Carl’s Essay

“I’ve been given back my vitality & it’s great to be alive!!!” Physical fitness became my top priority, when at age 40 I received my first significant “Wake-up Call”. I was diagnosed with “Type 2” Diabetes. As late as age 51, I was working out 30 to 60 minutes a day, 5 to 7 days a week, alternating between cardio and weight training. Suddenly at age 53, with my first of what would eventually be a total of five heart catheterizations, I was found to have nearly a 2" total blockage in my “Widow Maker” which I had naturally Bi-passed and narrowly avoided a Massive Heart Attack!

After the procedure, I began drug therapy and was told: ( 1) not to lift more than 25 lbs.,( 2) It was OK to resume my unhealthy eating habits and (3) continue to work-out with no more than 25 lbs. This natural Bi-pass had occurred, according to my Cardiologist at the time, because I was physically fit. However I continued to eat the “Comfort Foods” I had grown up with, mistakenly believing that working out would somehow off set poor nutrition. I remained the “Fit, Health Looking Obese Man” I’d been for decades...

Then suddenly at age 57, I was diagnosed to be living on less than a third of normal coronary blood flow, as the good collaterals that had literally saved my life were clogged up and the 3rd main artery on the face of my heart (the 2nd had been stented years earlier) was over 90% blocked. My new Cardiologist informed me that I was, “In the worst coronary condition he had seen in a long time”! This lead to an urgent new procedure, part of a nationwide 11 hospital study at The Ross, “Hybrid Cardio Revascularization”- Open Heart Bi-pass Surgery (without stopping my heart), and a stent all in the same week! This time I was told not to pick up more than A Gallon of Milk (10 lbs.) and to dramatically improve my diet, “Eating to Live NOT Living to Eat”! And, I began walking around the 4th floor at The Ross, the day after my CABG, completing 3 laps, doubling the prior day's distance each day, culminating in walking 3 miles (36 laps) the morning I was released, six days later! The great team of nurses and exercise physiologists at The Martha Morehouse Cardiac Rehabilitation Center challenged me to take my vitality back!

Starting 6 weeks after my release from the Ross, I completed a baseline VO2 Stress Test and started working out with an hour of: treadmill, stationary bike and the “arms machine” 3 days a week for the 1st month. This led to a 90 minute work-out, adding weight training, 3 days a week for 8 more weeks. And, since my Graduation from Cardiac Rehab...... I am proud to report that I have achieved the following: (1) A 20% Improvement in my VO2 results, (2) trimming down to 185 lbs. (under 200 lbs. for the 1st time in 30 years), losing 35 lbs. since my hospital discharge, (3) lifting more weight than I ever have in my life and working out on the EFX, Bike, etc. Longer than I ever have before, ( 4) getting completely Off of Insulin,( 5) getting off the CPAP, after 14+

Years, and (6) getting a weaker eyeglasses prescription And I Feel Great!!!

If you’ve had a similar experience, or would just like to talk to Carl about living with heart disease, his contact information is listed below!

cmsmerdel@gmail.com – 614-323-6597 It is great to be alive – and to help others