Things I've Learned - It's a long post - mostly for newer members

• by MartyP
• 2017-11-19 15:01:35
• Coping
• 1473 views
• 5 comments

Every now and then I update something I call lessons learned and if it's OK with the moderators, I'll post it here in hope that it can help some of the newer members who have so many questions and are looking for answers.

If you have suggestions to add to the doc,  please add a note and I'll include it in the next version. So I hope this helps and doesn't add to any concerns anyone may have. This is along post.

So I’m a 73 year old male in reasonably good health and this is my first major health “episode”.

On Wednesday May 28th, I fainted dead away at a diner having breakfast with my wife. Ambulance to the emergency room, all kinds of tests on Wednesday and Thursday but nothing showed – I never got to the “tilt table" test. On Friday, May 30th at 6:30 AM in the hospital, the nurse woke me up saying my heart stopped for 31 seconds – 3rd degree heart block, thank god I was in the hospital – I could have killed myself, my wife and may be others – there was NO warning. Four hours later I received my Medtronics Dual Chamber PM - now called Sparky.

First, I am glad I have it. But over the past weeks and months I learned some things (and I hope I’m on the right track) that I wanted to pass on and also to ask for a “gut check” to see if I have it right and they can help others.

Generic Codes - When Sparky was put in it was set with a “generic” set of codes. In my case it was set for 60 BPM. By Tuesday I felt like my heart was hurting – I called it a “heart ache”. I went back to the cardiologist and after looking at the numbers they did some adjustments and it helped a little, but not enough, I was still getting that “heart ache”. It wasn’t until July 26th when I went back to the doc that they reset it to 55 BPM and that was a lot better. ----- So the lesson learned … “if you have any doubts, there is no doubt, go back to the doctor.

PVC’s – Premature Ventricular Contractions – wow, no one told me about these. For me they feel like my heart is pounding and if I check my pulse it feels like a skipped beat, but it’s actually a PVC. I remember “Tom” saving that he had them for ten years and his doctor said “they won’t kill you” but for a newbie they are uncomfortable and scary. For me, before I knew what they were, I thought something was very wrong and at 1:00 AM my wife took me to the emergency room – 5 hours, nothing found. ------ So the lesson learned … Either before or after your PM, talk to your doctor and ask about what you could / should expect and what you may feel … your heart won’t stop, but it will be different”.

Caffeine – I used to drink “Black Magic” coffee and caffeine diet soda, PVC’s here they come. ------ So lesson learned, some drinks and maybe some foods will have to go, do some testing to figure out what may give you trouble and cross them off your list.

Stress and PVC’s – for me it’s like oil and vinegar, they don’t mix. One morning was particularly stressful, nothing special just rushing to get a few things done before I had to go out. The PVC’s started right in and lasted on and off for a few hours. ------- So lesson learned – try hard to reduce stress as much as you can, but if your heart starts to pound at least you know what may have caused it.

Anxiety and Depression – For me it hit pretty hard. At the beginning I napped a lot and felt just lousy. I would tell my wife my head was “fuzzy”. It was hard to feel “OK” with myself, particularly in the mornings. I went to my GP and after talking with him, we decided to start taking an anti-depressant, in my case the Zoloft generic. I had been on it for about 3 weeks and it started to take off the lows, for me there are some side effects, nothing really troublesome, but make sure you ask your doctor about what you might experience. I’ve also started seeing a psychologist; I knew from past experiences they could help me through the next few weeks / months until I’m fully OK with myself. ------ So lesson learned – if you are anxious and or depressed, see your GP, psyvhologist and/or psychiatrist. Your body has changed, your life has changed, it will pass, but you may need some help until it does. If you need to talk with someone who has the experience and talked with others, seek out a psychologist who can help you – there is no shame, it’s usually just a chemical imbalance in your brain.

Panic and Hyperventilation – My grandson was leaving for college the next morning for the first time and we are very close. Family dinner was at our house and I started to feel dizzy and week and my heart was pounding. Went to bed and started to hyperventilate – wow that was no fun at all, couldn’t catch my breath. Called 911 and back to the hospital. A whole bunch of tests, but nothing found. I asked for a psychiactric consult and met this wonderful psychiatrist. He upped the Zoloft to 150 mg and that helped a lot.

Right now about 6 or so weeks from then, I’m in the middle of another set of anxiety feelings that have been going on for 5 days. I’m taking Xanax very sparingly when I’m really down, it works for me, but I know it can be habit forming, and hope it goes away soon. -------- So lesson learned – anxiety and or depression can occur and sometimes return. Your life has changed and needs time to adjust. If it passed once it will pass again, you just have to muscle past it. But, if it really is stopping you from doing what you must do, seek help.

OCD and FitBit's – Yup, it can happen. For me, I started checking my blood pressure and heart rate many times a day, some days 5 or 10 or more, and created a spreadsheet to track the data. Everyone told me not to do it, but I did it anyway. I got the FitBit and the information is very detailed. It lets me know when Sparky was pacing and for how long, pulse history, etc. Should I have gotten it? No way! NO WAY !!!! Last time I say my electropsyosist (EP) I gave it to her and was glad to get rid of it. ----- So lesson learned – if you have OCD tendencies, you may want to stay away from FitBit’s and things like it.

Finally, I’m alive, not dead. My family cares about me, and I care about them. I’m grateful that the problem has been found and that the Sparky will keep me alive. Am I still fearful, sure I am, but I’m hopeful that there are many years ahead and that when it’s time for me to go, it will be for something other than my heart simply deciding to have an “electrical short” and stop.

Good luck, be healthy and as Spock said “LIVE LONG AND PROSPER”.