That was my first visit to a doctor since 1970. Given I was 72, the staff there was somewhat incredulous I had no prescriptions or other restrictions. It turned out I had a-fib, atrial fibrillation; an arrhythmia that causes the heart to off and on to race. There was also systolic heart failure. Was a bit shocked at the severity of my condition. And more bad news: my heart needed repair with two stints.

At some point, the question came up about about a Living Will and my wishes for the extent of treatment. I did not hesitate to say DNR, "Do Not Resuscitate." When they asked if I would agree to the stints, it took me a few hours to decide. I had basically done this to myself with my lifestyle. Should I just let consequences, nature, take its just cause? Or was that more like suicide? I took the stints. It seemed okay to prolong my life with that procedure. But I regretted it later, as well as accepting drugs to help manage my condition. Yet I take my meds dutifully everyday. Not so easy to allow death, no matter one's convictions.

My only point here is for all to give long and serious thought to end of life choices. It is a week now from my diagnosis. My prognosis is fairly decent. The stints have approved the functioning of my heart. The meds are allowing me the chance to end the a-fib in a month through two methods. Exercise and diet will help, but I always said I would never alter wh**ever-I-want-to-eat menu. That is cruel. So I still eat wh**ever. (Love steak fat and all other fat, and salt, and sugar.) My Cardiologist says if all goes well I could have another ten healthy years. Should I bother? The end will come, why not just let it come?