This past Tuesday I suffered a moderate heart attack while hiking in Shenandoah Nat'l Park. I fortunately was hiking with my daughter who hiked out to Skyline Drive to call 911. I was lucky in may ways since I usually hike solo . My Right Coronary Artery (RCA) was 100% blocked which left me incapacitated for 20 minutes .
I eventually managed to get up using my trekking poles to pull myself up. Cold rain had begun to fall as temperatures had dropped into the 40's Again...I was lucky this time.
My daughter made the 911 call, as I too somehow found a sweet spot where I stopped to rest the final time. The Ambulance arrived and I stayed alive.
An Angioplasty and stent insertion and 3 days in the hospital later I am recovering at home. Four new cardiovascular drugs to add to my Statin(cholesterol forming inhibititor) which I've taken for 15 years.
My questions: Noting that I most certainly be taking four of these meds for the rest of my life plus a baby aspiran, their importance to my health absolutely necessary.
How does one carry these meds so that they stay dry and maintain a certain level of temperature integrity ? Another words, from getting hot and sticky ?
How has having a cardiac event while hiking the trail changed your rational judgement , your hiking itinerary going forward ?
Calm the fears of loved ones when you begin planning your next solo hike ?