pacemaker check

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Monday, January 27, 2020
Morning 35 Degrees, Wind NE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 60%, sunny.
Afternoon 68 Degrees, Wind W at 13 to 25 Mph, Humidity 20%, mostly cloudy.

We went to Roswell today, first time this year. As we have been going to Carlsbad since coming back from El Paso, Texas they have not had some things in stock at the Walmart there in Carlsbad. The Roswell store is bigger and does cary more in stock. Carlsbad seems to also be a little over populated for the stores available. There are extra oil production people come to Carlsbad as it is the largest area for over a hundred miles around outside of Roswell. We were almost home two more miles left to go on US 285 when the gust of wind came as we were going thru a curve in the highway and the car wanted to go in the other lane from the gust. I did catch it in time but really could notice the wind the rest of the way on the highway. Turning off onto Lakewood road we had a tail wind and a few sprinkles of rain before getting home to Buster.


The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Friday, January 31, 2020
Morning 36 Degrees, Wind NNE at 9 to 13 Mph, Humidity 54%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 53 Degrees, Wind NE at 5 to 7 Mph, Humidity 44%, sunny.

We had rain going out the door this morning on our way to the Cardiologist office visit today. It got better going south to Carlsbad, NM. It was crowded in the waiting area today maybe a little slow getting started with the pacemaker checks and other things going on also. I let them put the device on ny left chest (of course it is not there) but my lovely wife squealed on me telling them the pacemaker is on the right side. The pacemaker was read and battery checked, I am good for eleven years. Next check is in six months. For there we went and did some shopping.

Carlsbad Doctor

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Thursday, January 16, 2020
Morning 43 Degrees, Wind NNW at 10 to 13 Mph, Humidity 63%, cloudy.
Afternoon 62 Degrees, 

That dark spot on my neck is where the wire was put into
my neck down to my heart for the temp pacemaker

Cardiologist office visit today. The longest time doctor’s office visit I have ever had but there was a lot of history to record even tho I filled out the new patent form I was given last night, (home work). It was a more in depth interview than was asked for on the new patent form. Another took my vitals and EKG all before seeing the doctor.

The doctor checked the incisions and where the wire was put into my neck down to my heart and where in implant was placed. I am done with bandages on those sights. And can take regular showers, yea. A visit the doctors office again Monday for a blood thickness check. They use a meter like I have to keep track of my glucose level only it uses a larger amount of blood to do the job.
 

Pacemaker incision site on right chest

Carlsbad

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Morning 52 Degrees, Wind WSW at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 19%, cloudy.
Afternoon 63 Degrees, 

Yesterday I called the Cardiologist office to check on the drug I was ordered to take for five days. The last pill was Sunday with a blood test on Monday at Artesia general Hospital, so what do I do now? When I called the telephone operator in the doctors office of course did now know and left a message with a nurse. The nurse called back a short time later and I gave her my history (long). With that call ended she consulted with the doctor and returned my call. The blood thinner I took for five days were 1 mg and I also had five mg tablets that I was prescribed before El Paso that I was not taking and had the remainder available. It was decided to take ½ of the 5 mg tablets until after I visit the doctor on Thursday. Today we drove to Carlsbad and the doctors office, find actual location and pickup new patent forms and fill out at home (home work before the doctors visit). I also gave them a copy of the hospital’s discharge report (fifty pages, double side printed). Basically I left them some overnight light reading (their home work) history on me.

Artesia, NM

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Monday, January 13, 2020
Morning 33 Degrees, Wind S at calm Mph, Humidity 44%, sunny.
Afternoon 73 Degrees,

Big outing today first ride in the car going to Artesia. First up was the hospital for a blood draw. Register and wait good operator doing the draw found the vane easily. Then on to Walmart forgetting why we wanted to go and remembering after getting home, but we did spend fifty dollars anyway. Also a trip to Dollar Tree for a night lite.

Today was the first time going to Happy Hour (four to five pm) this year. I was able to publicly than the people that heaped us for far this year, actually felt good. 

Sunday night I was shaving after a shower and was surprised see how small the bandages on my chest and neck are. To me I cannot see them unless using a mirror. 
 
So that was my first day excursion today. Thursday we are off to Carlsbad, NM to the Cardiologist (not the same Doctor that did the operation) for a post operation visit and continuing care.


