Well, over the past couple of years I have been trying to lead a more active lifestyle and take a more proactive approach to my longterm health. With dear and close-to-home health issues within my direct family (some of which are proven to be hereditary), I took the initiative to drop the weight and get back into a healthy range and lifestyle.

Of course, now that I am in my 30’s (31 as of last Sunday), my GP wants me in for my “man exam” every couple of years (yes boys… its time to bend over and cough).

With this impending visit a couple of weeks ago, I planned to address several things that were on my mind including a renewed Percocet prescription (stop stealing my happy pills Hank, geesh!), the obvious man exam and this irregular heartbeat that’s plagued me ever since highschool. Since this visit, the latter of my three reasons to see my GP has swarmed into an uncontrollable nightmare and something I always hoped I’d never be threatened with - a heart problem!

Diagnosis: Atrial Fibrillation (what is it?)
Prescribed Meds: Warfarin, 5mg daily (w/repeat INR bloodwork)

Generally I don’t get stressed about too much (other than $$$). My daily routine includes running one business, owning and running another (and all the stress/decision making associated with 14-16hr days), developing a personal relationship and generally just living my life like most others would. This new element, for which I can’t just shrug away, has come into my life when I figured there was no more room for further drama or concern… yeehaw!

There has been testing-a-plenty, including multiple INR blood tests per week, ECG’s from hell, an echocardiogram, exercise stress test, daily BP monitoring, holter monitoring and more (see fig’s 1 through 6 below):

I just wanted to tell everyone that has expressed concern — thank you. I appreciate it more than you know and more than I may express.

I have been told as of late that I am distant, not as outgoing or jovious. All I can say is that this has been on my mind, and for that I am sorry I am not my usual self. I didn’t realize my outward personality had been affected.

Jug

P.S. Maybe it should be called Miller’s Law… not Murphy’s.