I had my two week post-op checkup yesterday with the regular cardiologist, and it went well. Below is the email I sent my brother:
I followed up with my regular heart doctor today [Dr. S] for the normal 2 weeks post-surgery checkup. Even though I had different cardiologists in the hospital they said I could followup with Dr. S, who I saw today. (His office is 10 minutes from the house, so easier to get to than Northside.)
He checked the incision site today and said it looked fine, and to let the bandages fall off naturally. He listened to my heart. He had reviewed the hospital records and the records from the Pacemaker Clinic visit last week. He reiterated what they said in the hospital, which is that my heart is strong, it's not enlarged, there's no blockages, it's simply an electrical issue causing problems.
He said it's unusual for someone as young as me to need a pacemaker, but not unheard of - he had a patient once who needed one at age 40.
In ten years the battery of the pacemaker will need to be replaced. There will be a warning they will catch at my twice-yearly visit and they will schedule the procedure.
He's a young guy and he likes to explain things, which is unusual and great, but I told him in this instance I don't really want a lot of explanation. He was going into detail about how off-whack my heart was according to the pre-op EKG and I just stopped him. Too Much Information.
He said now the pacemaker is working for me 95% of the time, which is a bit unusual, but OK. He said that may lessen over time, but if not, no biggie. My heart will never fall below 60 beats a minute, thank God.
I don't have to see him again until December and at that time they can check the pacemaker right there in his clinic, which is great.
I had lost 6 lbs. since the last visit. Told him I'm working on losing more, of course. Walking the dog, doing as much as I can each day, etc.
So that's the report. Just thought you'd want to know.
