Now I’m really the Bionic Woman! While Lindsay Wagner was able to run speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour, I can now climb hills (OK, little hills in Mt. Airy) one day after I got a defibrillator. Here’s my story: I have had a pacemaker since 2011 after passing out in the office. I learned that the mechanical system wasn’t working in my heart (but I do have excellent arteries, thanks to healthy eating and exercise). A few months ago I felt short breath when climbing stairs, and taking walks on those same little hills in Mt. Airy, which I reported to my cardiologist. He did an echocardiogram and told me that my heart had changed: Now the left side is not beating in the way it should, and he recommended I get a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator. After lots of on-line research and meetings with my doctors I learned that the defibrillator that the doctor recommended does more than shock the heart back into normal rhythm (what you commonly see on House and other TV shows). It acts like a pacemaker and has a third lead that is placed in a coronary vein on the outer surface of the lower left heart chamber to coordinate the beating of the left and right ventricles so they can work together more effectively to pump blood. My previous pacemaker had two leads, in the upper heart and lower heart chamber. Now I am getting benefit from the third lead. After 4 hours of surgery yesterday and an over-night stay at Jefferson Hospital, I was released early this afternoon. A few hours ago, Lou and I took a walk on Germantown Avenue from our house (Allens Lane) to the CVS in Chestnut Hill. For the first time in many months I did not stop to rest - except for a water ice at the Trolley Car Dinner - to catch my breath. I am very grateful to the amazing doctors at Jefferson – they are the best! Looking forward to attending Jared’s graduation from Central High on June 20.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:19:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015