My adventures with electronics....
Feb
24
Written by:
Friday, February 24, 2006 9:18 PM
Atrial Fibrillation can be an electrifying experience
Well, I spent all night Monday and most of Tuesday in the hospital this week. I was suffering from a variety of minor maladies, but then I went and ate very little during the day then tried out for a paintball team at NVP in the evening. Tryouts consisted of a starting exercise run of 5 laps around the track, 20 pushups and then sprints. After that I felt a bit faint, so I exited the field where I promptly got VERY weak.
A friend helped me outside to get fresh air and I just simply passed out. I sat with my head down between my knees for a good 2-5 minutes not very aware of what was going on around me. About the time I woke up the ambulance and fire crew arrived - by this time I could tell I was in Atrial Fibrillation - a condition that I have had for several years but not had any symptoms since going on Atenelol - a beta blocker almost 6 years ago. The ambulance crew measured my blood pressure as VERY low - under 80.
After a leisurely transport to the hospital and administration of some fluids I was feeling better, but still had the heart arrhythmia. The docs in the hospital decided to let me wait overnight to see if I would convert on my own - I did not. So the next morning I was administered a "twilight" anethesia, and they hooked the paddles up to me. A jump start later my heart was beating away with the proper rhythm. Val says that I let out quite a yell when they hit me with the juice. I remember it as if I was just relaxing when suddenly someone hit me simultaneously in the chest and back. It didn't hurt exactly but it didn't feel to great either. And despite the doctor's reassurances - I did remember it.
In any case - I'm fine now and cooking along. In my next entry I'll tell you about an interesting person I met at the hospital named Vincent Stanley.