Return of the Duck

[Ducky2003]

Well hello all. Hope that everyone is ok.

Sorry for being AWOL for a while but its been a bit of a bumpy couple of weeks and hubby has been monopolising the laptop for work.

So, its now 6 weeks post A day.

On the upside, 1) I am no longer on Omeprazole and the silly cough has all but gone 2) Sleeping like a log most nights 3) There is only one very small patch of bruising remaining, where gravity took it down to my foot 4) Thigh still aching a bit but now able to withstand one light feline landing on it in the morning ...... still not quite up to her chunkier sister hurling herself thighwards 5) I'm now able to sit on the loo normally rather than having to lower myself down like an arthritic sumo wrestler, gripping the radiator with one hand and the sink with the other........hubby was taking bets as to which would come away from the wall first.

Now the bumpy bit. I started back to work after 4 weeks off and wished I had had another week off. I was only seeing a few patients at first to break myself in gently but felt shattered and my pulse was going through the roof at times. There was some humping going on (my trolley case before anyone casts any nasturtiums) but nothing too strenuous.

I also started to get puffy legs and feet and a bit breathless so contacted my arrhythmia nurse who asked if I could pop in for an ECG, which was ok as I was already going in for a long awaited echo. Sadly, they could not do the echo as my pulse rate was too high so it may have distorted the images. I was also in AF at the time but I think that it has just dipped in and out. I am now on Diltiazem as a PIP to see how that goes. So far, my resting pulse has started to come down and the surges have reduced. She did mention a cardioversion as an option if the AF was lingering but I don't think it is, fortunately.

I still have the puffy legs but the breathlessness has reduced, I have some Furusemide I can take on the non working days. Arrhythmia nurse is supposed to be ringing me tomorrow for an update and thankfully, the past 3 days I have felt better.

So, the morals of the story are, if Uncle BobD tells you to rest, then REST and rest a bit more. If you feel that something is not right, then ring the arrhythmia nurses...... that's what they are there for. And, if your husband is being a smartass about the bathroom furniture holding your weight, then give him a hoof in the unmentionables with your puffy, slightly bruised foot!!!

Be good ...... Ang

Ps...... I have ordered a copy of the A Fib Cure which should be arriving tomorrow, hurrah!!!

[BobD Volunteer]

So good to see your blog back again Ducky. Yes it can be a bumpy ride but with luck and a following wind (mind the baked beans) it will be alright in the end. And as they said in the Best Marigold Hotel," If it isn't alright then it isn't the end."

[Ducky2003 in reply to BobD]

Indeedy. Watched Hospital last night as it's been filmed in Coventry and it featured not only my very first consultant cardiologist, but also a TAVI procedure that looked similar, in basic application, to the ablation. Hubby nearly spat his drink out when he saw the length/size of the catheter. Here's to things staring to settle as I certainly don't want to be seeing one of those babies again.

[Singwell]

Ouch. Yes, looking like four weeks might not have been enough for you. I did 3 hours of teaching in my week 6 and some emails and only this week back doing 3 X 2 hour group Zoom trainings but every other day. I felt really guilty doing so little at first, then decided I rather liked it. Enough about me - why can't you request another full week off work?If you're a health worker that's a high stress job surely.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Singwell]

My boss is an absolute tyrant. Doesn't listen to me, thinks they know better and expects too much from me .......... The joys of being self employed 🤣🤣🤣. I run my own practice so only myself to blame. I've made sure I've had a quieter week this week and same next week. 😁.

[Bonnie58]

Good to see you back on line Ang, however sorry to hear of your bumpy ride.Your posts do make me laugh, ever thought of doing stand up or even sit down-stand up! Elaine. 😻

[Ducky2003 in reply to Bonnie58]

😁. Nah ...... I have a face for radio 😁.

[bassets]

Glad you're feeling better! I have all this to look forward to.

[jeanjeannie50]

Good to hear from you Ang, you've made me laugh too.

How are you feeling energy wise and what exactly is your heart doing? Just what are those puffy ankles telling us? I think you need to tell hubby that you must have a walk after work and then sit with your feet up in the hope the fluid there will drain away - I know nothing about puffy ankles, but have a Google degree in 'know all, who knows nothing'. Keep us updated please.

Jean. x

[Ducky2003 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Good morning Jean. Well the puffy bits are due to the heart being naughty. The arrhythmia nurse said the high pulse rate would likely be the cause with the sprinkling of AF thrown in for good measure. I had as much energy as a comatose sloth. Things have been better the last couple of days though and the puffiness was not as bad yesterday. I wear jeggings for work and my legs looked marginally less rugby playeresque.

Don't worry, I am spending more time than I care to mention, with my legs in the air 😁.

[SuziElley]

Good to see you Ducky! Well now you know you should have rested even more! As for the bathroom furnishings, don’t worry, I am an arthritic old.... not a sumo wrestler but arthritic 😂 so hold onto the basin anyway! Believe me, unless you’re in a Persimmon home it will hold!Good to hear you’re back working, even if you did go back too early. I’m back giving Reiki sessions and thoroughly enjoying it.

I’m sure things will even out for you, just be kind to yourself! Hugs....

[Ducky2003 in reply to SuziElley]

Thanks. Not a Persimmon, thankfully by the sound of it though I'd be more worried if hubby had had done the mounting (of the fixtures 😁) Did go for a steady walk yesterday and paid with 2 AF episodes, one at 2am this morning. All good fun 🙄.

[SuziElley in reply to Ducky2003]

Still early days, take it easy Ducky! Give things time to heal xx

[Ducky2003 in reply to SuziElley]

I promise I did walk at a steady pace. Hate to think how I would have been walking at my pre ablation pace. Feet up today watching F1 qually.😁

[SuziElley in reply to Ducky2003]

Well done. Each day a little further and a little better 👍🏻😘

[HiloHairy]

Just FYI: Diltiazem often causes edema (swollen legs ankles or feet).

[Ducky2003 in reply to HiloHairy]

Thanks. I've taken it before at a higher dose and ended up with swollen gums too. This time, the swelling started before the Diltiazem. 😊.

[BevCynfelyn]

Glad you're recovering.... I have arthritis plus the swollen ankles plus the diltiazem.... plus I DO live in a Persimmon home and I wouldn't dream of pulling myself up with a radiator! Our standing joke is that if you put a 1 inch nail in a wall to hang a picture up with, you can hang one on the other side of the wall as well!

[Ducky2003 in reply to BevCynfelyn]

🤣🤣🤣 ....... and how's the sumo going?😁

[BevCynfelyn]

Still practising🤣

[Ducky2003 in reply to BevCynfelyn]

🤣