Scots author recounts terrifying heart ordeal
Published 21st March 2025.
A multi-million-selling Scottish crime author has spoken candidly about fears for his life during lockdown.
Ahead of the publication of his new DI Rob Marshall novel, 'Fear of Any Kind' on March 31st, Ed James (46), has revealed that a serious heart condition kick-started by an iced smoothie left him 'staring into the void of his own mortality'.
The Borders author, with over 2.5m book sales and downloads to date, admits that - had it not been for the initial diagnostic skills of his local GP in Tweedbank - he may not have been looking forward to the release date of his new book.
Smoothie
James' troubles stemmed from a freezing home-made smoothie he ironically concocted to boost his immune system during Covid.
Unbeknown to him, the freezing drink shocked his stomach, froze his vagal nerve and kicked his heart into Atrial Fibrillation, a condition which sent his heartbeat skyrocketing to 180bpm, even when simply walking his dogs or watching football on the sofa.
After being prescribed beta blockers and referred to a cardiologist at Borders General Hospital he was placed on the waiting list for Electrical Cardioversion to put his heart back into normal sinus rhythm.
After a 4 month wait due to Covid-related NHS backlogs, the procedure worked - after his heart had to be restarted six times using defibrillation paddles.
Worryingly, though, that was not the end of his health ordeal, with a stroke possible at any time.
After enduring blood thinners and a drug which gave him sunburn in November, he suffered arrhythmia again and was booked in for further Cardioversion.
He was then referred to a cardiologist in Edinburgh for another procedure called catheter ablation, to burn away the electrical pathways to his heart.
With the procedure regarded as successful, he was given the all-clear in November 2023 only to suffer three further bouts of Atrial Fibrillation.
He remains on the waiting list for another catheter ablation after doctors discovered he was one of only 30% for whom the treatment does not fully work at the first attempt.
“I did fear I was going to die,” he admits. “Then there is the feeling you’ve survived something very serious. It makes you look at life differently. I’ve changed a lot of things in my life since then.
“Because I am an idiotic Scottish man in his forties who ignores medical issues, I could have had a stroke at any time. The NHS staff at Tweedbank and Edinburgh have been amazing.
“If my own GP hadn’t identified the problem and put me on beta blockers at the start, I dread to think what might have happened.
"What I’d say is that, if you feel your heart racing a few times, don’t ignore it. Don’t be like me. Go to the doctors immediately. Or even A&E.”
All images by Bob McDevitt
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'Fear of Any Kind' is due out on March 31st but is available for pre-order now on the link below:
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The previous book in the Di Rob Marshall series, 'His Path of Darkness' is available on Amazon Kindle on the link below: