me. Damn Tim. You just won the lottery and won a second chance at life
Unbelievable! I can’t imagine how hard it must be to share an experience so personal with the world. So thankful that you survived and can be there for Rinny and your children. I appreciate you opening up and letting us get a glimpse not only into this event but into your life. Prayers for a continued complete recovery. Life is a gift, thanks for reminded me of that!
Tim (and Rinny & fam), I wish I could give more than a "thumbs up" to your story and message. You are two pros who have been so gracious and welcoming when I have seen you at races, that if something had had happened...I can't begin to explain how devastating that would be to this and many of your other fans. Please take care of yourself and know that your fans are in your corner all the way. #blessed.
Thank you for sharing your story. I had a similar experience while competing in triathlons. I was diagnosed with Atrial Fribilation. I had 3 cardio ablations procedures done in the last 7 years and finally thank God my heart is in stable condition now and without the need of taking any medications. My Electrophysiologist and cardiologist had advised me to stop pushing myself and do everything in moderation. I'm 58 and just started learning how to longboard surfing. I still miss racing the local races here in Socal. The hard part is not being able to push me because of my competitive personality. but I'm just totally grateful that I can still enjoy exercising but everything in moderation. I'm still here with my lovely family and very blessed. Life is good! take care of yourself and your beautiful Family. \m/
Holy shit! Crazy stuff. I wish all the best to you and the family! Take care
Unbelievable. My stomach was just churning the whole time, choking up watching this, hearing how close a call that was for you. So thankful for you and your amazing family that you dodged this one. Dude powers through to finish the race (whether that was smart or not is up to debate, lol). But eventually you listened to your body. ;)
Hug those kids and that partner every chance you get, because you never know.
Nothing but love and support for you all!
Yah probably not smart on my part Ryan, haha! Hopefully there isn't a next time, but if there is I promise I'll stop!
Best wishes from your home area. I just started triathlons this summer, Feb 2020 I weighed 375 pounds and find you to be an inspiration.
Be well.
Joe
Wow. Take good care of yourself TO. Being a dad myself I can relate. It is different if you fear not just for your own life but for what it would mean to the family you love. You seem to be one of the nicest guys in Ironman racing (which has a lot of nice characters). Thank you for sharing this difficult part of your story. All the best to you, Rinny and the kids so you will have many more years and decades together.
This is happening a lot with fully vaxxed athletes
You get the covid vaccine? If so, when. We need to know. Safe recovery guys.
Were you Covid 19 Vaccinated?
Glad you are doing great. I heard too much running, exercise increases stress on the heart. Could that have contributed- not as the trigger obviously, but as a cause? You said you had plaque. I've read that is common with endurance athletes. It seems counterintuitive but after marathons running blood has markers for heart attacks. I've started running and don't want to over do things- sticking to 5k-10k's and nice hikes. Sometimes too much of anything can be bad for you.
Wishing you all the best and continued good health! Thanks for sharing your story.
A friend of mine lost his dad due to a heart attack while the dad was cycling alone.
He was also your age and loved cycling.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Tim - it’s a blessing that you pulled through. This was difficult to watch. You, Rinny, and the kids are in my prayers! You’re a motivation to many, Brother.
The question no one asks. Did you get the vaxxxx? It’s amazing how many people are having strokes and heart attacks. A major side effect of the shot is blood clots. Well, a blood clot in the heart and one in the brain results in these 2 situations. So every time I hear about one of these situations this is the question I ask. It certainly can be attributed to other conditions, but it certainly begs the question
Thank you for sharing your story. It highlights the importance of being in tune with our bodies (athletes shut out those red flags at times), having a health team and the fragility of life
If I can help one person pick up on an early warning sign, it would be worth it!
Had you had any covid vaccine recently?
I hope you make a serious consideration about retiring from competition. There is so much more in life beside triathlon. Wish you all the best in your recovery.
Tim, absolutely floored when I heard this news. Hope you are doing well. Prayers Mate!
