Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 April 27th I heard a tremendous crash upstairs; going up there (very quickly) I found my husband getting up off the floor, not remembering what happened to him. He only knew that his tailbone hurt like crazy from landing on it. Since his cardiac arrest last summer he has had problems with short term memory loss and petit mal seizures; he couldn't remember if a petit mal was what happened or if he'd slipped and fallen, but definitely said he hadn't felt a shock. He had a regular doctor's appointment scheduled for two days later, and at that time his primary care physician dismissed the incident as of no significance. Today when he had his quarterly " review " , the tech discovered that on April 27th his defib had administered a shock. Question and comment...Comment: I think the primary care physician should have his head examined for not listening when I questioned whether it could have been a zap. Question: is it common for a state of complete unconsciousness when you receive a zap? Thanks to you all for listening. Pat Pulasky, wife of , 1998 BI Survivor and AICD Recipient ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 Patty, First of all I hope your husband is okay. My heart doctor told me that when I received a shock that I probably would be out completely and wouldn't feel anything. Well that was five years ago and I've felt everyone. I think everyone is different. I agree the Primary Care doctor should have called in the tech right then, but they don't understand about these AICD's. Next time call and demand that you be able to see someone and that you are sure it went off even if you're not sure. Tom Denny Patty S Pulasky wrote: > April 27th I heard a tremendous crash upstairs; going up there (very > quickly) I found my husband getting up off the floor, not remembering > what happened to him. He only knew that his tailbone hurt like crazy > from landing on it. > Since his cardiac arrest last summer he has had problems with short > term memory loss and petit mal seizures; he couldn't remember if a petit > mal was what happened or if he'd slipped and fallen, but definitely said > he hadn't felt a shock. > He had a regular doctor's appointment scheduled for two days later, and > at that time his primary care physician dismissed the incident as of no > significance. Today when he had his quarterly " review " , the tech > discovered that on April 27th his defib had administered a shock. > Question and comment...Comment: I think the primary care physician > should have his head examined for not listening when I questioned > whether it could have been a zap. Question: is it common for a state of > complete unconsciousness when you receive a zap? > Thanks to you all for listening. > Pat Pulasky, wife of , 1998 BI Survivor and > AICD Recipient > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > eGroups Spotlight: > " Lightning Strike Survivor List " - on-line support group for lightning strike > survivors and their families. http://clickhere./click/111 > > eGroups.com home: > - Simplifying group communications ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 Pat, I work in a EP Lab in FL, and we tell the patients they may or may not feel there shocks. We base our information on the data we collect during there EP Study. If a person goes into VT and the rate is not very fast, and they are able to talk to us while they are in VT, we generally tell them they may more than likely feel the shock. If a patient goes into a very fast VT or VF and is unable to communicate with us while in there fast rhythm we general say they may not feel there shock., but each patient is different. As for your primary care phys. he may have suggested you get it checked, but we tell our patients that if they experience a shock and are ok, or if they think they have had a shock and are ok there is no need to go to the hospital unless they feel the need to or even call us. We will just be able to confirm at there next visit if they had a shock or not. I suggest that they keep a record on a calendar of when they have a shock and then when they come in for a check up compare the dates. Now these a for single isolated shocks. If a patient has multiple shocks or does not feel well after one we ask the to come on in. I hope this helps. > First ZAP > > April 27th I heard a tremendous crash upstairs; going up there (very > quickly) I found my husband getting up off the floor, not remembering > what happened to him. He only knew that his tailbone hurt like crazy > from landing on it. > Since his cardiac arrest last summer he has had problems with short > term memory loss and petit mal seizures; he couldn't remember if a petit > mal was what happened or if he'd slipped and fallen, but definitely said > he hadn't felt a shock. > He had a regular doctor's appointment scheduled for two days later, > and > at that time his primary care physician dismissed the incident as of no > significance. Today when he had his quarterly " review " , the tech > discovered that on April 27th his defib had administered a shock. > Question and comment...Comment: I think the primary care physician > should have his head examined for not listening when I questioned > whether it could have been a zap. Question: is it common