Checking in…..

Tomorrow at 7 AM I check into Mayo’s Cardiac Rhythm Unit in St. Marys Hospital to start a new to me afib medication that requires constant, 24/7, monitoring during the three to four day loading period. I guess its a pretty relaxed unit where I can do pretty much whatever I want that’s allowed in there. Hopefully time passes fast.

My afib episodes have intensified lately so I decided I needed to see what might be options. I’m at stage two afib which they deal with using medicine, but there are only 5 medicines that actually are known to work in controlling this stuff and the one I will be receiving, Tikosyn, is best suited for me given the copd I also have. Apparently if the dose is off some the result can be dangerously low blood pressure, hence the need for constant monitoring. Stage three involves the knife so I’m definitely wanting this med to offer some relief, so I have to try.

In dealing with this of late I’ve learned a couple interesting facts about afib, one being that afib is one of the country’s biggest epidemics right now and thus far they, the medical community, haven’t a clue as to why. Also, afib in every stage is being found in increasingly younger people for no real reason. Debilitating stuff and not much fun to live with.

I hope all goes well for you Tom. Life seems to have a way of throwing the curve ball at us at the worst times. Good luck and please keep us posted.

Good luck Tom. I hope this medication is the answer to your afib problem. Keep us posted on your condition.

Sounds like a good time to pour and paint some jigheads!

Good luck sir!

Good luck sir!! Leave the nurses alone too!!

Tom,hope they find something that works for you !!
you are in our prayers daily,keep the faith, we need you here.

Tom. heading down there on Sunday to see my cardiologist. I am currently in Atrial flutter and don’t like it….Good luck….I plan to be down there for 2 to 3 days or more.

Good luck to you Tom. I am going thru cancer crap right now, so I get the feeling. I wish you the best of luck with your new meds. Hope it makes life enjoyable again for you!!

Hope everything goes well my friend. I am sure the COPD complicates things but you will be good hands. Please keep us posted.

Thanks everyone, your support is much appreciated and means lots to me. I leave in a few minutes.

Hope all goes well Tom. Like you I’m sure, I know a fair amount of people that work at Mayo and someone who might actually be somewhat involved in that area. I know Mayo catches a lot of hell sometimes but they really are top-notch.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Tom !!!
I’m usually around there a few days a week so if you need anything, let me know. It wouldn’t be out of my way a bit.
You are in good hands my friend!

Sorry to hear you’re going through this, Tom. I hope the medication works well and that your days in the hospital move along quickly. We’re all thinking of you!

Check in here when you can Crappie Tom!
Lots of fisherpeople at the Mayo, you’ll be in good hands!

Talk to you soon!

Hope it all works well for you Tom, and you can get out of there and back on the water soon!

S.R.

Best of luck Tom, godspeed.

Good Luck to you Tom. Hope this works for you and gives you the help needed.

Best wishes for you and your doctors. I have been dealing with afib for several years now. I’ve had a combination of meds and an “ablation” surgery procedure done. About a year ago I had a change of heart doctors and a resulting change in the medications I am taking. Have not heard mentioned, the one you are starting. Hope everything goes as planned.

Sending prayers your way, Tom.

Will be wishing all the best Tom

Prayers for you Tom. We have started using Tikosyn here at the U of M Hospital and it seems to be helping many of our pts with multiple episodes of afib. I believe that the increased afib in our populations is due to a couple things. People taking worse and worse care of themselves (not directing that at you by any means) and the high amount of medications people are on these days, many which can directly cause afib.

Wishing you the best.

Good luck Tom.We will all be waiting to hear the good news that it’s working.

Mr. Tom my friend, I’m thinking of you.

So far, so good. I seem to be tolerating it ok. I guess that is the key to this med: whether a persons body stays within the parameters of safe tolerance levels. I haven’t noticed any difference but then I have not been in afib either. Today and hopefully tomorrow going home.

Hope everything turns out, Good Luck!

I may be cut loose tomorrow if nothing jumps up to mess with how this has progressed. Sure tired of needles and ekg’s.

Stay positive and don’t give up!

My hunting and fishing friend was diagnosed with cancer and was told to go home and die. He would not accept that, got to looking around and found a doctor and hospital in Arkansas that specialized in treating his type of cancer. He went and took the treatments.

That was 26 years ago. We get together twice a year, once for an Alaskan fishing trip and once for an antelope hunt in Wyoming.

Hang in there!!

Buffalo Fishhead

Hi Tom I’m glad to hear everything is going well. I hope it continues..

Sending prayers Tom!

Tom Sawvell wrote:

I may be cut loose tomorrow if nothing jumps up to mess with how this has progressed. Sure tired of needles and ekg’s.

good luck on the get out thing Tom!!