Monday's Echo-Cardiogram

My echo-cardiogram was yesterday. I heard the tech's record several numbers none of which meant anything to me. The tech's did say that they didn't see anything that was extremely abnormal. So now I guess I'll wait to see what the doctor has to say after he gets a chance to read the test.

I woke up with a little gout in my knee this morning so I took some cholchezine and it seems to be cleared up for now. Hope it stays away, I have to much to do to be stuck in my chair for several days.

anyway when I get the results form the test I'll pass it along.

Good by for now

The Cardioligist visit

Here we are, it's Sunday already. I visited the Cardiologist on Friday, he took a good look at my EKG and said that what I had was not A-Fib but my own rhythm. He did say that it appears that I am missing beats and that could be what I was feeling. He did schedule me for an echo-cardiogram on Monday. I'm sooo excited. My heart is still beating funny and is not right so I guess we'll See what the echo shows.

My gout has been good, just a few twinges every now and then. Well that's all I have until I get the results form the echo, I'll get back on and let you know what happens.

See ya

Mid January

Here we are January 18, 2010 the beginning of a new year. The weather in Northern Utah has been very cold and I'm ready for a change. It won't be long until the weather is warm and sunny oh how I love those warm sunny days.
My health hasn't been great, but I haven't had any attacks of gout for a while. I have been having some trouble with my heart however. The rhythm or something is not working. I go to the cardiologist on Wed. I did have a EKG and when the Card. nurse looked at the read out she said that some new was going on, Oh Boy. So on Thursday I'll be, well I don't know where I'll be or what I know. But as soon as I get some news I'll list it here in my blog.

Have a great day!

The winter cold and flu season

Well here we are the beginning of the second week in the new year. I've had a flu or cold at least three times this season. I'm just getting over this last one. I have felt a little gout coming on in my knees and wrist, but nothing too serious. My heart is still out of rhythm so I guess I'll have see the cardiologist and get a cardio-version. That's where they use the defibrillator to shock it back into a normal rhythm. This process for me goes like this, first you check into the hospital (the ICU) you get an IV of saline solution. The Doctor comes in with a nurse and an assistant, they puts the pads on you, one of two ways, ether on your chest, or one on your chest and one on your back. After the pads are on then they push this white colored (Milk Color) liquid into the IV, you take a short nap then they shock you. They had to shock me three times the last time, each time turning the power. The doctor said that he had never shocked anyone that hard before. So I guess I have something to look forward to.

I've been reading another blog latley and have found that there is some very good information. The link below will take you there.

Gout Chronicals

Check out this blog

Hi
I was just reading a another blog on gout and thought you would like to check it out. Just click on the link below and check it out.

Gout Chronicles

Post Christmas Gout

Christmas was great, we had our family at home and our little Granddaughter was in our house for Christmas morning it was great. Our Christmas dinner was Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potatoes. I thought for sure that I would have gout the day after Christmas because I had a generous share of Prime Rib, in most cases red meat will bring on a bad case of gout. I did take a few precautions, I drank a lot of water and made sure I was current on my medications. I don't know if that helped or if I was just lucky.
I am still having some trouble with my heart, the A-Fib is acting up. I'm treating it with a medication for the A-Fib and a medication for the rapid heart rate that comes with the A-Fib. A lot of the times when it is acting up I feel tired and just want to sit down until it goes away, but I think if I keep busy the symptoms won't be so bad, or noticeable.
Anyway I better run for now.

Still some gout in the foot but the A-Fib is acting up

Greetings all

Over the last several days my heart has been acting up. I have had A-Fib for as long as I can remember. I have had three Ablation procedures to try to correct the problem I have been on a number of medications to control the symptoms, and am currently on Sotalol Hydrochloride. In order to go on this drug you have to be hospitalized to make sure that your heart doesn't stop when they start you on it. This link will take you to webMD for more information on A-Fib, also here is a brief description of A-Fib as found on WebMD.com;

What Are the Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation?
You may have atrial fibrillation without having any symptoms at all. If you have symptoms, they may include:
Heart palpitations (a sudden pounding, fluttering, or racing feeling in the chest).
Lack of energy; feeling over-tired.
Dizziness (feeling faint or light-headed).
Chest discomfort ( pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest).
Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing during normal activities or even at rest).
What Causes Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is associated with many conditions, including:
High blood pressure
Coronary artery disease (hardening of the heart arteries)
Heart valve disease
Having undergone heart surgery
Chronic lung disease
Heart failure
Cardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle that causes heart failure)
Congenital (present at birth) heart disease
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs) I also had paracardiomites

In 1990's I was diagnosed with liver disease, after being on the transplant list for several years my symptoms were getting worse and one day I started having chest pain and discomfort and ended up in the hospital (again), the doctor decided to do an orthoscopey. While undergoing the procedure a visiting physician was observing between he and my regular cardiologist they determined that the pericardium sack was calcifying (turning to bone) and my symptoms that was attributed to liver disease were caused due to the constriction on the heart or pericarditis. So in 2003 I was scheduled to have the sack removed from my heart (pericardiomectomy).
Well now that's my story today. Check out the links to read more about the heart and some of the problems that can occur.

Kevin