Ablation at Mass General Hospital, Boston

[MartinKennedy]

:shock: Looks like I am going for ablation in the next month or so...I am 51 and while I was given a choice of either...there is a history of malignant hypothermia in my family (mortal reaction to some general anesthesia) and I have sleep apnea so I think that being awake for a less intrusive procedure will work. I am really just adjusting to the fact that my HCM has worsened so quickly but thank my Higher Power that I am sane, sober and relatively strong.

I like the reference to having a strong heart. My friends joke that they knew I had a big heart but this is getting a bit carried away!

Anyone feel like extreme trauma and stress contributes to HCM worsening? I went through a very bad couple of years from 2001 to now: death of friends, reoccurance of traumatic experience and lots of emotional baggage. I also went into AA and that stirred up a lot of anxiety too.

I feel like I have aged about fifteen years in the last two and just am concerend that I put too much of a burden on my heart, I am the kind that internalizes a lot of things and feel stress in side my body.

Am doing much better now with sobriety and proper medication for anxiety.

How about sleep apnea? anyone have that too?

Marty

[Glen Beamish]

Hi Marty, sounds like you've had a lot on your plate over the last 2 years, but you have taken a lot of positive steps in the right direction.
Good luck and keep walking forward.

[Lisa Salberg]

This may sound simplistic...but You should be proud of yourself! YOu are facing some very difficult issues and AA is a wonderful step to having a healthy life!!
Take your time working through each issue...Yes I do think that stress is a factor at making symptoms worse although not many pieces of data can back that up... We see it often at the HCMA.

Stay on the path to good health...and pat yourself on the back... you have earned it.

Be well,
Lisa

[mtlieb]

Martin,

I was recently diagnosed with HCM as well, and i too am going to AA for my alcohol addiction. I feel like i am forty years old, going on seventy. Hang in there, bud. Nobody ever told me that life was going to be a hayride... but i didn't realize i was going to be runover by the damn wagon! It gets better, or so i'm told. At least take comfort in the fact that there is another out here dealing with the exact same issues :)

Take care,

Jim