A-fib a real bummer

I have to admit that my PM installation went without a hitch in any way, absolutely NO pain in any way (guess I'm blessed) and no post implant complications as far as pain or muscle problems. I was implanted one day, kept for observation for one day and discharged at noon. Within an hour of arriving home I was out in the yard pruning shrubs. I'm left handed but right eye dominant. Being a hunter I had the PM implanted on my left side due to rifle recoil to my right shoulder.A little less than a month after my implant I was deer hunting and I harvested a mature buck which I had to haul on my deer cart for nearly a mile. I did all this without any difficulty or pain what so ever. I think I actually forgot about the implant. Several months later in the spring I awoke to a strange feeling in my chest and shortness of breath, a visit to the emergency room diagnosed my problem as A-fib which was easily corrected at the hospital on the following morning and I've never had another bout of A-fib again. Doctor has me on Amiodarone to control heart beat and Predaxa as a precautionary measure. I tolerate the Predaxa very well with no bleeding or brusing (doctor can't believe it with the way I abuse my body during deer season), Like I said, I guess I'm just blessed to have been in the right place at the right time to get my PM, and to have tolerated the implant as well as post implant meds as well as I do. By the way, I dragged out three deer this year, and next year,Lord willing I'll be back at it again. By the way, I'm turning 70 in March.
Hunter

2 Comments

Watch the a-fib

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-10 09:01:46

I'm happy to hear everything is going OK for you. The only thing I'd suggest is watching the a-fib.

I have a history of a-fib and had just completed 3 1/2 miles of 4 miles on the pet trail with my son's dogs when I collapsed. This was pre-PM. Being out on the trail and having heart problems is no fun.

Most of my a-fib sessions are benign. However I had one where my heart rate went from 80 to 140 beats per minute. Had to make a fast trip to the ER. Then cardizem in my IV to get my heart rate back to normal.

Being an outdoor guy, I understand why you do what you do. But from here on out, you'll want to give your family a hunting plan and map of where you're going. Then stick to the plan. I'd also develop a plan for getting yourself out of the back country in case something goes wrong. GPS equipment, Park Ranger communication, Game Warden communications should be checked out to get yourself taken care of in case of an emergency.

I'd also talk with your cardiologist to see 1) what you can do to monitor your a-fib in case your heart rate takes off for 140, 2) what extra medication you can take to bring your heart rate back to normal.

Maybe you won't care if the coyotes feed off your dead carcass but it can be very disturbing to your family. So the preparations are a suggestion for you to enjoy many more years of hunting and give your family comfort in case of your demise.

Bag a trophy buck for me! They're nothing but rats with antlers anyway.

Theknotguy

You're spot on.

by Hunter - 2014-01-11 05:01:01

You are spot on with your recommendation to advise others as to where I will be hunting. I've been doing this ever since I got my PM. I always carry my cell phone (set on vibrate) as the areas I hunt get good reception for me. My family is familiar with the areas I hunt, one of which is several miles long by by a mile or more wide, so I have a lot of room to roam when chasing critters. My policy is to advise them in which area I plan to hunt, but if I change my plans (hey, ya gotta go where the deer take you) I make it a policy to phone my wife and tell her where I'm heading, or at least leave her a message. When I shoot a deer I ALWAYS advise her that I've taken a deer and tell her where I'm at and at about what time to expect me home, If I'm not on schedule I call her again letting her know the circumstances.This has worked well for us over the years. My cardiologist knows of my activity level and encourages me fully. As for the A-fib, it has not been a problem for years now, but like I said, I take Amioderone to lower my heart beat, allowing the PM to set my minimum rate.It is really good to hear about so many runners here. I don't run, but I do get my exercise in different ways, I love to take long, brisk walks with the dog, as well as running up stairs when ever possible, plus dragging out deer. My first deer this year came out on my deer cart but it still took nearly 6-hours of continuous over rough ground to get it out, then there was the second deer, that one was a real doozy to get out, due the the number of ridges I had to cross I had to drag it out and it took over 7-hours, without a break, except to check my compass occasionally as it was all in the dark.This past fall I had my annual stress test and again passed it with flying colors with no signs of coronary disease, arterial blockage or plaque formation, just call me lucky! Do I sound crazy or reckless? Maybe, but I'm not going to let a heart problem get me down. The PM has given me a new lease on life, and I'm living it as I always have, just a little more carefully though. The alternative is to stop doing what I love to do, and that really doesn't work well for me. Some day my body will tell me when it's time to quit or slow down, but until it does, it's life as normal for me. I've been asked to speak with other PM recipients in the area and I tell them the same story, stop worrying, and get busy living your life, that's what you have it for!
My personal motto is: "Death, nature's way of saying slow down"
Hunter.

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