for a state of > complete unconsciousness when you receive a zap? > Thanks to you all for listening. > Pat Pulasky, wife of , 1998 BI Survivor and > AICD Recipient > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > eGroups Spotlight: > " Lightning Strike Survivor List " - on-line support group for lightning > strike > survivors and their families. http://clickhere./click/111 > > > eGroups.com home: > - Simplifying group communications > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 Pat -- I've experienced both " kinds " of zaps. Two times I had an instantaneous feeling of fainting, and the next thing I knew I was sitting there wondering where I was and what had happened. Needless to say, the first time my co-workers took me to the ER (I worked at a hospital) and the EP tech discovered I had indeed been shocked. The second time I also lost consciousness but felt fine once I " came to " and my brief disorientation went away. I called the EP tech but did not go in until my regular appt. The third shock hit me after the same instantaneous feeling of fainting, but this time I was awake and felt a big " jolt " . It was over very quickly and then I felt just fine (a little shaky but fine). It's unnerving, I know, and I agree your GP should have more knowledge of your husband's condition and should have sent him to the cardiologist/EP tech. Thanks for sharing--hope this helps. Anita in NC ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 I have lost consciousness for many shocks and I have stayed conscious for many shocks. I can usually tell when I'm going to go down so I kneel down. If I defib on the first try I can usually keep enough blood going to the brain to stay conscious that way. Just once I was out like a light and had no warning. Is it just me or do other people have trouble remembering what happening when they wake up? Actually, I can't remember anything. All I know is that there are a bunch of people running around shouting and that something is very wrong. I don't even know my parents and that's why I am so afraid of getting shocked. I forget everything when I faint. My parents always call 911 when I fib, unless they think they can get me to U of M faster and safely. The problem is that when I fib I'm not always in stable condition because I keep going back into it untill my doctor does something about it. If you don't like fainting you can ask your doctor to program your ICD to shock you after a shorter period of V-Fib than it does now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 1999 Report Share Posted June 17, 1999 > I, too, lose consciousness before being zapped--about the time I hit > the ground, I get zapped back. But I have always known - even the > first time - that I was zapped. Your experience is very scary. My EP has said to call him every time I get zapped. I don't have to call immediately, but sometime in the next day or so. I am really surprised your regular doctor didn't suggest you call your EP, since it seems the general doctors are not very familiar with ICDs. When your husband had his regular interrogation, did the tech say he should call the EP if he's at all concerned he might have been zapped? > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups.com home: - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2002 Report Share Posted March 30, 2002 Sue -- Good question -- and yes, the emotions that seem to go along with the "zaps" are certainly there for me -- The other times I was shocked, I was always in the ER and they were able to knock me out first. Like your husband, I never lost consciousness and could still walk/talk etc. In fact, in the middle of my v-tach, I walked upstairs and got clothes out for my daughter so she could get dressed before the ambulance arrived. I do find that I'm thinking about mortality issues these days -- I also find that it is more of an emotional adjustment than you might first think -- I think I kind of thought once the implant was done, I'd just go back to my routine, and so far, that hasn't happened (or at least it's now a "different" level of routine.) Plus, I found out yesterday that my body won't tolerate the doubled dose of Toprol, so they switched me back to just the 25 mg. -- which is somewhat of a bummer since there's less likelihood of being able to control the v-tach, but the inability to breathe was a bit of a problem! I find my emotions have ranged from fear to sadness to anger to relief etc. -- I'm really glad the darn thing worked, but frustrated that I just plain have no control over it. Because my particular arrhythmia is very random and is from the scar tissue, not even diet and exercise would help. I've also had several dreams about it going off in public (my husband is an attorney and we have to go to a lot of fund raisers etc. and I keep picturing myself screaming out involuntarily as the keynote speaker gets up or something ... kind of goofy, I know, but I guess it's the kind of thing that runs through your mind.) Anyway, I guess all that to say -- I may sound blase', but the emotions are all definitely there -- I just try to keep reminding myself that even though I can't control the circumstances of this crazy heart thing, at least I still DO have some level of control of how I RESPOND to it all. I guess that's where the positive part kicks in for me -- I've always kind of approached life with the idea that we're always impacting other people (whether positively or negatively) and I'll be darned if this thing is going to keep me from being a positive impact on the people around me. I also have a supportive family, church friends etc., so that has been very helpful -- and I personally am able to derive some sense of comfort from prayer (to each his own, but it works well for me.) So I guess in answer to your question -- yes, I'm scared, angry, frustrated etc. -- all of that -- but I also find myself very driven to rise above it and still enjoy life. Does that make any sense? Just my rambling thoughts at 8 a.m Hope they made at least a LITTLE sense ... Take care! ita Re: Cardiomyopathy TURK .....