Cardiac Kid: Part 6 (Transesophogeal Echocardiogram)

So this is what it looks like when you get sedated and don't remember a thing, yet you're still conscious. Similar to 'blacking out' to all my alcoholic friends! I gave the nurses permission to take some pics during my procedure. This was at the end of June.

 

 

I don't remember this! LOL

 

Dr. Kristofich  performed my procedure. Don't remember this, either.

 

So this involves sending a tube down your throat with a camera attached , hence the esophagus, to take a closer look at your heart valves.

 

My nurse and Medic buds can read the monitor. Results showed excessive leakage in my mitral valve.

 

OK, so a month later, I go back to Straub to do an angiogram. No pics to show this time. Wait, I did find some I took. Forgot about these.

 But my arteries are all good. No need for repairs there.

 

 

Dr. Lee Mitsumori, radiologist at Straub. Classmate and friend. Still looking the same!

 

Right before being sedated...LOL!

 

My team of nurses and Dr. Wesley Kai (in back with white coat).

 

 

Next step: Open heart surgery to repair my mitral valve on September 16.  So it'll be back to Straub. I chose this and put the trust in one of Hawaii's finest cardio thoracic surgeons. While in there, they will perform the ablation. Consider extra added insurance for my heart.

 

See you after the surgery with updates. And hopefully more pics and vids.

Cardiac Kid, Part 5

Fast forward to 2014. My heart's been doing well for three years. Until one day I was doing yard work at my mother's house in the morning and started to get the shortness of breath, lightheadedness feel. I was still on medication (metoprolol and aspirin. I sat down to rest and wasn't getting any better. I could now feel palpitations and felt like I was going to pass out. So at this point, it was time to call 911 again.

This time, I was diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation, Afib for short. The doctors treated me with amiodarone and had me admitted. My heart went back into rhythm later in the afternoon.

So now, my cardiologist changes up my meds and adds flecainide to my menu. If I were to get these symptoms again, I was told to pop three of those pills asap. So I had these stashed everywhere imaginable. At work in my pouch, on my desk, in my car, at home, everywhere.

Fast forward:
Spring break 2016

First day of spring break my heart goes into Afib again. I panic again. Call 911 as the meds didn't help. Get up to the ER and the house doc notifies my cardiologist at Straub what's going on. They decide the best thing at the moment was for a cardioversion. You know, the AED we've all been trained to use. So I consent to it. Sign my life away, and get it done. This time, they were able to sedate me with the good ole Micheal Jackson propophol. That thing knocked me out in an instant and next thing you know, they're waking me up with a normal heart again. I regret not having my wife video this procedure. Then I get discharged. Thank goodness that was a quicky! So now i'm thinking that i'm out in the clear....

Five days later, my heart goes back into Afib. I take my magical meds and call 911 again as I didn't feel my heart getting better. The same B-shift gang is here and I swear, as soon as I stepped in the ambulance, my heart went back into normal rhythm, or as what they would term it as
'sinus' rhythm. So I get up to the ER, get checked up and get discharged.

In between all this, the doctors are changing up my meds and i'm also asking for anxiety meds on top of others I can't mention here. One night several days later, I'm having all these anxieties and seeing light flashes. The description is like seeing flashes from a disco ball through a colored prism. It comes and goes. So i'm tripping and tell my wife that something's not right. So it's back to the ER. At least she drove me this time so we could save up another ambulance ride. Man, I wonder how much an ambulance ride in Thailand is? (that's a whole 'nother story).  Anyway, the house doc says it's from the meds and only temporary. So I get discharged again. After spring break, I decided to take several weeks off to rest my body and soul. At least I got to see the end for my students school year.

Ok, so the latest is that my cardiologist from Straub had me scheduled for an Afib ablation scheduled for July. In the meantime, I had another check up with him as he comes to Hilo twice a month, so lucky for me. As he's listening to my heart, he reminds me of murmur I had diagnosed with over 6 years ago during my first visit doctors visit. One of the hospital house doctors also detected it during one of my visits. So during this latest check up, my cardiologist makes a comment relating my heart murmur as being the cause for my Afib episodes. So I think nothing of it. Well, not until common sense got the best of me. I called his nurse on Oahu to question him about the murmur and the necessity of doing the Afib abalation. They then decide that they want to take a closer look at my heart functioning through a TEE (trans esophageal  echocardiogram). See video below.

https://youtu.be/gVhPThJcvDQ

So now this is scheduled for June 30 and my ablation has been put on hold. Depending on the outcome of the TEE, it'll determine whether it warrants the ablation. Hope you all followed.

