:thumbup:
Last Friday I had my annual echo and follow-up with my cardio. So far, I have no reason to be, but I'm always just a bit apprehensive as one of these visits approaches. I guess it is just human nature to dread the unknown.
Well, so far, I needn't have worried. Doc reviewed the echo and says all is virtually unchanged from last year. (I don't yet have a copy of the written echo evaluation. That will come in a couple of days.) Valve is doing fine, BP fine to the point that he may reduce my diuretic to keep BP up a bit (was 116/76). Normal sinus rhythm with no noted issues. I feel good, and look forward to more years this way.
Doc wasn't even concerned when I told him that I had found yet another limitation of my pacemaker. It does not adjust well to sprinting on a mountain bike, off the road and up a steep hill, trying to keep up with a bunch of 20-something's who are all obviously athletes. We tried biking on a shore excursion to St. Maarten from a cruise ship. I did fine on all of the ride except that one big hill. Had to stop, catch my breath and then walk up the last 100 yards or so. finished the rest of the 7 miles fine, though. Doc just suggested that at my next interrogation maybe they should think about upping the sensitivity and increasing the degree of the rate response functions of my pacer. Doc is cool.
Oh, yeah, the other place my pacer is unhappy is when I am loading and unloading bags of crushed rock from our truck. Over the past few weeks, we have brought home about 3,000 pounds of crushed marble for the yard/landscaping. It is in 50-pound bags. As long as I pace myself (pun accepted), the pacemaker gives me enough "oomph" to handle the bags just fine. If I try to rush it, I just get out of breath. We live and learn.
No complaints from me. I'm just happy to be here and to be living life in a "normal" manner. I appreciate all the help and support the folks here have always given me, and I'm ready to do some more years. Life is good!
Last Friday I had my annual echo and follow-up with my cardio. So far, I have no reason to be, but I'm always just a bit apprehensive as one of these visits approaches. I guess it is just human nature to dread the unknown.
Well, so far, I needn't have worried. Doc reviewed the echo and says all is virtually unchanged from last year. (I don't yet have a copy of the written echo evaluation. That will come in a couple of days.) Valve is doing fine, BP fine to the point that he may reduce my diuretic to keep BP up a bit (was 116/76). Normal sinus rhythm with no noted issues. I feel good, and look forward to more years this way.
Doc wasn't even concerned when I told him that I had found yet another limitation of my pacemaker. It does not adjust well to sprinting on a mountain bike, off the road and up a steep hill, trying to keep up with a bunch of 20-something's who are all obviously athletes. We tried biking on a shore excursion to St. Maarten from a cruise ship. I did fine on all of the ride except that one big hill. Had to stop, catch my breath and then walk up the last 100 yards or so. finished the rest of the 7 miles fine, though. Doc just suggested that at my next interrogation maybe they should think about upping the sensitivity and increasing the degree of the rate response functions of my pacer. Doc is cool.
Oh, yeah, the other place my pacer is unhappy is when I am loading and unloading bags of crushed rock from our truck. Over the past few weeks, we have brought home about 3,000 pounds of crushed marble for the yard/landscaping. It is in 50-pound bags. As long as I pace myself (pun accepted), the pacemaker gives me enough "oomph" to handle the bags just fine. If I try to rush it, I just get out of breath. We live and learn.
No complaints from me. I'm just happy to be here and to be living life in a "normal" manner. I appreciate all the help and support the folks here have always given me, and I'm ready to do some more years. Life is good!
