In July of 1998, I had to undergo a procedure for my heart called an Electrophysiology Study. This procedure is the most accurate way to pinpoint the cause of your broken heart. It allows a specially trained cardiology doctor to examine the electrical activity inside your heart and determine exactly why it is abnormal. Once that is known, your doctor can prescribe the most effective treatment.

During the Study, catheters are inserted into the heart to measure electrical activity by recording an internal electrocardiogram and create your arrhythmia, so that it can be evaluated under controlled conditions. The catheter is a long, very thin tube that fits easily inside a major blood vessel. It enters the body through an artery or vein in the groin, and then the tip of the catheter is moved into the heart where it records and stimulates electrical activity.

Due to the fact that this operation is performed on the heart – there is a significant risk of death involved. According to statistics – this procedure is fatal once every five thousand patients Although I was aware of the potential risks, I realized that it was necessary to go through with the procedure because it is very important that the reason for my physically broken heart is discovered. So as nervous and afraid of dying as I was – I went under the knife.

Considering the fact that I am writing this column – I made it – sort of. In actuality, I am obviously alive – but I did not live through the procedure. During the procedure, my heart started to beat so fast that they had to defibrillate me – twice. Once when my heart hit three hundred beats a minute, and once when it hit two hundred and forty beats a minute. So yes, I made it through the procedure and lived – but to this day I still have a blast scar on my back.

So you can see why I was terrified when I learned that I had to have this procedure, because I knew going in that there was a risk of death – and that risk was justified not once, but twice.

So how do you think I feel today when I found out that I have to have it again in two weeks?

If I was nervous that I had to have this procedure in 1998 because I had a fear of complications – how do you think I feel now that I have to have it again knowing that the last time I had this operation – the fear of serious complications became a reality?

But like last time, I realize that this procedure will – hopefully – bring me the answers as to why I have this problem with my heart. You see, no matter my lifestyle, behavior – or my hobbies or habits – this was a pre-existing condition that I have had all my life. The problem is that the only known reason for this condition is that my father had it. So it is my hope that in having this procedure, the answer for my heart condition will be found.

Let’s just hope that this time it won’t cost me a life or two.