Got my first April 1, 2001… result of a bad motorcycle accident July 1967… Drs had chased what they read as a heart attack for 2 yrs, cardiac cath was very clear at that time I weighed 310 took no meds - still don’t -ate tons of salt… wore a holter monitor 2 weeks before and cardio stated can’t find anything so let me know if there is a problem or I’ll see you next year… two weeks and felt like I had a upper resp issue over the weekend. Saw my GP end of day Monday and [Mod Edit] hit the fan. bp 49/42 pulse 28 . within two+ hr I was in OR getting pacer installed that night. Next day I felt great but cardio wanted this massive neuro testing done in dark isolated room and finally found broken nerves spine to heart most likely from the 1967 accident then yrs of motorsports with 5 yr 4X4 racing mid 70s that didn’t have the gear and seats there is today. Beat the hell out of my body being as good as the guys.
First replacement the tech got strange readings and talking with St Jude Med came to Dr saying - too late to get you in the hospital today but nothing after midnight and I’ll see you in the AM for a pacer change… 2nd was similar… 3rd moved 2,300 miles so new Dr and oops new pacer next week… 4th the tech stated that it would need changing in 2-3 months and 4 days later the low battery alarm went off in my chest. scary Fri night… Replacement 5 days later… & because of a bug bite virus attack in 2008 that triggered a series of pulmonary embolisms my ejection is about 45%-- slight exercise body wants more O2. no matter how hard I breath the heart can not move enough O2 rich blood… triggers irreg heartbeat that just takes time to calm down… Both 1st leads placement and 2nd for defib unit had to be RE-DONE two weeks later as leads did not “stick” where they were placed. 4 pacers and 2 lead repairs both which were next day repairs… and now I am allergic to surgical tape - huge blisters after last change… The low heart output is another negative against any spinal operation. + age
Few years ago someone asked if I had any regrets – Yes that I didn’t die racing in my 30s to now live in constant pain. Even with the pacer and low heart output I had a pretty good life until the low spine injury. No meds - had brought my NY job (& pay) working the hours I wanted to the SW where I wanted to retire. 2015 spinal injury spun my world out of control forced early (before my plan) retirement and coming to terms that it is non operable… giving up my my dreams as beside not walking that vibrations of car ride can be very taxing so vacations would be spent in hotel rooms recovering to travel the next day and repeat… So different than my best solo drive 6.344 miles 7 days 8 hrs. Northern NY to Astoria OR & back to deliver a GT500 I had owned for 25 yrs. Pain can ruin my patience with people or projects. Slight body twist and pain shoots from 5 to a 15! Outlived almost all of my friends which further leads to isolation. 500 miles a YEAR is a lot for me to put on my car now. 9 months between fill ups…
MOD NOTE: Post edited to conform to the Community Guidelines.