Professional soccer is a fast moving action filled sport. Very exciting and fun to watch. I refuse to watch the NFL.

While I fully expected some side effects from my new meds, I wasn’t prepared for what was happening to my body. The hydrazaline left me in a drunken state, unable to do anything except sit on the couch. Plus, the with drawl from the Metoprolol caused heart palpitations in the middle of the night. It was a rough weekend but I promised myself that I would call the cardiologist first thing Monday morning.

In the morning, we gave the Cardiologist a call and as promised, they were awaiting my call. I got in that day and left an hour later with some new meds and an appointment to return next week. So far so good. Off the metoprolol for 24 hours and already my heart rate is in the high 50s low 60s.

The ER stay could have been relaxing except that every 5 minutes my PB cuff inflated and an alarm sounded. Finally when a doctor came in to see me, I explained that I just want to get an appointment with my GP to discuss cutting back on my Metoprolol. He agreed that the Metoprolol was probably causing my low heart rate and to just stop taking it. Moments later, the PA returned and told me that they were releasing me and that I was to contact my Cardiologist first thing in the morning. Great!! After 6 hours of having to pee in a bottle, I was going to be free.

When I entered the ER, I did so with the understanding that they were just going check me out and then send me home. But the next thing I know, I am laying in a bed with an IV in my arm and a chest full of wires. Then came the PA telling me that I may need a pacemaker. And I am thinking that I have to get out of this place before they kill me.

While trying to get an appointment with my doctor, the triage team wanted me to get it checked out right away. In spite of my best efforts to tell them that I was OK, they wanted me to go to an urgent care (emergency). Since I was not getting any where with the triage team, I decided to humor them and go to emergency.

A couple of years ago, medical professionals noted that my heart rate was rather low. I didn’t think much of it until my GP cut my beta blocker in half. But a year later, my pulse is around 40. Thinking that this might be the reason that I am tired all of the time, I tried to call my GP for an appointment but I was diverted by the triage team.

I was at a conference recently and couldn’t help but notice the number of old men with baggy pants. Do they not make pants in those sizes or were all of these people shopping at the thrift stores?

When driving on some of the interstates, they have signs showing the availability of spaces in the rest areas. I assume the spaces refer to truck parking and not bathroom use. It made me wonder who updates the signs and how often?

I have been getting a physical every year for over 40 years. And every year, they do the same things. The doctor listens to my heart and lungs, checks my eyes, nose and throat and then finishes with that rubber glove event. Apparently there have been no advances in that aspect of medicine.