I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Des on July 31, 2009, 09:38:59 AM

Title: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on July 31, 2009, 09:38:59 AM
I am so glad that I am back here to write this.... It was very scary.
I had a SVT (supra ventrical tragicardi) not sure about the spelling... but the section of my heart stopped and the rest of it overcompensated by going at a pulse of 220.

I had an injected in the heart (OUCH) but it did go back to a normal rythm.. I was kept in ICU and I was discharged today.

I am shaky and tired but otherwise o.k.

I was so scared.....
I have to go back in a weeks time for more bloodtests as they still do not know what caused it.
I am going to have an angiogram in about a month.

I hope this is a fixable thing as if it is not ... I won't qualify for my transplant if it is a serious problem
   
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Deanne on July 31, 2009, 09:52:38 AM
I'm so sorry! You'll be in my prayers.  :grouphug;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: thegrammalady on July 31, 2009, 09:54:08 AM
good grief! yes, scary, very scary. so glad you are home and still with us. best of luck on getting it all figured out. my fingers are crossed.  :grouphug;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on July 31, 2009, 09:56:04 AM
thank you gals.... That was the strangest thing I have ever dealt with.... My chest was just shaking like a big truck's engin on an uphill slope.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: paul.karen on July 31, 2009, 10:10:30 AM
Wow Des that is some pretty scary stuff.
I hope they figure out what it is/was and that it wont interfer with your hopes of a transplant.
What did they tell you to do till the tests?  Just rest and take it easy? Eat an aspirin or anything...
Glad your feeling better if still a little shaky.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on July 31, 2009, 10:12:22 AM
Paul,

I am resting ... They changed my blood preasure tab .. but nothing else.

I think they will make a decision as what to do in a weeks time. who knows?

Thanks :)
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: David13 on July 31, 2009, 10:41:06 AM
Sorry to hear about this, Des.  I hope it turns out to be okay.   :)
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on July 31, 2009, 10:43:07 AM
me too

I am just SO happy to be here....
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: KICKSTART on July 31, 2009, 11:02:09 AM
Poor you , i know exactly how you feel as a while ago i had a small heart attack (but mine was fluid round my heart). All i can say is REST as much as you can for now , give yourself time to recover and hopefully you will be able to get back to normal soon.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: okarol on July 31, 2009, 11:52:17 AM
 :cuddle; Glad you are out of the hospital - take care of yourself!  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: paris on July 31, 2009, 12:35:00 PM
Take care and rest. You are in our thoughts   :grouphug;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: cariad on July 31, 2009, 01:10:51 PM
Oh, Des, you poor thing! Sorry you had to go through all that. How frightening!

I'll keep a good thought for you that this is minor and can be repaired.

Take care of yourself!  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: willowtreewren on July 31, 2009, 07:59:00 PM
Des,
How frightening! Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest.

 :grouphug; :grouphug;

Aleta
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Rerun on July 31, 2009, 08:47:40 PM
Des, just wondering if this happened during or right after dialysis or on your off day?  I'm glad you pulled through and are home.

                               :bow;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Hanify on July 31, 2009, 10:33:21 PM
Rest rest rest.  Thinking of you
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: rose1999 on July 31, 2009, 10:39:43 PM
Scarey!  I hope it will be a one off and not spoil your transplant chances. Thinking of you  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on July 31, 2009, 11:08:48 PM
Sorry to hear Des. I would hate to be awake and alert with those injections, Pulp Fiction movie comes to mind when Uma Therman o.d.'s Although the 3 times that I have had to be paddled, those didn't hurt like I thought it would. Then again I was out of it  sort of.

Hopefully you have som time off work to recouperate.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 01, 2009, 01:02:08 AM
Des, just wondering if this happened during or right after dialysis or on your off day?  I'm glad you pulled through and are home.

                               :bow;
Thanks rerun.. I am pre-dialysis. I am not on dialysis yet.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 01, 2009, 01:05:48 AM
thanks All for the well wishes.

I am going to go back to work on Monday.... I wish I can rest for longer..

I am feeling very tired and shaky at the moment, It feels like I ran a race or something....

Thanks for being there... (here) for me.
 
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on August 01, 2009, 05:19:07 PM

Thanks for being there... (here) for me.
 


