Things finally returned to normal on Thursday for Pacers assistant coach Popeye Jones. He’s out of the hospital, feeling better, and was back at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for rookie/free agent camp after being diagnosed with atrial flutter, an abnormal heart rhythm cause by the upper chambers of the heart beat too fast.
Jones didn’t detect it. He felt like something was off, and was uncomfortable during a recent workout.
(Photo credit: Rich Nye.)
“I thought I had asthma,” Jones told VigilantSports.com. “I was getting short of breath real quick so went in and let Dr. (Steve) Samuels check me out. Then, he sent me to Dr. (King) Yee and he told me what it was.”
Dr. Yee, the team’s cardiologist, informed him that he needed to get it fixed because it could’ve turned into something serious.
Jones’ minor procedure early last week was successful and he was only in the hospital one day.
A few days later, on this past Monday, he was in for a stress test to follow up on the procedure and it didn’t show up right. Jones was back in the hospital for two more days as they tried a new medicine and got him right.
As you would imagine, being held up in a hospital isn’t easy for anyone, particularly not for Jones, a tireless worker. While his colleagues were mulling over free agency and holding camp, he was stuck in his hospital room.
“It was really tough,” he said. “I guess luckily the World Cup was on so I did get to see that. I got to see the U.S. game. It was tough because you’re in a hospital room and the nurse is like, ‘What are you doing?’ I was just walking around my room standing up, pacing. As you know, we’re not used to (laying around). Definitely was tough and there’s really no TV shows that I watch.”
Jones was one of the lucky ones who caught atrial flutter before something potentially serious occurred. Therefore, a thankful Jones has a message to everyone there: “Hopefully I can teach people that feel like their heart is racing or something’s not right, I think they need to go get it checked out because it’s a common thing to have a flutter.”
The 44-year-old said he has no personal or family history in that department whatsoever. Something wasn’t right and he looked into it.
“The medical staff here is excellent, got me in and it just took a while to get it under control and back to normal,” he said.
Now, Jones is eager to turn his focus back to the hardwood.
“Coach (Dan) Burke threw me right in the fire (today) and had me conducting a couple of drills,” he joked.
Jones said he has no limitations, can fly, and plans to join the team in Orlando for Summer League play July 5-11, as previously scheduled.
“Ready to go back to normal activity,” said Jones.
Welcome back, coach.