Dave, I was a distance runner most of my life, ran into some problems at age 41. Finally had a bypass in 1995 (18 months after m.i. in hospital due to failed angioplasty , and cardiac arrest just before bypass) . In about 6 or 7 weeks (when surgeon said grafts would be healed), I took my family up to Montreal, where I jogged up Mt Royal (nice and easy) . I have slowed down quite a bit(age I guess), but I still run. I dream about doing speed work, which I haven't tried in a few years (except for softball), but I may try again soon. So there is athletic life after heart attack and bypass. I suggest you learn the risk factors for heart disease and make the changes you need to do in order to prevent a recurrence. The mental aspects, as you point out , can be the biggest hurdle. We are forced to face our mortality in a big way. Other deficits can arise from the surgery as well. But we all keep on pluggin' and try our best to make as full a recovery as possible. Regards, Harold