Main » July 2005

July 16, 2005

IPL treatment

I just returned from Jacksonville where I received a pulse laser treatment on my face. It is supposed to help with the flushing as well as clear up some of the permanently dilated blood vessels. This was my fist experience with lasers and while interesting, I would not recommend it as a form of recreation. My face felt like it was stuck in a hornet's nest. I now look a little strange with purple spots all over my face. The facial bruising should go down in a week or two.

Posted by Ken Albin at 12:14 PM | Comments (1)

July 12, 2005

Just checking in

The increased beta blocker has not only helped to reduce the extra heartbeats to just a very occasional blip but it has helped control the rosacea better than the clonidine did. The only problem I'm having now is the general skin dryness and a rash caused by the tape glue from when the holter monitor was attached.

I tried a new soap with shea butter. It irritated the skin so I went back to Dove soap. It is milder and seems to not dry out the skin so much.

I've been working on updating the home webpages. The link page is not finished yet but most of the other pages are done. I have all new pictures of the furkids and of us. If you would like to see my world, the URL is here.

Posted by Ken Albin at 07:41 PM | Comments (0)

July 06, 2005

Testing 1,2,3...

I feel better today. A trip back to the cardiologist and he upped the beta blocker. The extra beats are fewer now and the pounding has decreased a lot. This morning I had the echocardiogram and am now sitting here wearing a holter monitor for the next day. I won't know much until the 18th, but the doctor did say that the blood flow during the stress test was good.

I'm now off of the clonidine because it would lower my blood pressure too much with the higher dosage of the beta blocker. So far that has not been a problem since a moderate dosage of beta blocker is also a standard rosacea treatment. I'm going in later in the month for pulse laser treatment to clear up some of the facial veins that are showing. This should also help with some of the redness.

Posted by Ken Albin at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

July 04, 2005

More troubles

Last Thursday the heart problems continued. I had constant atrial fib for all day and night with my heart going lubdublubdub...lub.. dub............lubdublubdub...lub..dub............ It pounded in my chest with a lurching feeling that kept me up most of the night. Friday I called the cardiologist only to find that the office was in the process of closing up early so he could go off for the 4th of July vacation. They suggested I go to the emergency room. I knew that was a no-go because all they would do is stick me in the hospital until Tuesday when the doctors would return from their golfing and cookouts. They finally contacted the doctor and I went in for an ECG. It showed what I already knew, that my heart was now constantly throwing out extra beats. The doctor, probably out of fear of a lawsuit if something happened to me over the weekend, put me on a beta blocker medication and digitalis. The medication has helped reduce the extra beats a little bit but it still is pretty bad. I just woke up at 3 AM now with a pounding sensation that is very uncomfortable. I go back to see the doc Tuesday. Wednesday is the echocardiogram and 24 hour holter monitor. As of now he still does not even venture a guess as to what is going on. I just know that I can't function this way and teach classes this Fall. I hope he gets a clue and can finally deal with this. Right now I get the feeling that all he cares about is not opening himself to a lawsuit. I really don't feel like he cares about me as a person but that is my usual experience with doctors in the past so I'm not surprised. I don't care what his motivation is so long as he does something to relieve this horrible pounding.

The rosacea is still fine, with some dryness and little redness. Funny, isn't it? I have been focusing on the flushing as something terrible but it seems unimportant now.

I've talked a lot with my wife about what she should do in the event that this becomes unstable and progresses to the point that I'm not here. I am reassured that she would be ok if anything happens.

Posted by Ken Albin at 12:15 AM | Comments (1)