Still No Country For Old Men

On Friday, February 21st, about 5:30 pm, while sitting calmly at home watching TV while Anne was in Philadelphia helping to welcome our second granddaughter into the world, my heart beat went haywire again! I spent an hour trying to decide if it was going to calm down and if not, could I drive to the nearest hospital where I had been on the morning of the 13th. I had just gotten the bill for that first 8-mile ride and it was $1100.00! I finally decided I'd better go, but I would try to make it myself. I did make it but practically collapsed at the ER admitting desk. I don't know the doctor's name yet, but I will be eternally in her debt. And now I know that feeling of "being kicked in the chest by a mule"! Wow. But it only lasted about two seconds. My pulse returned to almost normal within a few moments. They diagnosed me with ventricular tachycardia, called my cardiologist who said to send me to the VA/Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville -- a 2 1/2 hr ambulance ride. In the meantime the nurses finally got in touch with Anne in Philadelphia and proceeded to scare her to death! 'Wouldn't say anything except someone needed to get there as quickly as possible! On the ride to Nashville, Anne and I connected and I said there was no immediate rush. We decided to call brother Stuart in Versailles who said he would leave early the following morning. I got settled in to ICU and was watched over very closely all night. Next morning, Sunday, Stuart arrived and we spent a rare and valuable, cherished day together. Anne called in the morning to tell me her mother had died that morning. Although it wasn't completely unexpected, it was and is a shock. The loss of one's parents is never easy or without a lot of pain. Once again, my taking Coumadin delayed any serious tests for a few days. Monday morning, Stuart picked up Anne at the airport and brought her to the hospital. Late that afternoon, we decided it best if they would drive on to Chattanooga, spend the night, and Stuart return home on Tuesday and Anne drive our vehicle back to Nashville. On Wednesday, the 25th, the plan was to do a TEE and check for blood clots, then an EP test, then implant an ICD (Implantable Cardio Defibrillator -- pacemaker / defibrillator combo). However, by being off the Coumadin so much recently they found a blood clot which precluded the EP. However they felt it necessary to go ahead and implant the ICD right away for safety's sake. They did and it was successful, although somewhat painful during the process and very sore now. They kept us until Friday noon to keep watch on the ICD and my darling wife drove us back home last night. We go back this coming week for a follow up. While I won't deny it was a scary episode, I feel confident in the doctors and their treatment and, for my part, have certainly given up any bad habits I might have had in the past!

I didn't find any humorous episodes in this hospital visit.... Our love to everyone.