General Discussion

But I needed ablation twice. I was put on a medicine called Amiodarone to keep out of AFIB. I needed surgery for a prolapse (giant babies). Doctor made me wait a year with no AFIB. So about 7 months ago things were going well. The doctor warned me about Amiodarone side effects but I had taken it for a long time, and I wanted that surgery. I was afraid I would go back into AFIB. Well I made a mistake. I went into Congestive heart failure due to the medicine...causes lung damage and blockages I was full of water, but, I carry it in my trunk- so not visible. I was out of breath too...had typical women symptoms back ache, a little tightness in chest...neck pain and occasional pain in my left arm...not really bad. I was sick to my stomach and had night sweats too. I was put in the hospital about three weeks ago the first time. I was in congestive heart failure...so sent home on meds (no Amiodarone this time). Although, It was a coincidence. I hade not been in danger of AFIB recently.

It turns out I was having multiple NSTEMI myocardial infarctions...this is a relatively mild heart attack. It didn't show up in the EKG. My symptoms were fleeting and I had recently been hospitalized so I didn't reach out to my Cardiologists. I started feeling worse and worse. Finally, on a really bad day nine days ago, my daughter made me go to the ER....likely saved my life. I am not sure I would have survived the night If I didn't go.

I was having non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) which s a type of heart attack caused by a partial blockage in a coronary artery, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. While it is less immediately dramatic than a STEMI, it is a serious condition that still requires urgent medical attention. My heart thankfully was undamaged. The blood was going to the brain instead of the heart (The body prioritizes the the brain).

The amiodarone was to blame. Testing showed this. My lungs were damaged so I take Jardiance, steroids...all sorts of things. The good news is the damage is temporary from this drug. The lungs will heal...It could take a a couple of months or a year. Ironically, I lost 20 lbs. in the hospital so my prolapse is much more manageable. I may not need the surgery. I don't need Lasik (water pills) anymore either...good thing I might have ended up on dialysis!

It has been a wild ride. And the worst thing is my doctor warned me but I convinced him to let me stay on Amiodarone until January when the surgery could be performed. I damn near died. always something.