Just wanted you all to know that Bernie is back in ST. Barnabas Hospital.
He's been there since Weds, but I hadn't posted anything was waiting to find out exactly what was wrong. He had gone to the Dr's for a stress test here in Union. I got a call around 10:30 that they were rushing him to the hospital that there was something wrong with him. He had to have another catherization done. Well, after they did that, they found nothing wrong with his arteries, and the stent was doing fine. so he was schedule to see an electrocardioalgist (sp).
He did a ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY study- they placed a special electrical catheter into his rightheart thru the veins in both left and right groin (2 in one side, 1 in the other).this senses electrical impulses in different area of the heart to stimulate the heart and bring on an TACHYCARDIA. WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE DR.S OFFICE DURING THE STRESS TEST. This TACHYCARDIA is very dangerous if left untreated and could kill ya.
Tues he is scheduled for a RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION. Destroying the abnormal electrical circuit. This is a alternative to long term medication or surgery to treat the TACHYCARDIAS. RADIOFREQUENCY ENGERY is a from of electrical energy which heats and burns a tiny area of tissue. It can be used to destroy the abnormal electrical pathway in the heart without damaging the heart muscle. It's delivered through specially designed electrical catheters connected to a radiofrequency generator.
He was told this procedure will take approx. 3 hours. If this procedure does not work, he'll need a defibulator installed.
Sunday and Monday no tests are schedule but he has to stay in the hospital.
Bernie, Carin,
If it's any consolation, my colleague's son had the same procedure done this winter and he's doing great. He's a basketball player at Seton Hall Prep and his heart would have those "electrical" episodes from time to time. So he went through the exact procedure you described and is doing great--he just came back from Lacrosse camp last week.
Bernie, you'll even be able to "dunk" when this is over.. I swear !
Bob,
Thanks for letting us know that, it reassures me that all will be well. Thank goodness Bernie is very calm about all of this, cause I've been a nervous wreck. Right now he's very bored with the waiting game. Even his nurse has been teasing him that she has nothing to do for him. I only wish that this weekend of leisure could have been spent somewhere having fun for him then laying in a hospital bed.
I let everyone know how things went on Tues, he is schedule for 7:30am.
Carin
Goodevening all,
Bernie's procedure was pushed back to 11:30 today, but they actually didn't start till around 1pm. He came out of it around 6pm. Not good news. This procedure didn't work. Now the Dr said there is 3 options rather than installing a difibulator. One could be done in St Michaels the other 2 he would have to go to Boston. She want's to confer with a Dr Bill Stevenson in Boston before committing to one of the 3. If this doesn't work, she'd prefer to medicate now rather than the difibulator, she wants to use that as the 5th and final option. Feels Bernie is to young to have one. If the procedure can't be performed until later in the week or early next week he might be able to come home but would have to wear a difibulator vest.
A ton of questions for the Dr tomorrow and wait and see what she and the Boston Dr decide.
Please continue to keep Bernie in your prayers.
