Here's an update:
The doctors confirmed that I do have ARVD and put me on medicine called Sotalol. It's supposed to regulate my heartbeat and keep it from going into ventricular tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). They also put the pacemaker/defibrillator in my chest, which is shown in the picture. The pacemaker's purpose is to give my heart 8 solid beats in case it ever goes out of control again. If that doesn't get it going in a good rhythm the defibrillator will shock me to reset my heart. Thankfully it's a pretty small cut and the soreness is almost gone. I have a few more days before I'm allowed to lift my arm above my head and then I'll be almost back to normal.
I joined an ARVD support group on Yahoo! and have gotten some good information there. Most people have either never been shocked or have been shocked 20+ times. I'm hoping I'll be in the first group.
I had a lot of great people bring me things and keep me company while I was in the hospital and I'm very thankful for that. It even gave me a chance to get to see some old friends I hadn't seen in awhile.
The other good news is that since I've been out of the hospital I haven't peed on myself.
So my plans from here are to take up non-competitive medium-speed walking, golf, and find more people to play ping-pong with me. I was going to the YMCA for basketball 3 times a week before all this happened and considered going back to be the referee but I realized that would make everyone hate me.
A few people have asked me about it, so I've decided when I have more time I'll write about how pooping saved my life. I know this will be a favorite subject for years to come for at least a few people (I'm looking at you, Tommy Hall).
7 comments:
you don't want to mention me washing your hair?
Tommy,
Glad to see you made your way to the ARVD Yahoo group!
By the way, I am "David 45 from Maine" on the ARVD group.
Red is just an online name, not my real name. Heck, I don't even have Red hair, its almost black...lol...
Sounds like your doing pretty well considering all you have been through.
By the way, I have not been shocked in over 2 years.
Although, I must admit to being shocked around 35 times and it hurts like heck. But it sure beats being dead.
I'm Jon, 55, and am on the site too. I was diagnosed 18 mos. ago and have yet to receive therapy from my device. I had been AF prior to getting the ICD but not since. My doc says I definitely have ARVD so I figure the meds (sotolol and lisinopril) are doing the job. When I'm at the health club on cardio machines I can not get my heart beat above 120 no matter how hard I try. Does that make me one of the lucky ones? If you read all the messages on the yahoo group site then I guess so. So many of those poor guys get zapped even in their sleep, and on top of that they have to keep taking other drugs to try and get it under control, with all sorts of negative side effects. literally a nightmare.
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I'm a 16 year old little shit who was an ex-skateboarder now old grandpa because of ARVD and I'd like to say that you hit it spot on with the fact that pooping saves the lives of us ARVDians. There's not much to do, getting drunk or high is out of the picture, hardcore sex is gone, fuck partying or fireworks, but pooping and golf are the highlights of my days! Keep your heart slow and your head up man, it blows being limited but it rocks being able to shit!
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