It has been ages since I last wrote or participated in the forums. Am in shock but think it is all a done deal and nothing to do now but follow doctors’ instructions. Writing to set my mind at ease and/or find out what we should be doing now. Sorry, but this will be long.
On May 31 my 73-year-old husband went to work at his usual time, came home to clean up, and then went for an appointment with a new primary care physician. My husband had not seen a doctor in about 7 or 8 years and did not want to go at all. His former PCP had retired and my husband needed clearance for cataract removal surgery or he would not have gone at all.
The new PCP started a physical but then set him up for a EKG. The doctor came in and said he needed to go to a nearby ER run by the hospital where DH has worked for almost 45 years. The doctor told him she would call for transport but husband said he felt fine and the ER was very close so he would drive himself.
My husband called to let me know what was going on. I immediately left for the ER. They had him hooked up to an EKG and I don’t know what else. Stated he needed to be transported to the closest campus of the hospital. We waited from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for transport. Finally arrived at that campus where he was admitted to the cardiac care floor. We were told at ER he had very high blood pressure and a very low pulse (around 30) which I had figured out from the monitors in the ER.
My husband swears he was feeling fine, no dizziness, no fainting, no chest pains, etc., just felt normal. My DH had never said anything about experiencing any of the symptoms they expected. The doctors and other medical personnel just looked at him funny. The only thing I had noticed at home was for some time he would fall asleep in his chair when watching TV or when reading. My father always did that, too, so I just felt my husband was tired from his day at work.
On Thursday DH underwent an ultrasound of his heart which shown some flutters in his heart. On Friday, June 2, he had a heart catheterization completed which detected no blockages at all for which I was very grateful. Doctor said DH was experiencing A-Flutters, not A-Fib, stating it was a bit different than A- Fib. Also told his heart appeared to be very weak.
We were told that my husband definitely needed to undergo an Ablation procedure to correct the Atrial Fibrillation. Yes, they were calling it Atrial Fibrillation instead of A-Flutters by now. However, the procedure could not be completed until Monday, June 5. It was a very long weekend.
They completed a TEE first on Monday to look for clots in his heart. When they discovered no blood clots in his heart they proceeded to do the Ablation. We were shown photos of inside and outside his heart and was told there was very little scar tissue which was a plus. The Ablation went well but they left one of the leads in his groin and heart to take the place of a pacemaker until a pacemaker could be placed on Tuesday, June 6. So from Monday morning until late Tuesday afternoon my husband had to lay flat and not get out of bed because of the lead in his groin and heart. That was probably the worst part of everything he went through.
The pacemaker was placed late Tuesday afternoon. My husband was finally discharged late Wednesday evening one week after he was admitted. He now has a pacemaker which we have been told he will need the rest of his life. After all the medical terms, in essence, the lower part of his heart was not working at all and the pacemaker keeps that part of the heart going and him alive.
DH is taking two medications, Entresto - 24-26 Mg Tab and Eliquis 5 Mg Tab. Each twice a day. One is for high blood pressure and one is a blood thinner. Is this considered a lot of meds and high dosages or just normal?
He was told he could start driving again last weekend but did not. Is planning to attend a luncheon on Thursday for a fellow employee who is leaving for a new position. He is still wearing the brace/sling at night so he does not raise his arm in his sleep. Is walking around the house a lot. DH has horrible bruising from all the procedures but that is finally starting to fade a bit.
Still numb and in shock and not certain what questions I should ask. Tomorrow DH will have been home a week and so far so good. His BP and Pulse are staying in normal ranges. He weighs himself daily and is not suddenly gaining weight as we were told to watch for. DH has a hospital followup on 6/19 (which I don’t understand since he will see the cardiologist) and his first appointment with the cardiologist on 6/22. Any suggestion as to what questions we should be asking at those appointments? Will DH need to stay on the meds forever? Any suggestions as to books we should read or websites we should visit? I think if he had experienced blockages, heart attack etc., I would have been better prepared as to how to proceed
The insurance company sent us a notice stating he could have a Care Manager with an Aetna One Nurse at no cost to us. Would that be a good idea? Or would that just be getting the insurance more involved?
I started the WFPB life over 10 years ago to treat severe RA. I don't prepare food any other way. However, DH and DS eat whatever they want away from the house. I believe the reason DH had no blockages and little scar tissue is due to the WFPB way of eating at least at home. Just no way to prove that.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions and advice.
Bkworm
