Very silly question - spelling/writing

Since my heart attack and defib implant, I seem to have more difficulty writing (by hand). I am also experiencing problems with spelling and I was always the person everyone turned to when they wanted to know how something was spelled.

Anyone else experience this or am I just a little out of focus since all of this happened.

4 Comments

meds?

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-09 10:09:38

Do you know what your ejection fraction is, how efficient your heart is beating? If it's low, it means you aren't getting as much oxygen. Also, most heart meds have side effects that can include brain fog and memory problems. It should get better after 6-8 weeks on it, but depending how much you are on it may be a fact of life for now.

re: handwriting, have you had a neurological work up to see if you ended up with some damage during the heart attack?

No silly questions

by rnff2 - 2013-09-09 11:09:56

I know after open heart surgery from being on bipass machine you can have what is called "pump head". I have experienced it. My problem was short term memory, I couldn't remember anything, but after a few months it did get better. I would think having been thru the trauma of a heart attack and the stress of the defib being implanted you could suffer the symptoms you are describing. I also agree with TraceyE and think its not a bad idea to see a neurologist. Hopefully as your body heals your brain will too.

No silly question

by philip.thecyclist - 2013-09-10 01:09:44

I recently had 5 weeks in hospital due to a serious cycling accident which resulted in concussion and treatment in a trauma ward. On returning home I found I could not write properly, and my hands were shaking badly. As mff2 says, the shocks you have had may well have resulted in this. My neurological checks showed no serious problems, and now I have been home for 4 weeks, my writing and tension are getting back to normal, so I hope this will be the same for you.

Philip

Thank you

by Marie12 - 2013-09-10 06:09:12

Thanks for the response. My EF is 30 (and hopefully getting better. I am currently on eight different meds, going down to seven in September (getting off Amiodarone). My difficulty is mostly at work and since I can retire at any time, I guess it is something I can easily live with. Thanks again.

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Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.