That’s appalling. As soon as the Cardiologist at the hospital detected evidence of missed heartbeats on the readout I sent him this morning, I received a message that he’d get me in for further tests to determine whether I need a pacemaker.
I suppose there are GPs and GPs.
Hi
Implanted devices are very effective solutions to some heart problems.
Unfortunately that cannot cure all heart conditions.
My particular issues cannot be resolved by an implant and is otherwise inoperable.
It is all the meds which keep me alive.
I have recently been in hospital yet again.
The dosages have been changed on some and new meds added.
I have 23 pills a day, delivered in Blister Packs, plus my GTN Sprays and Morphine, which are as and when needed.
I accept that, and when the time comes - which it will - I shall not be angry about it.
After all, I have almost had my three-score and ten.
Could be. Mine doesn’t have a dangling dongle, so it must be built-in to the main box. What mine has, though, is like a telephone receiver which you pick up and hold against your chest to pick up the recordings from the implanted device. You then replace it on the base station which then transmits the information to the hospital.
I must say, though, that when I transmitted my events over the weekend on Monday morning, they were back to me very quickly to tell me that the consultant would arrange to see me within a couple of weeks. Excellent service.
Yes, it’s an aerial, effectively, we used to dongle one, out through the porthole, way back when.
It was “Dangle” back then - but spelling mistajkes happen!
Perhaps the word ‘dongle’ has derived from the verb to ‘dangle’.
Sunday is the first day of my walking/jogging week so I always try to start the week with some distance. The day started really well as I walked and jogged my way around a six mile country road course. No sign of rain and just a coolish breeze and plenty of sunshine. Upon reaching home I glanced at the stopwatch and the time was quite spectacular, I joined in with a conversation between Mrs Fox and the next door neighbour who had dropped by.
I suddenly felt a disturbance in my chest (not unpleasant but worrying) and proceeded to collapse to the ground. I must have lost consciousness for just a few seconds as I was helped inside and placed in a comfy armchair, it happened again and a bit longer this time, but the administration of a hot mug of sweet Yorkshire tea seemed to work, and no further episodes happened for the rest of the day, except for a breathless feeling later.
I approached Mondays walk with some trepidation, and walked steadily around a three mile route by the side of the canal, expecting some kind of adverse reaction, but nothing happened and it ended up being a good walk.
Tuesday’s five however was a train wreck! After feeling good and jogging down the side of a grassy field and through the wood I was overcome with an energy bonk and flutterings in my chest. It was a hard decision to carry on, but after three miles things seemed to calm down and power was restored.
Wednesday was a rest day, so although feeling tired and lethargic I just pottered around the house. Thursday was my next proposed walk but while showering I had to grasp the shower door as my legs seemed unable to support my weight and I was drifting into oblivion. Fortunately I managed to struggle to the ‘Passing out chair’ and recovered. Thursday’s walk was abandoned…
These episodes that were once rare are now increasing in frequency and I don’t think my ICD is working properly. I shall go out this morning after two days rest and see what happens, and I will decide what further action to take (if any)…Wish me luck… 
And if anything happens send a copy of this post to the cardiologist… 
Good heavens OGF did you ring 111 ?
Don’t you think perhaps your heart is trying to tell you something like take it easy .
As you know,I’ve had heart problems ,OGF…i can relate to, quite a bit of what you’re saying, please get it checked out…
None of my business,but I don’t think you should be jogging 6 miles, I had to reign in my exercise after open heart surgery…please get it checked out OGF…let us know how you get on…your heart is extremely important.its telling you something OGF…get it checked out,
Morning Bob.
Implanted devices are great for electrical problems in the heart.
You may also have blood supply problems to your heart muscles.
I think you need to contact the Doctors to let them know what is happening.
On a practical note, don’t go out on your own, have someone with you.
OGF,
Did they put you on a Blood Thinner tablet?
(e.g. Apixaban) and, if so, have you been taking it?
Sorry to hear that Bob, personally I think you should ease off that walking/jogging until you get yourself checked out again.
It should be obvious that something is not right and needs to be sorted without delay.
Please put your wife first, she must be worried sick every time you leave your house. 
