Getting there

[Rubyladyemerald]

In July I had a sympatectomy. The doctors had to cut a group of nerves in my shoulder close to my spine just below the base of my neck to get heart to knock off the intermittent AF and VF. My AF started in 2004. It cause me to go into cardiac arrest. Since then I worked with the doctors to get my AF under control. First I was on Rythmol, Metoprolol, potassium, magnesium and asprin. Then it went to meds and ablations. I did really well for eight years. Then in April I had an episode of VF. So that another (5) ablation and new medication, Sodalol. Neither took. So I had one finally ablation in the middle of June. I cried and really didn't want it but I knew I had to have it. The dreaded AV node ablation. I'm only 41 that's why it's dreaded. Two weeks later I had a VF Storm. I got shocked 4 times to get me out of VF. So, my doc tried one more med tynenol. That didn't work at all. So I had absolutely no choice but to have the sympatectomy or die. Surgery please!

Now the recovery was and still is rough. At first I fought hard with depression. I spent a good six weeks wishing I was dead and crying my eyes out. My pain med didn't help. After that I started to get up and move about but I was super slow and didn't have hardly any stamina. I slept alot. After about a month of that I tried to do little things around the house. Dishes was easiest and that's where I began. Now I love cats. I have 20 of them. So when I felt like I could try a little bit more I tried litter boxes. I got one or two done at first, then I was too tired to continue. I took naps but often I woke up and was even more tired. I even had to sit down on a milk crate to shower because I didn't have enough energy to stand. I cut, chopped, my hair short so my showers we're easier for my husband to help me with then myself. ( I miss my long hair now.)

Now I can clean half my house in one day. I can drive about 4 hours at a time and feel good even when my body decides to tease me about my age with the beginning of perimenopause. Yep, I get hot flashes and spend two weeks with little cramps and odd pains, crankiness, mood swings and being a typical female. The only catch every two weeks I get a single panic attack. Sometimes it's scary and sometimes not super scary. They only last a fee seconds but my body over dramatizes it. I get the shakes, my voice gets shakey and hightened and then I freeze.

The biggest drawback to all of this is it has affected my complex memory. Apparently you actually have several parts to memory other than short and long. Complex memory help you respond to instructions you read and have to retain to complete different tasks quickly or when someone suddenly starts explaining something to you that already understand but didn't expect a sudden change. It also help you identify pictures, faces, and names. I can remember names sometimes, faces sometimes and very few pictures. Sadly, I can't have the medications used to fix that. So, the next best to more toxins, Video Games!!! Yep, complex games help the brain recall complex things. ( Faces and names I never could remember).

All in all the hell I have gone through has gotten much better and are getting better. It is just taken forever. But that's ok. The longer it takes the more I learn.

[10gingercats]

My son, now 38, had hyperhydrosis from age 4.I will not relate the very long medical history but it is enough to say he considered sympathectomy on 2 occasions but decided the risks were too great. He now uses iontrophresis (spelling?) to deal with hands and feet sweating and it is quite successful and 2 years ago had a new procedure carried out in the uk,privately, after Botox for underarm sweating was withdrawn by the NHS and it has been very successful.

[Rubyladyemerald in reply to 10gingercats]

The surgery I had had different nerves cut than they would for your son. Mine was much more of a risk than what he would have. I still sweat and what not. And this surgery is much more routine here in the US. I also had no choice. If I didn't have this Surgery I would have missed my 41st birthday. My heat was that bad. But I'm glad I stepped up and had the surgery and I'm doing much better.

[irene75359]

Good to hear from you again and glad you are doing so well, haven't you come a long way?!

But I'm sorry to hear about your panic attacks and also the problems you have with complex memory. I can't offer any meaningful advice as I don't know enough about these things but I do hope you continue to improve in health. With very best wishes.

[cuore]

What a gut- wrenching, inspirational, candid post. You went through so many meds and most difficult times, yet you survived it all with an upbeat direction as well as advice regarding complex games to aid brain memory.

The greatest of fortune to you. You more than deserve it!

[Polski]

Dear Ruby,

It is so good to hear from you. I was wondering how you were doing. It's been a long road for you, but, as you say, you are learning so much. I had a dream last night in which I met a new neighbour, but knew I would never remember her face or her name (a problem I've had for years) . . . I didn't know that it was a problem with my complex memory - Thank you for the information!

I do wonder if you would benefit from a good multi-vitamin-and mineral including vitamin B6, for three months, from a health food shop. That might go a long way to making you feel less cranky. There are herbs and other supplements which can help with menopause type symptoms, but the multi-vit is the best place to start. Our female hormones don't work right without enough of the right vitamins, especially Vitamin B6 (coffee depletes this, so avoid it if you aren't already).

Of course, check with your doctor first that he sees no problems for you. Also avoid ginseng, liquorice and St John's Wort. The former two don't seem to suit us AFers, and the latter doesn't fit well with a lot of medications. So . . . onwards and upwards! - And go on keeping us posted on how you are doing . . . Thank you!