Before CHF

I am really excited to find this wonderful place to learn more about my heart. I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and never knew my paternal grandfather since he had passed away with heart problems. My own father passed away from similar problems before any of his grandchildren could know him either. Now, at age 57, I learn that I also have a bad heart.
     I started out my adult life as a teacher and then went on to Bible College to prepare for ministry. It was there that I met my wife who had come from South Africa with similar goals in mind. After graduation and further preparation, we spent a year in Switzerland studying French and then 7 years in an isolated corner of Zaire. Our first child was born just 3 months before we left Canada. She has Downs' Syndrome and is our PR department! Our second daughter was born in South Africa while we were waiting out some political disruptions in Uganda. Our youngest, a son, was born right in his own bedroom in Zaire. In 1980 we were asked to join the home staff of our mission and have been back in Canada ever since, although we would rather be in Africa.

My CHF

For several years I have noticed that my physical endurance has not been up to par. When I walked or exercised too hard, I would develop pain in my right arm. Three years ago I began taking glyconutrients and noticed a distinct improvement in my overall health. In December of 1998 my wife and I came back from a week in Mexico and curled with our son-in-law and our daughter that same evening. I got out of breath very quickly but played on. The next morning I developed a cough which I thought might be a result of a lung infection picked up in Mexico. I increased my glyconutrients and the cough subsided.
     In April I flew to Kenya with a friend and drove on to Tanzania the very same day. That night I slept on the floor without a mosquito net. Exactly 7 days later, I came down with malaria. I never did have much resistance to malaria. When I was getting a smear to see if I really did have malaria, the doctor checked my chest because I had a cough; Dar es Salaam pollution was my guess. An EKG revealed that I had left bundle branch block and after an echocardiogram, the doctor said I should head back to Canada.
     I think the malaria was history before I even arrived home, but my health didn't improve. I couldn't sleep very well because I would wake up gasping for air. After 3 weeks of gradual decline, I e-mailed my doctor and told him of my situation. I was hospitalized that same day with an EF of 18%. I was getting Lasix and some other drugs so thought I should back off on my glyconutrients. I immediately began to develop a fever. A small lesion was discovered on my body and the conclusion was that I had tick fever. I was put on doxycycline and I started my glyconutrients again. The fever subsided.
     A recent MUGA puts my EF presently at 20%, though it did get as high as 24% last August. I thank God I am still able to do my work as a representative for AIM here in Saskatchewan, although the mission is looking at giving me more responsibilities in the areas of publishing, graphic arts and web design. Our 2 youngest children are married to wonderful spouses and are serving the Lord in their respective careers. We have much for which to be thankful!

My Meds

Aubrey -- April 12, 2000

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.