P.S. Guy: unfelt shocks and ATP (was Re: Re: Amiodarone dose)

[Guest guest]

,

My elderly brother died suddenly in his sleep. He was only 53 and that

was many, many years ago (he was 21 yrs older than me). For many years

he'd used to faint but he said the doctors had told him his heart

condition wasn't dangerous... When he died my sisterinlaw was in a

shock and didn't agree on autopsy, so we never got to know what

excactly caused his death. For this reason I accepted having the ICD

pretty quick.

Do you still have the fractured lead, i.e. do you need an extraction

before your ICD eventually can be turned on again? Statistically there

is no big chance for you to experience a fractured lead once again, I

guess.

Janne

--- from an unknown heart condition. In ,

Crone <marshmello1982@...> wrote:

>

> The posts about fainting interest me, because that was the first

sign (according to my doctors) that I needed an ICD.  I was 24 at the

time (am now 26) and I passed out twice in a 7 day period.  I was

overweight, a smoker, it was 0 degrees outside and I was walking up a

big hill to get to my car.  I started to feel kind of ill and I was

having a heck of a time breathing.  Because of the breathing I started

to panic.  I don't remember if my heart was beating at a dangerously

fast pace or not.  I knew something was going to happen and then I

went down.  I don't know how long I was out for but the people around

me said it was awhile.  I woke up slurring my speech and felt like I

was going to be sick.  I hit my head pretty hard on the cement.  I was

taken by ambulance to the hospital where they found out I had Long QT

syndrome.

> The second time I passed out was exactly a week later, again walking

to my car.  This time I wasn't walking up a big hill but I was walking

faster then normal to try and keep up with my group of co-workers. 

This time I kind of new I was going down because I stepped back to

somewhat hide myself and knelt down so I wouldn't hit the ground as

hard.  I wasn't out as long this time and I didn't wake up slurring my

speech or feeling sick. 

> After I passed out the first time the doctors suggested I wear a

halter heart monitor but I never thought I would pass out again.  To

this day I am kicking myself because I will never know if I passed out

due to my Long QT syndrome or if I passed out because I was having a

panic attack.  

> I had my ICD for 2 1/2 years before the lead fractured and never had

any incidents.  During that time I continued to smoke and was still

over weight (for about another year). 

> My ICD is still turned off and I really can't decide what to do.  My

doctor (at the Mayo Clinic) mentioned this denervation surgery that I

could have done instead of having my ICD turned back on.  I would have

no problem keeping the ICD if I knew the shocks I received were going

to save my life.  But so far the only experience I have with the

shocks was unnecessary...

> Has anyone heard of a denervation surgery that destroys some nerves

that have to do with adrenaline?

> I feel like one of my cardio's is pushing me to decide what to do

with my ICD, but I told her this kind of decision is hard, it's not

like picking out a pair of jeans to wear.  It's especially hard

because my husband and I want to start a family and I want to do what

is best for my health and what will provide me the best quality of life.

>  

> Sorry, I kind of " went off " there!  Just struggling to make a decision!

>  

>

>

>

>

>

> From: Janne <ystano@...>

> Subject: P.S. Guy: unfelt shocks and ATP (was Re: Re:

Amiodarone dose)

>

> Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 1:36 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> PS

> No time to panic, either. Because the consiusness are fading I don't

> thik one would panic anyway.

>

> Janne

>

>

> > >

> > > i forgot to ask. In the bit of time before you passed out and then

> > the ICD

> > > provided its gentle " therapy, " I asked if you felt panicked in the

> > normal

> > > sense, and as if you were fainting from panic. Is this how it feel

> > is you

> > > die because you don't have an ICD? So the death is pretty painless,

> > I guess?

> > > I'm not saying anything positive for death, I'm just saying it sound

> > like

> > > you just feel panicked for a second then you pass out and fall down

> > and then

> > > you're gone. Thanks.

> > > fel did befdafainnomral aked is that gentla

> > > Guy: unfelt shocks and ATP (was Re: Re:

> > Amiodarone dose)

> > >

> > >

> > > Guy,

> > >

> > > The shocks you describe where you seem to be saying that you fainted

> > before

> > > the shock occurred, what did that feel like? Were you scared or

> > panicked for

> > > a time before you passed out? Did you feel your heart racing the

> way we

> > > would if we were just normal and we were having a panic attack?

> > Thanks you.

> > >

> > > second, I forget what is ATP. I went to te gloassry in ZAP FAQ, and

> > it's not

> > > listed there. what is it. Somethng xxx pacing?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > something very scarcy scarcy befor3e berore a seconed

> > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > From: " Guy Scardina " <guys101@>

> > >

> > > ,

> > > Believe it or not, I have never felt a shock. During the first year

> > > after I got my ICD I had two or three shocks but my heart rate

was so

> > > high that I passed out before the shock. I remember one shock

> > > happened when I was taking out the trash. I had enough warning

to sit

> > > down on the kitchen floor and the next thing I remember was

laying on

> > > the floor half in a daze, wondering if I was dead or alive. Another

> > > happened while I was walking and also had enough warning to sit

> > > before I passed out. While sitting on the curb after I regained

> > > consciousness a guy in a Corvette stopped and asked if I needed

help.

> > > It was nice of him to give me a ride even though it was only a

couple

> > > blocks to my home.

> > > The shock that I received last summer was during the night and I was

> > > asleep. I woke up after it happened and realized that something had

> > > just occured but was not certain what it was until my next

> > > interrogation.

> > > I think somebody already explained what ATP means. I usually feel

> > > them and hope they do not escalate into a shock.

> > >

> >

>