Story

So what is everyone's story , give us a brief summery , Name , age , device , meds .....

3 Comments

My Story

by Acin - 2013-08-20 04:08:52

My name is Nica (Acin is Nica spelled backwards!). I am a black female age 50. I was diagnosed in March of this year w/dialated cardiomyopathyy which is a weak heart muscle. This was discovered from a routine medical exam. MY EF was 20%. It was treated w/meds for approx 3 months. There were a few drugs in the beginning that I could not tolerate becasue they caused me to have a dry hacking cough. I'm currently on Bidil, Carvedilol and Chlorthalidone. I also take an 81 mg chewable aspirin in the morning. I had no symptms upon diagnosis other than shortness of breath on exertion which I thought was becasue I had gained weight. It wasn't until I started taking the meds and began to become extremely tired. It took my body 3 months to get used the medicines. The meds did improve my EF but it was still low - 35%. I got my ICD on July 16, 2013. So far I feel pretty good. I get annoyed w/the device at times because of the itching and burning and I feel it move around sometimes when I'm lying down. But I can't really complain too much!

Cool

by Duke Heart Patient - 2013-08-20 05:08:41

Sounds good.
38 M
Pacemaker in 2011
Open Heart Surgery in 1974 (2 months old)

Pradaxa
Sotalol
Enalapril

Heart rate use to run at night 25-45 , during the day , 55-65.

New Member

by SClovesDC - 2013-08-21 10:08:31

In June of this year, I was rushed to the hospital with congestive heart failure. I had an EF of 10%. They did a heart cath and then inserted the pacemaker the next day. It was all very new to me because I hadn't been in a hospital since I was 19 and I'm 62.

I'm getting used to life with a pacemaker/defibrilator. I'm taking carvedilol and lisinopril and limiting my sodium to around 1000 mg a day.

When I had my first blood test after being released from the hospital the doctor called and told me to rush to the hospital as I had a 7.5 reading on my potassium. So I spent another 4 days in the hospital getting that straightened out and the doctor adjusted my medications.

Hopefully everything is straight now and I just have to stick to the weighing every morning, BP twice a day and stick to the diet and I'm hoping for some improvement at my next appointment.

I was happy to find this forum and look forward to interacting with all of you in the forums.

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

Member Quotes

Just because you have a device doesn't mean you are damaged goods and can't do anything worthwhile and have to lie down and die. In fact, you're better and stronger. You're bionic!