
I’ll skip right to the punch line…
I spent a week in the hospital in South Texas (or North Mexico, depending on one’s perspective), and now have a brand new PACEMAKER!! It’s all good…my new cardiologist team assured us I would soon be back to normal (whatever THAT means)!
Liz will neither confirm nor deny that she might be a LITTLE disappointed… so much so that she may have wanted a(nother) second opinion…hoping for a newer, better model?!
…many minutes if not a decade
This was ENTIRELY unexpected, and in many ways happened in a very fortuitous way. I had a couple incidents of what the medical profession refers to as “Syncope,” and which we shall refer to here as a sudden vertical nap. These incidents occurred without warning…had we been on the road, they surely would have been disastrous. They lasted, according to Liz, who frantically witnessed and coped with them, many minutes if not a decade. In fact, likely less than 30 sec…but long enuf to hit the ground in an uncontrolled way.
The first time, I managed to pop some stitches remaining from a minor surgical procedure, resulting in lots of apparent blood and an ambulance ride. We were on the way to procure Sushi to celebrate Liz’s Birthday. I remember feeling and announcing that I felt lightheaded after getting out of the car. Liz looked back and saw me crumple awkwardly to the ground. Moments later, I was conscious…Liz asked if I was OK because I passed out.
I said, “What? No I didn’t!!”
She looked at me as only a wife and life partner can, when you have OBVIOUSLY been caught in a “slight exaggeration.”
Shortly, though, I realized I was staring up at the sky with Liz’s angelic face in my field of view, so denial rejected!!!
And, because I appeared to be bleeding out on the pavement, Liz called 911 and we visited the Hospital in Fairhope, Al.
AT the ER, they quickly deduced I was NOT bleeding out, so they did the usual tests for an Old Fart who passes out – Cardiac Enzymes, ECG, CT of my noggin (in case I had landed on THAT organ), Chest CT (for Blood Clots), etc. Long story made a little less long: they kept me in the ER for 8 hours, then said, since they had witnessed no irregularities, I could go home – recommended following up with a Cardiologist. The general consensus: I stood up too fast, was lightheaded (not that uncommon) and due to a weakened state because of recent minor surgery, passed completely out.
The most lasting concern (or so we thought…) was that Liz had NOT received (and still has not received!) her Birthday Sushi!!!
Subsequently, we left Alabama, heading to our next stop: Alamo, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. Intending as mentioned here before, to park the bus and spend some of the winter overseas. The trip was uneventful – three days driving, three rest stops or Walmart parking lots. Nothing notable or even a bit unusual. Just like most of the last 9 years for us!

We arrived at the park in Alamo, and the first evening walked over to visit friends and Chicago Refugees, Carole and Jack Harriff, who also stay in the park during the cold months. A delightful evening, about to change!!!
On the way back to our bus (perhaps a 2 block walk), the second vertical nap took place. Just as we had arrived at our bus. This time, my nose cushioned my fall, saving my head, but getting broken in the process…again lots of blood. I came to quickly, but Liz was thinking about how to call an ambulance, and how to get the ambulance into the gated park.
As it turns out, the park has a process for this – there is a local resident number you call – they will open the gate and guide the ambulance to the relevant site. But we didn’t know any of this as we had arrived on Saturday and the office, which would have provided this detail, was not open until Monday. So liz called our friends, Jack and Carole whom we had just left, and they drove over; then drove us to a Free-standing ER. These are affiliated with hospitals, and can provide almost all the services of a Hospital ER – and Jack knew there was one less than 5 miles from the park. Liz and The Harriffs (which is sounds very similar to “Harris” but with a lisp) now had everything under control.
For my part, I tried not to bleed on their car.
Again the ER found nothing. CT Scan clear. Cardiac Enzymes good. ECG not normal, but I should mention that my ECG has not been normal for at least 2 years. I have an electrical abnormality called “LBBB” that has been tested and tested by Docs in Chicago, and which CAN cause problems like Syncope (or worse). This abnormality has been in a “keep an eye on it” status due to no symptoms.
Well, OBVIOUSLY that had just changed.
My next routine appointment in Chicago was in late May 2025. So, when the ER recommended that I follow up with a Cardiologist, we knew we needed to do so WAY sooner than that, and that meant we needed to find one locally. I also needed to find an ENT specialist to look at the broken nose…the ER DOC stitched my nose up, but it was unknown if there were any other issues that needed attention.
…among that group, MANY old farts with weak tickers
So, the next day, I started calling Cardiologists – the one referred by the ER had no available appointments until June. Ultimately, I did find one who had lots of letter credentials – a veritable alphabet soup — and practiced at a Doctor-owned health facility 15 minutes from the park. Jack and Carole said that that particular facility has a good reputation among the Winter Texans (as snowbirds are called down here). Which I took as a good sign, since among that group are MANY old farts with weak tickers! His office said to come in the next day, under the circumstances, they would work us into the schedule.
Dr. Morales did an ECG, and said the abnormality was “extreme.” This was a word not used by the Chicago docs, so I assume this was a change. He went on to further state that this could be “Benign, or Lethal.” Liz is now in a full-on panic – this is a distinction that needed to be understood, and SOON! So he tee’d me up for tests.
An ECHO showed some decline from the last ECHO in Chicago as recent as October 2024. I wore a heart monitor for 3 days, which showed essentially nothing. HOWEVER, he could not arrange a CT Angiogram Scan for almost 6 weeks!!! This made us more than a little uncomfortable, and I started making calls to see about expediting. Eventually they moved it up to 3 weeks. He said they would keep trying to move it up, but in the meantime if I had and more episodes, come to the ER at his hospital so he could manage my care.

