Below is a letter that I sent to my church brothers and sisters and to some friends.
Moments:
December 7, 2016
To All:
I had a heart ablation performed on my heart in 2012. The oblation was necessary due to irregular heart beats at random times. At that point in time, my heart rate would accelerate from its normal 65 beats per minute up to about 110 beats per minute. These instances lasted from 20 seconds to two minutes and happened at random intervals ranging from one day to as much as a week apart. The cardiologist diagnosed this as benign tachycardia. It was not life threatening, but it was uncomfortable. Since my health was very good, the cardiologist and I decided to perform an ablation and put the issue to rest. The first ablation did not work, and I was placed on a very low dosage of metaprolol. It is a high blood pressure drug that also reduces the happenings of tachycardia events. It was very successful for six years, but in the last several months the tachycardia events have come closer and closer together. About a month back, my cardiologist and I decided to try another ablation. That ablation occurred this past Tuesday at the Austin Heart Hospital.
It is a simple procedure, where two electrodes are passed through one’s veins and into the heart. One electrode finds the spot that is causing the ablation, and the other electrode is used to “sear” over that spot. The thought being that once the scar tissue covers the “spot’ there will be no more tachycardia. In brief, the scar tissue prevents the extra electrical impulses that cause tachycardia. In the simplest form, it is just a mechanical operation.
My future will be to take some drugs that will keep my heart in normal operating condition for the next two months. After the passing of two months, the drugs will be curtailed and if the tachycardia does not return, I will be cured. That is the expected outcome by my cardiologist. If the tachycardia persists, I will have to take a medication for the long term. Either event will not affect my life. This procedure was a win, win for me.
As gregarious and outgoing as I am, I am in some ways a very introverted, and maybe a selfish person. I didn’t want to let anyone know prior to the operation, because I didn’t want to bother others with a minor surgical procedure. There are so many others out there who need your prayers and attention more than Dana and I. Dana is staying in the room with me. That translates into her being very uncomfortable sleeping in a large chair and tending to my needs while still managing our schools via telephone. I didn’t want her to have additional duties, such as answering phone calls about my well being. While I do love all of you, there are times in one’s life that being alone is more practical.
Dana and I will be traveling home tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. She will be immersed in her work, and I will be working and readying for Dana’s Sunday afternoon faculty party. I do love all of you, and you can now pray for a speedy and lasting cure.
Don
