atrial fibrillation: with updates

It's hardly Oz. While we cannot see behind the curtain, we can hear quite well. You look up from the paperwork when we hear, "My, what a beautiful airway you have." So much better for keeping your teeth during anesthesia. "I bet no one's ever told you that before, but it's true. Lovely passageway."

I can't help but think that passageway isn't a word to be used lightly right before surgery. It's a tunnel, lady. You know, if you're going to warn patients about knocked-out teeth and warm tingling feelings, you should also make a point of warning them to move away from the light.

The patient behind the curtain is a young woman whose heart rate sped up abnormally when she was thirteen. She is having an ablation today, a procedure we've researched for you--the next leg of this, after these paddles,  will be an ablation to correct your persistent atrial fibrillation. Or at least, we think. We don't know anything for sure, other than you're in constant atrial fibrillation. And you know, quite well, that your blood is nice and thin thanks to all that blood thinner you've been choking down each night, after setting the tater tots in their cribs, going weekly to a clinic to ensure your blood is in the proper "anti-stroke" range.

I just kissed you on the head, and you, just as Lucas would say, looked up at me and said, "Up, up?" Hoping I might scoop you up and whisk you away. Soon, honey belle, soon. Let's just fill that passageway of yours for a sec, and then I'll see what I can do to get you out of this magical land of Oz.

UPDATE: They've just now discovered Phil has a complete (stage three) heart block. We had never heard this before. Tomorrow morning Phil is getting a dual-lead pace maker. The atrial fibrillation will likely return, we're told, so a possible ablation is in his future. For now, though, my 41-year-old husband is getting a pace maker. One day at a time.

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It's morning, and now, unfortunately, the atrial fibrillation they shocked him out of yesterday is already back. At his young age Atrial fibrillation shouldn't go untreated. With it, Phil is at very high risk of stroke, and his atrium grows larger... The larger it grows, the harder it is to repair. To repair means an ablation as well as a pacemaker, but we'll see what the doctor says. A nurse came running in early this morning, so early it was still night. "Are you okay? Your heart beat is at 22 beats a minute. People have never seen this before. The medical community here is perplexed, an annoying word that reminds me of legwarmers and exercise videos. His normal resting heart rate is 32, and he has always had exceptional blood pressure, nothing high. This is an electrical problem and has nothing to do with diet, exercise, or my cooking.

Thank you so much, again for reaching out and for all the prayers and good thoughts. I will update when I learn/know more.