Not politics… but when did you get your Co V e d shot? (have to code it because UA-cam will take it down)
Did you get c19 vaccine?
its a known side effect of some "performance enhancers"
Thank you for sharing your experiencing, Tim. You're very courageous, friend. You said it well - life is a gift.
Your experience has caused me explore with yet another physician heart issues of my own. Congestive heart failure runs in my family. My Dad's dad died from it at 53. I've been having a multitude of symptoms since March 2011 that I initially thought was an intestinal disorder. But, after seeing nothing amiss, the GI doctors just said it's IBS (because they really didn't know what was going on).
Have been active my whole life. Experienced an uptick in health went going vegetarian over 10 years ago. Health was at its peak at the end of September 2010 after finishing Branson 70.3. Went to the medical tent after the race because I did not feel well. The EMT gave me two IV bags of sodium chloride because I had hyponatremia (diluted sodium levels) and blood pressure was like 60 over 40. I was also nauseous, had a swollen abdomen and lost my appetite. After the IV, I felt amazing. All the symptoms dissipated. Six months later while out for a bike ride, something felt heavy in the area between my sternum and navel. Weight increased 15 pounds in a month. Over the years, some doctors thought it was IBS, but no amount of various diets, supplements, mental therapy, etc. gave relief or resolved it completely. Weight gradually increased and body got thicker overall. Endurance efforts became much harder. From March 2020 to February 2021, weight increased 45 pounds. I had to stop running completely last year due to the severe abdominal swelling and heaviness in the legs. As of today, have TMJ (what you said about having lockjaw really hit me), tinnitus, severe chronic fatigue, swelling in the feet and blurrier vision. Any exertion, even fast-walking across the street has me struggling because I can't breath well. I'm also suffocating as soon as I began to eat because I can't breath well just through my nose (since my mouth is closed). No matter how much I sleep, I awake unrefreshed and have a swollen abdomen, arms, legs and feet (feet sometimes turn purple).
I appreciate you sharing because I'm checking with a physician about congestive heart failure as we speak because it does run in my family. I've had so many tests the last 10 years and all of them came back "normal." Yet, my health continues to worsen. Thank you again for sharing, Tim. So happy for you, Rinny and your family, and that your health has turned the corner. That is a miracle, friend. God blesses you all. :)
When I first saw the title to your blog post I thought it was merely clickbait. But after clicking through I quickly learned that it wasn't. At the end of the video I was glad to hear from you that your heart is doing great and that overall you are feeling great. You indicate in the video you that you posted it to make people aware of what can happen to someone that appears to be very fit/healthy. But I think there was a slightly misleading message in your video. So I'm posting this comment.
You say in your video that there are lots of HEALTHY guys that have a heart attack. If you had left the word “healthy” out of your video, then that would have been a true statement. Unfortunately, healthy guys don't get heart attacks. There's a medical condition called arteriosclerosis, aka atherosclerotic heart disease, which if you have it, then you are not healthy. Patients who have this condition are typically prescribed statins. But statins don't really treat the underlying problem - they treat the symptoms.
My gut feeling after watching your video was that you seemed ready to roar ahead and win triathlons in the future. I seriously doubt that is a wise path to follow now that you have experienced a pretty substantial heart attack. You might want to watch some videos on UA-cam regarding: metabolic syndrome, sugar & type II diabetes, inflammation in the arteries, insulin resistance, fatty liver, heart disease, and cancer. These things are all interrelated.
I suspect you and your wife have similar lifestyles. You probably workout the same, and you probably eat pretty much the same. As a result, she may have a ticking time bomb inside her just like the one that hit you. I wish you all the best. And good luck!
Tim,
I know exactly what you went through. I had My LAD blown out on the operating table and was put on the heart machine for 3 days in an induced coma.
August 25, 2011 i was 49 . I went in for a minor stent and ended up with the LAD blowout on the table. Glad you and I can see our families.
Enjoy you blessed days ahead. PS 5 years later i did a 70.3 with my Cardiologists blessing.
wow Scott, glad you came out the other end ok too! Thanks for sharing and thanks for your support!
