When I started issuing covid updates on my family health, I didn't think i'd have to continue with updates on my heart
So I went to A&E (ER) on Thursday @ 15:30 because I had, I thought, the same symptoms - when they said my heart was fine & found a lung infection instead (2 weeks ago)
They tried medication into my heart to reduce it's speed
When that failed it revealed beta blockers were needed instead. If they failed they'd have shocked my heart into normal rhythm come the AM. Praise God the beta blockers did their job, by 0730
I got almost 1-2 hrs broken sleep in hospital. At home last night I got 11 hours 🙂
I'm on 3 meds, until I can be seen at an arythmia clinic:
1 slows my heart rate (& should stop another attack of atrial fibrillation)
1 reduces my BP
1 thins my blood
I'm 20 years too young for the meds, but this is, God willing, only until I see that specialist - probably next spring
Andy B
@Berrybunchfamily You guys own an AED? They’re kinda expensive, but I know of a few lives they have saved and many more that they might have.
@daniel ok. Yes, I know that it is now - just didnt recognise the acronym
Yes they are simple to use - I actually got trained by paramedics when they installed one in our village, a few years back
Too expensive for us to buy. But they're everywhere here in the UK now.
We had lots of red phone boxes. When the phones got taken out of many, they just painted many of them bright yellow, added a defibrillator - when you call for an ambulance, they give you the code to get in
Most pubs and churches and shopping centres have them for people to easily access
I was actually hooked up to one when I was in the resuscitation ward. supposedly so they could see my heart function instead of using an ECG
I'm told it could only work with my heart condition, if it was synchronised to my heart rhythm, and shock me at the exact moment between the top half and bottom half my heart beat
Made me wonder how good the basic ones are...I know they're very clever: I have atrial fibrillation
@daniel I'm so sorry for your loss
@Berrybunchfamily They are automated external defibrillators and are simple enough that a child can use one. Our church and most public places have them. When my parents move in with us next year, I am definitely getting one because we are pretty rural. My aunt died in September because her heart just stopped firing and it took too long for the paramedics to arrive.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator