Christmas 2018 - 2023

On December 23rd, 2018, I woke up and felt bad. I was having trouble breathing, my stomach was bloated, and I was a little dizzy. As I sat on the front porch a few hours after getting up, my breathing was very shallow, and I felt very poorly.

My wife rushed me to the ER where I was diagnosed with heart failure. It was determined my ejection fraction was 28, and the doctors placed a defibrillator/pacemaker.

Clinical trial participation

Several months later I was asked if I would agree to be in a national FDA study to approve a new device for heart failure treatment. I agreed, and a test device called an "optimizer" was placed in my chest on the right side.

During the latest exam in November 2023, my ejection fraction tested at 41 for the second year. I am currently part of a new FDA, 2 year study regarding a new designed "watchman" device.

How I'm doing now

How am I doing? Well, I am 78 years old. I certainly can't do the things I did six years ago or two years ago, or even one year ago. My walking ability is getting more restricted and breathing is getting more labored. I am having abdominal swelling, and I can't sleep on my back. I am doing great, considering!

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