I come from a long line of short-lived people. So when my heart started demanding attention five years ago, I listened. My cardiologist had them fish a camera up inside me and do a heart-selfie (angiogram). Result? Like me, it tends to get overemotional. So they gave it some pills. Which made it happy for a while. But now it’s behaving downright tacky (tachycardia), doing syncopated solos when it should be keeping time for the rest of my body. So today, as you read this, they’re doing another photo shoot of the little diva.
All of which puts me in a pretty introspective mood (blame my self-centered heart). Because, even if I beat the genetic odds and have lots of time left on my lease … I don’t want to waste one minute of it trying to succeed at things that don’t really matter.
~Mitch
I hear you things like that can be scary. I ask the Lord to give me health and strength to get through each and every day.So far like the Energizer Bunny I keep on ticking and I take no medications. I wish all the best for you,
Praying for you! (Along with another online author friend whose wife is going through heart tests, second day of testing, more symptoms.)
Wishing you all the best, Mitch.
Holding your heart (and you) in prayer, my friend.
Thanks, Mitch. ‘Trying to succeed at things that don’t really matter’ is a good challenge for all of us – whatever the state of our healt!
Praying for you.
I will say a prayer for you, Mitch! I’m glad you are getting the care you need and you’re aware that you should keep up with the care for your heart.
“Because, even if I beat the genetic odds and have lots of time left on my lease … I don’t want to waste one minute of it trying to succeed at things that don’t really matter.”
🙏🏾💙
I hope it goes well for you. My dad used to always say let your (body part) take care of itself and you take care of yourself. I think he would agree with your post!
I hear you! Hoping all turns out well with your heart and that you have the best cardiologist in your city. (I do)
Although my heart is doing very well, the cardiologist insisted on one more scan, that I had to pay for because the insurance was quite happy with what the first one found–nothing. This time a wee bit of plaque was found passing through the valves. Wouldn’t have shown up on a normal heart scan, but this microscopic scan showed it and the result, in years to come, had it not been found, would have been a serious heart episode.
All of my doctors know, keep me well and functioning well because I love my life and I have a lot to do.
Prayers your way, Mitch! If it is any consolation, I am scheduled for the same thing – plus a pacemaker – next Wednesday.
The beat goes on (hopefully).
Hearts get a lot of care these days. My maternal grandfather dropped dead at 56, too early for me to know him, and so did his brothers. The women in the family seemed to be fine. Way back, he would not have known about healthy living, though he was an abstemious sort of person and I nobody went for tests or had stents and sophisticated medication.
Someone with a weak heart would probably sit around quietly with a blanket over their knee. But how long is or should be a life? We all have to accept what we have been allotted and make the most of it.
Sometimes our hearts get so full they need attention more than those we love and care for. I am guilty of not taking care of myself, because there are so many loved ones going through one thing or another. May God watch over you and give you more years of sharing with others. You are a master at it.
Prayers always, Mitch, although some extra ones. Also for dear Trudy; I remember remember how hard it was to wait while Doug had his angio! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Amazing!
Mitch
I think this will work out ok for you. Medicine has learned to deal pretty well with our more mechanical parts. Good luck , young man! Brad
Thank you, Brad!
Praying that they can take care of your heart and all will be well. I understand its a lot to deal with. Its been 4 weeks since my heart surgery. I am recuperating well! I hope there is an easier solution for your heart and no surgery involved. 🙏
I’m so glad your recovery is going well, Carolyn! In my case, I think they might end up doing an oblation, a sort of electrical reset to get my heart rhythm back on time.
Thanks! Wishing you well! I know someone who just had that done and had good results with it. Getting older is so much fun, isn’t it. LOL!
<3
A ring akin to two tuning forks humming an A with only one of them being struck. My heart stopped while I was driving a trailer load of lumber home. I woke up with my foot on the brake and the truck still running on the shoulder, parked. In gear.
My pacemaker was replaced last year (battery) The surgeon said I was dead after the truck driving incident. About a minute or less. It seems we have something we both still need to do Mitch. Maybe a lot of somethings..
Wow! That is one powerful bit of testimony, my friend!
We share a lifelong heart condition, as well as the sensitivity which contributes to it, and to which it contributes ~ also the urge to make our time here count for something good (In my case, it seems my society would rather pay me to be useless, and then despise me for it, but I digress). That urge itself can tend us to overachievement, adding to the whole cycle! Remember to take time out to just enjoy, my friend.
Dear Ana, wow, it seems we do indeed share many heart-traits, both physically and figuratively. Blessings, my friend.
It’ll make you feel good to know it makes me feel good to hear it!
I don’t know what your doctors are recommending, but Propranolol is a $20/month prescription, and I do believe, over these last years of extreme stress, I owe it my life.
