Thoughts and Prayers

Hey All. I usually don't do this but I wanted to throw this out there.
Well let me give you guys some background. In July of 2000 I got a flu bug. At the time I was in incredible shape, worked out alot, etc. It attacked my heart. I had Viral Myocarditis. By the time I made it to the emergency room...I was walking in a dream state at work...My heart became enlarged by 50%. My ejection fraction(squeezing motion of the heart) was at 20%(normal is 60-70). My heart was out of rhythm and I was dying. I spent a night in ICU and then 4 nights in my own room. After shocking my heart back to rhythm and months of rehab...low sodium, beta blockers, other heart meds, blood thinners, diuretics....etc..I got lucky, 20 lbs less and my heart back to normal and recovered. I was lucky. The only side effect was my heart may go out of rhythm again.

Here we are 8 years later and my heart and health is incredible but my heart can still go out of rhythm and had 4 times this year compared to once every few years. So my cardiologist recommended I get a procedure called ablation. I knew about it and had asked other docs but it didn't make sense to get it done. Now it is more common and perfected. The surgeon said it is all about just being completely normal again where little things like diving into cold water won't maybe knock it out of rhythm. They go in through the groin and then burn off the area that causes the problem. So its not an open heart thing and I'll only be in the hospital one night. Hopefully this will complete the recovery and all since I'm considered in great health.

Anyways, throw up a prayer or a toast or whatever that it all goes perfectly and that it is a good week for me and my family. I have preop stuff Wednesday and the surgery is Thursday morning.

Thanks
TC

Good to hear about your husband. I didn't need a pacemaker but know others that did. So it is good that he is doing so much and recovered. The only thing that isn't normal compared to before is the A-fib. So I hope this gets it. As far as doctors, luckily I'm in houston, where some of the best heart specialists in the world are and my regular cardiologist and my surgeon are tops. In fact I the doctor doing the procedue is one ofd the top specialists at it and has done many surgeries including teaching at the Baylor College of Medicine. He is great and says his goal is just for me to not have to worry about this again and to be able to do whatever. Lately, cold water in lakes or oceans knocks it out of rhythm. I've avoided caffeine and decongestants for 8 years...except for what is in my decaf.

I will. Again, thanks for your kind words!!

I REALLY appreciate the thoughts and stories..more than you know. The more I talk to people the more I run into others who have had the procedure or who have had similar problems while young. I felt it was a miracle I recovered completely before and hopefully this completes it all. I really appreciate it and will log in and let you guy sknow how it went after I get out.

Pelle, looks like it worked for you. Dimitri, I hope your condition stays normal and causes no complications. It is good to be proactive. Back in 2000 I had my fair share of beer and wine but I was the one who worked out religiously and was in shape...probably saved me.. and had this happen. I have friends that smoke and drink and whatever and they are never sick. So you never know when random events will happen. My word to the wise now is if you don't feel good, don't ignore it. Better to take a look and be sure than do what I did and almost wait too long.

Well looks like you need some help too. Hope you feel better!

I'll bring something for SOTD for my morning there and trip hope so they remember me.

Things went unexpectedly wrong. They punctured my heart and screwed up. They had to open my chest, fix it and sew em up...and finish the first surgery. A hell of a scar and sore but still recovering at the hospital.

I was so sorry about my pregnant wife and all and she was not doing well. They either didnt sedate me right or the robot arm effed up. Either way I woke up after that surgery to be told I was being cut open and all. One of the top surgeons out there cut me open, stitched the tiny hole and finished the ablation without a bypass. They had to restrain me later because I wasn't sure what happened and they had a tube in my throat. 4 people to hold me down. I probably smelled Kouros. I'm trying to stay positive,

From a day surgery going back to work Monday, to 6 weeks of doing nothing.

I miss seeing my 15 month old and can't wait to get homeand prepare for #2

Yes the guy who opened me up is a stud and finished the deal.