Post
by Colin Pearson » October 24th, 2017, 8:21 am
There is no point having a diary if you don't update it now and then.
But first a quick recap on this years adventures;
Late April, x2 VF arrests and the subsequent dropping dead then x2 full fat 41 joule shocks brought me back to life again, which was nice.
In hospital for a few days between late April and early May whilst they started me on Amiodarone. They kept my beta dose at the same elephant tranquilising level though.
Since early May, I have mostly been terrified about what the Amiodarone is doing to me. I've currently got to get myself to my local hospital where they'll take blood and have things tested to see if the Amio is actually slowly killing me.
A month ago off to see the consultant who asked lots of questions and read the ICD, no activity recorded at all, the Amio is earning its living it seems.
Today, another trip to the pacing clinic for the usual tests; battery is showing 8.5 years remaining which is good despite the ICD whacking me five times since mid 2013. And best of all NO recorded activity.
But....
The pacing tests, they really got me today and almost had me running for the door. The sensation is exactly the same as it is immediately preceding a run of VT and then a VF arrest so my nervous system not knowing the difference went into meltdown with nothing I could do about it.
I don't know about everyone else but they really whack up the speed, I was sat at 62bpm and then they pressed the button and it was at 90bpm, bloody horrible and had me nearly off the big seat and looking for the door.
The next test, my favourite, not, is the one where if you have two leads is where they make your heart beat upside and back to front. After a negotiation where I said, "Nope, you are not doing that test" and they came back saying they had to and then me saying "Just do it, do it, do it as quickly as possible", they did and my nervous sytem went into meltdown.
These tests although unpleasant have not really "got" me before but after today I'll be fearful of next time. But time I shall pop a chill-pill before going!
Driving, the forms are being filled in and signed off and soon i'll possibly be allowed to drive again, the thing is I'm sure I want to. I had my initial SCA whilst behind the wheel and quite frankly driving scares the hell out of me now. And that is from me previously being a very confident high mileage driver. This time after this third six month ban, I'm just not sure.
I'll update further when I get the bloodtest and results of what the Amio is or isn't doing.