Friday, November 24, 2023

Monitoring my thankful heart


This past Monday my electrophysiologist's office called and asked how I was doing (since being released from the hospital the previous Thursday. I said I was doing fine, but didn't have a lot of energy, and that my resting heart rate was usually around 40. The person on the phone sounded a tad alarmed and said she would notify the doctor and get back to me. They called on Tuesday and asked me to come in and get a heart-rate monitor to wear for the next 2 weeks. Ironically I regained my energy Tuesday and have felt even finer since then (they said it may take a week, and it did).

Anyway, I went in and had some guy stick this thing on my chest. It's a Zio ECG monitor and it apparently collects my heart rate and and records an EKG for someone somewhere which my doctor can then look at to assess my heart health - at some point.

It's not the most comfortable thing, and is fairly noticeable under a shirt, but I'm glad it just sticks on and I otherwise don't have to do anything with it. I can still shower, exercise, and do whatever I want.

So, I got to wear this for Thanksgiving and it's a constant reminder to keep my heart in check. That's really not a bad idea all the time.

For posterity's sake, my heart actually feels pretty swell right now. My mind is at peace most of the time (seems like it's been a long time since I've been able to say that), I'm relaxed, feeling quite thankful for family, friends, and to not be in the hospital... and I don't have any complaints about life (well, other than politics, gun laws, and various other world events).

Happy day-after-Thanksgiving, friends! (and a happy day to those of you who don't celebrate the holiday as well!).

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