Tim, always enjoyed your videos, thanks so much for sharing. Your video could not have been posted at a better time. I was just diagnosed with blockage in my LAD and I'm going in to have a stent installed at the end of the month. I was in a bit of denial of my condition. Cardiologist said because I'm in shape, the blockage was difficult to detect since I don't have any of the symptoms such as shortness of breath and tiredness. Said "you're in the best shape but, you can't escape genetics." I thank you for this video because it really hit home the seriousness of my condition.
I look forward to seeing your journey to recovery and if you desire, your return to racing again. It'll be my inspiration since I really enjoy training and racing. Best wishes...
Hi Tim, I was a very modest triathlete in the 80s, avid biker, and I suffered a severe heart attack at the age of 36 year old, in France. I remember me literally smiling at the ER doctor when he told me I just had a heart attack. I really thought he was kidding. It was the last thing I could expect considering the physical condition I was in at the time. I also remember a little bit later asking another doctor what would be my life expectancy. Of course, he wouldn't give me an answer. Well, I turned 60 4 days ago, and I'm doing very good. The myocardial necrosis left me with a good portion of my heart ineffective, but I still can run, bike, and swim faster than the majority of guys my age. Don't worry, we can still do surprising things with half a heart! 🤣 I wish you a speedy recovery!
Thanks for sharing. I just had one in June. I was 16.1 miles into a 20 mile ride when I called for the ambulance and locked up my bike. Keep sharing this info. My pain was slightly off to the left of center in my chest and radiating outward and down the back of my arms. Difficulty breathing and really thirsty. I just started cardio rehab and hope to be riding again as soon as I get the go ahead from my cardiologist. Good luck and keep spreading the word.
People wondering about how a very trained person can get a heart attack?
Those guys are pushing the body and heart to the limit! So it's like pushing your sportscar, sonething can break!
Everything in moderation....
Also, these endurance athletes usually eat an extremely high carbohydrate diet, including taking energy shot goo as they ride, and there is more and more evidence that this is part of the reason top athletes get diabetes and atherosclerosis. Saturated fat has got the blame when it was actually sugar.
@@sportysbusiness guess they just need fast energy sources... But yeah, it's not good...
Oh boy... 😢
I follow you and Rinny for a while now Tim, and i really like your honest, happy, down to earth attitude. You are a real rolemodel.
Such an event is lifechangeing, when you have responsability as a husband and dad, even more.
I hope you can recover fully from this, physically and mentally and be assured - you have nothing to prove anymore. In case of the slightest doubt, please be careful. Life is more important than a few more races at that point of the career.
I am glad you took this 12% chance and made it, champ! This was the most important victorty in your life.
Stay strong, we are with you, whatever your plans are from here on... 👍
After experiencing 300+ bpm rates in 1991 I was diagnosed with Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome and got a RF ablation. First Ironman distance triathlon 3 months later. It happens to do many. Thank God you are ok!
Praiae The Lord and your guardian angels you survived this horrible attack. Your beautiful family has been given a beautiful gift 💜
Continued great happiness and health.
Family 🥇and let all your goals follow right behind.
Our prayers are with you.
Cheers from Connecticut TRWB 🇺🇸🦅
Hey Tim, I was on the other side of this. My dad passed away from a Heart Attack at the age of 46. From no symptoms, strong person, never complained about aches or pains. One day he woke up in the middle of the night, told my mom to take him to the hospital, he walked towards the closet in his room to get his clothes, and didn’t make it. I gave him CPR for a long time before the ambulance got to our house. He was gone before he made it to the hospital. It’s tough to have to go through. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad you were given a second chance at life. Sending prayers to you to keep recovering and getting healthier and to your family. God bless.
Please take care of you and yours. You and your family are a staple in my home. I look up to the both of you always have. Take care of that ticker !!!!!!
