At this point I am wearing a monitor for three weeks to rule out Arterial Fibrillation. I have no indications of irregular heartbeat but it is still possible. The next step is a nuclear stress test which is scheduled in a couple of weeks. The repair of the PFO is done as an outpatient but is only used after at least one stroke or TIA while taking aspirin.The results of repair over medication are really marginal going from about 2.5% chance or re occurrence to 3%. That does not sound like bad odds to me but the doctor and my wife both have visions of a headline reading "dead backpacker found in woods". I am not sure of the odds of a stroke are without PFO while eating Big Macs every day. In my favor is the fact that my general health is good.

I was hoping for someone to say "I have had the same thing for years and I go out solo for weeks at a time" I suppose that is just a dream. If it were just me and not family involved I would just go for it.