If Your Heart Stops, Your Squash Career Is Over Posted April 30, 2014
In the middle of January I began to feel pain directly in the middle of
my chest during squash matches. As each game heated up and I ran more,
the pain increased.
When I stopped playing at each game’s end the pain subsided and
finally disappeared. However I was very fatigued all the time. Walking
up a flight of stairs left me winded.
At first I thought the problem was indigestion, so I took Pepto Bismal. That didn’t work and the pain continued.
In the ensuing week I became convinced that I had exercise induced asthma because of the cold, dry air.
I searched the internet to figure out what was wrong with me.
I then went to my doctor and convinced him to give me an
inhaler. He told me to stop playing and immediately scheduled a
stress test to determine what was going on.
Naturally because I’m a squash fanatic I ignored his advice and I
kept playing , some days adding a late day court tennis match to
my normal lunchtime doubles game.
Finally on January 31st the pain became unbearable in the middle of a match. I showered up and drove myself to the hospital.
After having an EKG administered and blood drawn it was determined that
I was having angina attacks , indicative of the blockage of a coronary
artery. NOT GOOD.
The next day a catheterization was performed in which the
doctor attempted to restore blood flow by implanting a stent (or
stents) to open the Left Anterior Descending ( LAD) artery.
He found all my coronary arteries were totally open and in great
shape, except for one- the most critical and largest artery.
The catheterization did not work. The principal artery was 100% blocked and the blockage was as solid as concrete.
The LAD, by the way, is called the Widow Maker- not a happy thought.
I was left with two options- bypass surgery , or go home and eventually drop dead.
*
On February 4th I underwent double bypass open heart surgery. The surgery was a complete success.
Unfortunately the pain in the weeks following the operation was
absolutely brutal. However each day the pain diminished and I got a
little stronger.
Now twelve weeks later, having diligently participating in cardiac
rehab, I’m back playing squash and court tennis without
limitation, completely pain free.
*
SO:
1. If you feel chest pain when you’re playing, STOP PLAYING and see your doctor immediately.
2. Your heart is right in the
middle of your chest, not on the left side of your chest which is what
I foolishly thought.
3. If you feel pain in your jaw or
going down your arm, STOP PLAYING and see your doctor immediately.
4. Don’t try to self – medicate. If you do, you’re playing Russian roulette with your life.
5. Going on WEBMD or some other
internet website doesn’t not qualify you as a doctor to self-
diagnose what is going on with your body. Leave that to the
professionals.
Guy Cipriano
was NJ state champion in 1995 and Met NY doubles champion in1988 in
partnership with Steven Berliner. He was competed in league and
tournament play since 1977. Guy was USA Lapham- Grant captain in 1993.
He plays at the Whippanong , Short Hills and Tuxedo Clubs.
What's On My Mindis a column by rotating authors. Contact: DailySquashReport@gmail.com