Artesia, NM

Saturday

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM -  Saturday, January 11, 2020
Morning 26 Degrees, Wind S at calm Mph, Humidity 84%, sunny.
Wednesday

On the ride home I did sleep some in the car (Chevy four door pick up truck) I do not know how long. Tuesday night going to bed I tried to go to my normal side, but that means I have to step up on the engine box. I tried to go once but lifting my foot hurt so cancel that and slept on my lovely wide’s side of the bed. More Tylenol, going to bed helped for the next day. In the morning on Wednesday, I was walking a little better more Tylenol. My lovely wife had some errands to do so I stayed right here in my computer chair until she came back. We did not want to be the commercial “I’ve fallen and can’t get up”.

There is another loop around my arm

My feet were feeling better as the day went on. My lovely wife did not have to fix dinner to night as we were promised dinner by Rob and his lovely wife Taffie. So I have not been out of Buster until today Saturday we were out to dump the holding tank, first time this year, check the batteries water and pit water in the fresh water tank. We always keep Busters fresh water tank full in cast the park water system has a problem.

Saturday

home again

The SKP Ranch Lakewood, NM - Thursday, January 9, 2020
Morning 41 Degrees, Wind SSW at 0 to 1 Mph, Humidity 38%, sunny.

One of the things I was told prior to surgery, numerous times that I will should not raise the right elbow above arm pit high, for a while, so OK that is not very many restrictions.

There is another loop around my arm

But waking up from surgery my arm is strapped to my chest, feeling like the one arm man. One loop around my arm just above the elbow and another cuff holding my hand. I do not want to be the one arm man. Tuesday morning I was allowed to use my hand I could release my hand from the binding and keep the arm strap in place. I can not move my elbow much away from my body. They would like my to keep my hand in the loop when sleeping, in case I get “wild” when sleeping.

Pacemaker temporary Id card

Finally able to eat, I have had nothing since Sunday when I was given a sandwich prior to surgery late Sunday evening. On Tuesday morning I could not stand on my feet to void as they hurt. I have been off my feet since Saturday when I had fainted doctors told me to stay in bed. Sunday night even I had pain in my foot that would not allow me to go to sleep. I asked for and got Tylenol thus being able to sleep. Early afternoon physical therapy lady came in and evaluated me she did notice my high arches helping me doing stretches. I keep doing them until it was ready to get dressed and go home. We left to room and headed down (by wheelchair) to transportation. Bob and Marilyn were here to take me and my lovely wife home. Bob and Marilyn (from the SKP Ranch RV Park) were in town (El Paso) to have dinner with his brother on Saturday. They were in the hospital Saturday when the procedure was done to commuter wires into my neck down into my heart, sitting with my lovely wife. They were there also on Monday while the pacemaker was being inserted sitting with my lovely wife. My daughter Carole visited on Sunday night while she was on her way home (driving) from Anaheim, California.

It took only 35 minutes to fly from Carlsbad to El Paso but it took three and one half hours door to door driving home (there was commuter traffic in El Paso as it was before six pm). Getting home to the SKP RV Park we stopped for a minute at Rob’s rig (who drove me and my lovely wife to Carlsbad hospital) and he got a neighbor (Dave) and met us at Buster (our Motorhome). They were at Buster to help my up the five steps into Buster. My feet still hurt but better than when I first tried to put a foot on the floor in the morning to void, more Tylenol. 

El Paso, Texas

University Hospital, El Paso, Texas
Morning 41 Degrees, Wind W at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 40%, partly cloudy.

Meals was latter in the emergency room department, nothing to write home about. Might be a different kitchen doing the preparation. Could not actually go off to sleep sometimes as I am not a back sleeper.  It wasn't until I was able to get somewhat onto my right side to not feeling like I was suffocating. It was Also a matter of thin mattresses beds, the thin bed in emergency felt hard and my bum hurt. Better beds in the room, thicker mattress with some sort of air system but not a sleep number mattress I had no control of it your bum is still not “happy”.
I was in the operating room about 2:00 pm Saturday then to CVICU about 5:pm until Monday.

Saturday night my lovely wife said something to the nurse about the total grams supplied at each meal seemed to be high. The next meals were 30 grams lower. Every tray brought in had a meal summery paper as to what was there and the grams of each item with a total. 
It has taken time but my chest is feeling better, from the fall back on December 23,. Today January 9, coughing is without pain. After my fall it was painful to cough, sneeze and some heavy breathing. Since my event on Saturday morning I am not allowed out of quantity. Until then at least I was allowed to stand to void. But all the time in the hospital they wanted me to use a container so they could measure the quantity.

