How often should my husband be getting zapped?

My collapsed at home about a month ago. I was here to give him CPR. His diagnosis was "aborted sudden cardiac death". They implanted a defib/pacemaker. It has been 2 weeks since the surgery. He got zapped a week ago and they put him on 3 medications. Then he got zapped last night and they doubled his meds and added another one plus nitro as needed. Is this normal? He is quite frustrated because he can't drive, can't hike, can't go to the gym, can't really do much of anything because he keeps having "spells" where he feels like he is going to get zapped, but doesn't. (Light headed, tight chest, feeling like he is going to pass out) I would like to give him some hope that this is normal and that it takes time to adjust his meds, etc until they find the right combo. I think he is angry at me for saving him because he "hates this life and hates how bad the defib hurts when it goes off". Any suggestions?

3 Comments

Not a good scene! Try PTSD!

by donr - 2012-02-27 06:02:12

Wife: You have a real challenge on your hands. What the Pm does should be taking effect right away. what the Meds do is a different colored horse! Yes, getting Meds titrated to the correct dosage for the individual is a tough job. Mainly because they only have a cloudy view of what he needs & they have to do some guessing for the correct meds & their dosage. We all do not react the same to a given med & throw in combinations of meds w/ not necessarily predictable outcomes & you can see what you are up against.

Now, throw in the unpredictable times when his ICD zaps him - WOW!!!

Clue - "..."hates this life and hates how bad the defib hurts when it goes off". And, that sucker apparently HURTS when it goes off.

Let me play Shrink for a few minutes: You have a husband who is bordering on depression! He is also bordering on Post traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). You may well think it is a malady of soldiers - Uh-uh! It can happen to ANYONE who suffers a traumatic event at an unexpected time. Cops, firefighters, any first responders, rape victims, mugging victims, auto accident survivors; plane crash survivors, unharmed victims of an ARMED robbery - they all classify as potential sufferers.

You are seeing anger & the sort of attitude that potential suicides exhibit - frustrated w/ life, sick of what they have to put up with and anger at someone for some perceived ill that is causing all their grief.

All this is caused by a very real malady - an electrically screwed up heart. Hey, all of us here have that electrical problem (There are more than 2 people here who have been resuscitated after suffering a severe heart episode of some sort - they may well chime in at some point.) & a lot of us have gone through psychological problems - it is not at all unusual! BTW: He is NOT crazy, nuts, etc.

Unfortunately, cardios are not really adept at handling this aspect of their practice, so all us "Pretend Docs" pick up the traces & guide the horses home. There are literally centuries of experience w/ these problems here. You have come to the right place.

BTW: I know about PTSD because I've lugged that 750 lb gorilla around for nearly 40 yrs (Courtesy of Viet Nam). IT can come on very suddenly - it is not a gradual thing as a general rule. I am not first person familiar w/ the psych issues of PM's - I managed to avoid that. I avoided it purely by luck of the draw & an extremely supportive wife (Go look in the mirror if you want to see what one looks like).

Recommendation: 1) Keep after the cardios in his life - you may have to do it if he lets potential depression get to him. 2) See if you can get him to a shrink that specializes in PTSD patients. They are out there! 3) there are certain things you do not want to say to him - you do NOT want to argue w/ him when he is bellyaching about his current lot in life. Just let him vent, nod & grunt at appropriate times. 4) No platitudes or cliches about his condition; especially do not be a Pollyanna - he will recognize it & get annoyed, but BE POSITIVE & exhibit a cheerful countenance. Encourage him to do positive things. Accompany him - he probably does not want to be alone, though he may not say or admit it. 5) Get a plastic waste basket & set it in front of him sometime when he is in a reasonably decent mental state. Tell him in whatever words you would use that You are very glad that you saved him; that the two of you are in this together, for better or worse; That it hurts YOU to see him in such a bad mental state - especially when he acts like he hates his life. That you are thankful for it & were he not there, your life would be miserable; filled w/ grief & loneliness. That you EXPECT him to lean on you till he recovers, which you are certain he will do. If you have children, explain to him the hollowness of their lives w/ out him. - that he has more to get well for than himself. Do not make him feel like he is being berated for his condition, but be very calm & matter of fact.

I wish you the best - you have a trying time ahead.

Don

What!???

by donr - 2012-02-29 05:02:28

Can't fly to FLA for a wedding?

What happened to that old joke about "Run it up the flagpole & see how it flies in Peoria?"

Can he ride in a car? Having lived in Rock Island/Davenport, I'm familiar w/ the routes planes take around that area. Seems if you want to cut down flying time, drive to ST Louis. There are all sorts of non-stops into FLA. If it's a matter of ups & downs on a plane, drive to O'Hare - ditto for lots of non stops to FLA. Only about 2 1/2 - 3 hrs from either place.

Besides, it's not till Apr - lotsa time to see how he stabilizes.

Unless this cardio knows something I don't know, there's no reason he cannot do that flight.

Oh, BTW: there are lot of cardios w/ capability to take care of PM/ICD hosts.

Here's what you do - go to the member list. Run a search for members who live in FL. There are a whole bunch of 'em - after all it's FLA!!!!! the home for more Old Coots than you can count. That means LOTS of cardios. FLA is NOT a third world backwater!

MOF, I'll start you off. there's a lady named Tracey E who is an active member of this site - she is a Floridian & can help you out. Probably give you some members w/ cardio contacts. If you leave w/ info for where you can go in an emergency & a name, it will help husband's confidence. Clevleand Clinic & Mayo have branches in FLA. Then there are all the "No Name" cardios who are highly competent. And, more med schools & teaching hosps than you can count.

Having TWO daughters, I know what this has done to him. He needs this trip. Unless the cardio tells him he's gonna die if they close the plane door behind him, I'd sure find a way to get there.

Once upon a time, about a yr after PM implant, I told my cardio that I wanted to do something crazy. He listened patiently & says "Don, what good is it going to do for me to say 'No,' you'd go do it anyway!" He turned, shook his head & walked out the door!

Lemme quote "Auntie Mame" at this point. "Life is a banquet & some poor &^%$(*& are starving to death." Find a way to get him a seat at the table.

Good luck.

Don

Thanks so much!

by Regiswife - 2012-02-29 12:02:03

Thank you so much for your wise words. Wading through this cardio stuff is quite frightening. Yesterday, they adjusted his PM so it doesn't pace him so much (which was keeping him on edge all of the time because he thought it was a precurser to getting zapped) My husband worked out at a gym regularly and hiked quite a bit. He was in wonderful health, and the cardio guy says he has the heart of an athlete...but with crappy wiring. LOL

We also found out yesterday that we will not be able to fly to Florida for our daughter's wedding in April. This has him really bummed.

Adjusting to this new life is quite a challenge. But the advice you gave me will help us get through it. God bless you! I am so happy there is a place like this where I can ask questions and/or vent.

Thanks Don.

Cheryl

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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