Glad to hear you survived. I had exactly the same episode on the 31 January 2021 in a sprint triathlon finishing with a big PB but had weird fluttering in my heart while on the bike. My friend and training partner took me to the ER where they diagnosed the blockage and a stent was put in. Unfortunately my mate who saved me, suffered the same episode on the 6th March 2021 at a half distance race 13km into the run collapsed and died. All the best with your recovery, your perspective on life certainly changes and I also have been pushing Heart Health Checks to anyone who will listen.
I’d really like to hear more about this, especially because I had a similar heart attack starting about a week after you had yours and am still struggling to find docs that have an understanding of athletes. I actually had symptoms for about two weeks before they came to a head on Good Friday and still didn’t go to the hospital until the next evening and biked to the hospital in the middle of it. Same LAD, same 80% blockage, off the chart troponin scores. After surgery I was basically told to go about my own rehab with no limitations on my training, but I question that the cardiologist understands what that means to us. And of course there’s the issue of what all these medications do to your body and heart rate and usual training methods. I find myself in limbo and conscious of every little chest pain and tightness, uncertain if I’m over or underdoing it.
Di you get covid vax? Maybe its related to this.
I have to wonder whether or not this is vaccine related?
Thank you for sharing. I can relate from both sides of the incident and shed a few tears.
My Dad had a heart attack as well - in front of me too - when I was a kid.
I was training so that I don’t make my kids orphans. Great shape and I had a similar incident to yours.
Hi Tim, I’m know I’m no athlete but I’ve went from 130kg gym freak to cyclist due to having a quintuplet heart bypass. Im now having a great time cycling. I have KOMS from my local 65 mile race. You will get through this. Keep moving forward.
The same thing happened to me Tim. I was running one day in training and had jaw pain which I thought was possibly just due the cold weather. I don’t know why, but I decided to go to the doctors and he sent me to hospital for tests and at the end of the day it was a blockage and I received a stent. This was 3 years ago now and in June i made my comeback completing my 7th Ironman. I did stop taking the beta blocker tablets though after discussing with the cardiologist. So there is a way back for you. This is just a hiccup in life.
Tim, please check out the research on making yourself essentially heart attack proof through a whole foods plant-based, no added oil diet. Please read "How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Caldwell Esselstyn.
The Dr, Esselstyn is the real deal.
Speechless guys. Such an emotional video. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Tim, sorry to hear about your cardiac event. I’m glad you’re still with us! Please know that you are not alone and that this problem has been happening to other seemingly ultra/healthy endurance athletes. In researching this subject for several years, it appears that cardiac blockages and arterial plaque rupture in healthy endurance athletes is very likely due to inflammation/damage to endothelial lining, brought on by ingestion of food products that are high in inorganic arsenic. Many of the popular energy bars and gels eaten by triathletes use brown rice syrup as their primary ingredient. Whether the brown rice syrup is organic or not makes no difference, it still contains high levels of inorganic arsenic. Dartmouth University performed a study several years ago and concluded that arsenic, particularly the inorganic variant, causes endocrine disruption and greatly hastens inflammation/damage to endothelial lining of blood vessels, including highly vulnerable cardiac arteries like the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The US FDA knows of this and other studies showing this danger yet still has not issued warning statement(s) to the public. What’s it going to take?!
Not just inorganic arsenic, but more importantly - high doses of sugar and processed carbs which in turn cause high levels of insulin to flow through a person's blood stream. See Ivor Cummin's video at ua-cam.com/video/alZ47dgu3LU/v-deo.html
Fit is not synonymous with Health
Tim, I had the exact same thing happen to me 2 1/2 years ago. 80% blockage in my LAD (widow maker) that landed me in the hospital with a heart attack. The last thing I ever imagined I'd face at 47 years old. So thankful I'm also one of the ones who beat the odds. I'm now at the point I will carefully ramp my training back up and compete in a 70.3 race next year. You obviously don't know me, but you and your family are well loved and respected and I'm so thankful you are still with us. Lots of good thoughts sent your way.
I passed it.too, exactly the same. Lucky.. Your story inspire me to come back to cycling again.
