Like every year I went for my annual check up. Everything seemed fine and this is something you do. As I was checked out I thought I was blessedly healthy as usual. Then he listened to my heart and we talked about the murmur and irregular beat I have had for some time. Any changes? he asked. The only thing I could think of was some minor pressure in my neck while exercising or mowing the yard. This led to a stress test and echo cardiogram.  The next day I was scheduled for a catheder and an echo down my throat.. They found two eighty percent blockages in arteries and the murmur was leaking 55 percent. I had open heart surgery the next day. This was three weeks ago and I am well on my way to feeling like 40 again. Long story short, we are all getting older so take care of yourself. Pay attention to how you feel. I was walking on very thin ice and was about to find out what is on the other side. We have the best healthcare system in the World....use it.  

Your pal,

Ken

Glad to hear you are doing well and feeling like 40.  hang in there Ken.............Al

Glad to hear they found and fixed everything for you, now don't start running any marathons, I had 4 bleeding ulcers in Nov. got 3 units of blood and they x rayed everything including my head!  I am doing  fine now.

Going back to Illinois in late July my oldest and his family are coming from Seattle, will stay till after Labor Day and visited friends and family.

I love my life here in St. Pete, and hope to live here a long time!

Take care.

Nancy

It is truly fantastic that first you went for your annul when you did and you were a good historian of aches and pains otherwise you might of gone home thinking all was fine only to have an emergenciecy experience. You are right abou getting older. A doctor freind of mine say's by the time a man reaches 45 he gcome out from under the hand of god's protection and life is now one great challange to what is best to stay healthy.

I would imagine most of us men anyway are paying closer attention to our health then we ever thought we would. It is truly hard work getting old it is not for sissies.

Take care do not push it to hard you will again now be 40 inside even tough on the outside we can't hide our age.