As an aside, we also managed to find an ENT. He took one look at my nose, and said, managing expectations, “Nothing I can do to improve the situation; it will heal fine and be just as it was, more or less.” Darn! I was hoping for a perky little movie-star schnoz.
Within a few days, I DID have another near-syncope episode. We were at Walmart, and I felt lightheaded. Same as before – I knew I had about 2 secs before hitting the floor. We were in the pharmacy, and there was a chair. I sat down, and the episode passed without completion. Liz, however, was frantic, because she had gone off to find something, and did not know where I was (and the chair was a little hidden). Eventually, she found me, and I suggested and she heartily agreed:
Time to go to the hospital.
Once I was in the ER, they were not going to let me out until they got to the bottom of the situation. This was plenty fine with Liz, as she was pretty focused on the “Extreme” and “Lethal” words the Docs had for the first time used.

Unfortunately, the hospital had no beds available, so they moved me to an area they called the “CDU.” Gotta love those acronyms! This expands to “Clinical Decision Unit,” which is meant to get patients out of the ER, where there are all sorts of sick and likely contagious people, and into an epidemiologically safer environment, while they find a “real” room. They never did find a room…I spent 7 days in the CDU….EVERY day they said they would be moving me to a room today, for sure!! It hardly matters…hospital room or CDU room…not a SPA, not comfortable, not quiet. No sleep. Horrible food (I WAS in the “Cardiac” hospital, after all!).
The Cardio said that he was going to do Catheterization, which is NOT something he had wanted to do, but he needed to eliminate Artery blockages and we could not wait for the less-invasive CT Angiogram.
Actually, the way he worded it was…”I get the sense you will not be that patient…why do they call patients ‘Patient’ anyway?”
The Heart Catheterization showed that despite all the Poutine and DQ I favor, the heart plumbing is “squeaky-clean.” As in NO – NONE blockages or plaque; no stents, bypasses or other “plumbing” repairs indicated or needed. That’s a good report, and meant the problem had to be electrical, especially considering my ECG had been abnormal for awhile now. So Cardio set me up with a fella he called “The Amazing Dr. Almeida,” who is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist.
During recovery from the Catheterization, I was required to remain “absolutely motionless” with regard to my right leg and core muscles that might yank on my leg, due to the now-wounded Artery in the groin that was used for the catheterization. Opening that wound would become a life-and-death emergency very quickly. During this enforced rigor, I felt a strange kinship with Nephew Chet, whose basketball injury also required enforced motionlessness. Mine was for 4 hours, his for 4 WEEKS. Not the same, not even close, of course. But RESPECT!!! Massive Respect!!
The “ADA” did an “Electrophysiological Study,” which consisted of inserted wires in my heart via yet another catheter, after inserting fentanyl in my veins, to diagnostically zap various electrical pathways while carefully monitoring the results. The purpose being to cause mayhem if possible, see and make a map of the circuitry to select the “right” hardware to correct the problem(s). Part of this was a decision as to whether I needed a Pacemaker, or a combined Pacemaker/Defibrillator. Since they could not make my heart totally misbehave (i.e. stop!), the latter was deemed unnecessary.