Wow. That's a powerful message to us all. I just wanted to add my support. Hang on in their mate. I have had chest pains while cycling and running during lockdown. I thought I couldn't have a heart attack because I am pretty fit. You have just proved me otherwise. Thanks for doing the video. I'd love to hear if training contributed to the problem or saved you from a more severe reaction and what you have been doing since to keep yourself well.
Im a Paramedic. My good friend, an ER physician and I were on a ride. Got home and he started having chest pain. He took a shower and tried to just forget it, got to the point that he was concerned. Went to the local urgent care, STEMI. LAD MI, same as you. Happy to hear you are better!!!!
On October 26th, 2022 I suffered a heart attack (the widow maker) where my main artery was almost completely blocked (sounds familiar, yes). It would be interesting for me to hear if you were prescribed and took all the medications that are 'automatically' prescribed by cardiology... or if you went a different route. I found that the medications I was prescribed limited my ability to get back to my normal activities. When I asked why. for example, I should be taking several drugs that lower my blood pressure when I have 'low blood pressure' already... the cardiologist would answer "it's what's keeping you alive". I eventually would reduce the blood pressure drugs and then for the last three months stopped most everything except the baby aspirin and Effient, that supposedly you must take for a year for the artery, if you had a drug-eluting stent inserted. Each time I'd X off a drug from the debilitating list I was told to consume, I was able to 'do more'. As in, walk further than 50 feet before I was fatigued and had to stop in my tracks. I stopped everything (I don't recommend this, don't do it!) FOR A TEST... I almost immediately began walking several miles and now am walking 4-6 miles most everyday. I decided if I was going to stop the prescribed drugs I would at least change my diet to one that would support cleaner arteries and supplements that could do the same. I am purchasing foods that mostly don't have labels, so almost no processed foods, avoid sugars, bad carbs, bread, zero alcohol, and I have more energy and strength than before my heart attack. Please share your experience.
WTF.....Has a Heart Attack and just carries on anyway......Respect Dude!!!
Please have your Lipoprotein a checked by your cardiologist. Treatment is often recommended for Lipoprotein a level > 60.
So many people are commenting on this video post stating that they are so surprised that someone who is super fit can have a heart attack. I'm not so surprised that Tim had a heart attack. But I am surprised that so many people are surprised. When I was coming up for my 50th birthday about 10 years ago I found myself a little overweight. I thought I was in reasonably good shape, and wanted to drop a few pounds. I had dropped some weight back in my late 20's so I could race at an International level cycling even (where I finished 10th - 50 miles in 1 hr 44 min). And I figured I could lose the weight the same way again some 20 years later. The weight did not come off, at least not easily. Why? Through some research I discovered my problem had to be related to a condition called insulin resistance. I'm pretty knowledgeable about that condition now. And yes, it was the problem. In a nutshell, anybody who has insulin resistance has a broken metabolism. And anybody who consumes lots of sugar and processed carbs will more than likely develop insulin resistance. What medical complications can arise if you have insulin resistance? Some likely results are pre-diabetes, diabetes, hardening of the arteries, heart disease. Maybe even cancer. By the way, obesity typically results from having diabetes in people who are not very active. Tim is certainly active. Does he have diabetes? I suspect yes. Two months ago I was diagnosed with uveal choroidal melanoma in my left eye which can be a deadly cancer. I came across a book entitled THE METABOLIC APPROACH TO CANCER. See www.amazon.com/Metabolic-Approach-Cancer-Integrating-Bio-Individualized/dp/1603586865/. It discusses the importance of targeting the cause of the problem - not the symptoms. Insulin resistance is the problem. Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are the symptoms. I highly recommend anyone concerned about their health after suffering a heart attack read this book. You might be able to take medications in order to continue racing. But I seriously doubt trying to be a champ will help you improve your underlying health. I wish you all the best of luck AND HEALTH.
Please take care of yourself and FAMILY everything else can wait...
Thanks for sharing the story, I’m curious to know if prior this you have already high Triglycerides/low HDL/Calcium build up in your arteries? Thank you.
