EP study they check the electric activity in your heart. I'd write more but I'm just checking in between meetings. Check out this website from the Heart Rhythm Society for more info. http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_tests/electrophysiology_study.asp
Bill, you have my best wishes! I know someone from high school who has a similar condition with the cardio arrhythmia and also has one of those defib units. It is serious and scary stuff, but I am sure that you will be just fine.
Well the EP study went well. I am scheduled for 5-10-10 @730am to have open heart surgery to pace the pace maker and difibrilator. So not excited!!
I posted about when my surgery will be. also I am getting a medtronic device... so i guess I will owe you a beer for all the help and knowledge
good luck bill!!! I also have heart problems and this someday could be me..so I will send a prayer to you and beth. get well soon and just remember chipotle will be ready when you are.
Well, no pacemaker yet. They had complications when starting my surgery. I will still need 4-6 weeks for recovery, then they will try the install again when I am stronger.
Bill is not actually capable of typing right now.....if he was it would probably look a little something like this-ajkhsdf;aosiudhe;ow4e4ntq3wa-sfp9o;i3wm 'Q. So this is Beth typing for him : ) When he was 10 months old-Bill had an open heart surgery to correct the heart defect he was born with--this surgery created lots of scar tissue. Today, when they went to cut his sternum, they nicked his heart and he started bleeding rapidly (his heart was adhered to his sternum with the scar tissue). They were able to get the bleeding to stop without much blood loss. The doctor decided that it would be fatal if he were to continue with the surgery. So now bill has a new incision in his chest and no new hardware. He will be on full "sternal precautions" for 4-6 weeks (ie no driving, pushing, pulling or lifting over 10 lbs). Once hes strong enough he will go back to the hospital and they will insert the pacer/defib through his left ribcage. Yeah, so, not such a great day. Bill would love to have visitors and calls, maybe just give us a heads up if you wanna visit. I will be staying with him while he's in the hospital. So I may be screening his calls
I'm glad they caught that quickly and got him back to health. Out of curiosity, would the scar tissue fusion have been visible with x-ray or some other kind of scanning at all?
Ahhhh now it all makes sense. I was trying to figure out why they would implant the leads the way bill was saying. The only time I've ever heard of it is with people that have had bypass surgery. Well, best of luck man! Get better soon. -Ryan
Sorry to hear the surgery failed. Good to hear that my ginger brother is still kickin though and they have an alternative way to tackle the problem.
thanks everyone!!! I am back at home now. recovery is going well, but I'm not even a week in. I can already tell I will be loosing my mind by the end of 4 weeks not being able to drive!!!! visitors are welcome just let me know ahead of time before you head out.
I'm sensing lots of beer will be drunk in these 4 weeks by William. (Is beer-drinking allowed with your recovery regiment, Bill??)
Annie and I are praying for you Bill. Im gonna try to get out and pay you a visit since I get out of work at like noon. You have any video games or anything? let me know, if not, I'll bring some kind of entertainment. I hope your doing well man.....
I am still soar, but I have been going on 30 min walks 3 times a day. feeling better but still pretty bored!!! all visitors welcome, I will be going to a local bar tonight to watch the twins game and have a beer if anyone wants to join I will be at crossroads bar and grill...
Well my next surgery is June 24th! I will be put on the bypass machine so they can safely go through my sternum this time. My surgery is at 130pm at children's hospital in Minneapolis. There are two reasons for this 1, my heart issue is congenital (from birth) 2, the surgeon doing the surgery is from children's an they want him to have home operating room advantage, and well I do too.... so if ya pray, send them up. If you don't.... do whatever it is ya do because I am not excited about this and could use all the support I can get. Thanks all!!!!!!!!!
Bill is now stage 2!!!! He got his pacemaker and defibrillator put in on Thursday! The surgery went well-it took 7 hours and he had to be put on the heart/lung bypass machine to get it done but it went great. Yesterday was a great day too! He was able to be taken of the ventilator machine at 8:45 in the morning. The pain medications that he is on make him a little sleepy but he has been his usual smart aleky self. He slept well last night but is still sleepy so they turned down his pain medications some. Bill would LOVE to have visitors. We are at Childrens Hospital in Minneapolis. If you could call or text me or Bill before you come, that would be great!!
