Competitive Swimming With Coronary Artery Disease

By Trip Hedrick, as advised to Janie McQueen

One day in 2000, at age 46, I used to be within the pool doing a tough set when a jolt of chest ache and radiating arm ache stopped me chilly. I’ve been swimming most of my life — I used to be a member of U.S. Masters Swimming for greater than 40 years and have participated in nationwide and world championships — so I’m no stranger to a twinge of ache. This felt totally different, however I assumed it was bronchial asthma or that I’d strained my triceps.

The discomfort eased and I completed the remainder of my exercise. But when the ache got here again 2 days later, I instantly known as my physician and went in for a treadmill stress check. I’ve been periodically having stress assessments because the mid-Nineteen Eighties; after witnessing the in the end deadly cardiac occasions of very match and energetic swimmers, I needed to be vigilant.

I handed the check “with flying colors,” but simply 2 weeks later, I wound up at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. I used to be having a coronary heart assault.

The heart specialist advised me I had coronary artery illness (CAD), and that the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in my coronary heart was 99% blocked. I used to be rushed to important care, then the cardiac catheterization lab so I may have a stent put in to open up the blocked artery.

I had all the time bragged to my inactive buddies that I’d be the one to dodge coronary heart points. I used to be so mistaken.

In 2008, I had one other coronary heart assault mid-swim. Doctors discovered one other LAD blockage that required a second stent. Then, in 2015, an angiogram confirmed a serious blockage within the first LAD diagonal department, and I obtained my third stent.

From Rehab to New Records

I accomplished cardiac rehab after my first coronary heart assault, and I returned after my third stent was put in. In each cases, I used to be certain my bodily rehabilitation can be fairly simple, and never practically as nice of a problem as my psychological rehab. So I began seeing a psychological well being skilled along with taking part in an train coaching program designed to assist me regain my energy and preserve my situation from worsening.

My psychological wants and points had been piling up rapidly. I used to be pressured, each from my very own self-driven character and my job as Head Men’s Swimming Coach at Iowa State University and later as head of my very own swim college (cycloneswimschool.com). I frightened about dropping my aggressive edge. I used to be additionally frightened about how my coronary heart points had affected my spouse. She has all the time been my fixed supply of reassurance and calm, however I did not need to burden her.

Counseling helped considerably, as did bodily rehab. I had an amazing comeback within the pool in 2016, swimming at a extremely aggressive stage for my age group. In 2017, I set one other age group world file within the 50 meter butterfly.

Despite sustaining a excessive stage of health, my wrestle with CAD continued, and I wanted double bypass surgical procedure in 2018. Before I went in for the process, I reached out to 4 extremely athletic mates who’d had coronary heart surgical procedure. It was among the best issues I may have performed to be mentally ready for it.

Being in wonderful form on the time of surgical procedure helped, too. I’d simply began to taper — which means to cut back coaching — to prepare for a giant Masters swimming competitors. My core energy and lung capability speeded my restoration. I achieved a post-surgery purpose of setting one other world file within the 50 meter butterfly for the 65-69 age group in August 2021.

A Full Life With CAD

If there may be one factor I’ve realized by means of my bypass surgical procedure and CAD journey, it’s the superb resilience of the human physique and the way rapidly it could actually heal.

Throughout these 20+ years, one of many keys to thriving with CAD has been seeing my heart specialist yearly, not placing it off. I’ve realized to be a greater listener to my physique. If I ever get probably the most delicate feeling that one thing’s not proper, I now ask myself if it is perhaps my coronary heart. Then I act on it.

The single most essential factor to me all through my CAD journey has been the help of my spouse of 43 years, L’Louise. I really feel it’s important you might have an advocate by means of any heart-related conditions — these are life-and-death issues. L’Louise goes with me to each appointment and each check. Sometimes once we get unhealthy information, I zone out. I depend on L’Louise’s acute listening abilities to catch every little thing. She all the time asks questions and pushes for solutions. And we’re nonetheless head over heels in love.

L’Loiuse and I are each retired now. We love the water of the Mississippi River in Winona, MN, which is the place we first met. We spend as many days of every summer time as potential hanging out on a sandbar within the backwaters of the river. We additionally love dwelling within the vibrant faculty city of Ames, Iowa. We’re avid Iowa State athletic followers and benefit from the many issues dwelling in a university group provides.

My mantra stays: “Defy perceived limitations.” I all the time wish to imagine that I’m at 100% of what I’m able to doing, even with the compromised coronary heart perform I’m so grateful to have.