At my last visit to my Cardio Electrician he saw that my recent echo cardiogram showed an exit volume of 40%, the bottom edge of normal. He decided I would be perfect for a new clinical trial for a new enzyme expected to strengthen hearts. He said, "If we can get it up just a few more %, we can cancel all your (very expensive) medications".

So they sent me the 21 page contract for the study. I signed the contract (it allows leaving the study at any time without restriction). It is a "double blind" study and I had a 33% chance of being in the placebo group. It goes on for a year, and total pay is only $1500, a bit low in my opinion, and deduct up to $44 for parking.

My echo cardiogram that came up with 40% was the standard one. They called me in for a much more complex echo. It came out a little above 40%, which they would rather not have. They called me in for another echo, which came in just below 40%. This made them happier.

There will be 4 "dosage" appointments and 10 follow-up appointments (4 by phone). Today was the first "dosage" appointment - 6 hours. First they did an electrocardiogram, then attached IV nozzles to both my arms. Then they used one of them to take 7 or 8 vials of blood. This was followed during they day by 2 to 3 (I forgot to count) 2-vial draws and one final 1-vial draw. Also a urine sample.

There was an echo before the medication, a 1 hour IV drip, and an echo after, accompanied by at least a half dozen measurements of blood pressure, pulse rate,
and two more electrocardiograms.

I may not be in the placebo group, as this afternoon my blood pressure seems a bit low for this time of day and my pulse faster, but it will take more observation to be more certain.

I go in for a follow-up exam tomorrow, then only a phone call until another "dosage" event September 4.

This enzyme has been tested successfully on rats, so it should work on humans, who are quite similar.

That is certainly something I have considered. It will take careful monitoring over a few days to tell. The clinic staff, from Doctor Giesler, the program administrator, on down don't know if I am in the placebo group or not. They are only allowed to find out if there is a serious emergency.

Trained athletes can have heart beat of 40, but I ain't one of those, and nor are you. I was getting down to the high 40s with long rest. The cardiologists were concerned, and cut my amiodarone dosage in half. Have only seen 48 twice since then. Surprisingly, the second time was during clinic testing on Wednesday, but the rest of the day it was in the 60s.

I hope you can avoid the pacemaker.

I'll have liver for supper tonight to help restore the blood supply, after 20 or more vials extracted in the last two days.