Scab
I got nothin' here...
Well, I was looking for a post from Jeff Ashe when I came upon the infamous crash post where I was the crash-ee. I guess this is really the first time that I have read the whole thread with a cognitive mind. All I can say is, you folks are the absolute best.
Anyway, a little information that may have been a contributor to the crash:
Two weeks ago today, I had gone to one of our satelite campuses. Yes, the same one I was coming home from when I crashed. On the way up, my heart started beating at a rate of about 200 bpm. Okay, it does this sometimes. Usually, it only lasts a minute or two.
Once, a year prior to the crash, I had to go to the ER and have it slowed with some kinda drug. They kept me in the hospital for 3 days only to come back and tell me that they could not find anything wrong with the heart. Fine. I'm going home now.
Back to two weeks ago.
This time, again, it didn't stop. Now, if you've never had this happen, it is not a pleasant experience. Anyway, I struggled through my tasks, and readied for the ride home. Yep, I was on the bike. I made it about 15 miles to the next town. I was done. Both hands, arms, legs, feet, and my privates were numb. I was having trouble thinking. (more than usual) There was an elephant sitting on my chest and my jaw felt as though I had gone a round with Mike Tyson. There are a whole miriad of feelings that are kinda hard to explain. Suffice it to say that none of the sensations are good.
I managed to stop at a store. I then realized that I could not recall most of the trip. I was having more and more difficulty breathing. I couldn't breath sitting, but I could no longer stand. I laid flat on the sidewalk and called BB on the cell phone.
"My heart's doing it again. Load the trailer and come get me. I can't go any further. I'm in Piedmont, at the store we've stopped at before."
Of course, she wanted to call the ambulance. I refused. There was no way I was leaving my bike in Piedmont. Reluctantly, she agreed. It would take her a little over an hour to get the trailer loaded and get to where I was. But, she did, and the bike was rescued, along with me.
When it finally returned to a normal rythm, the heart had been accelerated for five and a half hours. It was exhausting. The next day, I laid out of work and mostly slept. The day after that, I lost the argument and went to the doctor. He then sent me to a heart/electrical specialist dude, in Birmingham. I had to go for 3 days for test after test after test.
Conclusion: I have a friggin' birth defect. Not the one that you are accustomed to dealing with, but one in the heart. Some kind of defective nerve, that short-circuits and causes the heart to beat uncontrolled. It's been there since birth. It's mom's fault. (at least that's what I told her)
Now, on the course of coming to this conclusion/diagnosis, there were about a million questions from the doctor. Such as, "How long did this last?" "Did you pass out or black out?" And, here's the kicker: "Has this ever happened before?" To this, I answered, "Yes, once in 2006." At which time my wife corrected me. "No, dear, this is the third time. It was doing this when they brought you to the ER after your crash. They had to use drugs to make it slow down."
Now, I must explain a little bit. If this happens while you are doing nothing, you notice right away. However, if you are riding, you don't notice until you stop and get off the bike. I guess, due to the bike vibrations. Such was the case two weeks ago. I noticed when I stopped for a drink.
Could have been a contributor.
Anyway, so as to bring this long and sordid tale to a close, I will tell you the prognosis. No big deal. They are going to do a cardiac ablation. Basically, they find the short-circuit and eliminate it. Piece of cake.
Whodathunkit?
Anyway, a little information that may have been a contributor to the crash:
Two weeks ago today, I had gone to one of our satelite campuses. Yes, the same one I was coming home from when I crashed. On the way up, my heart started beating at a rate of about 200 bpm. Okay, it does this sometimes. Usually, it only lasts a minute or two.
Once, a year prior to the crash, I had to go to the ER and have it slowed with some kinda drug. They kept me in the hospital for 3 days only to come back and tell me that they could not find anything wrong with the heart. Fine. I'm going home now.
Back to two weeks ago.
This time, again, it didn't stop. Now, if you've never had this happen, it is not a pleasant experience. Anyway, I struggled through my tasks, and readied for the ride home. Yep, I was on the bike. I made it about 15 miles to the next town. I was done. Both hands, arms, legs, feet, and my privates were numb. I was having trouble thinking. (more than usual) There was an elephant sitting on my chest and my jaw felt as though I had gone a round with Mike Tyson. There are a whole miriad of feelings that are kinda hard to explain. Suffice it to say that none of the sensations are good.
I managed to stop at a store. I then realized that I could not recall most of the trip. I was having more and more difficulty breathing. I couldn't breath sitting, but I could no longer stand. I laid flat on the sidewalk and called BB on the cell phone.
"My heart's doing it again. Load the trailer and come get me. I can't go any further. I'm in Piedmont, at the store we've stopped at before."
Of course, she wanted to call the ambulance. I refused. There was no way I was leaving my bike in Piedmont. Reluctantly, she agreed. It would take her a little over an hour to get the trailer loaded and get to where I was. But, she did, and the bike was rescued, along with me.
When it finally returned to a normal rythm, the heart had been accelerated for five and a half hours. It was exhausting. The next day, I laid out of work and mostly slept. The day after that, I lost the argument and went to the doctor. He then sent me to a heart/electrical specialist dude, in Birmingham. I had to go for 3 days for test after test after test.
Conclusion: I have a friggin' birth defect. Not the one that you are accustomed to dealing with, but one in the heart. Some kind of defective nerve, that short-circuits and causes the heart to beat uncontrolled. It's been there since birth. It's mom's fault. (at least that's what I told her)
Now, on the course of coming to this conclusion/diagnosis, there were about a million questions from the doctor. Such as, "How long did this last?" "Did you pass out or black out?" And, here's the kicker: "Has this ever happened before?" To this, I answered, "Yes, once in 2006." At which time my wife corrected me. "No, dear, this is the third time. It was doing this when they brought you to the ER after your crash. They had to use drugs to make it slow down."
Now, I must explain a little bit. If this happens while you are doing nothing, you notice right away. However, if you are riding, you don't notice until you stop and get off the bike. I guess, due to the bike vibrations. Such was the case two weeks ago. I noticed when I stopped for a drink.
Could have been a contributor.
Anyway, so as to bring this long and sordid tale to a close, I will tell you the prognosis. No big deal. They are going to do a cardiac ablation. Basically, they find the short-circuit and eliminate it. Piece of cake.
Whodathunkit?