Remembered me what happened to 2x Ironman World Champion Normann Stadler in 2011 :-(
All the best to you Tim! Get healthy again fast!
Thanks for sharing. I’m a 60 year old 7 X IM Finisher. I’m getting ready to check out of the hospital now after finding out I had 95% blockage in my LAD artery and getting a stent during a heart cath yesterday. I ignored some signs at St George then Chatt 70.3 earlier this year. Started having all the symptoms a couple weeks ago during my workouts and took the necessary steps to find out what was going on including stopping my training. Thankfully my primary care physician caught the abnormal readings on my ECG and immediately referred me to a cardiologist. I’m looking forward to racing again next year. Good luck!
Tim and Rinny and kids
Thanks for sharing. I too am from Boulder Co. August 9th 2017 I was coming out of the gym in erie co and had a massive heart attack. 100% blockage LAD artery. I too have been an elite athlete my whole life. At the time 42 yrs old. I am really excited to hear about your recovery. And recovery techniques. I can suggest some doctors in the area that are great if you would like. So I just had my 4th birthday lol! Stay well enjoy being vertical! I would really love to chat with you if you had the time. I know you are busy but I hope you will reach out.
Be well
Brando
So glad you got to the hospital in time TO! You’re right, life is a gift. We too often get caught up in the day to day and forget that. Wishing you well on your road to recovery. Thank you for sharing your story.
hey mate good luck, you are an amazing pro. Athlete, father, husband & friend.I have had the exact procedure in exactly the same spot..in the same artery at close to 90% blocked..having my third heart attack after a big training session in the gym, but my issue because I decide to stop my medication for silly and ignorant reasons..now I have 3 stents...but Im the fittest I've ever been...you Rinny and you beautiful babies are an amazing family...luv your vids..stay positive ...you'll get back to your best in no time...trust me I know.......god bless ..mate Richard from Brisbane Australia...Ps seriously consider transitioning into a plant based diet...its worked miracles for me...
This past october I was about a mile in to my woods logging dead ash trees for firewood when I felt like I got slammed in the chest by a sledge hammer. Now I've crushed fingers, gashed my leg with a chain saw, reduced dislocated shoulders myself, had nails go all the way through my foot etc.. Pain is an inconvenience. That, however, made me take a knee. Luckily I had my cell phone with me and called my neighbor. After asking a couple questions, he tells me to lean up against a tree and that he would be right there. While I wait, the cold sweats start. Then my left arm goes numb. At this point I am just trying not to pass out. A couple minutes later my guy comes screaming down the logging trail in his little Subaru. Totally ignoring how his little Subie made it down a rutted logging trail... or if it is going to make it back out... I get in the car. He hands me some nitro tabs he brought with, screams back up the trail and we head down the road to the hospital. Normally a 40 minute drive, we made it there in 20.
I walk in to the emergency room, tell the triage nurse I am having chest pains and she takes me back immediately. The EKG lady comes in and and before long the machine spits out the reading. EKG lady really needs to work on her poker face. She points to my heavy weight double fronts and says "get those off if you can... so they don't have to cut them." She then bolts from the room. I remember thinking "oh boy here we go".
A few seconds later a Doc comes in with about ten of his pals and says "so... you're having a heart attack." I know where he's headed, so I cut him off and say "pitter patter doc. Lets roll." In no time I am in the cath lab. They don't even bother with anesthesia, so I get to watch the action on the monitor while the surgeon does her thing. I've got one 100% blockage and another at 60%. Someone in the room doesn't realize I am awake and mutters "this guy really walked in?" To which I reply... "you betcha, champ. Do I get a trophy or something?" The whole rooms cracks up. Surgeon tells me to shut it because she's about to place the stent. The very second the first stent goes in, I feel a rush of blood throughout my body and I instantly feel better than I have in years. Second goes in... even better. They take me to CCU. I sleep for 25 hours straight and wake up feeling awesome. I offer my nurse $20 if he'd get me a double XL from Timmy's. He walks away laughing. I wasn't joking. Only thing that sucks worse than a heart attack is caffeine withdrawal. haha They keep me for three more days. I am convinced that the longer stay was to make sure I didn't go home and try to finish logging. My nurse did pick my up a small decaf from Timmy's though. Apparently the on call cardiologist was merciful. You are the man, Bradley!!!!
