Thursday, August 28, 2014

We have an early morning appointment tomorrow at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.  I'm having my old ticker checked on  Yes, tomorrow morning I will have an electrical study of my heart.  This has been a long time coming, and quite frankly, I'll be glad to have it done.

As some of you know, I've struggled with arrhythmia problems, rapid heart beat, and dizzy spells for a number of years now.  I've worn a holter monitor multiple times since I was in my 40's.  I've worn a 30 day event monitor more times than I can count.  I don't want to begin to calculate how many visits to the ER I've made.  Then, there have been all the other cardiac tests that have been inconclusive.  We know I have arrhythmia problems, and supra ventricular tachycardia (rapid heart beat), and we know that at times my blood pressure drops way too low, but so far, nothing has helped my heart spells.  

Finally, I was referred to a specialist at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.  Tomorrow, he will insert a heart catheter into my heart to do an electrical study.  If he finds it necessary, he will do a heart ablation.  He also plans on inserting a looping monitor implant under the skin over the heart area.  I've never heard of such a device before meeting Dr. S, and I certainly can't explain to you what it does.  I did provide a link if you are interested.  I am hopeful that we will get to the bottom of my re-occurring problems and find answers for that which has compromised my quality of life for too long.

I am grateful to have been referred to this doctor.  I am also grateful that he seems to think that we can get things fixed up for me.  The facility itself is huge, but we are learning our way around the place, and know how to get where we are going early tomorrow morning.  I know I will be in good hands.  

If an ablation is done, I will be hospitalized overnight.  Otherwise, I will be released after I recover from the catheterization.  We plan on spending Friday night in Denver even if I am not hospitalized.  Neither of us want to fight holiday traffic after a day at the hospital.

Now, I must get to bed.  I am getting just a bit nervous, but thankfully I know what to expect since I had a catheterization a year ago.  5:00 a.m. comes early.  We are staying just across the street from the main facility.  That will give us a short commute.  So, off to bed I go.  I'll update you as soon as I can.