Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Just in case anyone was wondering, I did NOT die! Let's just say I was going through a late midlife crisis, doing a lot of Facebook with the young European ladies. Sad, really. But how can you discuss your blood numbers with 25 year olds? "What does triglyceride mean?" Of course, the Swiss nurse and the German doctor DO know, but it is still only an abstract for them, a problem that is encountered by people so old they should already be dust....you know, for example people born in the 1950s.
So, back I come to the folks that understand what I am going through. When I first came back from 3 weeks in France, I continued by weight loss. Down to 222. Now? 233, and moving in the WRONG direction. Just had my Army retirement physical. Triglycerides 209. High. HDL 31, too low. Overall Cholesterol 171, but they said that was ok. My sodium level is 136, which is LOW...that last one I don't even understand and never heard of...do I need to put more salt on my food?
The doc says that I am a "perfect" candidate for statins. FORGET IT! My request to extend to age 62 got turned down, so the Army will be booting me in December. My plan is to do what I did for the one 3 month period after I started working out again post ablation...3 hours on that stupid static bike every day, do a lot of walking, and eating a lot of oatmeal. All my numbers turned around in a short period, I just wasn't smart enough to know that you must continue that lifestyle! It isn't a case of "Got THIS beat, I can now eat ice cream every day again!" If I am the fat boy in French class next May, I will be VERY disappointed. Oh yeah - the Chief who runs the French immersion said I could go with them as a retiree...the only difference of course is that now Uncle Sugar won't pay, I will have to pay. But I had SO much fun in Montpellier that I am willing to give it a try and see how it feels paying for this yourself.
I hope I didn't miss too much the last couple of months...did they find a cure for afib while I was gone?
I hope all has been well with the folks here...NO AFIB!
Fat out of shape but soon to be retired Bill
So, back I come to the folks that understand what I am going through. When I first came back from 3 weeks in France, I continued by weight loss. Down to 222. Now? 233, and moving in the WRONG direction. Just had my Army retirement physical. Triglycerides 209. High. HDL 31, too low. Overall Cholesterol 171, but they said that was ok. My sodium level is 136, which is LOW...that last one I don't even understand and never heard of...do I need to put more salt on my food?
The doc says that I am a "perfect" candidate for statins. FORGET IT! My request to extend to age 62 got turned down, so the Army will be booting me in December. My plan is to do what I did for the one 3 month period after I started working out again post ablation...3 hours on that stupid static bike every day, do a lot of walking, and eating a lot of oatmeal. All my numbers turned around in a short period, I just wasn't smart enough to know that you must continue that lifestyle! It isn't a case of "Got THIS beat, I can now eat ice cream every day again!" If I am the fat boy in French class next May, I will be VERY disappointed. Oh yeah - the Chief who runs the French immersion said I could go with them as a retiree...the only difference of course is that now Uncle Sugar won't pay, I will have to pay. But I had SO much fun in Montpellier that I am willing to give it a try and see how it feels paying for this yourself.
I hope I didn't miss too much the last couple of months...did they find a cure for afib while I was gone?
I hope all has been well with the folks here...NO AFIB!
Fat out of shape but soon to be retired Bill
Welcome back I, for one, missed you!! I have been thinking about you lately, wondering how you were doing and missing you, your posts and humor. I figured you had just drifted off as people sometimes do here. I should have known better young European ladies indeed
Im sure youll be able to get your numbers ironed out once you put your mind to it. And Im also sure that retirement will open a whole bunch of new positive opportunities for you. Imagine, you can come over to Europe, take your French course and extend your stay into a prolonged vacation! (umm just stay away from the crme brle au chocolat)
If they found a cure for a-fib I must of missed it, now THAT would be something.
Looking forward to hearing from you more!
Carpe diem,
atp
One thing I can tell you is I am NOT alone in my assessment of the European ladies...I don't know how it came up in conversation, but the Doc doing my retirement physical has spent a year abroad in Belgium (so we did a teensy bit of back and forth, he in Flams and me in Afrikaans, but not much). So I said, "Oh, so you have a Belgian wife." He mentioned how incredibly beautiful the French and Belgian girls were, but said "No, it just didn't work out." But my Belgian girlfriend was "Compelling." What an interesting word to describe a girlfriend...and he had that "Ahhhh" kind of look on his face. So for sure, there have been many an American boy enraptured by the beautiful (and healthy, we also discussed that) European ladies. Sigh....
And now you have me also thinking of the BEST crme brulee I EVER ate in my life! Still haven't run across a place in the good old USA who serves it au chocolat. Another thing to look forward to for next year!
Nostalgic and hungry Bill
She is considerably older that you are. Her's was due to a low salt diet for most of her life combined with too much fluid intake. I personally feel if she would've watched her electrolytes could've been avoided.
French Ladies?
laurab
Well the schools are in France, but most of the students are Swiss. There are a few Germans, Austrians, Dutch, but this past year in particular the school was full of Swiss..and probably 8 women for every guy who is studying French...just a WONDERFUL ratio, particularly if you are an old man who loves looking at beautiful young girls (once again, SO happy my wife isn't on this site! But I just look.)
Bill
My latest serum test was excellent for first time in years.
Chl, 4.5 ratio. LDL and non HDL a tad high, but not concerned.
Homocysteine good range 9.8
Sod, Chlor, Pot, Cal, Hemo, etc, all in range
Big surprise was , No Thyroid issue, T3, free, TSH, all in range. Natro telling me that could be the issue for a year now. Wrong.
Bottom line, On meds more levels were out of range than on supplements now in range. Good to see you again. James