Mal
12-12-06, 14:08
I have recently found this forum and am hoping that someone here will be able to help.
I have for some years had pretty serious heart problems. 8 years ago I had a bypass but that was unsuccessful ~ as a result I was fitted with an implanted defibrillator. That delivered several shocks about a year after implantation and I was advised to attend "counseling" which I did for about 6 months. I was told that shocks from such devices usually lead to the need for some help to be able to deal with mentally.
Over the following years I have had various operations, including "stenting" none of which have helped. Most recently, with a view to further surgery, I was instructed to stop taking my medication to control my heart rhythm for 48 hours and report to hospital for some tests to be carried out. These involved using drugs to "stress" the heart and allow them to scan the reaction.
On arrival at the hospital my heart rate rose suddenly and the implanted device, assuming that my heart had gone into ventricular tachycardia delivered a number of shocks (9 in 12 minutes) before the medics could get it switched off. These shocks were deemed "inappropriate" at I had not gone into VT. It was suggested but never proved that my newly diagnosed diabetes and the insulin taken to control it had caused the increase in heart rate and that the lack of beta blockers (due to the hospitals instructions not taken for 48 hours) had enabled this to happen. I never did get to take the tests and have now told them "No more" until they sort this out.
OK I accept that and realise that "these things do happen" though I admit to being pretty angry with the doctors for putting me in that position, particularly as I has questioned the wisdom of it some days before.
This all happened in April of this year. Since that time I have suffered a number of "attacks" similar in nature but without the shocks. These have happened both when I have been out and at home. I can no longer force myself to go out and spend much of my time in bed. The attacks are very similar to heart attacks and/or severe angina) Of the 8 occasions I have been out of the house 4 have resulted in admission to hospital via an ambulance and 3 have been when an ambulance has been summoned to the house.
Hospital can find nothing wrong with my heart (other than that which is known) and no changes to my ECG traces. When the attacks occur my heart rate rises and blood pressure goes sky high. Various different drugs (medications) have been prescribed over the period but I have reacted badly to each one and they have had to be stopped again. Basically the doctors have tried to use medication to stamp on the symptoms rather than seek a cause. It has been suggested that I am having "understandable anxiety attacks" and that I am also "profoundly depressed". This all means that I have ticked the wrong (or is it right) boxes on their check list.
I am, as I said, angry that the doctors caused this and are now making little attempt to find the causes as they are satisfied that the symptoms are not "heart driven". Via my GP I am now taking, on top of all heart medications, diazepam 4mg x 3 every 24 hours but it does not seem to do much good. The GP also prescribed Citilapram but the Hospital "Specialists" felt that might be one of the problems as it can cause palpitations and took me off it. I have now been referred (via my GP) to the "Community Psychology team" and have been seen, at home, by one of their nurses "for assessment" Today an appointment to see the 'Consultant Clinical Psychologist" has arrived in the post. Just reading it brought on an attack .... I suspect because they have asked me to go to their clinic which means going out!
Help!!!!!
What do I do?
Can I fight this on my own?
Do I need to see this person? If so is it likely that I can be seen at home?
Last time in Hospital they gave me something called Lorazepram. Just 2mg and that made me feel great for several hours but they would not prescribe it. Does anyone here know this drug? Is it available via my GP? Should I bother t
I have for some years had pretty serious heart problems. 8 years ago I had a bypass but that was unsuccessful ~ as a result I was fitted with an implanted defibrillator. That delivered several shocks about a year after implantation and I was advised to attend "counseling" which I did for about 6 months. I was told that shocks from such devices usually lead to the need for some help to be able to deal with mentally.
Over the following years I have had various operations, including "stenting" none of which have helped. Most recently, with a view to further surgery, I was instructed to stop taking my medication to control my heart rhythm for 48 hours and report to hospital for some tests to be carried out. These involved using drugs to "stress" the heart and allow them to scan the reaction.
On arrival at the hospital my heart rate rose suddenly and the implanted device, assuming that my heart had gone into ventricular tachycardia delivered a number of shocks (9 in 12 minutes) before the medics could get it switched off. These shocks were deemed "inappropriate" at I had not gone into VT. It was suggested but never proved that my newly diagnosed diabetes and the insulin taken to control it had caused the increase in heart rate and that the lack of beta blockers (due to the hospitals instructions not taken for 48 hours) had enabled this to happen. I never did get to take the tests and have now told them "No more" until they sort this out.
OK I accept that and realise that "these things do happen" though I admit to being pretty angry with the doctors for putting me in that position, particularly as I has questioned the wisdom of it some days before.
This all happened in April of this year. Since that time I have suffered a number of "attacks" similar in nature but without the shocks. These have happened both when I have been out and at home. I can no longer force myself to go out and spend much of my time in bed. The attacks are very similar to heart attacks and/or severe angina) Of the 8 occasions I have been out of the house 4 have resulted in admission to hospital via an ambulance and 3 have been when an ambulance has been summoned to the house.
Hospital can find nothing wrong with my heart (other than that which is known) and no changes to my ECG traces. When the attacks occur my heart rate rises and blood pressure goes sky high. Various different drugs (medications) have been prescribed over the period but I have reacted badly to each one and they have had to be stopped again. Basically the doctors have tried to use medication to stamp on the symptoms rather than seek a cause. It has been suggested that I am having "understandable anxiety attacks" and that I am also "profoundly depressed". This all means that I have ticked the wrong (or is it right) boxes on their check list.
I am, as I said, angry that the doctors caused this and are now making little attempt to find the causes as they are satisfied that the symptoms are not "heart driven". Via my GP I am now taking, on top of all heart medications, diazepam 4mg x 3 every 24 hours but it does not seem to do much good. The GP also prescribed Citilapram but the Hospital "Specialists" felt that might be one of the problems as it can cause palpitations and took me off it. I have now been referred (via my GP) to the "Community Psychology team" and have been seen, at home, by one of their nurses "for assessment" Today an appointment to see the 'Consultant Clinical Psychologist" has arrived in the post. Just reading it brought on an attack .... I suspect because they have asked me to go to their clinic which means going out!
Help!!!!!
What do I do?
Can I fight this on my own?
Do I need to see this person? If so is it likely that I can be seen at home?
Last time in Hospital they gave me something called Lorazepram. Just 2mg and that made me feel great for several hours but they would not prescribe it. Does anyone here know this drug? Is it available via my GP? Should I bother t