HELLO FROM PINSON ALABAMA - AGAIN

Haven't been on the computer very much for the last couple of three weeks. Or for that matter writing or painting. I have been in the hospital since Sunday afternoon (28 March). It could be considered a fun visit, I guess, if you are the type that enjoys being confined to a room for several days in a large white building filled with various interesting torture machines and people who enjoy using them on you - needles seem to be a favorite.

My poor old heart decided to go for " run about" and jumped into afib (irregular heartbeat) all by itself without consulting the rest of the body. Had a little problem with this right after my by-pass surgery in 2008. That time, both in the hospital and when I got home the heart responded to drugs and jumped back into sinus rhythm (normal) and I haven't had any problems since - until now. This situation poses several problems, not the least of which is the increased possibility of blood clots forming in the heart. Others include decreased normal blood flow to the extremities and constant being tired (your heart is running while the rest of the body is trying to keep up).

This time I began having shortness of breath so after few days got in to see my cardiologist. Had an EKG and the doctor checked me over. No irregular heartbeat and a change of medication was prescribed. That was Thursday (25 Mar). Some time Friday Mr. Heart took off on it's own and after several telephone conversations by my daughter (an RN) and the Cardiologist increasing medications, it was decided I should go to the Emergency Room.

There they quickly stuck me with several needles and radiated me with a mobile X-Ray contraption, just for the fun of it. Then they got serious and tried medications through I.V.s. No luck, so after a while they admitted me and the real fun began. Lots of machines and drips and needles and medications, monitoring, bloodletting and peeing in a bottle. Still no luck in convincing my heart to stop misbehaving and jump back in to sinus rhythm.

Monday morning a 10 AM I was scheduled to have the next step procedure. That involved electric shock to jump start the heart back into rhythm. Fortunately, at about 7:30 AM Monday morning Mr. Heart decided it had run amuck long enough and slipped back into the regular rhythm. It appears to be staying there so after another night of monitoring I got to come home Tuesday evening.

Side line events of the hospital stay was that after a number of years as a type 2 diabetic on pills the doctors stuck me on insulin delivered with a needle. Now I can indulge my masochistic tendencies in the comfort of my own home.

I also got the "lose weight or die" speech from two different Doctors. After considering the choices provided I have decided to go with the lose weight option.