Common Craft Blog
Wires in My Heart
By leelefever on October 28, 2005 - 11:26am
For the past 10 years or so, I've had a heart arrhythmia, which was diagnosed as "atrial fibrillation". It would come on a few times a year and I would either wait for it to go away or go to the ER to get it converted back to a normal "sinus" rhythm. The basic problem is that my heart, on occasion, beats irregularly. Atrial fibrillation is not easy to treat, except via drugs.
It's not life-threatening unless it stays in the funky rhythm for over 12-24 hours, in which case a clot can form and cause a stroke. But, it is a disorder and a huge pain in the ass when it happens (as it did multiple times on our honeymoon).
Recently my cardiologist ordered all my old EKGs and found that I've been mis-diagnosed all along. I don't have atrial fibrillation, but a similar disorder called "atrial flutter", which is very treatable.
So, today at 1pm, I will have a cardiac procedure that will hopefully prevent me from having atrial flutter ever again, it's called Catheter Ablation. It's done via catheters (wires inserted in veins that end up in the heart) that are used to burn out an electrical node or two, inside my heart, that is causing the funky heartbeat.
It's fairly low risk and has a high success rate. I'm especially excited because this will mean one less thing to have to worry about on the trip. I would hate to be helicoptered out of the Serengeti.
I've written a little more about it on my personal site.
Wires in My Heart
Good luck! Hope it's all gone well... cyborg! ;-)
Wires in My Heart
All the best to ya Lee!
Wires in My Heart
Yeah, good luck!
I have a little thing wrong with my heart, don't think it's as serious as I don't have irregular beats, etc. If I recall (I'd have to look at the records) I have a "shelf" that blocks a very little bit of blood flow. As of now, it's not a problem at all and hopefully will never be. It's not something they're worried about - just something that gets checked every 3-5 years.
Wires in My Heart
Best of luck. I know it will go well. Just take it easy afterwards, you need to be in tip top shape for your trip around the world. We're going to miss you.:(
Can't you get a sponsor to give you lots of lovely stuff for a mobile blog, kplzthnx???? :)
Wires in My Heart
Umm skip the last part of my comment I forgot about the WorldIsNotFlat http://theworldisnotflat.com/.
Wires in My Heart
Yikes, Lee! Best wishes for a smooth procedure and rapid recovery.
You're too young for this crap, dude.
Wires in My Heart
Thanks so much for the well-wishing folks! I have returned home with a regular beating heart. Quite literally, the worst part was pulling tape off my hairy belly. Ouch.
Wires in My Heart
Cool. :)
Wires in My Heart
Hi Lee,
Best wishes from Australia too... am sure it will all go OK and will just be another indication of how far out ahead of the rest of us you are... moving towards bionic man ;)
James
Wires in My Heart
BTW if you make it down to Melbourne on your travels drop me an email and I'll show you some choice bits o' the city!