Sorry to worry everyone, I didn’t call 111 Muddy because I’ve had these kinds of events in the past usually after a long hard or fast run. Blood sugar is usually the culprit and can soon be brought under control with something sweet, hence the tea. I don’t seem to realise that nowadays most exercise seems to be my limit of endurance.
Pauline, I didn’t jog the whole six miles but dispersed it with some gentle walking. I felt fine while exercising but it caught up with me at the end.
Swim, since my two previous heart attacks the problems have always been electrical, something to do with the scar tissue shorting out the electrics and causing spurious heart muscle contractions which can exceed my maximum safe heart rate, and causing my left ventricle to empty before it’s full of blood. The trouble with taking someone with me is that nobody I know can keep up with me or go as far…
I’m not on a blood thinner other than aspirin Ted, I have been prescribed a beta blocker which should prevent my heart going into VT (ventricle Tachycardia) but It will be Monday before the prescription will be ready.
Thanks Mags, today’s outing was an assessment after two days of rest. I managed to complete a 9 mile route without too many problems, however some time after I did experience dizzy spells and it prompted me to call the cardiac unit at the Sheffield Northern General. I sent a download of todays activity and unusual heart activity was observed which would cause the problems I’ve been experiencing. Apparently the beta blockers should help although the cardiologist said it would be a month before the meds would improve the situation.
Today’s Stats:-
Bob please take it easy we are all worried about you 
Good heavens, OGF. You’ve had a pacemaker and now this happens.
Surely you should get back to the cardiology department and get their advice before you do any more running.
As SF so rightly says, pacemakers are good for electrical problems in the heart, but there are other factors to consider.
In my case, I know that I have coronary artery problems which, despite my pacemaker, I believe might still cause me to feel a little light-headed.
@OldGreyFox … brace yourself cos i’m going to nag you.
Learn to take it easy … try to enjoy your running whilst continuing to carry on living and enjoying life.
You daft thing, we’d all miss you.
Not wishing to try to impose on OGF’s thread, I have included a separate post to mention that on Thursday lunchtime I had another seizure.
Fortunately, I had been given a little dongle to use on such occasions and as soon as I came round I held it to my loop recorder to mark the time of the event. I then went to the bedroom to use the recorder to download the details and transmit them to the hospital. Unluckily, Marge was out at the time and when she got back and heard the news she was beside herself.
That same afternoon I received a callback from the hospital to tell me to come in that evening with a view to pacemaker implantation, as according to the trace my heart had stopped for 10 to 12 seconds.
It occurred to me that the same thing could have happened on the other five occasions of seizures. I’m lucky that I managed to revive myself each time: I could have died on any of those occasions!
On the following day I had a pacemaker implanted. I was very lucky to have that done by the most senior consultant. I was also fortunate that they did it under local anaesthetic and I could watch the event under fluoroscopy. I saw that one lead went to the right atrium and the other to the right ventricle. I suspect that the reason for that is that under normal circumstances the atria should contract first, followed by the ventricles.
I was allowed home today, although as one would expect that itself took hours for blood tests, etc., and especially waiting for the (junior) doctor to come to see me and write a report.
I’m now sitting at home with a rather painful operation site, but hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow.
Also, despite the pacemaker, I still feel slightly light-headed sometimes (see my last post for possible causes).
@JBR … have a hug from me JBR.
How very frightening, and sobering … to think of those 10 to 12 seconds that your heart had stopped. I bet that’s played over and over in your mind.
Thank goodness for such a quick response, on your part … and that you didn’t panic. Isn’t modern gadgetry wonderful … and it’s good to hear you’re back home already.
We seem to be getting a few bionic men on here of late.
You’re all worth your weight in gold (and silicon chips).
Hugs 
Thanks Morty.
Yes, the surgeon showed me the downloaded ECG trace: heartbeats going along all well and true, until a scary flat-line. That really brought it home to me.
Yes, I’m very grateful that I was given that monitoring thing in good time, as without that I’d have just continued to have ‘fits’ every now and again. Hopefully, now that they seem to be due to my heart, I should have no more ‘fits’ - I hope.
