Ep 13: Battle of Heart Disease: Overcoming Obstacles with Armin MuzafirovicAgainst all odds, Armin refused to let his diagnosis define him. But a ski trip to Colorado brought an unexpected twist, changing everything he thought he knew about his condition. What happened next was an ongoing battle, and Armin's incredible resilience kept him fighting every step of the way.“In life, not everything is perfect, and sometimes we have obstacles that come our way...But being that rebellion that I was at 16, I didn't want to listen to healthcare providers. But as you physically see how your body is on the inside, when I saw my heart compared to a normal 17-year-old, I knew at that point that this is really serious.” - Armin.Bouba sits down with his guest Armin Muzafirovic to talk about the ups and downs of his heart journey. Armin has navigated the challenges of living with heart disease since his mid-teens. His journey began with a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, followed by discovering his heart condition. Despite these setbacks, Armin has remained determined to live life to the fullest, continuously seeking activities that push the boundaries of his physical capabilities. Armin's story offers a unique perspective on the impact of heart disease on daily life and how he has adapted to his new reality.In this episode, learn more about:The complex world of heart transplant surgeries and the road to recovery.Uncover the crucial role of a support system in managing heart disease and treatment.Third, empower yourself as a patient advocate to take charge of your own heart health journey.Finally, understand the urgent need for organ donors and increase awareness about heart transplantation.Find out more about Armin here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armin.muza/More from Living with Heart Disease:Episode 5 - Life with an LVAD while waiting for a heart transplantConnect with me: Instagram: livingwithheartdisease.podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartofagiant.foundationYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartofagiantTwitter: https://twitter.com/LWHDpodcastCatch the bonus content on our Youtube channel.https://www.youtube.com/@heartofagiantDid you enjoy this episode? A free way to support our show is by leaving it a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover the Living with Heart Disease podcast. Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-10-inspiring-journey-from-heart-failure-to/id1567454596?i=1000608329515Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4aJeFMvnXyazgGuhR8A4Xs?si=6d9f19949f514714&nd=1Chapter Summaries:[00:00:00] - Introduction,Bouba introduces the podcast and guest, Armin, a heart transplant recipient, and sets. The goal of the conversation is to understand a patient's perspective on living with heart disease.[00:03:13] - Initial Diagnosis,Armin discusses being diagnosed with heart failure in his mid to late teens, despite feeling healthy and athletic, and how it affected him and his plans for the future.[00:06:23] - Ski Trip Incident,Armin recounts a ski trip incident where he experienced shortness of breath, low oxygen, and a spike in troponin levels, leading to a mini heart attack and hospitalization. He also describes his symptoms of heart failure and the need for an ICD implant.[00:09:27] - Managing Heart Disease,Armin reveals his rebellious attitude towards being a heart patient, how he still played sports and lived life to the fullest despite his condition, and the importance of meeting strict criteria for treatments like pacemakers and ICDs.[00:13:12] - Medical Complications,Armin discusses the difficulties of managing heart disease, including the side effects of diuretics and the challenges of going to the ER for urinary problems. He also touches on the most prolonged surgery period during his ICD implant and the struggles of balancing school with frequent bathroom trips.[00:16:18] - Hospitalization and Online Learning,After being hospitalized for heart failure, Armin had to stay home due to edema and other symptoms. He had to call his school, where they had no prior experience with online learning. Armin managed to do his finals and pass with flying colors despite not being physically present for most of the classes.[00:23:05] - Overexertion and Passing Out,Armin passed out after overexerting himself while trying to pick up his brother from the bus stop. His feet were swollen due to edema. He fell unconscious and was shocked back by his ICD. He woke up in the hospital, and the doctors discovered that his leads were hitting his diaphragm.[00:26:17] - Tachycardia and LVAD Surgery: During a car ride to the hospital, Armin had 40-60 episodes of SVT tachycardia, a severe heart failure symptom. After arriving at the hospital, he had an emergency LVAD surgery due to his low ejection fraction, dangerously low at 15-20%.[00:29:27] - HeartMate 2 and RVAD,Armin had both an RVAD and LVAD ...
