Finding My Rhythm Again
6 months ago
- #resilience
- #health
- #startup
- The author, a 46-year-old active runner, was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) after experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue.
- AFib is an irregular heartbeat that increases the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure, and is rare in people under 65.
- The author had a family history of heart attacks, with both grandfathers and his father dying from them at relatively young ages.
- Prior to the diagnosis, the author was leading a startup called Ampt, which faced significant challenges including fundraising difficulties during the 'VC winter' and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
- The author experienced burnout from the relentless demands of startup life, including constant fundraising, pitching, and investor meetings.
- Despite the team's dedication, the startup struggled, and the author eventually took a full-time job as Director of Research at CloudZero while still supporting Ampt.
- The author's health continued to decline due to stress, and in April 2025, he was diagnosed with AFib after a series of stressful events, including his daughter's car accident and the death of his mother-in-law.
- Treatment for AFib included medications like Eliquis and Metoprolol, and eventually a cardiac catheter ablation procedure using Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) technology.
- The ablation was successful, and the author began a slow recovery, including returning to running and re-engaging with community and open-source projects.
- The author learned the importance of prioritizing health, seeking support, and finding balance after years of focusing on performance and work.