Game On

Here's a picture of what Beth's heart does on an EKG (Dr. Miller's drawing):

The top drawing is a normal rhythm - what we're used to seeing. Beth does the second one when she has her episodes (2nd degree AV block). Basically those little bumps are the electrical impulses that fire to start a contraction of the heart, but the signal is blocked for some reason and the contraction doesn't start. Your heart has a back up system though, and will jump start itself after a while. Our bodies are pretty darn cool when you think about it, all the back up systems that are in place so we don't just keel over and die.

The third line is what Beth's heart does sometimes (called 3rd degree block) and animals that have it do not show clinical signs and don't need pacemakers. But since she usually reverts back to the bad one (middle), she still needs the pacemaker.

I went to visit her today and she's doing well. The leads came in and so the surgery is happening today, and I MAY be able to bring her home tomorrow if she does well. I'm soooo happy that I actually know the doctor who is running her anesthesia - she used to work at Care and is a brilliant and wonderful vet and I trust her completely. It takes a little weight off of me to know that she's there. I had completely forgotten that she was up there and so asked about her and she had time to come in and say hi.

I'm hanging in there too. Just worried and can't wait for this to be over.