And thanks for reading this til the end. It is much appreciated.

Will take pics of my procedure and post on my next CK post.

Happy Birthday

Definition of birthday: the day of a person's birth. Gosh, it's taken me 50 years to come to truly appreciate and understand the true in depth meaning of this special day.

For the longest time, I guess my introverted and shy personality never got into the spirit of my own birthdays. Growing up, it was parties with the neighborhood kids where I was the youngest. My parents worked hard to provide the cake and ice cream, i'm assuming. I never had the kind of parities our kids are having nowadays. Did we appreciate what we had back then? Probably not

Then I kinda forgot about it during my later teen years. Then off to college for birthday ragers. Then there was a lull while being single for many years after that, it seemed insignificant, whether it was mine or others.

But not until recently til I got married, my wife and her continued surprises pulled a good one surprising me with the best party anyone could ask for. But five years ago, I started to suffer from all these cardiac setbacks which put a strain on our family both emotionally and financially. Thankfully, i'm blessed to still be here and under great medical care. It's still ongoing so it's another reason to be thankful for life each and every day. Like the quote from the Prince song: Let's Go Crazy...'Today, we are gathered here to get through this thing called life!'. I kinda found deep meaning into it regardless if he focuses on the afterlife, too. But if you think about it, we are all put on this earth for a purpose. And even though he goes on to saying that Life is a mighty long time, it could also be short. Who's to say when our time is up? Which religion will dictate the right path to believe and follow? We need to get through each day with vigor and vitality, no matter what it takes. When stress comes along, learn how to deal with it. To each, his own.

History speaking, it all started when she surprised me with a trip to Maui. Then came the Elton John concert. Now this, despite her not listening to me as I told her I didn't want anything and no surprises. In other words: save your money. Just simply staying put at home behind the grill with family would have sufficed. But no, as you see my wife's and I's views on money are different as a lot of you know....LOL. But that's a whole 'nother story.

What really put things into perspective for me was reading somewhere that even though you may not care about your own birthday, it was one of the biggest days in your parents lives, like how we treasure the births of our own children now. So what, do we have to be reminded of this? Evidently so! I need to not only enjoy my reason for being here, but I also need to appreciate the 'how' I got here part and let my mother know how much she's appreciated and how she busted her ass long ago to make ends meet in order to care and raise us four boys. I was probably the easiest child, there's more to be thankful for!

After several cardiac episodes during spring break of this year, I took some time off from work to give my heart a rest and to reflect on life. Upon my return, I showed a short video to my students showing them what I was suffering from and why I was out. And then I reminded them that my job as their PE teacher was to teach them how to take care of their physical well-beings and after they leave us, they'll understand at least a little about how to go about minimizing unhealthy risk factors. I shared my opinion on how life is unique in the sense that no matter how well we may be in 'shape,' life can be cut short at anytime. And yet, there are unhealthy people who live for long periods of time. So I just leave them with saying that all you can do is try your best to enjoy your lives, take care your bodies, eat healthy, easy on the drugs and alcohol, be kind to everyone, and lastly, pray like heck to live a long and healthy life!

So on this day, the 19th of April, I'd like to thank my wife and my mother and to all of my friends and family who attended my party from both near and far and got to reminisce about hanabata days!
I'm just happy to get up everyday to happy or screaming kids and making it through this thing we call 'Life!'

Cardiac Kid, Part 4

Attached are several videos which talk about my condition and the procedure that was done. I forgot what they referred to it as but I was semi sedated where I didn't feel the pain but yet was up to watch the minitors to see what was going on. It was done in several hours time and I was monitored overnight and was able to get discharged the next day.

After going through this, it really gave me a peace of mind that I was in the clear and that it wouldn't happen again. I guess in life, nothing is forever.

https://youtu.be/IJXfsZiQWCY

https://youtu.be/1vaNyXfuUjs

In my next KC post, you'll see what happens next! So as of now, we're still back in 2011.

