redrum Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Well, at this time last Saturday I was in the emergency room with a serious case of 'Atrial Fibrillation'. It came on right after I woke up and an hour later I was hooked up to more wires than a Grateful Dead sound check board. It was damned scary and I really thought I was going to die. There was no pain or anything but my heart was beating at 170 beats per minute and flip flopping all over the place. NO FUN!!! I was there for 6 hours until I was fairly stabilized and before releasing me they gave me a capsule of medicine and by the time I got home my heart was at a normal beat. I've had one minor episode since but now it feels pretty good and I feel good too. So I got an EKG and next week I go in for an echocardiogram. My electrolytes were pretty low plus they have me on potassium and some other stuff that keeps my heart rhythm steady. The doc was trying to explain it to me how the one part of the heart is miscommunicating and that causes the weird beat. It was sort of like a twitch and after a while it really got irritating. But I think the worst part of the whole ordeal was having to go pee in the bottle and also right down the hall they had a little girl and I don't know what they were doing to her but she was screaming and crying and this really got to me and I myself broke down crying for her because I felt so sorry for her. It was awful to hear. Hospitals are definitely NO FUN!! But I guess this shows our mortality as we get along in years. On a positive note though I am back at my guitar and the doc made me give up coffee (anything with caffeine) because he said that is a major contributor to the fibrillation. So now I have to go to decaf or just give it up entirely. I'm sure sleeping a lot better without the caffeine so I guess that's a benefit. But I feel good now and that's what counts. Not really looking for sympathy but I just wanted to let you guys know. Thanks for listening. PS-With the new board I guess I lost all of my biography? Damn!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Oh god, Redrum. I'm glad to hear that you're okay. That must have been quite scary. On a lighter note: you can access the board to get your biography thread off. It will take a while, but it's worth the effort, isn't it? I'm sure it means quite a bit to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGG Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Wow!! Glad you're still around to tell the tale brother! Follow the docs orders and stay with us awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Bonnie~ Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Thank God you're alright! That sounded pretty scary...Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Tripper Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 "A no fun.. my babe... no fun.... no fun to hang around... freak out...... for another.. day" Yeah, that's exactly what popped into my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzfan715 Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Well at least you're okay. I hope that your health improves over the coming days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Bloody hell--glad to hear you're OK, redrum. That happened to a colleague of mine a few weeks ago, oddly enough--but she's doing fine now, and I'm sure you will too. Which doesn't alter the fact that it's REALLY SCARY when it happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desirezep Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 yea WHOEVER YOU THE VERY BEST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Whew! Glad to hear you're ok, Red! Hang in there, brother. *hug* and yeah,.. it is hard hearing kids crying/screaming in pain (and/or fear) in ERs, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Zeppnile Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Glad you are doing better Red. My father in-law had a similar thing happen last year after having the flu. Turned out he was a bit deyhrated and his electrolites were too low. After they got that in order he turned out too be fine and his 'ticker' has been operating good ever since. Hope your thing turns out to be okay too buddy. Del Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissandra Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 "A no fun.. my babe... no fun.... no fun to hang around... freak out...... for another.. day" I thought of the same thing Sorry to hear that, Redrum. I'm glad you're alright now though . I was just thinking the same thing about your biography thread, but like Mandy said you can get it back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mona Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Yikes. If that happened to me, I probably would die just because I'd be so scared. I'm glad that you're OK, and I hope that the results of the EKG come back positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 Thank you all for the kind words. I'm feeling pretty good now and am even riding my bike around town, weather permitting. I go in on Weds. for the echocardiogram and hopefully nothing else is out of whack. I'll let you all know. Hell, I want to live to 100!! But I feel great right now and am sleeping very well since giving up the caffeine. If some of you also have the symptons, a simple blood test will show a lot. Thanks again all. Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tang991 Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Glad to hear you're ok Red. I read your bio (or at least part of it) once on the old board and it was interesting just to hear how things were "back then". What kind of bike do you have (motorcycle i'm assuming?) I have a 2000 Buell Blast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 Glad to hear you're ok Red. I read your bio (or at least part of it) once on the old board and it was interesting just to hear how things were "back then". What kind of bike do you have (motorcycle i'm assuming?) I have a 2000 Buell Blast. I'm going to try to pick up on my bio where I left off (the beginning of the 70's) I don't ride anymore but I had an old Sportster, Shovelhead and the failed Super-Vee. I just couldn't afford them anymore. These days it's all about pedaling and today I'm riding an older Raleigh made in jolly old England. I need the exercise. Buells are hot!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desirezep Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 yep take care mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KashmirDevi Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Redrum, I don't know if you remember me from years ago on the old board, just wanted to say I'm glad that you are alright! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Oh my. So sorry to hear that but glad you're okay now. Definitely lay off caffeine and sugar too, I would think can also raise the heartrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 Redrum, I don't know if you remember me from years ago on the old board, just wanted to say I'm glad that you are alright! Thank you. I'm feeling really good right now and hope to stay that way for a LONG time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotplant Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I'm glad you are ok Red, that must have been scary. Take good care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 I'm glad you are ok Red, that must have been scary. Take good care. Thanks again. And yes, it really was scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killing Floor Blues Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Its good you're taking care of this now. Just listen to whatever your doctors tell you. A-Fib can be quite serious, especially as we age (I'm NOT calling you old ) It's not teribly uncommon for A-Fib to lead to stroke if left untreated. Good to hear you're taking the right steps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Its good you're taking care of this now. Just listen to whatever your doctors tell you. A-Fib can be quite serious, especially as we age (I'm NOT calling you old ) It's not teribly uncommon for A-Fib to lead to stroke if left untreated. Good to hear you're taking the right steps. Yes, I don't ever want to go through that again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo the Rover Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 SHHHEEEEIIIT Red ! I'm glad you came through it alright, man..how scary ! Take care of yourself Brother !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangerinedream Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Yes, I don't ever want to go through that again. Oh Red! Thanks heavens you're okay! Those heart problems can come from seemingly out of nowhere and get real serious real fast. My 38-year-old perfect-health brother had a heart attack a couple months ago. Luckily he was about two blocks away from a hospital, so he just drove himself to the ER. He said the walk from the parking lot to the ER was the longest walk he ever took in his life. It's genetic. My dad had a quintuple bypass, and he's a marathon runner! Anyway my bro is OK now, but he's also had to make some difficult changes in his lifestyle. Getting off caffeine is hard for about a week, then you realize how much it was fucking you up. I used to be seriously addicted to caffeine. I tapered off it to avoid the mother of all headaches. I noticed an almost immediate improvement in memory function and decrease in mental fogginess. I'm really glad I got off it. It seems like you're doing all the right things. Getting plenty of exercise by biking! And chasing cats around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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