BIG Heart scare

[mamawolf544]

Well for those of you that dont know I had 2 massive Heart attacks in 2002 from a undetected blood disorder. I get along just fine , I am on my 3rd pacemaker/defibrillator, the batteries run down.

Well yesterday evening I was a little dizzy, thats normal I have very low BP. I sat down in a chair at the kitchen table and my defibrillator went OFF !!!

Scared me to death, my face slammed into the kitchen table, messed my glasses up a little, took a little ambulance ride to the ER. And they said my potassium was too low. I'm fine now, really tired. And to beat all my poor DH is in Oklahoma on a new job and I would not let him come home.

I know I'm mean, but jobs are hard to come by right now.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I hope you will be feeling better soon!

 

[TerriLaChicks]

It's OK; you're going to be fine; sending prayers & positive vibes your way. You're not mean; we all are in survival mode right now--most of us, anyway. Hang in there.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Sending prayers that you are feeling better soon.

 

[mamawolf544]

Thank yall, I believe in positive thinking and PRAYER. So I am feeling it.

 

[Brick243]

Best wishes to you and get to feeling better.

 

[happyfeetfarm]

Glad to hear you are feeling better.

 

[maplesky7]

So I take it you were home alone when this happened? And came to and called 911? Very scary indeed.

I had a heart attack this last April and I'm 36 now...had a birthday in May. My dr. talked to me about aggressive approaches that some people do in my situation but said for the time being he wants to try to regulate things with meds, dietary modifications, and exercise... But can you tell me about defibs? I mean, it's under your skin and I take it you can feel it with your hand? This sensation does not bother you? You've become used to it or you don't notice it? And it goes off because obviously you needed a jolt to get back on pace.... so what does that feel like? Mostly one does not feel it right if it jolts your heart back into rhythm, doesn't it? Or you do feel it and go to the ER and get checked out?

So they run out of batteries too? How often does that happen? Because with your record that's about every 2.3 years that you've had it changed.

My whole issue is... since I'm a single mom of 2 small girls.... i mean, it'd make sense to have one then, in case anything happened. I mean, time is off the essence after all. I'm so scared about something happening again but not sensing it and being able to call 911 myself like I did the first time.

I had a 90% blocked artery in my left ventricle--angioplasty and a stint and have a permanent scar and PVC's (premature ventricle contractions) and had what the dr. called "bumps" in some of my other arteries that he's treating with meds.

What my dr. said is if I was having fainting spells or if my heart was beating fast---which it isn't, then he'd talk to me more about the defib.

Well, now I've just been diagnosed with Meniere's disease (inner ear thing that causes vertigo) and I almost passed out but it scared me because I didn't know if it was my heart or what?

I see my heart dr. on Mon. but I'm interested in seeing what an actual defib user has to say about it. Seems like it's a good thing more than a bad thing. I mean, it did it's job and you're here with us today because of it....right?

hugs and prayers all around,
gretch

 

[mamawolf544]

I'm sorry about your heart attack, I was young too, not as young as you 41.
My heart is so damaged 2 parts are just dead tissue, so my ICD is both. Mine paces constantly, thats why my batteries go so fast. This is the only time my defibrillator has ever fired. And it hurt, just like they are using the paddles on you, but it doesn't last that long. Usually they will last about 10 years but I am a strange case as my Docs say.

And it is under my skin, it does make me feel secure that it is there. The Drs. at the ER said it was a catastrophic heart event, which was fatal for anyone, but since I have my box as I call it, the problem was taken care of.
I was not alone, my 13 yr old granddaughter had just got home from school and I had her call 911. But if I had been alone I would have been able to do it myself.
So talk to your Dr. if you are a canidate I would definitely see about getting one, it is usually just a day surgery and you are a little sore.
Good luck, I'm praying for you.
Terri

 

[maplesky7]

Thanks for getting back to me.

41 IS young. Even though it's scary for children, it's also comforting to have SOMEONE there.

I've sat down with my 8 year old and gone over holding the phone and calling 911... and then also to go to a neighbors and to keep going down the road if that neighbor isn't there...go to the next... until she finds one.

I certainly hope she never has to do any of it but it's better to prepare her than to be in denial.


I think me and my cardio need to weigh everything and go over my meds and get a better understanding of the "BIG" picture... I'm tired of going to specialist after specialist for different things when I come home and read...looks like somehow it could all be related.

Thanks again for devoting some time to my questions.

Hope you are feeling better this day.

me,
gretchen