Going forward after a heart attack/event

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to be an administrator on a Heart Support group on Facebook. At first I was hesitant realizing I don't have the time that I once had to spend on Facebook and also because I wasn't truly sure what was expected of me in this role. I was subsequently told that what was required was positive posts to help those doing it tough and to cover what I did during my recovery period and how I dealt with depression, anxiety, panic attacks etc.

Masters of Rock Show

Anyway, a week or so later I found myself added as an admin to this group and apart from a post introducing myself and another one reminding people that November is Diabetes Awareness month, I wrote a post yesterday which I repeat below.

"When I was asked to join this group as an administrator I wasn't too sure what to expect, nor was I sure of what was expected of me. Jean, as I understood it, saw my role as posting positive items about things I have done over the years since my heart attack and triple bypass back in 2007 but finding the time to actually sit down and write something has not been easy due to always seeming to be busy. But today I have decided to change that and post something, probably spurred on by events of this and recent weeks.

Depression was part and parcel of my recovery period and still continues today, 9+ years on. Dealing with this back then was a challenge and remained so for around a year after my heart attack. Helping my wife look after injured wildlife helped me but rediscovering photography probably was the main thing to get me to start thinking positively.

Living where we live in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia with an abundance of wildlife (birds) visiting us daily provided me with no shortage of ready made subjects to photograph. This is an activity I continue to do today on an almost daily basis.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Along the way I also found I had time to listen to music again, something that had fallen by the wayside over the years due to work, family and all that sort of thing. And then three or so years ago my wife and I discovered tribute bands where we live.

The natural progression for me was to challenge myself to take photos of live shows, teaching myself the skills and the required techniques. In recent months I was asked by one of the largest clubs up here to take photos of their shows (did two last weekend) and me being me agreed to do it not for payment but in exchange for tickets to the shows for me and my wife.

PINK tribute show

Then last week I was asked to do some promo shots for a local group for a small payment and this morning received a phone call asking me to do photos at a show tomorrow night - sadly, can't do this one as since my heart attack I don't travel far at night and this one is over an hour away (they are looking to see if someone is coming from our area who could give me a lift).

And today I received confirmation to shoot another show in three weeks time.

So, what started as a hobby has now developed into something a bit more serious but more importantly, it is something I thoroughly enjoy doing, and may develop into a form of income, albeit small.

Now why have I written all of this? Because I believe it is of paramount importance for those of us who are finding it hard to cope after a heart attack (or any life threatening disease) to find a hobby. I say as much when I give talks to our local cardiac rehab unit which I have been doing since 2008 and I say the same when I give a talk on behalf of our Heart Foundation for which I am a volunteer speaker.

So for those of you who, like me, found they were unable to go back to work or a full-time job, that does not mean that life has come to an end. Now, during the recovery period, is a great time to rediscover an old interest and maybe develop it into something more.

And I do understand that saying the above can be easier said than done but we have to realize that giving up should never be an option.

Happy to respond to questions or comments but as I am not on the computer all the time, my replies may not be instantaneous."

My Facebook page featuring wildlife photos I have taken: https://www.facebook.com/Wildlifeinnerang/posts/1109641512489326

More photos from shows I have shot can be viewed on FLICKR at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paradisephotos/albums

 Pheasant Coucal

 Kookaburra

King Parrot

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Galah (Rose Breasted Cockatoo)

Pale Headed Rosella

Indian Ringneck

ABBA tribute show

QUEEN tribute show

Eagles Tribute show

Elvis tribute artist Dean Z


Masters of Rock Show

Final talk for the year to our local cardiac rehab unit

This morning I gave my last talk for the year at our local cardiac rehab unit. Twenty two people in attendance including the program co-ordinator, psychologist and a medical student. A sign of the times sadly when there are so many people needing to do a program like this.

The first thing I talked about was the fact that I had virtually none of the classic warning signs or symptoms when I had my heart attack and that I was later told this is not uncommon with diabetics, something I did know beforehand.

In addition to talking about my heart event and recovery and my changes in lifestyle I spent a bit of time dealing with the need to find positives in life to help in the recovery process, especially when things are not going all that great and stress and emotional head games may become difficult to cope with

I was able to share about what I did when those times came (come) along and what I did (so) to deal with depression including walking everyday, looking after injured wildlife and probably the biggest thing that happened for me, rediscovering an old hobby, photography.

Could not stress enough to those present the need to have a hobby or two, to have something to look forward to doing. Was a good final session for the year and if required, will be more than happy to do it all again in 2017 when I will be celebrating ten years surviving something I was very lucky to survive.

An interview I did with Channel Nine a year after my heart attack: http://my29lives.blogspot.com.au/p/29-lives-tv-interview-with-channel-nine.html

(Yep, that's me being loaded into the ambulance for the trip up to Brisbane for my triple bypass)

Use this link to view a presentation I put together a number of years ago after a cardiac rehab talk. Whilst the format may have changed over the years, the material I cover and the messages I try and share have not.

http://my29lives.blogspot.com.au/p/my-cardiac-rehab-talk-september-2011.html