I had an 'episode' this week. That's not like watching a new episode of CSI New York. Or Episode 20 of Midnight Diner on Netflix. This was an episode of my heart reaching and maintaining a rate of 177 bpm Monday night. My heart hasn't been at that rate since my cardioversion October 1 last year. When I checked my blood pressure and heart rate Tuesday morning, it was still rocking the tempo, so I called the doctor. Explained to the nurse who returned my call what the symptoms were and that the rate seemed to be slowing as of mid-afternoon. She said she'd discuss it with the doctor and get back to me, but if it spiked again to go to the emergency room.
Got a call back from the doctor Wednesday morning, at which time my heart rate and blood pressure had both stabilized, a little higher than normal but within range. He said he thought it was just an anomaly and could have been related to the heat, which had been near 100 the past week. He did, however, give me a prescription for a drug that would reduce the rate if it spiked again. If that didn't work, I should go to the emergency room.
I'm thankful that I haven't had another episode since Monday night. I don't plan to have another for a long time. But it put me on notice that I've been screwing around with my weight and diet. At one point this winter I thought I was retaining water but it turns out I've been retaining wine. I've cut back how much wine I drink at night, and have been experimenting with Japanese cooking. I've dropped three pounds this week and plan to do some more. If you want to look at my cooking lessons, they're on my FirstExit0 blogspot.
In the meantime, speaking of episodes, I've been rewriting my Swarm story, Pussy Pirates, after it was reviewed by the Swarm authors. I'm pleased with the progress and just realized last night that I need to add another episode between two existing ones. As neither of my existing editors have experience in the Swarm Cycle, I'd like to find another editor/proofreader for this story. It will go back to the Swarm authors for review, but I could use a good critical grammar-nazi who actually knows proofreading without getting caught up in the story. LMK.
So, having updated all my blogs, websites, and Patreon tiers today, I'm ready to get writing. I also need to finish Wayzgoose's For Mayhem or Madness this week and start feeding it to editors. Whoopee!
Speaking of editors, they are already bogged down with The Props Master 2: A Touch of Magic, so I think I have time to develop a little further before I send anything else off.
It's a time of transitions. Adams' Apples will end on Friday and Double Twist will end on Saturday. On Tuesday next week, the final volume of "The Transmogrification of Jacob Hopkins," Double Team, will begin. Wow! Seems like I've been involved with that story for a long time. In fact, since November 2018 when I started writing it.
I'm thinking at the moment that maybe I should collect all the comments on the story and publish them as a different story, just for the entertainment value. Few have anything to do with Double Twist.
As has rightly been guessed, Double Team deals with Jacob and his pod's two years of National Service after they leave high school. It's not all a bed of roses for the Octave Domestic Partnership. It seems there are surprises around every corner as they get ready for service.
Have a great week!