Big O's Big Heart: Mr. O's Wild Ride

Greetings family & friend,
I wanted to bring everyone up to speed on a recent medical setback for Owen. He is doing well and resting in Idaho Falls at EIRMC (Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center). I will do my best to explain the details, but without being there, I am sure I will leave out some worthwhile information.

Following Owen & Carol’s arrival to Star Valley WY on Sunday night, Owen had 2 occassions on Monday where he passed out for a short period of time (one at the Post Office and one at home). They decided to go to the hospital in Afton and quickly follow up on their concern. He continued to have short periods where his heart rate would drop, and at times briefly stop, and he also had some spikes in his blood pressure.

Here are some texts I was receiving from my Mom Monday night/Tuesday morning:
-No news on ct scan but should be soon. They are giving him an IV of potassium as it showed he was low. And a shot of ativan to relax the vessels. He feels fine, they are waiting for a room assignment. I will keep you up when I know anything.

-We don't know yet it may be a secondary problem. His heart rate dramatically dropped as he was passing out again. Dr was in in an instant. They got it back and his pressure down and by him observing it realized problem solved. Not stroke, heart attack, or seizure, it was the blood pressure he was put on after his ablation . They are going to get him in a room and do more research and tests tomorrow

-(The doctor) even gave me a hug when we found out it wasn't a clot and just now when he brought me the waveform. He's on top of it. The other med deletes potassium so he needs to take that. He's on his third bottle now. There's a chance he may stay 2 nights. Bob and Sharon are going to leave mammoth at 4am tomorrow to miss some weather so they will be here but don't know yet about dad because they went to bed early. Ps dads bp is finally normal thanks to all the meds they have given him.

-Dad slept well after coming to his room. Had breakfast and had another 5 second drop in heart beat. He can feel it coming on so I rang for the nurse and they found it on their Wave form. They hooked him up just now to a wave machine that will work like a pace maker and catch & correct these drops in the heart beat. Pacemaker may be in his future. Will wait and see.

-The machine just "jolted him off the bed" with an electrical shock like the paddles would but not as strong. I think they have it set a little high at first to test it? They are in the room before I get my finger off the button.

Then came the big news from Carol yesterday morning:
-He gets a helicopter ride to Idaho falls for a pacemaker in a few minutes . I'll keep you informed. I'm driving.

-He's so strong. The zaps were coming often but no pain. He just took off, I will pick some things up at the house and then to EIRMC. I will keep in touch

After Owen’s fancy helicopter flight, he arrived at EIRMC and they implanted a temporary cathadar in him with a wire that went to his heart. This would help to stabilize the irregular heart rhythms until they could do the pacemaker.
-Dad had already had a temporary cath put in to make sure it is necessary to put the permanent one in, probably tomorrow depending on how this one reacts. I talked to the dr that did it and they need to make sure none of his eye drops or meds interfere with the pacemaker.

Sharon & Bob arrived yesterday afternoon, and what a blessing that was. I know their presence was a great relief for Owen & Carol, not to mention the mexican food that everyone but Owen enjoyed for dinner :)

Here’s a couple of notes from Carol this morning:
-It's a beautiful day, just read some incredible scriptures on the strength God gives us as we need it and not to give into discouragement or distractions. It's going to be a great day. Dad seems chipper and looking forward to his breakfast but taking that last shuteye before it gets crazy. As for my bed, they need to give lessons on how to unfold this puzzle. I got it 2/3s open but not in the correct order but I managed to sleep fine. How's your family doing? Dad did some texting with luke after the game, that was good.

-Looks like he gets his pacer today after 12:00 so I get his breakfast! He wanted the pacer with WiFi and they looked at him like he was crazy, but it will have wireless I'm sure. I gave him a sponge bath and we brushed his teeth so he's feeling good.

The doctors have diagnosed this as Sick Sinus Syndrome. Here is what the Mayo Clinic website says:

Sick sinus syndrome — also known as sinus node disease or sinus node dysfunction — is the name for a group of heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) in which the sinus node — the heart's natural pacemaker — doesn't work properly.
The sinus node is an area of specialized cells in the upper right chamber of the heart that controls the rhythm of your heart. Normally, the sinus node produces a steady pace of regular electrical impulses. In sick sinus syndrome, these signals are abnormally paced.
A person with sick sinus syndrome may have heart rhythms that are too fast, too slow, punctuated by long pauses — or an alternating combination of all of these rhythm problems. Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon, but the risk of developing sick sinus syndrome increases with age.
Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm.

Please keep Owen & Carol in your continued prayers, and we will update the blog with more info as available.

With love,

The Browns