Have a lovely day, my friend.
I’m on another drug in the same beta blocker class, Ana. It’s called metoprolol.
👍
🙏
Thank you, Sara.
May God keep the Mitch Magic alive and well for many years to come. God bless!
Bless you, dear friend. And may the Nancy-vision thrive for years to nome as well!
🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻
Thank you, Pauline.
Praying for you that you have a positive outcome. We need more stories! 🙂 <3
Dear Sandy, thank you for your self-serving prayers! ;>) I’ll keep the stories coming.
Praying for you, Mitch. I manage my SVT fairly well. I pray your arrhythmia can be managed too. But if not, there’s a lot that can be done to improve your ticker. May God bless you with an accurate diagnosis and a wise treatment plan.
Dear Eric, thank you for the encouraging words, my fellow tachy-hearted friend. And may God bless you as well.
Praying for you, Trudy, and all the medical personnel that you encounter. May the Lord grant them wisdom and guide their hands to be an extension of His acting in accordance with the Father’s will.
Thank you so much, dear Manette.
Mitch, It’s Paula. Sending you loving thoughts, reassurance, resilience, and heartfelt best wishes for your recovery and renewed health. You are doing such good things in the world, and you have long been a star in my firmament.
Dear Paula, I’m so happy to hear from you again, and so grateful for your kind and loving words. Please know that all of them and more describe my thoughts and prayers toward you.
Praying for you Mitch.
Thank you, Anonymous.
I’m sorry you have to deal with the unsettling news about the function of your heart. I’ll include you in my prayers with my other blogger friends who have made their health issues known. God bless you, Mitch,
Thank you so much, Nancy.
I hope you get this resolved soon!
Thanks, Carol!
My Dad passed away at just a few months older than I am now, from complications of Parkinson’s. No Parkinson’s evident yet in me, but I have had six strokes more that he had (0). He called anything over 70 “years of grace” because of what Moses said in Psalm 90. Two weeks before he left for Heaven, we discussed this at length and someday soon I hope to publish the song I wrote from our conversation.
❤️&🙏, c.a.
What a beautiful testimony this is, to both you and your dad, CA.
Mitch, I’m praying for your heart ♥️. The Francis Chan (love him!) quote is perfect. I understand, dear friend. I’ve been MIA because my Dad was in the hospital with his heart for 12 days. I say that only to say, I understand. You give us great wisdom~ even in the midst of your tests. Many prayers!!! ♥️🙏🏻
Likewise, dear friend!! <3
I hope the docs are able to regulate your heart in short order.
Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Mitch.
May the Lord’s hand of care and protection be over you Mitch
Thank you so much, Manu.
I pray all goes well for you!!
Thank you, RF!
Sending you healing light and know God wants you around to inspire us for a LONG time to come!
Aw, thank you, Caroll.
Take care of yourself.. I’m sure everything will be alright and you will live a healthy life for many a long years.. sending you healing love ❤️
Thanks and blessings, UD,
I’m keeping you in prayers, Mitch. As someone who has weathered severe health challenges, 3 cardiac arrests, cancer diagnosis which God changed after faith and prayers, all sorts. The Lord will see you through in Jesus name. Amen. That little diva in your chest still has more work to do. However, you’re right. Life’s too short to waste it on non-issues. Take care of yourself.💖🙏🙏
Thank you so much for your wisdom and prayers, my Anonymous friend.
You’re most welcome, Mitch! I wish you a strong and healthy heart. 🙏
Love, hope, and prayers for you, Brother Mitch! ~Ed.
Thank you so much, Ed!
🙏🏻🙏🏻 My mother had 2 valves replaced, her arteries roto-rootered, and several stents placed along with an aneurysm repair… it is amazing what modern medicine can do! We joked that she had a bionic heart! I’ll add you to my prayers!
Thank you, Muri!
Amen. Take care.
Thank you, Christopher.
Prayers for you, Mitch, that God watches over you and healing begins.
Thank you. <3
Love you, Mitch. You’re in my prayers and I truly hope that all goes well.
Thanks, brother!
Wishing you lots of wellness and longevity. The heart guys can work wonders these days.
Thanks, Jim.
Thank you, Jim.
Praying for God to guide those who are caring for you, and for God’s peace to sustain you.
Thank you so much, Shirley.
Well said Mitch! AS my friend Jim always reminded me of Rule 69 – don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s all small stuff.
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If success isn’t enough, it might mean we need to rethink what success really means. Often, we focus on external things like money or fame, thinking they’ll bring happiness. But true fulfillment often comes from finding purpose, growing as a person, and connecting with others. Success is temporary, but living a meaningful life brings lasting satisfaction.
I couldn’t agree more, Eric.
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