Hi! I found out about one year ago that I had a one inch hole in my heart. In fact, I was always very active a runner. I just happened to wake up in atrial fibrillation one night. I was alone at the time and I really did not know what was happening to me!! I thought I was just getting sick with the flu or something. My husband, who is a firefighter with 10 year paramedic background, came home from work in the morning and took me right to the hospital as he knew I was in a arrhythmia. That was it!! I had to be paddled out of the atrial fib because I was not coming out of it as they waited 24 hours to see. Well, three days in the hospital and tests proved I had a hole in the atrial septum that needed closing.

I had the hole closed using the Amplatzer occluder. It was a scary experience as I know one cannot understand unless you've been there. I still have a lot of irregular heartbeats and am still on sotalol but I work and continue my life and know I am lucky but still live with slight fear. Thanks for listening as I know you understand because the general public and family members just think you have been repaired they just do not understand the trauma we have been through!!!!