The electro physiologist thinks the chest tube may be the problem, and the pulmonologist disagrees... has never heard of a chest tube causing tachycardia. The medical doctor and the cardiologist said to try the Lopressor again since his heart rate was still 160, and still a flutter rhythm. They wanted her to give 10 mg., so at about 6:10 Nan gave him 6 mg. veeeeery slowly... over 6 minutes.  His blood pressure dropped to 85/62, so she stopped.  Then 10 minutes later, his heart rate came down to 95, and then went slowly back up to 160!!  His blood pressure came back up to 107/70.  At 6:30, Nan gave him 3 mg more, and his heart rate came down to 80 and stayed, and started a regular sinus rhythm!  Whew!  His blood pressure is staying around 103/63. 
 
What a nerve-wracking afternoon!  Ron says he has felt fine other than the drugs they gave him to stop and start his heart gave him a bad headache.  He says he was scared... keeps asking me what the monitor says since he can't see it.
 
They are going to check this last x-ray to see if it shows what might be causing the tachycardia.  Let's pray it doesn't start up again!  Nan said it's possible, since the organs were all so displaced, the heart may be still reacting to things shifting back into place.
 
The pulmonologist says the pnuemothorax is pretty well healed... no more air bubbles coming out.
 
Hopefully it will be a good night... I'm staying until they say what the x-ray showed.  I plan to be here tomorrow morning to see what all the doctors have to say, and if they have to move the chest tube.
 
Love,
EJ
 

Ron is having another heart issue today.  His heart rate has been 159-165 since before 1:00.  The cardiologists and electrophysiologist were all in to see him.  They did another EKG and gave him one medication that stopped his heart for a few moments, and then another to restart it.  It was still racing.  Then they have been giving him the Cardizem like last night, but it is 5:45, and his heart rate is still 161! They have tried Lopressor to bring his rate down, but all it did is bring his blood pressure down to 95/70... too low!  His nurse is Nan, the same one he had Thursday and Friday nights.  She is on the phone right now with the doctors telling them they had better do something else!
 
The electrophysiologist said the chest tube may be pressing on something that is upsetting his heart, so they may have to move it.
 
She is coming in to do another chest x-ray, so gotta go.
 
Love,
EJ