My very latest project

[HueyPilotVN]

Now this is a completely different project for me.

About 15 years ago I had a cardiac procedure called a triple bypass.  It went well and after recovery I have had a pretty normal and healthy life up until the last few years.

I have regular checkup to monitor my health, especially my heart.

These exams include echocardiograms that measure the hearts ability to pump blood.  This measurement is called an ejection fraction.  Normal is about 70, but at least over 50. My latest one was 15.

My cardiologist recently tried to insert a stent next to the heart to improve the flow but found that there was no obstruction.  The problem is a very weak heart muscle.

Today my Doctor told me that my condition subjects me to a high risk of sudden heart failure and he recommended that right away we help prevent this from happening by performing surgery to install an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Therefore, my new project is a minor overhaul to install a ?safety net? to protect my heart.

I told him that I carry around a portable defibrillator but he said that was not quick enough and would not help if I was alone.  He told me that within 3 minutes of heart failure the brain starts to die.

Today I read up on and did some research on this device.  It is programmable, it can be read with a wand to give data on my heart, and can react to different situations.  I wonder if it can play music directly into my brain, LOL.

It consists of two leads in the heart and a device that implants in the upper chest.

It is amazing how far we have progressed in technology and medicine.

Film at eleven?..

 

[Oldgator73]

Should I say break a leg or good luck. In any event I hope everything turns out well.

 

[Gizmo100]

Glad they are able to get you the things you need to keep you around...

Hope you got the one that will allow you to connect to your RV's Bluetooth.

 

[HueyPilotVN]

I hope I don't break anything.

I forgot to ask him about bluetooth.

I hope my left breast will not be bigger than my right breast.

He did tell me that I could not raise my left arm above my shoulder for awhile or I would pull the stiches apart.

The booklet did say that I have to be careful around electrical fields and motors and to not allow the airport TSA agents to use a wand, but to request another type screening.

I must also carry a card to warn about things like an MRI.

 

[Rene T]

Keep your chin up Bill. We're all rooting for you

 

[HueyPilotVN]

Thanks, I am not really worried about the procedure.

I think that the insertion is a relatively safe procedure.

I am mostly posting about it because it is interesting to me and it is a positive step in preventing a much worse possibility if I just ignore it.

I do not want to seem unthankful for any well wishes and I am not posting this for anything other than information about what is available.

 

[catblaster]

  Darnnit Bill, 15 is low, at that level were you not feeling run down? ...symptoms.. I just dropped to 42 last year and have a hard time grocery shopping. 
  Let us know how well it works, when are you scheduled for the procedure??

 

[Gizmo100]

MRI would be very ugly....I would consider writing on my chest with a sharpie....NO MRI's

 

[grashley]

Do you want us to hope the procedure fails??  NO WAY!!  I also wish you well!

Remember, this is a minor procedure, done for you.  It would be a MAJOR OPERATION if they did the same thing to me!!  ;D ;D  IMHO

 

[HueyPilotVN]

  Darnnit Bill, 15 is low, at that level were you not feeling run down? ...symptoms.. I just dropped to 42 last year and have a hard time grocery shopping. 
  Let us know how well it works, when are you scheduled for the procedure??

You are correct and I have been run down.  It is not uncommon for me to sleep past noon lately.

I was feeling so weak that I have been giving away stuff, transferring titles and deeds, and updating my will.

I am not being morbid, just doing contingency planning.  I am pushing 70.

I did the lab work at the hospital today and I am scheduled for 6o AM on Wednesday, 5 days from now.

I am probably more at risk for the next 5 days than i will be after the surgery.

 

[Chakara]

  Best of wishes (I know - you aren't worried - but still!)  I love your stories and feedback from others make you an inspiration to me.  Just want you well.....

  If I needed a helicopter transport or rescue - I'd want you as my pilot - no matter that state of your heart

  And your right - amazing tech nowadays.  Didn't even know they could implant a Defibrillator.  Kinda cool with it just sitting there waiting for a reason to do something.....

-Kyle

 

[HappyWanderer]

Bill, the magic they perform these days is nothing less than amazing. My wife was born with a hole between two chambers of her heart, so some blood would leak between chambers instead of being pumped correctly. Fifty years ago, repair meant open heart surgery. She was free of any symptoms, so the doctors decided to let it be.

Eight years ago she started having chest pain and fatigue. Tests showed the hole had was getting larger and a good deal of blood was leaking between the chambers. The good news was technology had improved, and repair no longer required major surgery. They were able to insert a disk through the femoral artery, up into into the heart, and plug the hole. This required just one night in the hospital.

She goes back every two years for an echo to make sure all is well. She carries a card saying she has an implanted device, which shows the exact level of MRI exposure she is allowed. She needed an MRI two years ago for a back injury, and it was well below the limit.

Although nothing is ?routine? when it?s happening to you, implanted defibrillators are pretty common the days. Best of luck.

 

[Arch Hoagland]

Interesting. I had quadruple bypass surgery about four years ago.

I noticed the past several months that I'm sleeping 8 to 10 hours a day now. Never slept more than 7 before.

So keep us posted after your implant. 

I have a friend at our Elks lodge that has one of those and he said it has never gone off. 

Good luck young man!!

 

[8Muddypaws]

Hang in there Bill. 

 

[HueyPilotVN]

They have gone up thru my artery into my heart a couple of times lately including with a camera to determine that a stent would not help.

One of the things that impressed me about this new device was that it could do several different things.  It can speed up a slow heart, slow down a fast heart, and give you a kick start of the heart stops or if it goes into fribilation, (similar to muscle spasms).

They describe the speeding up or slowing down as not hurting at all by using low voltage control.  They describe defribillation as anything from a light punch in the chest to a kick in the chest.

The battery is supposed to last between 4 to 8 years unless it is use to power the defib function.

The documentation also stated that replacing the battery or device is more risky than the initial implant due to removing the probes from the heart.

 

[Gizmo100]

The battery is supposed to last between 4 to 8 years unless it is use to power the defib function.

The documentation also stated that replacing the battery or device is more risky than the initial implant due to removing the probes from the heart.

OK you don't know about Bluetooth.....Maybe you could tie in a solar panel to keep the battery charged. Just mount the panel to your hat and your good to go

 

[HueyPilotVN]

Interesting. I had quadruple bypass surgery about four years ago.

I noticed the past several months that I'm sleeping 8 to 10 hours a day now. Never slept more than 7 before.

So keep us posted after your implant. 

I have a friend at our Elks lodge that has one of those and he said it has never gone off. 

Good luck young man!!

I do not expect this device to in any way improve my heart or address the weakness or sleeping issues.

I do look upon it as a "Safety Net" for unexpected heart failure caused by irregular heart beat or stoppage.

 

[HueyPilotVN]

OK you don't know about Bluetooth.....Maybe you could tie in a solar panel to keep the battery charged. Just mount the panel to your hat and your good to go

Or maybe 100 years or much sooner we could just replace everything and be bionic.

 

[Gizmo100]

Or maybe 100 years or much sooner we could just replace everything and be bionic.

You will still need/want the solar panel ;D ;D

 

[SargeW]

Hang in there Bill. Considering everything you have been through in your life, this is but another bump in the road. Do the procedure, get feeling better and move on. There is still RVing left to do!