So the hardest part for me, aside from the side effects from the meds, is understanding why. I mean I get the anatomy and physiology of it... but I was not overweight and had no health issues. I was so active that it took 4,500 calories a day just to maintain my weight. I'm sure Tim was even more active than that. Now getting wacked by a tree I could see. Heart attack wasn't even on my radar. How does this happen? Is it really just genetics?
So after six long months of severely reduced activity and cardiac rehab, I was officially back to chor-ing at the farm... though I dialed it back a bit. The good news is that there was no permanent damage to my heart, but I am still grappling with how close to dead I came... and how suddenly it happened. Getting old sucks. Thats all I am going to say about it.
Regardless, glad to hear Tim is recovering well. Sorry for the long post. Just want Tim to know that I can relate.
Tim - I'm 43, and had a heart attack right before Christmas last year. 90+ % blockage of my widow maker artery. Had to get two stints put in. Only knew something was wrong when I had chest tightness on 4 Zwift rides and had trouble keeping power up. Spending all year now struggling to ride with limited HR. Cardiologist banned me from any racing this year. Will see in December if I am released for 2022 racing at all. You are definitely not alone in this. Stay strong.
I thought (hoped) this was click bait, really wasn't expecting this news! Wishing you the best in your recovery Tim, I'm sorry this happened to you but I'm sure theres a silver lining. Must have been really scary none the less. All the best from Aus.
Looking forward to the rest of the story. I think there are important lessons to be learned here. I have been aware of this type of event happening to athletes for some time now. Super athletes are not bulletproof, that for sure.
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease - Caldwell Esselstyne. Most of us don't find this until we've had some type of cardiac event, but it really is a must read on the road to recovery. The scariest day of my life ended up being the one that saved my life. (I was lucky. I was on the trainer at home with enough of a medical backround to recognise what was happening.) It's just so unfortunate that we don't get the information BEFORE our arteries are blocked. That's a hint for anyone reading this that thinks it won't/can't happen to them.
Did they tell you how much blockage you had before the clot.. like how much was that artery already blocked…. I know a plaque broke off and it’s blocked it, but it just if already had some blockage……. That why diet is so important….. prayers and wish you the best luck…
I’m thinking diet had something to do with this
A guy in my cycling group had a blocked LAD at 63. He didn't get pain just a feeling of fatigue and low power up a long hill. He is very slim and healthy. I think everyone over 50 should get a bi annual heart scan and test on the Medicare system.
Tim, thx for sharing! Would love to understand how/why this happens? Is it diet related? What have you changed moving forward?
Friend of mine and I were on a bike ride and he was feeling poorly. He ended up having a simliar situation and had to have stents put in. Don’t mess around with feeling short of breath, nausea, pain in the left arm or chest pain. Luckily Tim pulled through but us men have been conditioned to “tough things out”. Serious situation with a happy ending. I worry a bit about this because my dad died early from a heart attack from poor diet and lifestyle choices. I will pay attention to my body and not ignore any signs.
Wish for a speedy recovery. As a rehab doctor I am looking forward to following your cardiac rehabilitation process and getting back to your best 🙏👍
TO: Thanks for sharing your experience and don't apologize for getting emotional. You are the best! I do believe you will save someones life by sharing your experience. I am so happy you made it! You are inspiring as a triathlete, but more inspiring as a good person.... Best of luck going forward.
Thanks for sharing, Tim. Did you have any abnormalities in your blood work? Cholesterol? Seems like there was really no way to predict this
Aren't you even curious where the bullet , you thankfully dodged , came from ? I'm a big fan of Nina Tiecholz and the story of heart disease .
STEMI or NSTEMI? I had my STEMI on Feb 6th. Back to working out and yes, I even bought a new bike!
