Length of this trip

I was recently asked by a friend of mine how long I have been on this journey, and I realize I have not written on that topic, short of anniversary posts. This story was originally too long and boring, so I have shortened it.

Part One

In February, 2002, I started getting some strange symptoms of an aching in my chest. My doctor has done a full physical and treadmill on me less that 9 months before and my heart was perfect then, so he told me I was working too hard and to take some aspirin.

The next marker I noticed was when I was on vacation in July of 2002. I went out to run on the beach and noticed that I had no wind, and my heart was beating abnormally hard after just a short while.

In February of 2003, I went back to my regular internist because I continued to feel lousy. This time my internist did an EKG and read the results. He came back into the room and said, “Mr. Connelly I have having my nurse drive you to the hospital right now, and I have scheduled emergency surgery for tomorrow morning for you to receive a pacemaker.” At that point, my life was changed forever.

That night, alone in bed in the hospital the night before my surgery, I made my peace with God and prepared myself in case of death. Ever since that moment, I have not been the same person. I had let go of my fear of death.

More trouble with travel than before

Even though my last post said I was starting to work out again, the last two weeks have not been good.  I have had an large increase in my old fatigue issues, and a new issue, nausea.

Because I have struggled so much in last two business trips I have been wondering how long I can continue to travel like this or even work.  I guess I should still feel lucky, as I am now 4 years into my heart failure diagnosis.

Now a new research study has just been published stating that an ICD shock event foretells a much closer death possibility.  Apparently the article was publiched in the Sept. 4, 2008 version of the New England Journal of Medicine.   A news link is here: http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/6901/

I understand all the caveats that every case is different, but i must admit the way this year has gone for my case it is not a happy piece of news.  

Sorry that this post is not very uplifting.