Goodbye Crossfit, you saved my life
I was in the best shape of my adult life but the trouble started doing Murph in 2013. I mean, who doesn't cough up blood when they run? Anyway, i wrote it off to chapping in my throat from heaving breathing.
fast forward to greenville games last summer. I felt i didnt have the "lung capacity" to compete. I would hit the wall early in the WODs, I just couldnt get enough air. I attributed it to needing to be in better shape. My strength was there, but had no gas in the tank.
August 1, 2013 on a 1 mile run, in front of the exact same house as in Murph, coughed up blood. I had promised my wife that if it ever happened again i would go to dr. As a guy I didnt think it was a big deal. Well needless to say the drs and nurses FREAKED THE #### OUT! tests and tubes and wires and xrays and etc.......
I was eventually diagnosed with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (Think Hank Gathers/Loyola Marymount) Basically i have a birth defect (47 years later) of thickened septum and a bulge on the inside of my heart that restricts the blood flow into my Aorta. Dr. told me that working out with that condition was like taking your car out on I-85 and running wide open ..............in 1st gear. You can do it for a while, but eventually the engine will blow.
After a year of trying this and trying that,medicine has not worked. To "fix" it I will be going in Monday for a procedure to "kill the bulge" by injecting alcohol into my heart; kind of a controlled heart attack. FUN FUN! The most expensive buzz in history!
So on Monday, if you have time, hold my wife up in your thoughts and prayers. She has a lot on her with this and the boys among all of life's other stresses. Dont worry about me. God has a plan
So here is your lesson.
DO SOMETHING! crossfit saved my life. had i not been pushing myself to the breaking point, i would have never known i had this condition. This grenade in my chest would have eventually gone off sitting on the couch or walking down the street, leaving a smokin hot wife and two little boys without a daddy. I dont want that for them.... and I dont want it for you and yours. It also may save my sons' lives. Since this is hereditary, they will now be checked annually.
If you are active, GET REGULAR PHYSICALS! after reading on here of the 30 year old that died of a heart attack, I didnt post in that thread, but I would bet my paycheck an autopsy would show cardiomyopathy or some related heart arrhythmia .
So needless to say, my crossfit days are behind me. I am now in the market for some REALLY white sneakers and blue socks. Gonna get in on the mall walking circuit! or maybe some spandex capris and a yoga mat.......
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