Event Monitor Vent
I thought it was inconvenient and stupid, this little black pack I have connected to my heart sounds at nearly all times. Shower is my only alone time from the damn thing, and I'm not allowed to wet the electrode pads (which are supposed to last for two days, but I don't think they take into consideration this amount of bike time). It is inconvenient to try to hide, and who the fuck wears a pager anymore...if they did it could probably cammoflage pretty easily. Instead, I have this black box in my pocket, and no, it isn't happy to see me.
The ride on Saturday got interesting for the monitor at about mile 90, when the goo on the electrodes heated up to the point that it was kind of like having tinfoil stuck to my chest with chocolate. Those things ended up sliding ALL over the place, gooing all over me, getting on my clothes, sticking my fingers to my handlebars and hoods, and in general being a nuisance. I was pleased that it didn't go off during the ride, because if the black box detects an event I have to find a land line for transmission. Uh...good luck with that. Anyone try to find a phone out in public lately? I don't even have a calling card (must remember to get one).
So it was uncomfortable, but not the end of the world and I tried to keep my sense of humor about it. I lost most of my humor about it when it beeped indicating an event. Ah, hell, I thought I just jostled the cables, it doesn't mean anything. I'll transmit later. Of course, a few minutes later I got a dizzy spell, which meant I had to record things and transmit. I did. Not to worry, maybe I'm just dehydrated.
Then today, it beeped because the battery was low (yay me for remembering to pack supplies for my monitor just in case). Battery replaced and no worries, then later it beeps again and wants another transmission. Really? Because events can't happen when one is just minding their own business in the office, alone, when calling the monitoring place and transmitting what sounds like a long, obnoxious fax over the land line could be done in private. Nooooo. It has to happen when I've got students traipsing through my office.
I was grateful it was the more mature students, and they were at least understanding without being nosy, but I'm a more private person than that. Sure, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, but it's also not something I want to share. "Have to make a phone call. Just had a heart event--apparently." I didn't feel anything, so maybe I just leaned on the button at some point, or yanked on the wire again. I don't know, but it doesn't help me rest any easier about the whole deal. Between the "something funny" on the drug challenge test and these unfelt events (and me realizing how often those little dizzy spells actually hit me) I guess I'm a little concerned. And cranky. And, like any stupid human, I'm blaming all those crazy mixed up feelings on the black box that spies on me.
The ride on Saturday got interesting for the monitor at about mile 90, when the goo on the electrodes heated up to the point that it was kind of like having tinfoil stuck to my chest with chocolate. Those things ended up sliding ALL over the place, gooing all over me, getting on my clothes, sticking my fingers to my handlebars and hoods, and in general being a nuisance. I was pleased that it didn't go off during the ride, because if the black box detects an event I have to find a land line for transmission. Uh...good luck with that. Anyone try to find a phone out in public lately? I don't even have a calling card (must remember to get one).
So it was uncomfortable, but not the end of the world and I tried to keep my sense of humor about it. I lost most of my humor about it when it beeped indicating an event. Ah, hell, I thought I just jostled the cables, it doesn't mean anything. I'll transmit later. Of course, a few minutes later I got a dizzy spell, which meant I had to record things and transmit. I did. Not to worry, maybe I'm just dehydrated.
Then today, it beeped because the battery was low (yay me for remembering to pack supplies for my monitor just in case). Battery replaced and no worries, then later it beeps again and wants another transmission. Really? Because events can't happen when one is just minding their own business in the office, alone, when calling the monitoring place and transmitting what sounds like a long, obnoxious fax over the land line could be done in private. Nooooo. It has to happen when I've got students traipsing through my office.
I was grateful it was the more mature students, and they were at least understanding without being nosy, but I'm a more private person than that. Sure, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, but it's also not something I want to share. "Have to make a phone call. Just had a heart event--apparently." I didn't feel anything, so maybe I just leaned on the button at some point, or yanked on the wire again. I don't know, but it doesn't help me rest any easier about the whole deal. Between the "something funny" on the drug challenge test and these unfelt events (and me realizing how often those little dizzy spells actually hit me) I guess I'm a little concerned. And cranky. And, like any stupid human, I'm blaming all those crazy mixed up feelings on the black box that spies on me.