I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Off-Topic => Other Severe Medical Conditions => Topic started by: Michael Murphy on November 08, 2016, 06:59:34 PM

Title: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Michael Murphy on November 08, 2016, 06:59:34 PM
Bad two weeks, thought I was having a bad asthma attack went to my medical groups urgent care center and on 10/29 was sent to the hospital with a heart attack.  Was sent to the Cath lab and stented. Next day found out I was being sent to another hospital for a high risk additional stenting.
Before I left I stopped breathing during a 8 foot walk to the toilet.  Not so good but I was told that the next stent should take care of this problem.  Every thing went well until they told me my ejection fraction was under 20%.  But it should improve during the next  three to six months.  However the breathing problem still reoccurred.   I was xrayed and checked by my nephrologist I was retaining fluid and starting on Wednesday I had 4 kilos pulled at wed, Fri, Sat( extra session) and Monday's session.  I had been losing weight and seem to stop a couple of weeks ago, it appears that I lost weight but retained fluid. Bummer.
Strangely after this on the way to my car I had a breathing episode PM, could not get air in, sweating and dizzy.  Once again on to urgent care no one has any idea what's going on.  The doctor working thankfully was a careing bright young doctor who worked his butt off trying to get me a hospital bed.  But I hadn't eaten all day and it was around 5:00 PM.   So I told the nurse is was leaving AMA.  No one was happy so I got up and began to leave.  That's when the third breathing failure occurred.  As I watched the heart monitor the display  began to behave bizarrely for about 3 minutes.couldnt breath when suddenly the monitor reverted to what it was like before the weirdness and I suddenly could breath.  Doctor comes to convince me to stay,   I readily agreed,that meltdown scared the spit out of me.  As the doctor left a nurse came in and as I headed to the bed it occurred again, nurse hit alarm and print function.  Doctor came back and began to order paddles attached to me, I was telling him it would stop soon since I had just seen a demo of this and as quickly as it started it stopped.  I was going into vacation  and miraculously a bed opted up in the CCU.  Now tomorrow I am being transferred to another hospital to have a defilberator installed.  Then another week of therapy for Afib. 
All I can think of is how lucky I was to get a doctor that fought for me all afternoon, and how lucky i was for being a a...ole about leaving AMA and provoking the VTac episode that explained all my problems.  This is why I think being nice counts, you need. All the karma you can get.





sp mod Cas
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: kickingandscreaming on November 08, 2016, 08:35:53 PM
Oh, Michael.  Life is so fragile.  What a scary series of incidents.You have been through the mill and I'm happy that you are in a better place with this. Please take care of yourself and accept the care available to you.  Rooting for you.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Simon Dog on November 08, 2016, 10:38:01 PM
Michael - best wishes for a good recovery and stents that behave nicely.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: SooMK on November 09, 2016, 04:30:38 AM
Hope you're on the mend soon. So frightening.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Charlie B53 on November 09, 2016, 05:46:35 AM

Very fortunate that you sought help, recognizing a potentially fatal problem.   Far too many refuse to admit they need help and stay home.  Many of those don't make it too the hospital in time later. 

Your increased mental irritation very well could have contributed to the onset of episodes.  Having one while wired makes diagnosis far quicker.

Hopefully a pacemaker will smooth this out.  But I am still very curious as to why this began, what causes this to occur, what can be done to correct the root cause as a pacemaker only treats individual episodes.

We still have so much to learn.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: cassandra on November 09, 2016, 08:38:56 AM
Best wishes and healing vibes Michael. Man that must have been scary.


      :flower;


Love, luck and strength, Cas
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: LorinnPKD on November 09, 2016, 10:56:27 AM
Wow, that sounds really scary.  I can't even imagine.

Sending you best wishes and strength.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Rerun on November 09, 2016, 11:33:04 AM
Best Wishes for a speedy recovery.

