I am doing better but i’m still in shock over what happened. Like i mentioned before, i’ve been a vegetarian since 1973 and have (especially over the last couple of years) been eating mostly whole, organic, unprocessed foods. When i would make pizza, i would use fat-free cheese (with a little bit of organic, regular cheese sprinkled on too); i am gluten-free; i do not eat eggs, but when i did, they were mostly Egg-Beaters cholesterol-free eggs. Realizing that heart conditions run in my family, i would take 2,000mg of fish oil every day. I always religiously, very vigorously exercised on a Schwinn indoor bicycle, 15 minutes a day; plus i kept active with cleaning my aquariums and going on nature walks, etc. My total cholesterol (when i went into the hospital) was 104. My LDL cholesterol was 44. (Needless to say, these were very good numbers.) Other factors can play into what causes heart problems, especially, inflammation (and heredity). I have both osteoarthritis and mild rheumatoid arthritis. (Actually, there is a very good chance that if i did not live such a healthy lifestyle… i would have simply flat out died.)
When i was in the hospital, at one point 10 doctors, (as a group, for staff “learning” purposes), came into my room. I said, “Well if something happens to me now, i’m pretty well covered for care!” 🙂 The doctors told me that i was doing everything right. That is both very reassuring and very disheartening. (Hopefully, the medications that they are putting me on will help.)
My blogs keep running (as i had previously scheduled) them and when those run out, that will be it for a while. I will likely take a break. I will (in the future) likely continue to blog but i’ll be doing so with much less frequency. Thanks very much, everyone (for your very kind wishes) and please take good care of yourselves.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Get well soon, Tom!
Still alive, take good care of yourself!
I’ll be looking forward to what you have to say when you are feeling better. Your point of view is unique and important. Wishing you constant improvement and good health!
Thank you for the update. All the best to you.
Take care!
Tom, sending you healing vibes and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Wishing you a return to good health!
prayer sent up for complete healing!
I’m certainly no doctor, but I would think your healthy lifestyle all these years delayed
this cardiac event until now…and as you said….probably saved your life.
I’m glad to see you have your priorities straight….your health and well-being first!
Take care, Tom.
Hope things work out for you Tom. You couldn’t have done any more to protect yourself than you have.
I’m so glad you’re ok, Tom, and I hope you keep the wise words and great shots coming!
I’m just glad you’re still with us, Tom! Wishing you continued success on your recovery. ❤
It’s good that you see that maybe all your hard work to stay healthy still was beneficial, even if it didn’t prevent this particular event. Best wishes for your continuing recovery.
So good to hear you are progressing well Tom. Yes, it is a shock, and it never quite goes away, but you have already been doing all the right things and, I’m sure, the doctors will be giving you further advice.
Hope to see you back soon.
keep getting better & do not cut yourself off from the world best wishes from the UK.
A year ago I had two heart attacks, on the 4th and 10th. Sounds like your diet will help your recovery.
Good wishes and all best in your getting back to doing what you love…
Wishing you a speedy recovery and sorry to read about this. Take care.
I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling better, Tom! Take care.
I’m glad you are feeling better, Tom! Many hopes for a speedy recovery! (And what a wonderful bullfrog picture!)
At whatever frequency works, lots of us will be grateful for your images and bits of wisdom. Meanwhile, here’s to recuperating and shifting into new patterns.
Best wishes for recovery!
Gosh! You’re lucky to be alive! I hope you continue to improve and never face this again. It’s amazing how you do everything right and then suddenly face a heart attack. Just not fair! You must be very strong to survive this set back. My best to you?
Hello, Tom, sad for your ordeal, but you are with us and that’s the good news. I will pray for your successful recovery. I will miss your post and hope to see them when you feel like it. God bless you, sincerely, yourscribeforlove
Take care and look after yourself.
It would be a shock, when you go to such great lengths to be healthy. Wish you good health and recovery.
Tom – You’re in the thoughts and prayers of your blogging family while you rally back. It is the time of year to hunker down and stay inside looking out, so that will give you adequate time to rest and recuperate fully. Of course you were shocked since you take care of yourself – the rest of us better learn from your experience. Heal up. P.S. – Jeremiah is a handsome fellow.
Oh wow, thank you for the update. We need to enjoy every moment, and I hope you are doing just that. Take care, thoughts and prayers 🙏
Good news that you are on the mend, and still purposed.
Best wishes to you, Tom and thank you for all your contributions!
Get well soon Tom.
I’m so sorry to hear this. It must have been such a shock, when you live so healthily.
I hope you are regaining your strength each day. Get Well Soon. 🙂
Wishing oyu all the best for a speedy and complete recovery. xo
Hugs and prayers to you, Tom!
I’m glad you’re doing better. It’s scary to think you can adhere to such a healthy diet and still go through this. I really need to do better with my eating and I’m finally getting back to a structured exercise regimen. I pray one day soon we won’t have to worry about heart disease (Revelation 21:3,4) especially since heart disease and diabetes run in my family.
I just found your blog. Wonderful photos! I’m sorry to hear about your heart attack. I hope your recovery goes well. Best wishes.
Tom. Have not heard from you in a while and hoping that you are on the road to recovery. A couple of fellow bloggers have been wondering about you and mentioned it to me so I am taking a chance that you still check in now and again. Get well soon and start blogging..