I am praying that nothing is wrong with your ticker. That's a whole other ballgame. I don't know how anything could be bad wrong, considering how active you are. Let's hope not. Love you.
Peggy

A friend of mine had a speedy heart and all it took was a procedure to affect the little part of you that controls heart speed. I can't remember any of the details or the proper names but she's been fine since. Here's hoping they have an easy and simple fix for you so you can get back to biking and inspiring us!

I've just returned from my day at the hospital. We're not sure if the news is good or bad, but it's certainly unusual. After taking an echocardiogram and a treadmill stress test and not triggering the problem, the doctor suggested three approaches: change meds until the problem stops (not realistic since we don't know the cause); do an ablation (the procedure you were talking about Wendy where they run a catheter into the heart and destroy misfiring cells (did that two years ago and they couldn't trigger the bad cells into action so that might happen again); or put in a permanent heart monitor under the skin to pick up every aberration and send it to the Medtronic home base so they could contact my cardio with accurate data. Number three seemed like the best door to open, so they found a bit of time and as of a little after three p.m. I am microchipped in my chest much like a dog or a cat. I asked if they could find me if I get lost. The chip battery lasts for three years so I think I'm covered. I can start riding the bike again tomorrow and am cleared for all activities. I threw out the beta blocker medicine.

Now, is that strange or what???

Feeling a little chagrined, I asked how common this is. Apparently it is very common to have such wide swings in the presentations of heart arrhythmia and this microchip is not at all unusual. I am so happy to not have the beta blocker and to have permission to ride again.

Thank you all for your concern and support.

Nan

That IS an unusual finding. And I believe the Medtronics ption sounds best. Just try to take it easy until they find something more relevant.
Peggy

Curiously, since I had the chip put in, I've had no aberrant heartbeats. The only thing it has picked up is a little pre-beat now and then, nothing even worth mentioning. Even stranger to me is that I have been cycling nearly every day for an hour, wearing two external heart rate monitors and there have been no spikes recorded on either one, this after graphs that showed heartbeats of over 200. Whatever it is, I'm thankful. They stapled the chip into my chest last week and removed the staples yesterday. Neither procedure was painful. From the way they talk, I think I would be cleared to climb Kilimanjaro again, not that I would want to!
Are you walking yet Peg?

My book just was published as an Ebook today, in color! Hurrah for my husband!

I posted my video entry for the WPC on You Tube. Parkinson's Pedaling with Nan. It was a high learning curve to make the video, but I'm pleased with it.

(Nan:

I'm not walking, I am running! They seemed to get my neurostimulatorsx set just right and changed my medication to Rytary, the new extended release carbidopa-levodopa, and I am perfect (remember - all of this without dyskinesia or dystonia).

I recently did about 20 deep knee bends as part of my 10-minute a day workout. When I awakened the next morning, it felt as if someone had taken a knife and has ripped it through the front of my thighs! I certainly needed to work those muscles.

I am feeling fantastic (and lookiing pretty good, if I might add) Thanks for asking, Nan. Looks as if I found my magic recipe, and you have also.
Peg

Peg, I can hardly wait to see you, in person or on-line. It sounds like the miracle has really happened. And, dare I say, It couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving person!

Fantastic to hear, Peg. I had my first of 2 DBS surgeries in Dec., 2nd surgery in January, and am still awaiting the perfect programming that you got. Wonderful to hear that it is still possible, though I've had my difficult moments of doubt. I did, however, have a few moments of that incredible perfection that you mention (no PD, no meds, felt like 20 again!), perhaps due to surgery brain swelling or maybe the honeymoon effect, but it went away. They tell me that with ideal programming I will get back to that state soon. You give me hope. Congrats!