Carolyn
990401 - Doc Marty did his upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and observed healthy tissue. The biopsy results are due any day now. So this puts us back to our original suspicion of perhaps an adult onset allergy. I still think some of it may have been caused by the drugs for the cardiac therapy.
The surgery date for Doc Bob (the rhythm guy) is set for April 12. A pre-surgery office visit is set for April 9. It's getting closer!
News Release 990412
Foothills General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta (D2M) - Earlier today at 9:30 AM local time a long time resident with a chronic cardiac condition underwent an extended heart operation. The procedure under the direction of Dr. Robert Sheldon (the Rhythm Guy) was announced by the patients' spouse to be a "success". During the over 4 hour RF (Radio Frequency) ablation the courage and skill of Dr. Sheldon was evident when nearly 40 burns were required to successfully solve the condition. Tonight recovering near the top floor of the Foothills General Hospital in the cardiac recovery ward is an exhausted but elated Mrs. McLellan. Although Mrs. McLellan has had this procedure once before earlier this decade she has once again relied upon Dr. Sheldon and staff to see her through this trying operation. This is her second time to visit the Foothills (built in 1966) in NW Calgary to solve an unusual condition of extremely fast heartbeat known as Tachycardia with underlying Atrial Flutter and exasperating AV Nodal conditions. Her remarkable recovery with her family at her bedside this evening was explained by one of her daughters as, "Mom is tough." Her life long companion and spouse, Don (don't worry, her husband is in there and he can do the bedpan) is also relieved to see his wife in better than expected condition and wishes to thank all those for their best wishes and prayers.
-30-
the story continues....
990414
The healing process is a bit more than expected! She has had some strange sensations and very different rhythms. Yesterday (990413) midnight we went to the Rockyview Hospital's ER to capture an EKG of the events but of course the speed of the medical system has disappointed us once again. The time to fill out the paperwork far exceeded the time to grasp a "snapshot" of the event during it's most important session.
Prior to the RGH (Rockyview) visit she was experiencing a state of tachycardia with peaks of about 160 and of course the immediate concern of the duration and intensity we felt it wise to seek advise. As you know if take your sick car to the mechanic it will perform famously for him but again fail on your way home. After about 1 hour it was determined to send us home with a holter monitor and wait for further abnormalities.
We didn't have to wait long, this is of course the situation later in the morning of today at about 3:30AM. I called the EMS (the noisy ambulance guys) to capture on paper a EKG of a new and yet never experienced bradycardia. I counted an average of 55 to 60 bpm. With due concern for this complete turn around of cadence what can we expect but the EMS fella's monitor displayed 120-130. Again, in the middle of the night the indications were strong and yet as soon as they get here it subsides. But what do you do, call at the first sign of distress? Or wait until the situation warrants, but what is that magic level? Naturally there is the feeling of pending uncertainty and near panic.
If the holter monitor can successfully record the events we will be relived but this will happen at 1 AM this morning (a 24 hour capture). The office of Doc Bob (the rhythm guy) claims this may in fact be the healing process working but to sure the results of the monitor may reveal all, lets hope. This was similar to what he said on departure from the Foothills but then it was worded as a possible arrhythmia or two.
After all is said and done she is well, exhausted, sore and .....
She is plagued with a sensitivity to the glue and gel that makes up the electrodes for EKG monitoring. She jokingly looks like she has had been standing in front of a pitching machine with about a dozen golf ball size itchy welts covering the front of her. My kingdom for a cure for itching and welts, I have bought one of everything in the drug store to cure such maladies, traditional herbal and modern.
990415 - More news from Doc Bob and it is yet to settle in. A possible slow tachycardia is part of the findings from the monitor tape. Well at least the events were captured on tape and we have something for the Electrophysiologist to work from. More appointments next week....
....Once again News that is Family News This is somewhat of a mini-series covering past/present/recent events in and around the house for a fourth time. 
Karin
The House