Thanks, (((((botha youse)))))!
I'll update soon about M on my Relationship thread. Not sure it'll be today but soon!
Tupp, the implant doesn't talk to me, just sends info to its base. But if I feel something worrying happening, I punch the pendant. What that does is record a "highlight" or marker into all that data. So when the periodic data reports are read by the specialist, his attention is drawn to that section for analysis. The monitor's not about alerting them about emergency events (I'd have to call 911) but for evidence of patterns over time that could help them clarify a diagnosis.
It's a "loop" recorder. After I've hit the pendant button four times (could be weeks or months), then I should call the center and let them know I'll be calling in a data report. I do that, and then they magically re-set the recorder from their end, and on we go. I've done one cycle so far, reports are okay. I think I was over-sensitive to it the first few weeks and reporting fairly normal skipped beats, not real tachycardia. Crying wolf, iow. They said that was normal too! Anyway, if I feel unexpectedly faint I should push it, or feel a drumroll of tachycardia of any length, or if I ever pass out of course. It doesn't have to catch the whole event in the moment it happens, but as near as possible. Pretty remarkable invention, actually. Years back, if you didn't have a doc with a stethoscope in your presence, it'd be more of a guessing game, I think.
And for me, long-term monitoring is much nicer than an automatic prescription for potent blood thinners. I really didn't like being on those right after the stroke though they were necessary for 21 days. Statistically they reduce stroke recurrence during that period, but after that, not much benefit. (Daily baby aspirin and some wine!). I bruised like an eggplant on those meds and they increase internal bleeding risks.
However, plenty of people my age are on them and doing fine, so I would too if necessary. I just really like the idea of as precise a diagnosis as will be possible, as do they. It's nice having a fine teaching hospital near, as you tend to get the latest and best options in care. I feel lucky to have the thing, really.
Other health updates are only that I yielded to a SMALL corona-panic-buy moment, and ordered two gallons of overpriced hand sanitizer base gel, so I can make my own. (If need be, just carrying cotton balls and a small jar of it.) All the stores are completely out. And I got a couple bottles of elderberry syrup (one for me, one for M) to take daily to boost immunity. He just emailed that there were only a handful of people on his flight to California yesterday. People really are weirded out. I'm not, too much. Really the only thing one can do is avoid crowds, washing hands all the time, and wait it out. I think the real problem will be the economic panic, as most everyone may be exposed at some point, and a lot of mild cases will be missed as they'll feel like colds. Humanity will survive though the cracks in the health care systems will be exposed. (Would be nice if we could get a president who believes in science more than talk radio, this time!)
Hugs and stay healthy!
Hops