Impressive heart

Once a year I check in with my cardiologist to keep tabs on the old ticker. The most recent check showed an increase in irregular heartbeats and the recommendation was to re-do the procedure. Having been abroad for a while, I thought it might be worth seeing a Sydney-based Electrophysiologist/Cardiologist for a second opinion. The cardiologist in Sydney described my stress test echocardiogram, as "one of the most impressive asymptomatic cases of PVCs" that he has seen. What has gone from a second opinion, to second attempt. The procedure is slightly different this time around. Instead of one entrance site on the right-hand side femoral vein, the catheter from the right, an ultrasound probe from the left. 

This time in Hurstville Private. It's nice having family around for the procedure. It's a little more standard, this time the anaesthesiologist puts me to sleep straight. I wake up and there's bleeding from both the groin sites and a familiar ache in the chest. Initial verdict, irregular heartbeats have been reduced but not completely eliminated. The muscle bundle from which the errant heartbeats were coming from the left papillary muscle, over 30+ ablations were performed. On blood thinners for the next 90 days.

Xmas 2017

Third Christmas that I've now been back for. It's insane that I went through a phase where in the past, I had "better things to do" during this time of the year. Although to be fair, the return trip to Sydney was fairly cost prohibitive in my younger years.

This year's Christmas would be a little different. For years, and I mean years. Christmas has always been held in the Southern Sydney Suburb of Blakehurst. This year, however the aunt that usually hosts the Christmas event had serious operation. Fortunately, another aunt picked up the baton and Christmas Eve festivities would take place in Menai. Christmas Eve always has two fundamental rules: Mountains (seriously) of food and the countdown to midnight, followed by unwrapping of presents.

Currently reading: "Radical Acceptance" - Tara Brach

Cardiologist: The results

Update on my heart situation. I have now been to the hospital six times since the first visit. I've had to go in to return hardware, perform tests and be updated. The tests performed, include: 24-hour ECG/holter, performing and MRI, going back for the MRI scan, doing another 24-hour ECG only to be told everything looks fine.

Had an interesting MRI experience, where I needed to go to the toilet halfway through the screening and the male technician reluctantly attached a bed pan to my junk.

So what's the outcome?

That I have three options:

a. Stop exercising
b. Take Beta blockers
c. Ablation/minor surgery

All three options are not ideal.