Starting to freak out! Heart issues and surgery coming...

About 5 years ago while donating plasma, my pulse is irregular. It occurred too often so I was deferred until I got the okay from a doctor.  Fast-forward to a year ago, a ton of tests determine I have a portion of my heart working at <40%, and another part is enlarged. I'm put on medication that made me sick, but took it anyway. Had to change doctors for insurance. New cardiologist (love him) enlists an electorphysiologist to help figure this out. (footnote: grandparents had 7 heart attacks, 2 cousins my same age recently had heart attacks; 1 died 4 wks later of a stroke) Now, after many tests, monitoring devices, I'm having surgery February 6th. It's kind of a "look and see what's happening inside" thing, but could result in a pacemaker. My concerns are: I'm 42 and in great health otherwise. I'm going to be awake for this 1-6 hour surgery. I love to run and don't want this to end my goal of a marathon.  I am completely confident in my doctors. They rock! Just dealing with the heart thing is getting to me. I have too many heart issues in my family and I don't want to ignore it, but also am afraid that I might make things worse. So all this worrying is screwing me up. I eat, I don't eat. I sleep, I don't sleep. I work out and work out and work out, but can't get out of my own head! Tell me to get a grip or something!! I deal with other people's issues much better than my own.

Get a grip!  Just kidding.  I guess my only advise is you sound like a strong girl who can and will handle this and sounds like you are in capable hands.  You went through weight loss surgery and you can get through this too.  Maybe try to find as much information on your condition as possible. At least they found this and you have a chance for them to help you.  Good thing you are not carrying all that extra weight anymore, one would think that has and will help your  ticker in this rough situation. 
 

I can tell you this. My uncle was the same age you are with a pacemaker... he is still able to work out and do all the same things he loves... just without any heart episoids! Hope for the best!

Good Luck.

Sara

I certainly will keep you in my prayers.

The only suggestion I could give you is that there is no need to worry about something that you can not change.  You have a body that you have worked hard to take ownership of through your hard work and investment.  Taking weight off is something that you and medical science did together.

Just like with your weight, you and medical science will work together to oversome this issue.  Think positive thoughts (always hard, but try).  Each of us are born with a plan that we discover more of as each day passes.

Also, do not dwell on your genetics.  Find a thought that makes you smile and when you find yourself worrying, replace it with happy thoughts!