- 24,553
- Frankfort, KY
- GTP_FoolKiller
- FoolKiller1979
So, I made brief mention in The Infield's Announcement thread that I was having some heart stuff done on Friday.
I went in for a heart cath because I have an unsustained ventricular arrhythmia. This is where the ventricles of my heart were developing a slightly faster beat than the atrium. By itself it wasn't a major concern but needed testing to see if it could become worse. The risk is that it would become ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach), which can be fatal as the ventricles get to a point where they are ineffective at pumping blood. The common result of this is cardiac arrest. So obviously, this had to be looked at.
So, in a went. They did a Transesophogeal echocardiagram (think ultra sound from the throat) to make sure nothing else was going on and then did the heart catheterization with electro-physiology (EP) study. During the EP study they purposely attempted to create sustained v-tach. Yep, it happened. So, I have lovely defibrillator marks on my chest and back. Not the first time for me.
Anyway, the most effective course of action for this is to give me an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). This is part heart monitor, part pacemaker, and part defibrillator. It monitors my heart and the pacemaker kicks in if there is ever any arrythmias and the defibrillayor will kick in if I go into V-Tach (am dying). It cuts out that nasty wait for EMS to arrive.
This also meant they had to cut open my shoulder.
Here is a diagram.
But the incision is mostly superficial and doesn't require stitches, just steri-strips, which is basically strips of sterile medical tape that holds it together while it heals.
Here is my lovely hospital room.
And nurse info board.
My incision image is below, but I am spacing it down so those with queasy stomachs can avoid it. It is just tape and slightly bloody gauze right now though.
Because the wires from the ICD are not completely secure at the moment I cannot do any activities that put exertion on my shoulder for two weeks, and cannot lift my arm above my head for a month. Yes, this means no Force Feedback steering wheels.
But after a month tissue should grow over the wires and hold them firmly in place.
Today a tech came in to test the system. It sends a wireless signal so they place a small device over the ICD for a second to synch up and then are able to read my data on their computer. And here is where the bionic part is not a joke. To test that all the wires were in place and calibrated he sped my heart up from his computer. That is definitely the most disturbing sensation I have ever had.
I have also had a slight emotional reaction to what having this device put in means. I was at risk of dying at any time. Five years ago I wouldn't have thought about. Now I am married with a kid on the way. The stakes are decidedly different.
Physically, I feel fine except for the bruised muscles in my shoulder and collar bone area. They gave me some prescription pain medicine, but Tylenol is working fine for me.
To see the incision site scroll down. If you are queasy, stop here.
Imageshack screwed up my image.
I will show more when I remove the gauze in four days, and the main scar when the steri-strips come off in ten days.
I went in for a heart cath because I have an unsustained ventricular arrhythmia. This is where the ventricles of my heart were developing a slightly faster beat than the atrium. By itself it wasn't a major concern but needed testing to see if it could become worse. The risk is that it would become ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach), which can be fatal as the ventricles get to a point where they are ineffective at pumping blood. The common result of this is cardiac arrest. So obviously, this had to be looked at.
So, in a went. They did a Transesophogeal echocardiagram (think ultra sound from the throat) to make sure nothing else was going on and then did the heart catheterization with electro-physiology (EP) study. During the EP study they purposely attempted to create sustained v-tach. Yep, it happened. So, I have lovely defibrillator marks on my chest and back. Not the first time for me.
Anyway, the most effective course of action for this is to give me an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). This is part heart monitor, part pacemaker, and part defibrillator. It monitors my heart and the pacemaker kicks in if there is ever any arrythmias and the defibrillayor will kick in if I go into V-Tach (am dying). It cuts out that nasty wait for EMS to arrive.
This also meant they had to cut open my shoulder.
Here is a diagram.
But the incision is mostly superficial and doesn't require stitches, just steri-strips, which is basically strips of sterile medical tape that holds it together while it heals.
Here is my lovely hospital room.
And nurse info board.
My incision image is below, but I am spacing it down so those with queasy stomachs can avoid it. It is just tape and slightly bloody gauze right now though.
Because the wires from the ICD are not completely secure at the moment I cannot do any activities that put exertion on my shoulder for two weeks, and cannot lift my arm above my head for a month. Yes, this means no Force Feedback steering wheels.
But after a month tissue should grow over the wires and hold them firmly in place.Today a tech came in to test the system. It sends a wireless signal so they place a small device over the ICD for a second to synch up and then are able to read my data on their computer. And here is where the bionic part is not a joke. To test that all the wires were in place and calibrated he sped my heart up from his computer. That is definitely the most disturbing sensation I have ever had.
I have also had a slight emotional reaction to what having this device put in means. I was at risk of dying at any time. Five years ago I wouldn't have thought about. Now I am married with a kid on the way. The stakes are decidedly different.
Physically, I feel fine except for the bruised muscles in my shoulder and collar bone area. They gave me some prescription pain medicine, but Tylenol is working fine for me.
To see the incision site scroll down. If you are queasy, stop here.
Imageshack screwed up my image.
I will show more when I remove the gauze in four days, and the main scar when the steri-strips come off in ten days.
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Maybe a dumb question, but I'm curious if this caused by anything (such as diet) or were you just born with a heart defect? How much would everything have cost if you were uninsured? My hospital stay would've been ridonkulously expensive if I hadn't been. Also, you eat at KFC? I guess I shouldn't be surprised given your location... but I am.
