I was diagnosed with Heart Disease in the early part of 2016. I had severe heart palpitations one morning as I was preparing to attend my uncle’s funeral.

I made an emergency appointment with my Cardiologist, and the palpitations were more muscular when I got to his office. The thumping in my chest was so strong that I dropped down in the first chair in the office.

I had an EKG when I got into the examination room. Even though my father had a heart issue, I never thought he passed it on to me; but once, in my Cardiologist’s office, he informed me that my EKG was abnormal.

At the time, he couldn’t be more definite, but he gave me lab slips, set me up for a stress test, and prescribed Beta-blockers. ( Beta-blockers are a class of drugs used to manage cardiac arrhythmia and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack). (Wikipedia)

A week later, when I returned for the stress test, the palpitations were still there but not as strong. (A cardiac stress test is done with heart stimulation, either by exercise on a treadmill, pedaling a stationary exercise bicycle ergometer, or intravenous pharmacological stimulation, with the patient connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG). (Wikipedia)

I had an Intravenous pharmacological stimulation stress test. I knew this test was necessary, but it was extremely painful, as well. I hoped never to have that test done again.

A few days later, I was back in the doctor’s office and informed that the stress test showed Inferno- apical ischemia.  (decrease blood flow within the heart muscle due to a blockage).

I was worried after this appointment; I had to have cardiac catheterization ( a medical procedure used to diagnose or treat some heart conditions). My Cardiologist increased my beta-blockers and prescribed medication for my cholesterol. He suggested a low-carb diet, and I was informed that I needed to lose weight of course (which I did), I needed to decrease the stress in my life, really?!

Part two soon…..