About a year ago I woke up to something wrong. It wasn't the three o'clock pee trip, this was something off. I went to my recliner, and the longer I sat there the worse I felt. I woke the wife and I got dressed.
I told the wife goodbye and headed to hospital. I couldn't believe how lousy I felt. Í was immediately taken into registration, trouble breathing.The ER doc was passing through registration. He took one look at me and said, "get him to a room now". The next thing I knew it was several people, IVs, oxygen and blood draws. After all the hoopla the ER doc came in and said I'm shipping you to ICU, you are in Afib.
MRIs, stress test, too many blood test and 4 prescriptions just to mention a few of fun things. Then a cardio version that didn't work. Every time I turned around it was, you have to go here for this, you have to go there for that. Boy it's gotten old! The worst part is having to take a blood thinner. I can't even look at myself without a bruise showing up. I build and work on motorcycles. By night, I look like a leopard.
Standing on stage looking like that was embarrassing to say the least. I started wearing 3/4 shirts just to cover the bruising. In 90 to 100 degree weather it really sucked. Plus, it didn't cover my hands and they looked horrible by themselves. I didn't know what to do, maybe quit playing? Over 50 years of stage time and that thought alone was really depressing!
I was setting watching TV when this ad came on about the "Watchman". ("In a nutshell"), "It reduces / prevents chances of blood clots (stroke heart / attack causers) and will allow a person to get off blood thinners. 90 days later, start on an aspirin regimen". After seeing the ad, I started my research and made an appointment with my cardiologist. After conversation he set me up with a top rated cardiac surgeon in Grand Rapids. More testing and I was found to be a candidate for the procedure. I guess not everyone is.
Last Wednesday, the 19th, I had the one hour procedure done under anesthesia. What an experience! 90 days from then like said, I'm done with blood thinners and the leopard look to follow. If you are hurt in any way I was told to immediately seek medical attention if possible before bleeding to death, nice That came from my regular doctor. I have been back in normal rhythm for quite a while. Now with this done I can return to my normal life. shortly.
I told the wife goodbye and headed to hospital. I couldn't believe how lousy I felt. Í was immediately taken into registration, trouble breathing.The ER doc was passing through registration. He took one look at me and said, "get him to a room now". The next thing I knew it was several people, IVs, oxygen and blood draws. After all the hoopla the ER doc came in and said I'm shipping you to ICU, you are in Afib.
MRIs, stress test, too many blood test and 4 prescriptions just to mention a few of fun things. Then a cardio version that didn't work. Every time I turned around it was, you have to go here for this, you have to go there for that. Boy it's gotten old! The worst part is having to take a blood thinner. I can't even look at myself without a bruise showing up. I build and work on motorcycles. By night, I look like a leopard.
Standing on stage looking like that was embarrassing to say the least. I started wearing 3/4 shirts just to cover the bruising. In 90 to 100 degree weather it really sucked. Plus, it didn't cover my hands and they looked horrible by themselves. I didn't know what to do, maybe quit playing? Over 50 years of stage time and that thought alone was really depressing!
I was setting watching TV when this ad came on about the "Watchman". ("In a nutshell"), "It reduces / prevents chances of blood clots (stroke heart / attack causers) and will allow a person to get off blood thinners. 90 days later, start on an aspirin regimen". After seeing the ad, I started my research and made an appointment with my cardiologist. After conversation he set me up with a top rated cardiac surgeon in Grand Rapids. More testing and I was found to be a candidate for the procedure. I guess not everyone is.
Last Wednesday, the 19th, I had the one hour procedure done under anesthesia. What an experience! 90 days from then like said, I'm done with blood thinners and the leopard look to follow. If you are hurt in any way I was told to immediately seek medical attention if possible before bleeding to death, nice That came from my regular doctor. I have been back in normal rhythm for quite a while. Now with this done I can return to my normal life. shortly.
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