LOWLY STRAW TRICK - VALSALVA MANUEVER

Tuesday it had been a busy day in Little Rock, further aggravated by a dismal day of steady rain combined with some fog.

My husband (H) had an appointment for his yearly hearing test at the VA facility in North Little Rock. Formerly known as Fort Roots, this facility was renamed Eugene J. Towbin Health Care Center.

If I did not have COPD and other health problems which prevent a walking tour, Fort Roots would be a great walking photo opportunity. Built in the 1890s as a 1,100 acre military facility it is known for 15 large ward buildings and 76 other structures with many Romanesque Revival and Greek Revival architectural features.

Since 9/11 there is so much security, I suspect a person with a camera might be detained. The architecture is impressive, well-maintained and many buildings have National Historic Registry plaques.

We left our motel about 10 a.m. to eat in the food court in the main hospital building . Then we had to move on to another building for the auditory testing. This involved a lot of driving and walking up and down grades which taxes my less than normal physical abilities. Handicapped Parking spots were taken everywhere we went, which, of course is to be expected--after all it is a medical facility.

This appointment turned out to evoke one of my husband's infamous short statements. He is a man of few words. After he finished and we were leaving, I inquired what they did. He said, "Put my hearing aids in." I really chuckled over it. How brief a statement can you make!

Then we went to Sam's for shopping for items create courtesy baskets our Life Group puts together and places in waiting and lounging areas of the Baxter Regional Hospital in Mountain Home, AR.

Since I am more familiar with Sam's general store layout, I had to find the items which, generally, known as vending machine items.  It was relatively short insofar as my shopping trips go.

We picked up a few personal items and returned to La Quinta Motel about 4 p.m.

H went to nearby convenience store for two sandwiches. I ate mine sat in recliner to continue my current Kindle reading selection.

AND THE OLD HEART STARTING THUMPING.....I grabbed my oximeter. The heart rate was spiking to 155 b.p.m. I grabbed the lowly straw and managed two really good manipulations of the VALSALVA MANEUVER for supraventricular tachycardia, or as I commonly call it, atrial fibrillation.

Yes, I found it really was not a trick at all, but an emergency attempt to force the heart into rhythm before other techniques are used or help arrives. The maneuver is based on vagal nerve response. I'm not going into the technical details. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

There is a left and right vagus nerve; as I remember vagus means wandering. If you read the link provided you will understand the reason!

In this particular occurrence, it worked. Supposedly for each spike you only do the maneuver twice.

However, I have to admit I was not as panicked, because this particular La Quinta Inn  has an ambulance stationed there. It was two units down from ours!

Also the medication seems to be taking hold, plus I am finding limitations to my stamina, but these attacks are becoming less intense and much shorter.

I am just glad to know there is some sanity and reason involving the straw technique, besides some hokey pokey witchcraft.

AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO CALL 911 while trying the maneuver. As stated before, it doesn't always work and precious time may be lost if you continue along this path with no results.

It is off to Little Rock again Monday for one day; my Best Friend (BF) and I have annual appointments with our asthma/COPD physician. Shelly and BF will split driving.

Luckie is going with us. Should be interesting! She is a great rider--sleeps for the most part. While we are in for our appointments, Shelly can walk her around. I think there is some green grass, she can mark. Everytime she leaves the car she squats and pees. She is the pee-inest (how about that word!) dog I have ever had. 

THEN I HOPE WE CAN STAY HOME FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I AM TIRED OF LITTLE ROCK.