Passed out pooches

4-Oct-2013. Am walking my son's dogs on a pet trail when I collapse. Died in the ambulance. Wake up six days later from a coma. Cracked rib, broken rib, collapsed lung, re-re-separated shoulder from CPR. Have a chest tube. Have a pacemaker. Surprise!

Six days in Intensive Care makes you as weak as a six month old baby. Needed two people to help me stand up. Walking two steps was exhausting. It took me eight weeks to be able to walk up the twelve steps in a second story building.

Start rehabilitation. End up going into the Emergency room at various hospitals four more times because of problems with fluctuating blood pressure and runaway a-fib. Have to have my EP turn on APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) on my pacemaker to help with the a-fib. Have to get medications to take care of emergency situations with a-fib.

22-Feb-2014. Over four months (almost five) later I took the same two dogs out today. Walked 3 1/2 miles (5.63 KM) with them this morning. Walked over 2 miles (3.21 KM) with them this afternoon. We had a great time. Last message from my son was the dogs were passed out on the couch tonight. Guess I wore them out.

Point being - it hasn't been a smooth ride for me since getting my pacemaker. In spite of the pacemaker and the APP I was in a-fib two days ago and had to forgo my cardiac rehab. (If you walk into cardiac rehab while in a-fib they will physically throw you into the Emergency Room. There you get to argue with ER doctors who think they can cure your heart problems in one session.) I had to have adjustments to my PM after it was installed to help with a-fib. I've had to get my medication adjusted. I was doing great in Cardiac Rehab and then had a two week setback because of a problem with medication. I still get short of breath sometimes. Still get light headed at times. Still get depressed. Still get funny feelings in the pacemaker site and in my heart. Still get frustrated. Still push too hard and have setbacks.

In spite of that, I wore out two dogs today. Was outside on a beautiful day and was able to enjoy every minute of it.

Is life perfect - NO. But it's a heck of a lot better than being dead. Is everything going to be smooth sailing from here on out - probably not. But am I going to bitch, moan, groan, and complain - NO.

So for those of you who think everything should be a quick fix, smooth sailing, getting it right the first time, guess what - it doesn't happen. But that's not a reason to give up and quit. It's just the starting off point for the next round.

There's a lot of living to do. I plan to get the most out of it.

Theknotguy

4 Comments

bigger dogs

by pace-man - 2014-02-23 01:02:38

I think you will have to get some bigger dogs.
Good on you, I am not going to whinge about my problems , it sure does make you appreciate the cards that are dealt to you. Rick

Theknotguy

by Duke999 - 2014-02-23 04:02:55

I applaud you for your strength and persistence. I pray that you will feel better and that you should get smooth sailing, instead of nasty big waves.

Regarding APP, you are correct that it doesn't stop Afib.
I don't know when it's capable of doing that. The question is: Does it stop Afib sometime and sometime it doesn't? or it doesn't stop Afib at all? I'm somewhat disappointed with that feature myself. Recently, I had ATP enabled as well (Antitachycardia Pacing). And that seems to be inconsistent too. I said that because tonight I had an episode of arrhythmia (not sure if it's Afib or what) after I had dinner and it appears the APP and ATP feature is not doing anything to stop the episode. So, I guess we're back to square one. You and I talked quite a few times and we both had high hope for that feature to stop the Afib (or any arrhythmia).

I was trying to figure out why the episode happened after dinner. Don't know if it's the food that may trigger it.
I had marinara sauce from a jar which I cooked with some frozen meatballs and a can of clams and served with bread. I kept thinking perhaps the preservatives or MSG in the food I ate may have triggered the episode. And there's nothing APP or ATP can stop it. Very frustrating. Anyway, next time, when you have an episode of Afib or arrhythmia, try to remember what you ate or what you did that trigger it. You need to learn the catalyst so you can try to prevent it, if that's even possible. Sorry for the long reply.
Anyway, take good care. Hang in there. I wish you well.

Duke

Yeah Yeah !

by IAN MC - 2014-02-23 05:02:47

I want to hear the dog's side of the story; they would probably bitch about some maniac who drags them out when they're perfectly happy at home, and then exhausts them !

If I were your dogs I would leave a little gift on the couch as a token protest.

When you say " It's just the starting off point for the next round " I bet your dogs run off and hide !

Cheers

Ian

Bravo!

by Moner - 2014-02-23 12:02:18

Hello Knotguy,


Nice to know your doggies past out this time, instead of you.

Take care,

Moner
>^..^<

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