Zapped Again (Three)!!!

Health Update:  For those who haven’t been following my blog for long, I’ve spent the last dozen (plus) years suffering from non-continuous Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), which is an irregular and rapid heart rate that occurs when one or both of the two upper chambers of a heart experience chaotic electrical signals.  Basically, “AFib” is a fast and irregular heart beat.  The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.  A little more specifically, AFib is a condition where your heart has a kind of loose electrical connection, and the top part of your heart (the atria) fails to pump smoothly – essentially it flutters (fibrillates).  If left unattended, the flutter can cause your blood to pool in your heart and eventually the pool coagulates and forms a clot.  Then, since your heart is still beating, your heart can push the clot to other parts of your body and you can end up with a heart attack (if the clot lodges in your heart) or stroke (if it lodges in your brain).  The clot can cause various other issues depending on where it finally settles.  (Obviously, this a VERY simplified explanation).
My most common symptoms include:  chest palpitations, sweating, a shortness of breath (difficult to fully inhale) and a “feeling” of weight on my chest.  Most of the time my symptoms are brief – a minute to a half hour.  My most frequent symptom is the chest palpitations.  Occasionally, the symptoms double up or last longer.  Rarely, the symptoms go to three and or last more than 90 minutes. When that happens, I go to the ER.
Just to be clear, many folks live with continuous AFib for decades.  As my cardiologist told me:  “Most AFib patients don’t die from AFib.”  They die from blood clots and related illnesses:  stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism.  My AFib has been non-continuous for most of the last decade.
To make a longer story briefer, last Monday (2 January 2023), I entered (more or less) continuous AFib.  About 4am, I woke up with difficulty breathing and very strong palpitations.  I was unable to breathe while laying down, so I got up, dressed and went to sit up in a chair.
Anyway, I hoped it (my heart) would revert to a normal rhythm on its own.  It did not, so I took one of my “as needed meds” to try to slow my heart and take the edge off the AFib.  The med, kind of worked, but not fully. I normally take my blood pressure (BP) three times a day.  My pulse slowed and I was falling back into a regular rhythm, but it was not consistent.  I continued to check my blood pressure / heart throughout the next few days and the AFib continued more consistently than the normal heart rhythm – but it didn’t get worse (or better) or have significantly different secondary symptoms.  In the end, my wife an I decided it was time to go to the ER – which we did today (Friday 6 January).  In the ER they decided to forgo IV drugs and just go for electrical cardioversion.  Basically, they hit your heart with an electric charge which “in effect” re-boots the electrical system of the heart.  Yes, it stops your heart, but only for a fraction of a second (everyone hopes).  For those of you keeping count, this is my third “jump-start” since retiring in October 2017.
The procedure was successful (big shout-out to all the staff, nurses and doctors at John Muir Hospital in Concord, CA) and (by the mid-afternoon) I was sent home with my heart in normal rhythm.  I’ll be chilling out for the next few days / week to make sure I don’t slip back into continuous AFib and then (again) I have to concentrate on dieting and exercise to lose weight and strengthen my heart.
Knock on wood…  That’s the plan, anyway.  In the meantime, it’s contact all the doctors on Monday and see about additional medical steps (Catheter Ablation is the “most likely” next step).  Still, it is much better than the alternative…  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers (if you are that way inclined).
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On This Day In:
2022	Defeated: So Far (Anyway)
2021	Elections Have Consequences
	It’s Cold Way Down There
2020	Fearless Security
2019	I Prefer A Neat Single Malt
2018	Seeking Finer Fruits
2017	Something That Is Absolute
2016	Animate And Encourage
	Out Of Time
2015	In Time
2014	Robust Interconnectivity
2013	What Have We Here?
2012	Tributaries And Eddies
	An Honest Politician
2011	Penultimate

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The Darkness Of 6 January 2021

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights we designed to get the government off the backs of the people — all the people.  Those great documents guarantee to us all the rights to personal and spiritual self-fulfillment.  But that guarantee is not self-executing.  As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression.  In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged.  And it is in such a twilight that we all must be most aware of the change in the air — however slight — lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.
—     William O. Douglas
[Thinking back to the riot at the Capitol Building and the attempted coup by disgraced / former President Trump and his followers, I am reminded that “civilization” (like our liberties) is in a constant struggle with the “jungle” and the jungle never gives up in its struggle to reclaim whatever has been lost.  It is up to each American to support / promote our democracy and Constitutional Republic.  Trump remains an announced candidate for 2024.  The darkness remains at the edge of democracy.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	Defeated: So Far (Anyway)
2021	Elections Have Consequences
	It’s Cold Way Down There
2020	Fearless Security
2019	I Prefer A Neat Single Malt
2018	Seeking Finer Fruits
2017	Something That Is Absolute
2016	Animate And Encourage
	Out Of Time
2015	In Time
2014	Robust Interconnectivity
2013	What Have We Here?
2012	Tributaries And Eddies
	An Honest Politician
2011	Penultimate

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Decrease Your Limits To Increase Your Rates

The most unfortunate thing that happens to a person who fears failure is that he limits himself by becoming afraid to try anything new.
―     Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia
If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.
―     Thomas J. Watson
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On This Day In:
2022	Defeated: So Far (Anyway)
2021	Elections Have Consequences
	It’s Cold Way Down There
2020	Fearless Security
2019	I Prefer A Neat Single Malt
2018	Seeking Finer Fruits
2017	Something That Is Absolute
2016	Animate And Encourage
	Out Of Time
2015	In Time
2014	Robust Interconnectivity
2013	What Have We Here?
2012	Tributaries And Eddies
	An Honest Politician
2011	Penultimate

Read Full Post »