       :flower;
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: PrimeTimer on November 09, 2016, 04:18:41 PM
Michael, sorry to hear this happened. I wish you the 3 "R's": Rest, Relaxation & Recovery. You are a survivor. I pray the surgery is a success and that you're back on your feet again soon. Take care!   
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: DayaraLee on November 09, 2016, 06:12:12 PM
Michael, best wishes for a rapid and smooth recovery! Very scary and perilous situation you were in there... Glad you stuck it out with the good doctor and your troubles were diagnosed.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Jean on November 09, 2016, 09:59:55 PM
Michael, you must have been terrified. Good for you in taking the lead with the Dr. Sometimes you really need to do that. So, now, praying for a recovery for you. Take it easy and stick to your knitting, or your coloring book.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Michael Murphy on November 11, 2016, 02:31:53 AM
After a 7.5 hour surgery yesterday, I am now equipped with a shiny new defriberlator in my chest. Interestingly as a hemo patient you get one different then the regular one, no leads and installed to isolate from your fistula.  Now a vtac episode really would be shocking.  It seems funny how dialysis effects things you would not expect it to.  Today is a dialysis day and they are coming to do it at my bed in the hospital another 4 kilo session.  The good nes is only 3 tomths OF these to Go.As doon as a echocardigram shown may ejection fraction (the amount OF blood the Heart moved per Beat)  is more normal ( currently 20%) used to be 59%,  they will start going back to munusual 1.8 kilo sessions.  So very happy today. I don't know what will eventually kill me but I now now it won't be a heart arythmia.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: kickingandscreaming on November 11, 2016, 02:36:13 AM
Glad you got through this and have one less thing to worry about.  Speedy recovery to you.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Athena on November 11, 2016, 06:25:25 AM
Michael, I am so sorry to hear all of this and wish you a speedy recovery. I am so glad you fought for better medical attention and so pleased that kind, hardworking doctor fought for you as well.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Charlie B53 on November 11, 2016, 06:52:51 AM

I am very glad to see you have managed to retain some sense of humor.   It may take a little bit to get you through healing enough to get out of there.

7.5 hours?   WOW  That's a long time, or at least it seems so to those sitting awaiting word of your progress.

Very glad to hear  you are on the mend.  Flirt with the Nurses, they love it.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: iolaire on November 11, 2016, 06:55:35 AM
After a 7.5 hour surgery yesterday, I am now equipped with a shiny new defriberlator in my chest.

Amazing where medical technology is today... Good luck.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: MooseMom on November 11, 2016, 07:11:51 AM
It would never have occurred to me that a dialysis patient would get a different kind of defibrillator, but I can see the logic in it.

We are all relieved to hear that you are now healing and have new tech in your chest!!  LOL!  Take care of yourself, and keep us updated on your progress.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Blake nighsonger on November 11, 2016, 08:53:00 AM
Micheal, that's interesting about no leads to your heart ,wounder how that works? take it easy.   
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Kathymac2 on November 11, 2016, 10:01:43 AM
Hi Michael,

I'm glad your surgery is over and it sounds like things went well. Wishing you a comfortable and speedy recovery. 

Kathy

Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Charlie B53 on November 11, 2016, 10:10:22 AM

I wanna know how do you change the batteries?

Or do you have to stick your finger in the wall outlet once in a while to re-charge?
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Xplantdad on November 11, 2016, 11:14:31 AM
I hope you are feeling better Michael!  :thumbup;

One of the folks at the clinic where my daughter used to go had something similar implanted, maybe you have the same thing?

Check it out here: http://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/defibrillators/emblem-s-icd-system.html

Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: PrimeTimer on November 16, 2016, 01:14:38 PM
Glad you are feeling better. I may not agree with your politics (ha ha) but glad you are feeling a little back to your old self again enough to be complaining about Repubs. I wish you a full recovery.  :)
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: MooseMom on November 16, 2016, 01:18:22 PM
Glad you are feeling better. I may not agree with your politics (ha ha) but glad you are feeling a little back to your old self again enough to be complaining about Repubs. I wish you a full recovery.  :)

 :2thumbsup;
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: cassandra on November 17, 2016, 09:40:34 AM
Glad to hear your news


   :flower;



Luck, love and strength, Cas
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Michael Murphy on November 17, 2016, 04:41:32 PM
Recharge is in the 6 month tune ups  I have to attend, new programming and a 6 mont recharge are included in the tune up.
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Charlie B53 on November 18, 2016, 06:19:07 AM

Use your phone and record the recharge.   I'm curious how long they hold your finger in that light socket, and if your hair really does stand on end while it happens!

You are gonna get a LOT of YouTube hits!
Title: Re: Horrible week, hope light at end of tunnel ain't a train.
Post by: Michael Murphy on November 18, 2016, 11:33:21 AM
Love to I ll make sure to do it on the iPad better picture.