Years ago, I began to experience degradation of my heart function. I developed a left bundle branch block in my early 50’s. A few years later, my heart developed a pronounced arrhythmia, i.e. irregular beat. Also, around this time, my left ventricular ejection fraction was measured at 50%, which is the lower limit of normal according to the Mayo Clinic. Then within a couple more years, I developed atrial fibrillation, often called AFIB. During this entire period, I continued to be an avid runner (transitioning to jogger at that point). And during my runs, I experienced angina, numbness and tingling of my left hand and increased fatigue, which I tried to ignore. I was really fit, right? But I slowly came around to the reality of my fading heart health and started eating better and taking fish oil. I thank God for my wife Lois, who started researching what makes a heart-healthy diet and preparing me healthier meals, which of course I resisted because I liked the unhealthy stuff better. But she persisted and, over time, helped me stabilize and eventually improve. Over time, the angina went away, my energy level improved and I have continued to feel good ever since, i.e. for the last more-than-ten years.
Then, when we moved from Alabama to Georgia in 2018, I began to see a new cardiologist. Since then, I have seen three different cardiologists plus a cardiology nurse practitioner (NP). During that time, due to the NPs concern, her supervising cardiologist ordered various tests and concluded I was in heart failure, with an ejection fraction of 40 to 45%. This “you have one foot in the grave” attitude about my heart continued after I changed cardiologists. Frankly I became somewhat depressed about my condition. And one of the reasons I felt down about all of this was my feeling that God had reneged on a promise he made me.
You see, I have never heard God speak to me audibly. But very occasionally I will sense something He is communicating to me. The other way he has communicated with me is through very coincidental repetitions of scripture passages. In one of the most notable instances about 15 to 20 years ago, He communicated to me that He would renew my youth and strength! Pretty crazy proposition for a guy now in his 70s! And it was looking very doubtful when all of my medical care providers (including even my colonoscopy anesthesiologist!) were frequently reminding me that I was “in heart failure.”
So, fast-forward to my cardiology appointment last month. The nurse who greeted me, weighed me, took my vitals and asked the usual questions was upbeat and told me I wouldn’t need an EKG that day. Then, my cardiologist seemed rather upbeat as well, asking a number of the usual questions about how I felt. However, this time, when my responses reflected the fact that I felt good, he didn’t seem skeptical. He concluded by telling me things were looking good and he would see me back in six months. Then, just before leaving the room he almost casually mentioned that my latest TEE (echogram) indicated that my ejection fraction was now normal! I walked out in mild shock. And as I began to process what had just happened, I began to praise God!
So, my current health situation is this: I still have pronounced arrhythmia, which health professionals almost always interpret as meaning my AFIB is severe. But in reality, I never experience palpitations or any of the symptoms of AFIB. Also, what many healthcare people are not aware of is that arrhythmia can be hereditary rather than caused by functional defect, and therefore not necessarily an indication of severe AFIB. I had a great aunt who had pronounced arrhythmia, yet lived to within a few months of 100! I have enough energy to play 4-hour music gigs and bounce on the trampoline with my granddaughters. So, has the Lord renewed my youth? I think so and I praise him for it!
Cogitation Stew 