seven years ago I first experienced Afib

A sudden rapid heartbeat woke me at 3am from a deep sleep,

no warning, no preface,

just the violent knocking inside my chest

as if someone had broken into my body in the night

I was tossed into a frightening tachycardia prison,

dazed and confused,

with no explanation why

there were hospitals, doctors, tests and examinations.

bright lights, cool hands, monitors blinking in coded language

the first episode lasted twenty-four hours

an entire day measured in racing pulses

after that, it came back at random times,

an uninvited warden with a master key

I took medication each time it flared up,

and within a few hours relief would arrive,

quietly unlocking the cell

my cardiologist is a great detective,

sifting through evidence and clues,

piecing together the pattern of my captivity

he helped uncover the lifestyle triggers

that threw me into the Afib jail:

dehydration,

caffeine,

alcohol

I learned to avoid their bad company

I passed them by like known criminals on a corner

my Afib jail time became much less frequent

the pill in my pocket became the lawyer

springing me out on bail

I could live a normal life

with that small tablet resting near my hip,

a quiet reassurance against my side

then, lest week, I was suddenly slung back into the Afib jail

wrongful arrest, I cried,

knowing none of my triggers had been around

calmly, I reached for the magic pill in my pocket.

I waited and waited and waited…….

as my heart beat incredibly fast,

like a trapped bird battering its cage

many hours passed

more intense and longer than usual

the pill had lost its magic, Mr Afib was running amok inside me

a hospital visit ensued

doctors, nurses, tests and I was admitted for observation

I lay in a hospital bed, motionless for long days and nights,

imprisoned within another prison,

walls outside and walls within

eventually they found a way to lower my heart rate with more medication

I was still in the Afib jail

but released from the hospital on bail

Afib took over my life

sleep became fragile and unreliable

exertion was impossible

relaxation unreachable

there was nowhere to escape

the new medication made me very tired

I became a couch dweller,

impatiently waiting for relief

more long days passed,

trying to live a normal life

while my heart fluttered and skipped,

every movement felt negotiated

with the erratic rhythm inside me

I prayed for relief, searched the internet for remedies, hoping my cardiologist would find a cure

The drums in my chest beat out a crazy tune 24/7

After seven days it abruptly stopped

no ceremony

no warning

no explanation

Mr Afib had left without saying goodbye

or leaving a note

Perhaps it was Mr Afib that was in jail,

locked inside his cardiac cell,

banging on the walls of my heart

demanding his release from me

Somebody sprung him free last night. 

he roams  elsewhere now,

looking for trouble in other places

I suspect he will be back sometime

next week I will see my cardiologist

I hope his detective skills are still sharp

we must work together to tame the beast

and keep me outside the tall walls of the Afib prison

In the meantime,

I am basking in the morning glory

of waking up without the pounding in my chest

My heart is bruised but not battered

Prayers have been answered

Normal service has been restored

Life is sweet

with a normal heartbeat