Starting Over

So my Hubby is right back to where we started a month ago, sitting in hospital waiting for surgery.

He spoke to his doctor here on Thursday because he was not recovering as quickly as they thought he would and was feeling sick and tired all of the time. The doc decided to squeeze him in for an ECG at the hospital on Friday. The ECG came back that his rhythm was good so doc figured that it was most likely the medications that were causing him to feel worn out. He decided to reduce the drugs and let the ICD take over controlling the heart rate.

We were scheduled to go back to SJ to have the machine checked in 3 weeks time. The hospital here only has clinics for pacemakers and ICDs on Fridays and they just do one brand, or make, of machine each week. Luckily we knew what make his ICD was and it just happened to be that company rep who was doing the clinic yesterday. It was pure luck and they were able to squeeze him in.

When they hooked the ICD up to the diagnostic machine and looked at the history everything looked great, but when they tried to make his heart speed up so they could check the rhythm it wouldn't work. In the end they discovered that one of the wires into the heart had come loose so they had to shut off the machine immediately because it could shock him unnecessarily and in the wrong part of the heart. In an a matter of minutes the situation changed from being on our way home to being admitted and waiting for surgery again.

They think they can get him in for surgery next week. In the meantime, Hubby has to stay in hospital so they can monitor his heart. He was pretty upset about the whole thing yesterday afternoon but once he had something to eat and a visit from Monkey he was in much better spirits and less cranky about his accommodations. (they didn't have a regular room available so he is in a treatment room.) He also got the first good night's sleep he's had in a long time and looked better rested this morning.

He is not thrilled about having to redo the surgery and start his recovery from scratch. We both realize how lucky he is that they happened to catch the problem before they took him off the medications and relied on the machine.

Personally, I'm exhausted from the last month. I can't even imagine how tired I will be after another two months! I just want to have him healthy and at home. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this is the last surgery he'll need for the next 5 years.

Thanks again to everyone for all the support.