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Tomorrow I enter the Bionic Generation

9.3K views 90 replies 80 participants last post by  chriswright  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Tomorrow 5-27-2009 I enter the bionic, electric generation.

I'm going in for a pacemaker implant. My heart rate fluctiates between 40 and 150 and in order to bring the upper range down through medication they need to put a floor on the lower rate. I also have had the heart pause for 2.4 sec between beats. That's passout time and I would hate to be leaning over a table saw and that were to happen.

So the pacemaker will be set for 60 beats per minute as the minimum and then they will try to bring the upper range down.

I'm not suppose to drive for 3 weeks and to lift anything heavy for 4 weeks, and the left arm over my head for about the same time.

The Dr said it's not the driving that causes problems, it's the idiots that drive and pull out in front of you and you swerve to miss them.

The pacemaker is attached to a wire and the wire to a screw that is screwed into the mussle wall of the heart. The screw will have tissue grow over it and thats the 3-4 weeks time. hey don't want the screw to come out.

We all know what happens when screws get loose.

I don't want anyone telling me that I've got a loose screw.

So I'll see you on the other side.
 
#4 ·
oh wow…

Good luck, and have a quick and easy recovery. let us know if theres anything we can help with aside from the usual free entertainment here :)

any plans on still keeping busy with WW while recovering? or got other activities on your mind?
 
#7 ·
Good luck on your new venture into the bionic age.

I once new a 90 year old man who had a pacemaker installed.

He felt pretty good about it, because the doctor said it was guaranteed to last ten years.

We'll be praying for you.

Maybe you'll have some time to take up woodcarving now.
 
#8 ·
God bless brother ,
your in good hands !
.
are you going to be a boss now ?
or are you coming back to the mines ?
.
pretty soon we'll all be hooked up to the computer and can talk while we work ,
lets hope its martin as big brother !

speedy recovery and best to family .
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
The Dr said it's not the driving that causes problems, it's the idiots that drive and pull out in front of you and you swerve to miss them.
Uh huh. It's not the fall out of the tree that hurts you, it's that sudden stop at the bottom of the fall.

You concentrate on getting back in shape. NO DRIVING, and like Dick said, maybe take up carving; or draw up sketches for all the stuff you'll be building later.
Take care, Karson, and I'll keep the prayers going up for your speedy recovery.
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
Good luck, guy, Hope your pacemaker goes as well as mine did. We were in Venezuela when I had to have one put in. It's been there almost four years and I hardly ever think about it. Have to go every 6 months for a check up. Only hitch is when my wife cuddles up to me on the couch, the tv starts changing channels and the garage door starts opening and shutting. God be with you in the days ahead and may you be granted a quick recovery.
 
#16 ·
Karson;

Good luck, relax, let the professionals do their job and you'll feel like a new man in about a month. Do as the doc's say and you'll be fine. Sit back and draw your upcoming projects to your heart's (no pun intended, honestly!) content.

Anyway, you'll be in our thoughts and prayers today ….

Thomas
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
I plan on continuing with the woodworking.

The Mason Dixon Woodworkers make toys on every Wed of the year. I'll miss this one but plan on being back for the rest. (Have to get someone to drive me there).

My wife's kitchen still is under construction. I just finished up 19 drawer fronts this morning. They all need to be sprayed with conversion varnish (It's raining today) and get them installed. Do some planning on the rest of the lower cabinets (3 drawers, 1 drawer front and two doors for under the sink) The two doors and new drawer fronts will need to have veneer applied to the panels. Those items will all be worked on during the recoup time. I can't work on the uppers because of the weight and height.

I just finished putting a roof on a section of my house Friday (14' X 34') My 18 year old and my 12 year old sons helped. They both were getting proficient with the air nailers. Not so great on the allignment of shingles (we had to take a couple off, and redo them). Was going to work on another section today but the rain killed those plans.

The previous owner replaced some of the shingles when he had some home improvements done on the house a few years ago. The two sections I'm working on are the original shingles put on 21 years ago. They seemed to be the traffic area that the previous roofers used to get to the area that they worked on. The shingles had actually worn through to the tar paper in some areas. Lots of broken shingles.

The Dr stated that I cannot do any more electric welding. (There goes my wife's first Christmas Present to me, an Electric stick welder.) The wire welder also goes. The acetylene welder can stay. I use it in welding up my Bandsaw blades.

Woodworking tools are all still a go. It's just the high magnetic tools that cause pacemaker problems.
 
#18 ·
my best thoughts are with you, my friend!!!
I liked the statement by Jack: Hope you get a master craftsman to work on you :)

Although the topic is quite serious I did have to chuckle at the "I would hate to be leaning over a table saw and that were to happen." The first thing that comes to mind is woodworking?! :)

Do what the Doc tells ya and we'll be waiting to hear how things go. (Hugs to you AND to each of your family!)
 
#19 ·
Good luck, Karson, and I'll say a prayer for you. Just think how much more woodworking you'll be able to get done once your ticker is beating more regularly!

P.S. Once you get healed up, I'm sure some of us jocks can help you figure out how to rewire that pacemaker for 220V so it will run more efficiently. :)
 
#22 ·
Hello Karson,
Oh wow, bionic parts huh? Well I'm certainly glad that you are doing something about it buddy. Many people today just won't have many things done. You are doing the right thing of course and with today's science you will do well. You are in my prayers my friend. Get back to healthy right away with a strong beat at the right rythm. Bye and God Bless you and yours.