🍇🍈🍉🍊🍋🍌🍍🥭🍅🥝🍓🍒🍑🍐🍏🍎🍆🥔🥕🌽🌶🥒🥬🥦🧄🧅🍄🥗🍠 LFWFPB 'nought said
This is heavy as it hits close to home for me..For everyone watching this, please get yourself a CAC Test www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-heart-test-you-may-need-but-likely-havent-heard-of. You can be a high performing athlete that passes a stress test with flying colors, but plaque can reside within the endothelial lining of your blood vessels showing no symptoms prior to cardiac event. It's the only way a doctor can know your risk level and manage it effectively. As Tim described via his experience, this plaque can suddenly rupture through the artery wall and cause a blockage. He is a very lucky man to be here to tell his story. Wishing him and Rinny all the best.
100% blockage on the lower right for me. Hit after a heavy workout. Single stint, three years ago. Mental is very hard, but you will move on. Live life, do not stop, just keep going.
With some recent heart issues I thought that a "I had a Heart Attack", by an athlete video, would say something more than I had a heart attack, in the widow maker. I think the words were..." and they cleared it"...what, I watched it's entirety to get that. Don't need a dissertation of a cardiac doctor. But, heck, how about a bit more on why you survived an 85% blockage during an intense triathlon? Not inspired to watch part II. But, very glad that you survived, really. All the best to you.
Five years ago, I had emergency open-heart surgery to replace my aorta and aortic valve that had been destroyed by a bacterial infection (endocarditis). His reaction at 7:00 is EXACTLY how I feel every time I think about how close to death I was, and how extremely lucky I am to still be here in the world with my family, and how fortunate I am (after a hard road back) to still be able to pursue my life-long sports and activities. There aren’t many days that go by that I don’t think of the benefits of modern medicine and all its practitioners that got me back into life!
Tim, really strong come back in Kona. And I am so happy for you and your family. It must be very hard but you and your family pulled it through. Congrats again.
So I am an ultra runner in great shape with a resting heart rate of 38,.... who just scheduled his stress test because of watching this video. Have you saved my life? Will you save someone else's life because you posted this video? I wish you a long and happy life. Courage comes in many forms.
I don't follow triathlons so I don't know who you are. But thank you for sharing your story. What's missing is the explanation why a professional athlete would have an artery blocked. Seems that's the question every athlete should be asking. I'm sure you inquired into this. Please share.
One of the most human, real dudes out there! Thank you T.O. for your vulnerability!
Crazy story. Glad you’re ok. Goes to show no matter how fit you are the body is still not a machine. How old are you out of interest? Glad you’re good. Nothing macho about dying for sport as long as you can still ride your bike and spend time with your family and have fun don’t worry about competing etc. Stay strong dude 💪🏼
I would bet there were warning signs. However, at Tim's level, I would guess they are easily masked during training. The awakening, we are all human! I am glad you are ok Tim and your family still has you!
Take care. You will likely end up saving a number of lives by spreading the word. Hard to be a cautionary tale. You’re a legend.
Just thank God that he had a wife & he runs things pass her because many men won’t even say hey babe I’m not feeling well. Then thank God that his wife would say “ go to the hospital” amen walking miracle!!
In my opinion, the causes of sudden deaths of triathletes are: 1. Congenital heart defect, 2. mitochondrial dysfunction to respond to rapid heat production. Low vitamin D, insulin resistance, a dysfunctional pentose cycle, and other things can have a cumulative effect on the heart stopping.
How is it possible you had that much blockage?
What were your blood numbers, lipids etc. When you feel up to it please share your possible reasons for the blockage. Thanks and glad you are well.
I'll ask you point blank. Had you taken the experimental covid injection prior to this cardiac event?
No warnings?! Bro you were having classic symptoms of a heart attack and finished the race. You almost killed your self.
I don't need to tell you there is a correlation between Ironman and heart conditions. Greg Welsh, Norman Stadler, Emma Carney are just a few well known one. Take care. I hope you are ok and can return to racing....