A&E visit...!

[Wightbaby]

Hello Everybody

Hard to keep this short.....I think I had a bit of a virus last Friday, as well as total sleep deprivation the night before due to husband being ill and us staying in a place where the wind howled through the double glazing all night!

Only ate a poached egg at lunchtime and some protein shake later.

I was determined to sleep so took a co-codamol about 8.30 and went to bed.

Woke about 3.30 and as 6 hours had passed, I thought I might take another to get me through the night.

I felt a bit odd when I walked down stairs. What happened next was my husband heard a crash and came down to find me on the floor, totally unresponsive with a shaking left hand.

He was understandably alarmed and called 999. An ambulance wasn't sent but I ended up in A&E for 7 hours and they did some thorough testing.

ECG 78 (thats about normal). Temp 37.5. CT scan clear. BP 95/61 (whoops!) and bloods indicated a heart marker of 19...which they said was high...I hadn't heard of this before. I also have CKD which doesn't exactly help heart conditions.

I have been referred, as advised to cardiology for review.

However, as scarey as this was I am inclined to think that the collapse was caused by lack of food combined with sleep deprivation and low BP. I had no chest pain or any other heart attack indicators. I take Losartan and also wonder whether this contributed to the low BP.

Would appreciate any thoughts or shared experiences, please?

[jeanjeannie50]

Sorry to hear that you've had this worry.

Lack of fluids can lead to a low heart rate. I learnt this from a nurse when once in hospital.

A troponin level of 14–51 nanograms per litre (ng/L) for troponin T may indicate that you should consult a cardiologist or ambulatory care. A level above 51 ng/L may require further assessment in the emergency department.

Explanation

A troponin test measures the level of troponin in your blood, which can indicate heart muscle damage. In healthy adults, troponin levels are usually very low or undetectable.

When troponin levels are high

A slight increase in troponin levels can indicate heart damage

Very high levels of troponin indicate a heart attack

Other conditions that can cause elevated troponin levels include:

Abnormally fast heartbeat

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary embolism

Congestive heart failure

Myocarditis

Prolonged exercise

Trauma to the heart

Cardiomyopathy

Long-term kidney disease

Treatment

Treatment for high troponin levels focuses on addressing the underlying cause. This may include medications, angioplasty, bypass surgery, or lifestyle changes.

Jean

[Wightbaby in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you..that is helpful...and apologies that I took so long to respond!!

[MarkS]

Are you sure you didn't have a TIA? Troponin levels can be raised then as well. I had giddy spells when I got up suddenly and felt dizzy. After an ablation in 2009, I had no AF for 13 years until we realised I had gone into permanent AF. During all that time, including now, I can get up without feeling dizzy.

[Wightbaby in reply to MarkS]

I would have to research the symptoms of this....I did wonder......they asked me if the room was spinning and I said no. I felt a bit odd at the top of the stairs but it was more like my vision "pixelated".

When i hit the deck and went out about 5 minutes later, I don't remember feeling giddy or anything.

[meadfoot]

Hope you are doing better now and things have settled. I would still call my cardio dept though for their thoughts. Best wishes.

[DawnTX]

you may possibly have also been dehydrated. I have just gotten over a viral issue since November the worst thing I think I have felt including Covid and flu a few times. I don’t even know how to describe it because it hit me in so many ways. I could not eat I could not even take my meds and I was nauseous all the time. You don’t mention exactly how long you had this but someone on here similar to mine that lasted 4 to 6 weeks.

very possible dehydration, and not eating. It was difficult for me to even stand up when I’m sitting on my bed. I am just starting to feel human.

obviously you need a doctor because it could be lack of eating and you need a professional. I am going to see my Monday because I am still short of breath. I also have a pain in my stomach, not all the time but enough, and a few other things still going on. PS I have a pacemaker. This is the first time I have been short of breath since getting the pacemaker which was two years ago.

hopefully you will find out soon what it was and you are already feeling better

[Wightbaby in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks...the nausea and lack of appetite only lasted about 3 days. I think my husband had norovirus, so some thing was going on.

Your comments were interesting as I had some thing similar (covid type virus) in May last year and a similar thing happened, but I laid down on the bathroom floor, so didn't pass out and eventually crawled back to the bedroom. The cough that went with it, went on for months though!

[Ppiman]

Who knows, eh? But, from what you say, yes, lack of sleep and low blood pressure when getting up and coming down stairs. I very much doubt anything else at all since your tests were fine. The very slightly raised troponin level could have been from the shock of it all, but your cardiology appointment will help with that, especially in an echocardiogram can be done.

Steve

[jeanjeannie50]

When in hospital a few years ago, my slightly higher than normal troponin level was put down to my AF. Must admit I was quite amazed to be told that as I'd never heard that could be possible before. Jean