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I was reading Rapscallion's post, and couldn't keep from telling of my experience with this condition.
This all happened when I was 22 years old. (I am now 30)
It started right before work one day. My chest started feeling strange, I was out of breath, and my heart was pounding. I laid down for a little while, but it wasn't getting better. I could feel my heart beating randomly, which wasn't necessary painful, but definitely not pleasant. My girlfriend was over and didn't like the look of me, and took me to the emergency room.
They took me in straight away (not usually a good sign when the waiting room is full.) They stuck me in a bed and started doing the normal stuff. When they got me hooked up to the monitor, the nurse took one look at it and rushed off. My pulse was around 150b/m with no real rhythm, and I was missing a wave completely (the P-Wave, whatever that is) When the doc got there, they started questioning me about how much meth I had done before I came in. (never touched the stuff). I told him this and he told me "there's no use lying, we'll test for it anyway". Later I found out that they only see this in people my age after taking heavy stimulants (like cocaine and meth). After the initial workup they got an IV in me and started pumping drugs. I was in emergency for 5 hours before they got my heart back into something approaching a steady rhythm, and had me moved up to the CICU. At its peak, my heart was approaching 160b/m, still with no discernible rhythm, and they brought in a crash cart (not something you want to see...ever) and told me if I don't calm down they're gonna zap me.
(Cause yeah, telling me this is going to calm me down.)
I spent a week in the CICU while undergoing many many tests. I started panicking a lot (I don't do well in hospitals) and it kept triggering mini-attacks, which caused me to stay longer. The cardiologist told me they couldn't find anything that would've triggered it initially, and were making me stay for observation. He also said he was worried about me having a stroke, since I was out of rhythm for so long, and they wanted to make sure I was clear. It kind of blew my mind that they couldn't really find anything wrong with me, other than the A-Fib, they were essentially guessing at the cause, and told me to quit any and all stimulants (no more caffeine
), and to lose weight etc... They discharged me with a prescription (Digoxin) and referral to the cardiologist for follow-up and that was that.
Fast forward a year later, and it happens again. This time I was only in the hospital long enough to get be back to a good rhythm, and they released me with another referral to cardio for follow-up.
Fast forward another year, and yet again, back in the hospital. This time the ER doc tells me that I am EXTREMELY dehydrated, and my electrolytes are way off. He told me to drink more water and eat a bit more salt (not a ton, just a little.)
I went to a new cardiologist (and new insurance) and he changed my meds (Atenalol), and I followed the ER doc's advice, and I haven't had a major attack since. I still have short (1 -2 minute) episodes, but as long as I can keep myself from panicking, they go away.
I have heard about a procedure (which was actually shown in an episode of House) where they go in and freeze the parts of the heart that are misfiring. I've thought about getting it done, but I haven't exactly had positive experience with surgery, and the new meds are keeping it under control. Once a day at night I think I can handle.
And that's all I have to say about that....
@
This all happened when I was 22 years old. (I am now 30)
It started right before work one day. My chest started feeling strange, I was out of breath, and my heart was pounding. I laid down for a little while, but it wasn't getting better. I could feel my heart beating randomly, which wasn't necessary painful, but definitely not pleasant. My girlfriend was over and didn't like the look of me, and took me to the emergency room.
They took me in straight away (not usually a good sign when the waiting room is full.) They stuck me in a bed and started doing the normal stuff. When they got me hooked up to the monitor, the nurse took one look at it and rushed off. My pulse was around 150b/m with no real rhythm, and I was missing a wave completely (the P-Wave, whatever that is) When the doc got there, they started questioning me about how much meth I had done before I came in. (never touched the stuff). I told him this and he told me "there's no use lying, we'll test for it anyway". Later I found out that they only see this in people my age after taking heavy stimulants (like cocaine and meth). After the initial workup they got an IV in me and started pumping drugs. I was in emergency for 5 hours before they got my heart back into something approaching a steady rhythm, and had me moved up to the CICU. At its peak, my heart was approaching 160b/m, still with no discernible rhythm, and they brought in a crash cart (not something you want to see...ever) and told me if I don't calm down they're gonna zap me.
(Cause yeah, telling me this is going to calm me down.)I spent a week in the CICU while undergoing many many tests. I started panicking a lot (I don't do well in hospitals) and it kept triggering mini-attacks, which caused me to stay longer. The cardiologist told me they couldn't find anything that would've triggered it initially, and were making me stay for observation. He also said he was worried about me having a stroke, since I was out of rhythm for so long, and they wanted to make sure I was clear. It kind of blew my mind that they couldn't really find anything wrong with me, other than the A-Fib, they were essentially guessing at the cause, and told me to quit any and all stimulants (no more caffeine
), and to lose weight etc... They discharged me with a prescription (Digoxin) and referral to the cardiologist for follow-up and that was that.Fast forward a year later, and it happens again. This time I was only in the hospital long enough to get be back to a good rhythm, and they released me with another referral to cardio for follow-up.
Fast forward another year, and yet again, back in the hospital. This time the ER doc tells me that I am EXTREMELY dehydrated, and my electrolytes are way off. He told me to drink more water and eat a bit more salt (not a ton, just a little.)
I went to a new cardiologist (and new insurance) and he changed my meds (Atenalol), and I followed the ER doc's advice, and I haven't had a major attack since. I still have short (1 -2 minute) episodes, but as long as I can keep myself from panicking, they go away.
I have heard about a procedure (which was actually shown in an episode of House) where they go in and freeze the parts of the heart that are misfiring. I've thought about getting it done, but I haven't exactly had positive experience with surgery, and the new meds are keeping it under control. Once a day at night I think I can handle.
And that's all I have to say about that....
@
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