The "Defibrillator" - my personal experience.
The Defibrillator is a Life Saver for someone suffering CHF [Cardiac Heart Failure]
This is a fair representation of what was put into my chest just bellow my left collar bone
on December 8, 1999 and replaced yesterday December 12, 2008.
.
The Image you see is the "Generator" with the leads going to the heart its THE Defibrillator, as I understand it. The dime gives perspective of size. Almost looks like a "Zippo" lighter, but it is a little heavier.
.
This unit is like a portable "EMT" - it can act as a pacemaker. But, it main purpose is to "shock" the heart when needed. Lucky me, it never went off.
But for some people it saved their life, with a "kick" like a mule in the chest to stimulate the heart.
.
I'll explain what happened further on.
.
But this is where I began building my first website that evolved into "TheLithuanians" - and my Lithuanian activity as a Yahoo Group Moderator, developing a radio station [The Lithuanians Voice] and a video effort of all shapes - from program development, several TV channels and rebroadcasting Lithuanian Television programs [You have seen some of what I mentioned.
Here is a flash back and my TEAM that has kept me going for just over "nine" years.
.
All this started with a computer to keep me occupied during a three month recuperation. I was given 7 boxes with all sorts of components [ what is all this stuff ??]. I didn't know what to do with all this. But a few friends and neighbors helped with the assembly and tech support explained what I should do. I remember crashing the machine six or seven times and waiting on the phone for hours to get help...
.
Well all this changed over time with more experience... Yes, December 1999 was my first time on the Internet, with a Pionex Computer and AOL [We all had to start somewhere].
.
So, that's were I started and now fast forward to Yesterday, and the replacement of my Defibrillator. The reason for the replacement was do to the batteries wearing down after nine years. I was told that they might last up to five years.
.
SO WHAT HAPPENED:
Simply stated my Defibrillator was replaced with a NEW one slightly thinner and narrower.
.
I arrived st the BIDMC [Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center] Farr Building, 4th Floor Cardiology reception at 8:55AM greeted by a very nice Young Man [younger than me] and he put me through the paces and I sat down in the waiting area. Already, because of other procedures, they were running behind.
.
Then Cheryl [RN] came, went through a paper storm of Q & A etc as if the "Shuttle" was on a count down before blast off.
.
Numerous other medical staff came in for more Q & A - Carroll [RN] and ....... The the Surgeon Dr Papageorgiou, Dr Cooper - Anesthesiologist, Dr Alena [first name, a Fellow] and more RN's.
Everything was fully explained and with no rush. I was briefed and has all my questions answered.
.
Then off to the OR, and greeted by the OR Nurses who prepped me - all with a terrific sense of humor through the entire procedure.
.
The anesthesia was applied around the incision area - I was fully aware [awake] otherwise. NO PAIN at all during the procedure; incision, unplugging the leads to the heart, taking out the Defibrillator, test the leads to the heart, inserting the new Defibrillator, more anesthesia as the Defibrillator was tested to Shock the heart, then the stitches inside and outside, and done -
.
The wound was bandaged up. You would have thought I had a "bullet" wound. DON'T GET THIS WET. No shower on this area for 11 days, until the DEVICE CLINIC runs their tests.
NO PAIN - [smile]. 12:45PM
.
Oh, there was pain, the insertion of the needle for the IV - but it was an OUCH not verbalized.
.
So this was done and back to the recovery area, a turkey sandwich and a diet soda. And, a debriefing after "re entry" by many of the same medical staff as before.
.
Then the pick up [3:45PM and home - and feeling just fine, can't lift heavy objects with my left hand.
.
Another NO PAIN operation [Last one July, 2008]
.
WELL, this may benefit someone with CHF having a similar procedure.
AND, this may explain some Why's, and WHAT FOR's.
.
The bottom line is, do not ignore a pain you experience. Act on it right away.
Had I acted on three unusual events before my last heart attack [November 11, 1999], maybe much of what I went through would not have happened.
.
NOT THE END, but I stopped smoking in 1999, lost a ton of weight and have not ignored a single new event or pain since.
.
Hope My Living Web Page helps you some day.
.
So that is how I spent part of my day, Friday December 12, 2008
.
So, your read this far. You deserve a reward -
Hear some Seasonal songs or see some videos:
- The Lithuanians Voice Channel 6 -
- Bottom of the page, two videos. - Santa Claus an or Gero Upo.
No comments:
Post a Comment