Jim: David correctly understood my words. It was "atrial flutter". They were able to overcome it by a small electric shock which put my heart beating in rhythym again. But, as you point out, I'm taking several medications at the moment. There was some damage to the heart and it will be a while before we know how much (hopefully all!) of the function will return. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and wishes. I will be checking e-mail this week but the doctor has said I can't be in the office for at least this week. I'll be seeing him on Monday (4/5/04) and we'll see where it goes from there. 73, Barry, N1VXY -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ Sent: Thu 3/25/2004 10:25 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Subject: [ARRL-ODV:10299] Re: Update on Barry No doubt you're right, Jim. I repeated what I thought Barry told me, but might well have gotten it wrong. Medical terms aren't my strong suit. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Weaver, Jim K8JE (DIR, GL) Sent: Fri 3/26/2004 1:16 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: Subject: [ARRL-ODV:10297] Re: Update on Barry Great news on Barry. I question if his problem was “arterial” flutter and not “atrial” flutter. The atria are the two chambers at the top of the heart through which blood enters the heart and goes on to the ventricles which are the main pumping units of the heart. The ventricles provide the action that forces the blood through the body. Atrial flutter would be non-rhythmic or arrhythmic beating of the atria which would have little value in pushing the blood down into the ventricles. Depending upon the precise situation, atrial flutter or fibrillation is often treated with drugs that prevent the electrical impulse from the atria from going into the ventricles to disrupt the entire beating of the heart. Dave, please pass my good wishes to Barry. It sounds as though he should be up and around very soon. Jim W. AMATEUR RADIO: The only fail-safe communications system in the world. ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio is! Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040-9660, Tel. 513-459-0142, E-mail k8je@arrl.org <mailto:k8je@arrl.org>