Cardiac Kid! Part 3

As you recall from my last post, there was no time for sedation due to my condition. While laying on my floor in the bedroom, the medic gave me a heads up that the cardioversion/defribrillation (please see attachment) will feel like someone punching you in the chest. So I said ok let's do this as I wanted to get it over with! The first one put me out, flatline they refer to it as. And the second time jumpstarted my heart back into normal rhythm or sinus rhythm in medical terminology. Ok so after that first one was administered, and I've never ever been punched in the chest, but my recollection of its feeling was that of a United Airlines 747 slamming straight into my chest. Holy Fuck I thought to myself. Case closed. It saved my life. Next time I'd like to request propophol as it works immediately.

http://www.m.webmd.com/heart-disease/electrical-cardioversion-defibrillation-for-a-fast-heart-rate

From there, I was taken to HMC and got admitted to the cardiac unit while the medical staff prepped me to get medivaced to Straub on Oahu where my cardiologist, Dr. Hingson Chun, would perform a catheter ablation. My wife Sheri accompanied me on the ride over and supported me throughout the entire ordeal...like any good wife would I kid with her.

Thanks for following my CK blog. Next up I'll go over what the ablation entailed.

The Cardiac Kid! Part 2

Here's how it all began.

So around six years ago, I noticed irregularities in my heart functioning such as an irregular heartbeat and palpatations.  This is when i reported it to my PCP and he referred me to Dr. Don Matsuura, one of several cardiologists in Hilo. So after running numerous tests, he put me on a bunch of meds.  Several months later, my heart went into SVT. Please see attached link. I swear, if my wife wasn't at home when it happened, I wouldn't be here right now. Guess my time wasn't up yet. The paramedics carried me out my shower and laid me on the ground in my bedroom and immediately proceeded to perform a cardioversion. Mike Brigolli was the lead medic and I am forever grateful for him saving my life. Ok so I begged them to sedate me but they were on a time crunch as my blood pressure as under 100 while my heart rate was racing at 220 bpm.

http://www.m.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/supraventricular-tachycardia-overview

Thanks for following the CK's blog. Next up is what happened during and after the cardioversion so stay tuned! Mahalo!

The Cardiac Kid!

Ok, so over a period of five years, five trips to the ER, two cardioversions (one performed while conscious), and diagnosis' of atrial flutter, supra ventricular tachicardia, and currently atrial fibrillation, a partial leak in my mitral valve, one catheter ablation, and another Afib ablation being scheduled, and countless medications to monitor my heart rhythm, I've decided to start documenting my cardiac journey on my blog for educational and awareness purposes. Sympathies not allowed here! LOL

As I approach the half a century mark in age, I'm finally coming to terms with myself that our bodies are starting to slow and break down. Maintaining functional fitness becomes more of a challenge with our busy schedules especially if you have young ones like me. Bottom line is they are my motivation to stay as healthy as my body allows me to and minimize all external stressors that can contribute to developing a faulty heart.

So I applaud you for taking the time out to read this. The more i share my experiences, the more I find out about others who are suffering from similar conditions. At this time, I can only suggest that everyone my age start getting your physicals done and colonoscopies done. I've been asked on numerous occasions about how it feels when my heart episodes come on. All I can say is that it's a feeling that's out of the ordinary and you will know. You've lived all of your lives with normal functioning hearts so if anything happens, you'll know. You know your body the best. Trust it! And if the time ever comes, please get immediate medical attention. From what I learned, prolonged attention to these conditions can result in blood clots which can lead to possible strokes/heart attack, and even death.

Our local EMS services have been fabulous in tending to me as well my parents. So have our staffing at Hilo Medical Center, for which I am very grateful, in all areas of the hospital from the ER, the cardiac unit, and the ICU. So for me to avoid seeing them, I've been eating better, cutting down on the alcohol consumption, and gave up the smokeless tobacco. Gotta start exercising more and get the family involved! for your mental health, surround yourself with positive people and don't dwell on bullshit in your lives. And don't try to think you can please everyone, cause it's mighty difficult! All we can do in our lifetimes is to minimize any risks that could cut it short. Otherwise, pray like heck for a long and prosperous and healthy life. In the meantime, trust and listen to your doctors. Plenty guys grumble not enough doctors on this island. You chose to live here...deal with it. Lucky we do have good ones!

Until my next post, please all take care of yourselves while I try to do the same. If you must, re-evaluate your current levels of health and lifestyles and take any necessary actions for the better...MY FRIENDS!!! Don't procrastinate when it comes to your health!