Well someone had to take your place at winning the other thread so David wouldn't  :rofl; :rofl; :rofl; :rofl;

To bad you can't rest longer, sounds like you need to. Maybe stay in bed Sunday?
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: del on August 01, 2009, 05:51:21 PM
Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest!!  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: MandaMe1986 on August 02, 2009, 07:47:59 AM
Wow, I am gald you are  home and safe again.  Like everyone is saying get plenty of rest.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: draven on August 02, 2009, 12:33:56 PM
Hi Des

just read this post. sorry to hear you went to hospital. Hope you are well.

take care
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Restorer on August 02, 2009, 04:40:55 PM
I'm a little late on this.

Just so you have a more accurate record (could help in the future if any doctors ask about your history), SVT stands for Supraventricular Tachycardia. Usually it's because of an electrical problem in the heart (in your case, possibly high potassium) that causes a feedback loop, and the heart starts to trigger itself, and beat way too fast.

Also, what they injected to stop it was not adrenaline, but adenosine. It's a neurotransmitter that will essentially block electrical signals in your heart if enough of it gets directly there. It breaks down very fast in your body, so that's why they do a fast IV push or inject it directly into the heart. Caffeine could also be a factor in your SVT, because it blocks adenosine. The adenosine injected directly causes your heart to literally stop. It usually starts again on its own within a second or two.

At least, I figure that's what it was, and you're just not remembering correctly (and that's perfectly understood, that's a scary experience). I don't know what effect adrenaline would have an a heart in SVT.

I had exactly the same experience. I found out I had kidney disease when my heart went into SVT one evening. With no one else home, I had no option but to call 911. The paramedics put in an IV and took my heartrate, which was 250+. They injected the adenosine through the IV, and got the paddles ready in case my heart didn't restart on its own. Fortunately it did, and they took me to the hospital, where I found out about my kidney failure. In my case, the SVT was caused by transient high potassium, as a result of taking ibuprofen for a stiff neck.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 03, 2009, 01:16:53 AM
Thanks..

Restorer... I am so glad you explained it... because I was in no state remember any of it.

I think the cause might have been the postassium as there are no other explanation. I am going for an angiogram in a months time... but all the other tests show no damage to the heart.

Did this happen again to you... or only the once... ?? I am so scared now... I DO NOT want this to happen again. I am controlling my potassium in my diet.
I do not drink more than 1 cup of coffee in 24hours... I don't think thats the case here.       
Title: Angiogram???
Post by: Des on August 25, 2009, 03:22:34 AM
I am going to the cardiologist Friday morning..... (28th Aug)

I am getting a check up on the SVT that I had...
He will book me for a angiogram. Can anybody tell me what to expect when they do an angiogram? Is it just another x-ray or do you go under? Do they use "color"?(contrast)

Any help would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: dwcrawford on August 25, 2009, 09:24:50 AM
Yes, they use a color contract and had a nephrologist there for mine as well  as the cardiologist, as it kindey issue.  They don't really put you to sleep.  (think it is called a cocktail) But you know nothing of the procedure and other than waiting to see if the dye stuff leaves the kidney there is no residual from it.  The angio gram is an outpatient procedure but  you may be hospitalized because of the possible kidney  issue.  I was.  It was quite fun and you can say nasty things to them without being held accountable.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on August 25, 2009, 01:53:02 PM
When I had mine done, I spear the prep :o
I was given meds to help relax, but knew what was going on and felt pressure in the leg. They had to use two different meds on me because of something and I was passing out while on the table which is not good. After the procedure they checked my blood levels to see if a certain level has decreased enough to deem safe to discharge. Mine wasn't going down fast enough, but not sure if that was due to renal failure or not and then when I was finally allowed to have a drink of fluids (I was sooo dry mouthed), I ended up coughing a lot and bleeding even though nurses where putting pressure on my my incision site. It was embarrassing in many ways to have that procedure done and then end up coughing bad from a drink and nurses holding you down while your springing a leak all over.

The god part was I got to watch the procedure on the flouroscope, bad part was being hospitalized and not being able to get up for 24 plus hours.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Sunny on August 25, 2009, 03:05:05 PM
Des,
I hope the heart is in good condition and everything works out well for you.
Do they know what caused the problem? Was it the potassium issue others mentioned or was an explanation ever provided?
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Rerun on August 25, 2009, 03:29:29 PM
They sedate you and go up through a vein in your groin to your heart.  They use a contrast dye and make sure you drink lots of water to flush that out.  They need to put pressure on the site for about 4 hours.  You have to be still for a few days.  No bending over to pick up something off the floor.  They don't want the scab to pop off because it is a major blood vessel.

Best of luck.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 25, 2009, 11:12:45 PM
Des,
I hope the heart is in good condition and everything works out well for you.
Do they know what caused the problem? Was it the potassium issue others mentioned or was an explanation ever provided?

