Let me start out with telling you that six weeks prior to this hike, I was out taking my normal 4 mile “after work” walk and starting feeling pressure in my chest. This was eerily similar to the feeling I was having before my bypass. I gave it a few days (dumb on my part) hoping it would go away or I was overthinking it. Well, sad to say that was not the case and I called my cardiologist who immediately got me in for an appointment.

I told him the symptoms I was having and scheduled an appointment for a stress/echocardiogram for a few weeks later. The stress/echo looked good but I was still having symptoms. So.. back to the Cath Lab for another angiogram. They found the culprit and put a stent in my Ramus Intermedius artery. I immediately felt better and after two days I was back at work.

I had my follow up appointment a few days later with my cardiologist. I want to be honest about my feelings while I write about this situation. It was a huge kick in the nuts! I felt defeated, depressed, pissed, confused. I broke down in the doctors office. I am not afraid to say it. I cried. I was scared but again got the assurance I was ok and can get on with my life. My first question after my breakdown was “can I get back to hiking?” Well you can look below for the answer.