“I had begun exercising more and every now and then I felt a tiny pull in my chest,” says Linda Vernon, who is in her early 60s. “Just six weeks after I retired from my job as an attorney, I had triple bypass surgery at UAB because I had severe blockage in my coronary artery.”

“I began exercising more right after I retired because I had more time. Over the course of about six weeks, I felt a teeny, tiny pull several times when I was in an aerobics class or working out at the gym. It was not painful––it just felt like someone had put a string inside my chest and tugged every once in awhile.

“It was such a minor pull that it’s a wonder I even mentioned it. I was at my internist’s office, and as I was getting up to leave he asked, ‘Is there anything else?’ When I told him about the pull he suggested I get an arteriogram because of my family history of heart disease.”

“During my arteriogram at UAB, they told me I had a lot of blockage and I needed to have heart surgery that day. After they explained the procedures to me, I felt I was in good hands. They told me I would not survive the damage that a heart attack would do––so, in essence––there was no choice. Later that day, Dr. David McGiffin did a triple bypass.

“I was in the hospital for six days. After my surgery the people at Cardiac Rehabilitation Services visited with me. Given the situation, they suggested three months of rehab, three days a week. So two weeks after I got out of the hospital, we started with some easy stretching exercises, then proceeded on to the treadmill, then weight lifting, and eventually the rowing machine. They wanted to get my heart rate to a certain level and would check it every few minutes using heart monitors. Later, I purchased my own heart monitor which I still use when exercising today. I have to say, it was an excellent program all the way through.

“Having felt the pulls during exercise, I would have been afraid to exercise again for fear that I might feel the pull again. But you know what? At the end of three months in rehab, I felt totally comfortable about going out on my own and exercising.

“By the way, the Cardiac Rehab Services conducted a number of EatRight sessions. They were excellent programs and really helped to put me on the right track to better health.”

“My daughter completed her residency at UAB. She has a very strong feeling about UAB, and she knows, from the inside, how excellent they are in terms of care. Besides, I like the fact that it’s a teaching hospital––I figure they’ve got to know the latest and the best. I have now changed all of my doctors to UAB and am very happy with my decision because they absolutely live up to my expectations.”

“Now I feel fabulous––life is good. No teeny, tiny pulls and I’m in better health today than I was 30 years ago when I smoked and got very little exercise. Today, I’m in charge of what I am doing healthwise...and I feel better about that too!

“I exercised before the surgery, but not anywhere close to the level I should have. The guidance I got at UAB enabled me to do far better than I did before. Now I exercise, probably, six days a week. Running is my favorite way of exercise. I took it up after my bypass. Before heart surgery, I had never run a mile in my life!”

“I refer other people to my cardiologist, Dr. James Taylor. Only a month ago, someone told me that they had had a little tightening in their chest, and I said, ‘You ought to go to the doctor and get it checked out. You may be surprised at what you find out, and it could be very important.’ I told both of my sisters to get checked; they did and, fortunately, they are okay.

“Sometimes you’re so busy––you’re working, running errands, dealing with everyday demands––and you tend to ignore a strange little hurt inside. It doesn’t really occur that often and it seems to go away quickly so you dismiss it. I don’t think you...we...realize the importance of those things. I think you sometimes probably don’t want to appear sickly, or even worried about something you feel is not that significant. Now I don’t hesitate to say go and get it checked out. Again, get it checked out. It can’t hurt.

“Looking back, one of the reasons I retired early was that I thought I was tired of working. I took long afternoon naps. But after the surgery, I realized it wasn’t my work. I was just plain tired––no, exhausted. My exhaustion should have been a clue!”