They have not given me any reason yet...... the bloodtests they did just after the SVT, did not show anything.?!
Title: Angiogram
Post by: Des on August 25, 2009, 11:16:24 PM
Thanks everyone for replying..

Now I am worried people!

I do not want the contrast to damage my kidney function. I am on the borderline stage4 to stage 5 and I don't want to cross that line at any cost.

Oh... and it sounds dangerous as well.

The things one have to go through is just mind bogling.! (spell check :))

Well , I will keep you posted.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: KICKSTART on August 26, 2009, 03:50:26 AM
I dont know what to say except i will be thinking of you , its horrible to have to face things like this on top of everything else. I know how scary it can be , i was high potassium and my heart was racing but it never got to the stage of yours , phew! Wishing you all the best and holding a virtual hand ! KS
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 26, 2009, 04:04:06 AM
Thanks KS....
I am a real baby :(
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on August 26, 2009, 06:27:13 AM
It's a "Catch 22" Find out what's going on to keep you alive, yet possibly ruin your kidney function further. Wonder why they haven't come up with a safe contrast yet if they know this can hamper renal function  ??? :urcrazy;

You'll be fine Des. Worst part to me was the prep they do before the procedure and then having a couple nurses in the room holding down your groin :o which to me  is  :shy;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 26, 2009, 06:34:42 AM
hehehheheh

So you are saying I have to have a bikini wax?

Oh My?!
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on August 26, 2009, 06:37:49 AM
Ummmmmm :shy;
Better if you do it than have them do it is all I can say with a dry razor  :stressed;
Title: Re: Angiogram
Post by: CCStan on August 26, 2009, 10:06:26 AM
Thanks everyone for replying..

Now I am worried people!

I do not want the contrast to damage my kidney function. I am on the borderline stage4 to stage 5 and I don't want to cross that line at any cost.

Oh... and it sounds dangerous as well.

The things one have to go through is just mind bogling.! (spell check :))

Well , I will keep you posted.
Des, Sorry to hear about your scary situation.  The contrast dye is hard on the kidneys.  Stan has had several angiograms before and after starting dialysis.  But the cardilogist had him drink mucinex to counteract the effects on the kidneys.

Ask your neph or cardio, for  Rx before procedure.

Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: CCStan on August 26, 2009, 10:58:20 AM
Des, Excuse my last suggestion .I had a DUH moment.. :oops;..it is NOT mucimex it is "MUCOMYST" it is used for respirtory probs, but also used as a inhibitor for contrast dye in ESRD patients to save kidney function.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 26, 2009, 10:59:54 PM
Thanks I will ask the doc tomorrow if he can use it.....
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: YLGuy on August 27, 2009, 12:27:26 AM
Des, you are in my thoughts and prayers that all goes well tomorrow. 
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 27, 2009, 12:30:28 AM
Thanks ,

I just have the check-up tomorrow and I'll do the booking for the Angiogram.

I hope it goes well......... as well. hehehhe
Title: Angiogram 4 Sept
Post by: Des on August 28, 2009, 04:40:29 AM
Just came back from the check-up.... small problem .. my blood pressure is 189/109. He changed my meds immediately and he will look at it again next week 4 Sept when he does the Angiogram.

No wonder I have been feeling kinda crappy since the SVT.

Oh and he won't use the Mucomyst at all but he said he will use about a third of the contrast he would normally use ..... it does damage the kidneys though....

(although he was VERY impressed for me suggesting it hehhehehehe) Thanks.
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: KICKSTART on August 28, 2009, 07:11:50 AM
Maybe your like me and my blood pressure soots up at the sight of a doctor !   :pray;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: YLGuy on August 28, 2009, 07:16:03 PM
9/4/09...Big day!  I hope all goes well for you.   :pray;
It also just happens to be my oldest son's B'Day.  He turns 18.  :o
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Chris on August 28, 2009, 07:49:00 PM
I'm with kickstart about bp shooting up when you go to the doctors. Seems mine does the same ;D :urcrazy;
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 30, 2009, 07:34:49 AM
So funny... I know my heart rate went up.... he is a hotty!
Title: Re: I ended up in ICU on Wednesday morning.
Post by: Des on August 30, 2009, 07:36:27 AM
9/4/09...Big day!  I hope all goes well for you.   :pray;
It also just happens to be my oldest son's B'Day.  He turns 18.  :o
I know we will both have something to celebrate on that day!!!
Me - a healthy heart and your son's B Day.