[/caption]This is about me Russell Guess the main contributor of this web site and how it came about and its mission. In December of 2004 we sold our home in Margate Florida and I wanted to move to Winter Haven Florida to live out one of my dreams. The dream was to live on a lake own a boat and water ski again and ultimately compete in the senior worlds water ski competition. Well the first part was going as planed however there was something I did not know yet the bad news. It came in the form of a health issue. The dreaded heart problem, I had gone to the doctor for a complaint of chest pain and heart palpitations without any physical activity. What was recommended was a procedure called Cardiac Catheterization to be performed. I needed to find out what was going on so I had the procedure done on September 7 2005. Less than a year after moving to my dream, talk about a rude awaking. Anyway the procedure showed I had 100% occlusion of the distal left anterior descending artery. Bad news no blood flow and I have history of heart disease in the family another oh crap. The good news was I had developed some collateral's which mad it possible to bypass the blocked artery somewhat. Well as any good patient we went for the protocol taking cholesterol reducing medicine which go by many names to many to mention here. Also I was advised to quite smoking cigarets which went without saying, so now this is life a changing event and it could be for the bad or the good. I felt it was up to me to have it go the way I thought it should. After taking medications for cholesterol and some to lower blood pressure something weird happened. I felt worse a lot worse then I became worried with high levels of anxiety while also having more symptoms but more intense like I was having a heart attack more and more often. So the doctor prescribed more medications for the anxiety and other symptoms which I described to the Dr. In a few short months I was taking no less than ten different medications per day one was for this while another was to counter act the other one I was taking. This did not sit well with me at all and I knew something had to give for I could not live like this. I recalled going to the doctor's office before all this came about and seeing the older patients with their bag of pills they where taking to stay healthy? I said to myself then this was not going to be me sitting there like a good little patient waiting for a Doctor who very seldom ever kept any appointment that was made months in advance. Reminded me of a well trained dog or were they just programed that if you wish to live take your medications like a good little patient? Finally one day I asked my cardiologist if I could change the outcome of my situation. His answer was a resounding yes you can but it would take some time and effort on my part. I had him give me a prescription for Chantaix to help me quite smoking and this product worked satisfactory since I was smoke free soon after the the start of the medication. He had also recommended Co-Q10 vitamin supplement, then I did some research of my own and what I discovered was what I had known all along. The medications my primary doctor had prescribed were making me sick, but in the medical profession they will tell you that the benefits out way the side affects. I am here to tell you in my case this was not so, my muscles ached so bad I could hardly move and or walk. The internal pain was so bad I would eat aspirin like candy, I said to myself if this is living and its keeping me alive I do not want to live! But I felt I was young enough tough enough and had a lot to live for so I would listen very closely to my body and let it guide me to my betterment. Believe me I was ready to die if I could not accomplish this new life style! I knew there were no miracle pills or magic potions that would heal me, but I felt with knowledge and a close ear to my mind and body I could live a prescription drug free life and improve my health slowly but surely. All while I was using Chantix to stop smoking I started to research my condition and to my surprise I kept finding the same results! Take your meds like a good boy and you will live, live live like what? So I kept at it and as of this writing I have gained what I would call healthy gains but still tuning it to my body and tweaking my style of living. Here lies the key for all of us, listen very closely you body it speaks to you everyday DO NOT IGNORE IT! If you have ever ignored a gut feeling and then saying later I new I should have, then you know I speak the truth. Your mind and body speaks volumes to you everyday you just need to listen. What make a good friend? They listen more than they talk so if your body is your closest friend (and if is not it should be) stop talking and listen! I know this is getting long but this took a long time to understand and to realize it and get it out! So that is my story and it is the reason for this website/blog to share healthy ideas with each other and me to you my readers. I will list the thing I tried what worked and what did not. I will touch on supplements I tried what works and what does not. This holds true for so many health issues and does not relate to just mine so stay tuned for some exciting information and maybe you too can start living because anything less is not an option!
