Update on 85-year-old man

Just want to post an update on my dear husband's condition. Had Medtronic PM implanted on January 3, 2014, for sick sinus syndrome. After problems with DVT in arm (placed on Xarelto), emergency trip to ER with severe chest pains 2 weeks after implant, and 6 weeks ago at first interrogation was suspected to have problems with proper placement of leads which could lead to subsequent problems with battery life. The EP explained that in all probability they would have to open incision site and adjust the leads or insert new ones. After six weeks of worry and concern on the part of my husband, my children and me, we found out today that the leads apparently are working correctly and gave out a good report that indicates the leads are indeed embedded properly. The technician had to do very little "tweaking" of the settings. My husband is feeling very good, wants to start mowing the yard (this I will not allow) and wants to know how much he can now lift with the right arm. The NP said he could lift anything he wanted to, but I vetoed this also. I don't think at 85 he needs to lift over 15 pounds at any time, and I am going to try terribly hard to enforce my rules. It's going to be difficult to hold this sweet and wonderful guy down, but I think it is time we hired someone to do our outside work. He's always enjoyed gardening and yard work, but I think it's time he slowed down. Now, I feel sure some of you (particularly DonR) are going to tell me to let him do anything he wants to, that it will be good for him. I'll be happy to pamper him for the rest of his life (Hopefully at least to age 100) so that I can just enjoy his presence and conversation. I am just so thankful for answered prayers and help and concern from all of you. It has been a rough 3 months going through so many different problems, but I feel confident and hopeful that the future looks rosy. Thanks be to God. Ann R

7 Comments

Fantastic !

by Duke999 - 2014-03-20 05:03:06

Hi Ann,
You can stop him from lifting things over 15 pounds, but if he insists on sweeping you up into his arm, then let him :-)

Can you take it easy now and let him do some of the typing and tell us good things about you for a change?

I wish you and your husband well.

Duke

Good news

by Bostonstrong - 2014-03-20 05:03:44

Very glad to hear he will not need a lead replaced. Hope things go smoothly from now on.

Ann

by Grateful Heart - 2014-03-20 08:03:45

So glad everything went well for your Husband.

Hiring someone for the yard work sounds like a good idea. Since your Husband really enjoys gardening, offer a compromise. Maybe he can still have a small patch of land for his gardening while someone else does the physical work.

Just a thought.

Grateful Heart

Yes, Praise Be To God

by NiceNiecey - 2014-03-20 11:03:30

Great things he hath done! So glad you posted the update, Ann, and that your husband has weathered the worst of it.

When I read that he may need to be opened up and have his leads redone, I thought it was disastrous. But as I continued reading, it was so encouraging and I am grateful it has worked out so well.

Niecey

Great News

by Jonny - 2014-03-21 06:03:14

Really pleased everything is working out for you both Ann, but hey let the guy be a guy and do some of the things a man should be doing. If it's not too arduous it will probably aid his recovery further as he will be a happier guy. Best of luck. John

Ann, you make me sound like a slave....

by donr - 2014-03-21 07:03:01

.....driver!!!

Actually, the ads touting Celebrex (I think) on TV are correct - "A body in motion tends to remain in motion..." (Actually written by Sir Isaac Newton a looooong time ago when he stated his physical laws of acceleration. Had nothing to do w/ inventing the cookie.)

If you do not stay active, you deteriorate & waste away. My Good Wife is torn. She wants me to stop all the foolishness of working around the house, climbing ladders, digging holes, mixing concrete, repairing the roof, training for the Bulgarian Olympic Weightlifting Team, You know - all the guy stuff.

BUT - then in the next breath she is constantly after me to get projects done that I started ten years ago - Finish tiling the floor in a large hallway (Well, that project is only 5 yrs old), get a slab poured for a yard shed (2 yrs old), get a dumpster & clean out the 35X90 shop bldg. I cannot die - I have too long a "Honey Do" list to complete - & it keeps getting longer, not shorter.

While she's sitting giving me moral support doing one of the jobs, she's thinking up the next job. This is a habit she started back in the spring of 1960 on a Sunday afternoon when I finished reading the Atlanta Journal (or was it the Constitution?) threw it into a heap & complained that I was bored because I had nothing to do. She excused herself, went into another room & came back waving our marriage license. She pointed to the fine print at the bottom (While handing me a magnifying glass to read it) & started giving me a list of things I could do. We had been married about 8 months at the time. While she was chattering away, giving me my list of "Anti-boredom" projects, I read the fine print. I think it had been printed in invisible ink & she had just developed it - I don't recall seeing that in there back in June of 59. Anyway it said something to the effect that as the wife in this lash-up, she was authorized for the rest of our married life to think up things for me to do in the event that I ever claimed boredom on a Sunday afternoon. Further, she was authorized to remember them forever & to nag me till I did them, & to remind me of the events leading up to the list being drawn up.

Activity is GOOD for "Old" Men (& women) - keeps their minds functioning along w/ their bodies.

A good cardiac Rehab stage 3 session would help get him back in shape after all the inactivity he has had. He would do it at HIS speed, but under the watchful eye of a bunch of RN's & techs.

Mowing the lawn is OUT - unless done as Donb (The Other Don) says - on a riding mower. But that is activity. As is tending a flower bed of his choice.

No matter what he does, let HIM define the limits of his activity. You'll be amazed at how rational he will be once he gets started. When he realizes the limits of his endurance you may start feeding him grapes while he relaxes on a divan under a shade tree.

Donr The Other Don, also)

Hi Ann!

by donb - 2014-03-21 12:03:50

Duke's right, please give hubby some rope & let him prove to himself that now he can get back & gradually gain confidence in doing some outdoor work he enjoys (within limits).
As I spent most of last summer with similar heart problems including 7 weeks in a care facility with a pic-line in my arm for Vancomycin IV to clean up my heart infection. I also developed blood clots from having my pic-line & was put on Xarelto. As I have A-Fib & am 82 years old, I have to continue this blood thinner.

Just to update my last year summer, I was allowed to sign out & go to my home for part of a day. As I was put into physical therapy at the care facility & also had to qualify myself as fall risk to be able to be at the facility, had to have a nurse walk me to the dining room.

Well, to keep my sanity, I would sing out & go home, jump on my rider mower & do our 2/3 acre lawn. Best Therapy in the world !! I just had to share this with you & Bill. As I was an only child, Mom became a widow at age 58, ran our 80 acre farm doing most all the tractor work.
At age 97 she gave up driving because of vision, even after passing driving test. She lived a very happy widow & passed away at age 101 years.

I have been wanting to post to you & Bill as I have had so much support from the members in our group. So, Wife & I went through your city about 2 weeks ago returning from Florida back to Frozen Tundra Michigan. Grass did look a little green in your city. PS, "No Push Mower"
DonB

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