geckley
Well-known member
Another brief update.
After the bouts of afib, about midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning, Ghon's HR went from 118 to zero for 7 seconds. Then picked up in the low 50s. He said he felt a bit dizzy and we were going to call the nurse (I'd stayed the night) and the nurses came in. Apparently, the external pacemaker he was connected too didn't kick in at all. There were lots of wire adjustments, new batteries and discussion of more invasive techniques, when Ghon coughed and shifted - low and behold, the pacemaker started working. If I understand correctly, he's only pacing V not A. Earlier Saturday morning, he'd stopped the amiodarone and was put on metoprolol. That was stopped after this episode.
Sunday he was tired most of the day and went back and forth between being externally paced and pacing on his own - namely when he walked. About 4pm he had nearly an hour of back and forth before his heart became the dominant force. However, the impulses aren't originating in the atrium, but in the ventricle, so he still has issues with the rhythm.
I'm not sure about Sunday night, but over he course of the day Monday, he had no external pacing. Pacemaker is set to kick in at 50; he's generally in the 57-62 range, 68-72 when walking.
Last night (Mon) he did slip low enough that the PM kicked in. He talked to the NP and the electrophysiologist, and it looks like he will be having a PM installed tomorrow. He was really hoping to come home Thurs/Fri, so we aren't sure how much this will impact his coming home. He is extremely upset about the idea of a PM and I think is suffering from some depression as a result. We had a brief consult about an hour or so ago with the EP, who told him about the procedure and that it would be under sedation. He asked if Ghon had any breathing problems, and he answered no. I reminded him of his pulmonary hypertension and apnea - and so now he might have to go under full anethesia. The idea of a ventilator again is not high on his list of good things, but the EP said it comes out before he wakes up.
We were also told that because of his history and how the heart was repaired this time, that there may be some difficulty with the surgery - some modifications from the normal procedure may be required. We'll find out a time a bit later today.
Anyone have any words of wisdom? Similiar experience? He's felt he's only heart horror stories here about pacemakers - got any positives?
Thanks -
Kim (Ghon's wife)
After the bouts of afib, about midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning, Ghon's HR went from 118 to zero for 7 seconds. Then picked up in the low 50s. He said he felt a bit dizzy and we were going to call the nurse (I'd stayed the night) and the nurses came in. Apparently, the external pacemaker he was connected too didn't kick in at all. There were lots of wire adjustments, new batteries and discussion of more invasive techniques, when Ghon coughed and shifted - low and behold, the pacemaker started working. If I understand correctly, he's only pacing V not A. Earlier Saturday morning, he'd stopped the amiodarone and was put on metoprolol. That was stopped after this episode.
Sunday he was tired most of the day and went back and forth between being externally paced and pacing on his own - namely when he walked. About 4pm he had nearly an hour of back and forth before his heart became the dominant force. However, the impulses aren't originating in the atrium, but in the ventricle, so he still has issues with the rhythm.
I'm not sure about Sunday night, but over he course of the day Monday, he had no external pacing. Pacemaker is set to kick in at 50; he's generally in the 57-62 range, 68-72 when walking.
Last night (Mon) he did slip low enough that the PM kicked in. He talked to the NP and the electrophysiologist, and it looks like he will be having a PM installed tomorrow. He was really hoping to come home Thurs/Fri, so we aren't sure how much this will impact his coming home. He is extremely upset about the idea of a PM and I think is suffering from some depression as a result. We had a brief consult about an hour or so ago with the EP, who told him about the procedure and that it would be under sedation. He asked if Ghon had any breathing problems, and he answered no. I reminded him of his pulmonary hypertension and apnea - and so now he might have to go under full anethesia. The idea of a ventilator again is not high on his list of good things, but the EP said it comes out before he wakes up.
We were also told that because of his history and how the heart was repaired this time, that there may be some difficulty with the surgery - some modifications from the normal procedure may be required. We'll find out a time a bit later today.
Anyone have any words of wisdom? Similiar experience? He's felt he's only heart horror stories here about pacemakers - got any positives?
Thanks -
Kim (Ghon's wife)
