As I started this email train, I thought I would bring it up to date for those who are interested. I’m still tired most of the time but perhaps less so than when I first wrote.

Yesterday I had an initial appointment with our local Cardiac Function Lab run by a cardiologist and staffed with four nurse practitioners. They took my pulse, blood pressure, electro-cardio gram, blood work and gave me some advice clarifying where I was in the process of assessment and treatment. This was all very helpful and enlightening. Drug therapy first, an angiogram in three weeks then perhaps ablation.

Today, I received a call from a nurse practitioner saying my bloodwork looked good (electrolytes and kidney function) and am now being prescribed Sporonal Acetate (sp?) to help strengthen the heart muscle and Furosemide to help reduce the amount of water I am retaining and help me with my weight and breathing (take it in the morning because it will make me pee a lot and stop it if I feel dizzy).

I have been referred to the Pulmonary Lab to have my lungs checked out as I worked in the construction industry and may have been exposed to asbestos in the past. I have been experiencing difficulty with breathing.

I am to receive a call from the Lab soon to help set my iPhone 9 up with a program called Aetonix that will allow me to send my vitals to the lab digitally. I have an Apple 9 pro and recently purchased a blood pressure cuff that also tells me if I am in AFIB.

I am halfway through the AFIB Cure by John Day MD and trying to follow dietary recommendations. It is a very thorough book..

So all this information is offered simply to tell my story. I would love to hear how others are doing.