<Insert Clever Title Here>
Obviously, I was incapable of inventing my own clever title, and so I have subcontracted the effort to you, the reader. It’s the American way, after all. Why do yourself that which you can get someone else to do for less money? Amirite?
In my last two days in the ol’ USA I’ve met some fascinating folks. My last morning in Bendo at the hotel, I met a couple (in their 80s) who’d driven across the country from their home state of Georgia in search of butterflies. Yep. Lepidoptera. As a casual birder in my travels, I found their focus on the butterflies interesting. Of course, as I listened, I briefly entertained doing something similar. For about a nano-second. I’m having enough trouble seeing the differences in birds to identify them. Too many LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) for my dull eyes. I don’t think I’d do well trying to spot differences in animals less than 1/3 the size.
In my conversations with them, I discovered that they’d already seen all the common species of bird in North and Central America, and, in search of a new challenge, had decided to photograph as many species of butterflies they could find in the country.
Ambitious. And I’ll admit I’m a bit envious - both about nailing all the bird species, and also about getting out in the field in their 80s. Although with my recalibrated ticker, things look pretty good for me to make it there and still be tramping the countryside.
Chatting with them, though, was almost as difficult as talking to my friends in Panama in Spanish. Damn, but that accent is thick!
I had a last visit to the cardio before leaving. When I was asked if I had any complaints, I did. I didn’t want to be a whiner, but my heart rate in general is 15-30% higher than it was pre-ablation. If I have to live with that, so be it, if the only other option is irregularly scheduled and far-too-often AFib.
She said she’d look into it and sent me a message about an hour after my visit. Distilled down to its essence:
Observational studies in both general and athletic populations confirm that increased post-ablation heart rate is not associated with adverse cardiac effects or impaired exercise performance, and may correlate with improved quality of life and training capacity in athletes.[1][5] The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society recommend that this expected heart rate increase be communicated to athletes as part of pre-procedural counseling.[1-2]
In summary, elevated heart rates after AF ablation in athletes are common, reflect autonomic changes, are not harmful, and may predict better ablation outcomes.
Now that I’ll take! Especially getting that “athlete” tag on me.
My last fascinating encounter happened at SFO. I’d flown from Redmond International (okay, Redmond Municipal, but an airport can dream, can’t it?), on a dawn flight to SFO where I catch my second leg to Mexico City.
Since I’m all high-falutin’ and shit, I had access to the lounge. Not a bad thing when I’ve got a five plus hour layover. As I walked from F concourse where I landed to G concourse where I depart, I looked up where the lounges were. Cool. One right at the entrance to the concourse.
I queue up to gain access, and I noticed a woman in front of me scan a different-looking bar code. At the time, that was all I noticed. She was turned away at the counter. DENIED!, I thought, you’re outta here!
My turn. I scan my boarding pass. The woman asks where I’m headed. When I reply, she tells me that I need to go to a different lounge. Damn. I’m denied as well. Hubris striketh me down.
I go to the other lounge (which is actually better positioned for my gate anyway), and who is right in front of me — again? Yep, same woman. She zigs and I zag to the two scan stations, and we finish at the same time. We hit the stairs, and being the shy person I am, ask where she’s headed.
And that, mis amigos, started a conversation that lasted for a couple of hours. Lorie is a fascinating woman, with stories to tell. And I’ll tell you, I’m there to listen. She left before I did, but we did exchange contact info before she did. I will definitely be in touch, and, if I’m within a timezone or two, be interested in meeting up again over a libation or three.
As I’ve said repeatedly, it’s the people that make this adventure so enriching.
Be kind and take care of yourselves. If you can, care for someone else, too.
Slang, out.