I last wrote about Trish’s and my reaction to the Covid pandemic in October. It was a very positive note and focused on what we had done to enjoy our lives. I will now bring my pandemic history up to date.
I note that I did not mention that my Apple Watch, unprovoked, suggested to me last August that I probably had AFIB (atrial fibrillation) and to “check with your doctor”. I then entered into what was an unpleasant period.
The Apple Watch AFIB diagnosis was verified by my Scripps’s cardiologist. It continued. On September 1st I underwent a “cardioversion”, an in-hospital procedure that sends a jolt through the chest that literally burned my skin such that I could not wear a shirt with any comfort for several days - you have undoubtedly seen similar devices on walls at airports. It stopped the AFIB but just for a couple of weeks when it returned and was then proclaimed as “persistent” (24/7). My cardiologist then recommended the implant of a “Watchman” device, a minute screen that is inserted through the femoral vein into the atrial region of the heart to cover a small hollow where clots form that too often break loose and cause strokes. The Watchman was inserted on November 2nd and gave me relief that a stroke was unlikely.
But the AFIB continued. Its affect was to slow me down in many ways: less energy in general, higher pulse rate which went much higher during exercise, general malaise. Since exercise has been very important for me for most of my adult life, I found this inhibiting and discouraging. Though not what I would call depressed, I felt increasingly bummed. I consulted my cardiologists and “radio frequency ablation” was recommended as the only real option for possible cure. Though I was older than most who get this procedure, because of my attitude and general good health, the procedure was scheduled for Friday February 19. The procedure was similar to that for the Watchman.
The ablation went well. I stayed over-night in the hospital and came home the next day. As I write this on March 15th, I am still recovering, not from the operation but from the anesthesia. Apparently, this was a longer process than the Watchman. My energy is coming back but I tire easily. AFIB is known to reoccur after the first ablation and another may be necessary. I hope that this will not be my experience. (So far, so good as of April 15, 2023
I am convinced that my first AFIB “attack” was at Abra Patricia Lodge, at high altitude in Northern Peru in 2012, after taking Larium a malaria-preventing drug. I had never experienced a reaction to Larium (which I had taken for several years to prevent malaria during tropical birding trips) but one night I seemed to get every negative side-affect: delirium, where I found myself off of the bed and on the floor by my bed believing I was trying to keep from falling into writhing naked bodies I was standing on!, hives and worst of all: losing my breath under physical stress. I was unable to hike on a trail to see the recently discovered Long-whiskered Owlet, a very rare and major target bird. I had lost my energy….because of my first AFIB attack, in my opinion. This diagnosis was later confirmed as likely by the tropical medicine expert at the CDC in Atlanta. I also wonder whether Larium started the deterioration of my aortic valve which was replaced in July of 2013.
Trish has continued to deal with a multitude of health “issues” including diabetes, Sjogren’s Syndrome, asthma, fungal pneumonia. She occasionally gets down but has always come back with good humor and a positive attitude.
Thus, health issues have dominated the second half of our Covid quarantine. But enough organ recitals!
Otherwise we have done quite well, generally enjoying our enforced solitude. I have continued my Zoom exercise classes and recently returned to on-site physical therapy, both of which help immeasurably in “keeping the old man out!”
I cook a lot and enjoy my chores as scullery-maid, etc. We get together with Inga Liden, our Swedish pal, in jointly preparing meals from her extraordinary cookbook written some 30 years ago. Her approach was to do recipes for complete meals. I pick the main course and then we assign preparation of all dishes. We also have instituted Zoom Quarantinis with family and friends from around the country. Dudley remains a major focus for both Trish and me. He brings so much joy with his antics and attitude.
Written in March, 2021, updated in June.
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