Avandia: I Nearly Died at 45.

Pierrefonds, PQGrant has been a diabetic most of his life. Like most diabetics, he's tried several diabetes medications, and eventually Avandia. While the drug did control his blood sugar, Grant now wonders if the drug may have contributed to a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, a ruptured aorta, and atrial fibrillation.

" I took avandia for about a year when the reports of cardiovascular problems started to make the news," Grant said. "So I went to my doctor to find out if this was a problem, and he said 'no'. I had to trust what he was saying because he was my doctor and he specialises in diabetes. So I continued to take the drug. About a year ago I was on the treadmill, which I did on a daily basis. But this day I started feeling chest pains and acid reflux. I knew this wasn't normal so I drank some water while walking. But the pain didn't go away. I became quite alarmed, because I began to experience the pain every time I did any physical activity. I had also gained about 50 lbs in the time I was on Avandia, which was a problem. I looked bloated. I weighed well over 200 lbs."

Grant decided to see a specialist about the chest pains. They did some tests and found four blockages in his arteries. "They were between 70 and 80 percent blocked," Grant said. "I was told I had coronary artery disease. I was blown away by that news. I was only 45 at the time. That's very young for coronary artery disease. I wanted to know how that could have happened, then I thought about the issues around avandia. I did some research on Avandia, and discovered that people taking it can suffer heart attacks and may be diagnosed with heart disease, and that there seems to be a connection."

Grant underwent coronary artery surgery, but during the operation his aorta ruptured, it was in such bad shape. "The surgeon was quite concerned," Grant said. "So I did more research and found that Avandia can do these types of things to the arteries. I was very alarmed at that news.

Overall the operation went well, but about three days post operation I developed severe arrhythmia. I suffered atrial fibrillation. I was given a drug to settle the rhythm down, and while it seemed to work initially, two days later I suffered another, severe arrhythmia attack, followed by a right-sided massive stroke. I nearly died. I was just 45 years old."

Grant then spent three months in the hospital recovering, after which he went to a rehabilitation center, where he stayed for another three months. "I've worked really hard to be able to walk with a cane," Grant said. "But now that I'm home I'm completely restricted to the wheelchair, and an arm support, because I have lost the use of my left arm."