Ended up in A&E today!!

Hi all
I was taken ill at work today & sent to A&E at my cardiac hospital. Although I work in a NHS hospital, we have no A&E dept.

It started yesterday.As you know, I'm back at work but on reduced hours at the moment. Last week I was exhausted by Thursday/Friday. Same thing happened this week.

Got home yesterday afternoon & had to go to bed straight away as I felt SO exhausted. Slept for a few hours. It is very unlike me to go to bed in the afternoons!

Last night I didn't feel very well at all but thought I might feel better after some more sleep.

Got up this morning feeling worse! Had palpitations & dizziness. Decided to go to work (looking back that was a crazy thing to do!!)....but had more palpitations & dizziness walking to bus stop. By the time I got to work I was very pale & felt awful.

Thought I'd sit down for a while & I might feel better. But no, my HR started going fast & I had an irregular rhythm when I took my pulse. By now I was starting to think this really is NOT good!!!

A friend called a manager who took me to see the Occ Health nurse. The nurse checked my pulse, it was definately fast & irregular. Next thing I know I'm being sent to A&E in a cab.

A&E Dr was lovely. He was worried about the fast HR & irregular pulse/rhythm so got the PM techs to download my PM results etc. The PM tech said she felt the rate response setting they adjusted 2 weeks ago was now too aggressive & causing the fast HR. But I told her I had to have it altered 2 weeks ago as I was having trouble walking around etc & since it was altered I'd been able to function SO much better....& had to insist she left the settings alone!!

When I discussed the results with the A&E Dr he agreed with me that I have to be able to function/walk etc & he could understand why I want the settings left alone.

He also felt part of my problem is doing way too much too soon at work. He said I need to discuss my hours again with the Occ Health Dr when I see him on 23rd November.

I just feel it's all so difficult. There is a fine line between the rate response settings being set to enable me to function normally & not making me feel ill. I don't want them to be turned back down & then I can't walk properly again. Also, this does not explain the irregular rhythm. Although the PM tech did say no abnormal rhythms were detected on the PM, she said if I had ectopics they would feel like an irregular rhythm on the pulse.

And then there is work. I know this is a crazy question....but why does it take so long to recover fully from having a PM put in? I know others on here have said it has taken months to feel normal again. My arrythmia nurse said it'll probably be New Year before I feel a lot fitter etc. I know I had the ablation as well in June, which damaged my sinus node & caused sick sinus syndrome with chronotropic incompetence. So I guess my body has quite a bit to recover from.

It was such a shock to end up in A&E today....

Best wishes
Janey

1 Comments

hi Janey

by jane32 - 2011-11-12 05:11:54

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I think we all heal at a different pace and also we all have different problems so just try relax and take time to let your body heal. I don't know enough about rate response issues but I see some people have had to have several changes made before they feel better. Can you take more time off work until your energy levels improve. I had to give up work 3 years ago at 61 when I had a small stroke which caused me to lose my balance for months. I did try to go back to work but only lasted a few hours. I was an office administrator for a health care company. I have typed this 3 times and it keeps disappearing of page so will close now. Keep in touch and stay strong.
Best wishes
Jane

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

It becomes a part of your body just like any other part.