> Gals. I would like to take this moment to thank you all for> enlightening my life and being there when i needed you the most.>>> Same back to you, dude. Finding out that one is, indeed, mortal is> sure a life-changing experience.> ita, comments? I saw your earlier message about your first> zap(s). Appreciated your blase attitude> towards them..... which is shared by my husband Rich. I'm always and> ever shall be in great appreciation> of the optimistic outlook! However, having been here for a while, and> hearing how frightening the zaps can> be, i can't help but wonder how you are REALLY feeling. I hide my> terror of things that scare me to death,> under jokes and blase 'tudes. Do you? If not, disregard!> SuePlease visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2002 Report Share Posted March 31, 2002 In a message dated 3/30/02 5:25:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, goturk1@... writes: Just a little question, were you taking the whole 50 all at once or in two 25 mg sessions. At first I was on one lump sum but was too heavy for me. then by my self i tried every 12 hours half a pill its been working fine its also better for my physcy too. TURK Hi Turk, What pill are you talking about? Phyllis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2002 Report Share Posted March 31, 2002 Dear ita: I am taking Toprol XL and doses if 200 twice a day. I am very dizzy, I think because I have low blood pressure, but I have been zap free, so I feel that it is good exchange. Sometimes your body just has to get used to it, please discuss this with your doctor, Phyllis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2002 Report Share Posted March 31, 2002 ita, I read your letter regarding the emotional turmoil you are going through. What you are experiencing is very normal for us, yes it is very disturbing to recognize that we are not immortal. As time goes on you will feel better, and going out will not cause you as much anxiety. I too imagine what would happen if mine went off in a public place, that is also a very normal reaction. I am on celexia and ativan when needed and I feel that helps me a lot. When I came home from the hospital this last time I was afraid to go on a bus, to get a manicure to do anything but to stay home. That has changed a lot and I have hope that it will get better. Of course there are times when I slip back, I do not look forward to night and bedtime, I am very happy when it is morning. Perhaps that will change as well. These things are very distressing particularly if you were a pretty healthy person and suddenly for not reason this happens I know you will improve just trust in that. Phyllis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2002 Report Share Posted April 1, 2002 Hi Phyllis - Yes, wish my body would tolerate the meds better, but unfortunately, the side effect for me was that I couldn't breathe, so after contacting my physician, I am back to a very low dose. (I have only been able to tolerate 25 mg -- I don't get dizzy or anything like that -- I just get really severe chest pains and can't breathe) Hopefully the 25 will help at least a little and if not, at least I know my trusty zapper pal is there. I tried a number of different meds. before getting the ICD and I was pretty sensitive to most of them -- maybe it's my fair skin and Irish blood. Thanks for your input, though - Take care - ita Re: re: first zap Dear ita:I am taking Toprol XL and doses if 200 twice a day. I am very dizzy, I think because I have low blood pressure, but I have been zap free, so I feel that it is good exchange.Sometimes your body just has to get used to it, please discuss this with your doctor,PhyllisPlease visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2002 Report Share Posted April 1, 2002 i was talking about toprol to who ever said they were taking 50 mg s a day and was getting em dizzy, so i was trying to suggest cutting it in two pieces and take it every 12 hrs thats all Re: re: first zap In a message dated 3/30/02 5:25:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, goturk1@... writes: Just a little question, were you taking the whole 50 all at once or in two 25 mg sessions. At first I was on one lump sum but was too heavy for me. then by my self i tried every 12 hours half a pill its been working fine its also better for my physcy too. TURKHi Turk,What pill are you talking about?Phyllis Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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