Sunday about 10:20 am the temporary pacemaker kicked in at 50 hart rate I did not even notice. Again the Cardiologist was able to see the event as I am wearing the monitor. Nothing else after that. It was per arranged to have my daughter Cindy talk to the Cardiologist. It did not go well as my daughter was not happy with him. She requested a certain pacemaker, and placement, as I am left hand dominate. After he left the room Cindy told me not to sign any paper to operate until after an EP consult, yes. My daughter even said the specialist type of Cardiologist.

Wires going my neck

Monday January 6, in the morning another Cardiologist (EP type) came in the room for a consult. A consult was asked for prior to surgery, it was asked for on Saturday before the pacemaker was put in. My lovely wife and I had plan, with our daughter Cindy, a Cardiac Nurse (who is in on placement of pacemakers daily) in North Carolina. As the Cardiologist (EP type) came in the room and I realized who he was I started dialing, when connected I said to the Cardiologist it’s for you, it is my Cardiac Nurse. He was impressed, Cindy wanted proper understanding of device manufacture (brand) and placement in the body. It did seem like I was “hanging around” waiting the rest of the day for surgery. Paper came in finally and was explained to my lovely wife and me, you know like a contract when you are buying a car. But they had to add in placement of device and manufacturer (brand name). Then I was in the operating room at 5:pm getting ready for the procedure, they clean you and place draping around the surgery area. When the Cardiologist came in he had them re-due the drape for a right side implant. I was back in the CVICU room about 7:30 pm. Procedure done and temporary wire removed. Still connected to the monitor.

New Years Eve

Well what did you do for New Years Eve, anything exciting?

Cabinet

Well was working on a cabinet to use at the back end of the slide out. We were using a fold up TV tray table with a larger top storing things.  Going to make a couple of cuts on a couple of pieces of wood for the cabinet. Going into the wood shop I tripped over an electrical cord charging a golf cart (batteries). I fell forward going to  my knees and into to the table saw hurting my chest. That was on the twenty-third of December.

On the twenty-sixth I had a fainting while setting in my chair at the computer. This happened again on the thirtieth but I went to the floor this time. On the thirty-first I was at the stove melting a grill cheese sandwich and went down. Something came over me an wake up with my wife patting (all three times) my chest.  It also feels like she is interrupting a dream. Also I felt tired and wanted a nap.

I drove to Artesia Hospital on the thirty-first to get checked out. My lovely wife and I were there about three hours.
I wanted to leave as there was not Cardiologist Doctor to Treat me there.  We were given a script to fill at Walmart Pharmacy and needed to be  there before six and it is five pm now on New Years Eve. O had another fainting while riding in the car and my lovely wife driving on the way to get the prescription (same feeling & conditions).

We went to Artesia hospital but I did not go in. We ended up going back and getting the prescription and riding home. Home a short while I went to raise the thermostat in the hallway and check the temperature setting felling cool in here and had another fainting. My lovely wife called an ambulance. She helped me up and I went to sit in the recliner chair.

The fire department EMT came I was sitting in the recliner chair. They put a monitor on me nothing “jumped” out at them, just a 75 year old man. They could only transport to Artesia Hospital, not tonight. They said I could go by car to Carlsbad Hospital emergency that’s what we did. Rob one of our neighbors in the park drove me and my lovely wife there.

Carlsbad hospital ran some tests and the house doctor transferred me to University Hospital in El Paso, Texas. Ambulance ride to the airport, 35 minute flight to El Paso, Texas, Ambulance ride to University Hospital. We arrived about one thirty am and spent nineteen hours there (New Years) before going to a room upstairs. Wearing a monitor every time they stick on my chest about five electrodes to measure the hart and lungs. Every department or hospital wants their stickers the other are pulled off and new ones are used. Everybody wants to stick your vanes to draw blood. Cuff your arm and check blood pressure and glucose.   

Monitor with Battery telemetry

Food service was latter using Styrofoam container and tray in the ER compared to being up in a room using plates and (hot food) covers.

in the operating room wires installed

Monitor, here at the room I have a battery operated unit with 5 pick ups, leads connected to me with stick on patches. That is where the doctor got the traces. Possible to move around more even a pocket designed to hold the monitor transmitter in the gown.
About 9:10 am, after breakfast and sitting on the  side  of  the  bed,  I fainted,  scared everyone.  I am on a cardiologist monitor. Vitals also taken. Vitals, coming in the room on regular routine, blood pressure cuff, temperature, oxygen and blood glucose. A short time later the house Cardiologist came into the room with three pages print out of the event, now we know a diagnosis. When there is room (Available) in CVICU they will put me on a portable pacemaker. In a neck vane they inserted wires down to my heart and connected to the pacemaker. (Saturday)

black box hanging on I/V pole is temp pacemaker