This led to a Pacemaker installation, which was completed about 10 days ago. This was a 3-wire device, which overcomes the blockages and resynchronizes all the chambers to pump together and more efficiently. This Pacemaker is not the kind that triggers occasionally, when my heart hiccups…it runs all the time, fully controlling the heart activity on each and every beat. The Docs ASSURED me that I can return 100% to all normal activities virtually immediately, Including operating “heavy machinery” such as GOOD TROUBLE, which was certainly not clinically recommended while experiencing random unconsciousness with no warning!
We had been scheduled to attend a wedding in Chicago last weekend – this would have been a week from the surgery. The docs had already said this would be fine, but we (especially Liz!) wanted to see their faces as they stated this again. I described a few remaining symptoms such as my left leg/thigh (opposite to the catheterization) went to sleep and has not yet woken up AND I felt a little “foggy” every so often. BOTH cardiologists said, “Not my problem; Pacemaker is working perfectly… your heart is now fixed.” If you want to explore other issues, you need to find another “ologist” whose portfolio might include sleeping thighs and/or fog. Or see your primary physician. Also, go ahead and travel, drive, etc. Bye.
I should also say that the “Fogginess” is much better and getting better, though my leg is still asleep. I assume it is in part a stamina issue, because I was flat on my back for a week, and in part because I had “Sedation Surgery” three times in the last month.
So, we deduced that the trip would be OK, and WAS OK. The airport experience was a new treat — I am used to the special attention I get from metal hips…this goes to a new level now. A FULL PAT-DOWN. This actually takes less time to perform than for the TSA agent to explain and assure me that he was going to be patting my groin with the BACK of his hand, only. And did I want privacy for this back-of-hand manipulation. I can say it SOUNDED a lot more fun than it actually was!
We were in Chicago for all of 48 hours, including Liz’s niece’s wedding, which was a lot of fun. We did, tho, feel officially OLD. Not that I was up to dancing the night away, but the music… Everyone (else) seemed to enjoy the DJ and Tunes immensely… everyone (else) knew all the words to every tune as well as all the well-known dance steps specific to those tunes. Each of which was 100% foreign to us. I recognized MAYBE 2 tunes — the ones put into the playlist for the token geezers in attendance.
But, there was an ICE CREAM SUNDAE BUFFET!!!
We also remembered why we like South Texas in the winter. It was cold enuf (and we have no winter clothing), that we took an UBER 4 blocks from the hotel to the venue. And back at the end of the evening.
which fits not at all with our lifestyle
I have a follow up appointment with the ADA in mid-March to check the Pacemaker Operation. They want me to do that every 90 days or so ..which fits not at all with our lifestyle. They use a device that they set on my chest and it communicates between the pacemaker and an Ipad. There they can check the status of the electrodes, battery, etc. I presume they can also adjust the device. I said, “COOL!” Can I do that with my phone, too? They said something that sounded like “HELL NO!” but slightly less polite. Considering how I like to tinker, Liz is REALLY HAPPY I don’t have the ability to “tune” my device!
I have deduced that the person operating that device and doing the checking is actually someone from Medtronic…I assume I can find such a person anywhere we might be. I will also have a little table-top device that will communicate with the Pacemaker every day, and send any alerts to a monitoring company via cellular data. We had a discussion around how that would work with our nomadic lifestyle, which the cardio does not really fully comprehend, but we agreed it will “probably work” no matter where we are.

So, that’s the detail and the status. All in all, we are pretty grateful…and LUCKY, actually. Lucky that we did not approach or explore the “lethal” possibilities of my situation. Lucky that this whole scenario happened AFTER we arrived and parked the bus, all connected and livable, in Texas. Luckily At a place where we could remain until further notice, in a comfortable spot, near friends, healthcare and with many services available. Lucky this did NOT occur at a highway rest stop or a Walmart parking lot? Imagine the logistics Liz would have been faced with in such circumstances while I luxuriated in an ER bed, never mind finding a Doc, Hospital etc. Lucky, also, that we went from knowing NO DOCS to having 2 Cardiologists, an ENT and a Pacemaker installation…in TWO WEEKS.
We’ll be here in Texas for a while – probably mid-March. Our overseas travel plans for THIS WINTER have been postponed, but of course since we never really make plans OR reservations, its not like we had to cancel anything. We fully expect to be back on the road, going places, seeing things, listening to music, hanging with friends soon!
So, if you have EVER offered us your driveway, don’t think for a minute that you are off the hook!
Great to hear that you are back and vertical Dan! This getting old is not much fun. How good is it that your nose “came good” and provided airbag functionality just when it was needed. You will now need to resist the temptation to supercharge your new device.
Dan and Liz~what an adventure!! Exciting – not lethal. It certainly sounds like an applause is in order for all your guardian angels. I had an “electrical problem” medically about 10 years ago, A- fib. And the pulmonary vein ablation was a wonderful success …as it seems your new fancy pacemaker is for you. Congrats and I know you’ll be back on the road in no time. Much love to both of you
Wow! What some people will do to avoid having to eat sushi!
My oh my! Your comment about adjusting your pacemaker using your phone made me think of this quote from Christmas Vacation. “Every time Catherine revved up the microwave, I’d piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour.” Be careful with the technology Dan!
So Dan I can hack your phone and have you doing a jig while Liz is sleeping? I. Can see Liz staring at you as you kick up your heels in your underwear with a questioning look on your face wondering wtf is going on….All jokes aside I am glad your ok and those pictures of you in the hospital are priceless. Take care big guy!
Wow! Quite an unplanned adventure but a very happy ending so all good!! Thankful you AND Liz are happy, healthy and continuing your travels! The wonder of medical science! God Bless you both and keep the updates coming…especially this happy ending!