Speech problems after cardiac event?

[Curlyman83]

Hi all, had a cardiac arrest just before Christmas. Had an ICD fitted and been started on a range of meds which have (thus far) made a massive difference to how I feel.

However, one issue I have been struggling with since my event is my speech. I really struggled at first remembering words and my spelling took a nose dive. Thankfully, those issues subsided to I do still have speech problems - I’ve developed a bit of a stammer and find it really difficult to pronounce certain words - Alcohol and Shredded being the worst!

Has anyone else had these problems and do they get better over time? I’m an English teacher so, obviously, if these issues are chronic, I’m going to have great difficulty at work.

Freaking out a little as my speech and delivery have always been one of my strengths. Any experiences would be much appreciated.

[andy110519]

Hi Curlyman83,Sorry to hear about your SCA, they're a bugger! I had mine nearly 2 years ago and I still struggle with some words, just can't remember the right one although I think it is still improving slightly. It's always the same words though. I've had no problems with a stutter but SCAs affect us differently depending on how long we are out for etc. I was very lucky as I'd just finished a Parkrun where they had a defib, trained first aiders and some of the runners were medical professionals. Still a degree of hypoxic brain injury though that I don't recall being told about in hospital.

There's a closed group on Facebook for the likes of us who have survived an SCA and links to lots of relevant information, Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK. I find it helpful si definitely worth a look.

Things do get better and I am not too far from where I was pre-SCA, not the same but back running 5ks and working although still suffer from some fatigue, a very common issue! Needed a new aortic valve so now tick & am on warfarin for live.

Good luck with your recovery.

Andy

[Curlyman83 in reply to andy110519]

Cheers Andy. Good to know. I’m not on Facebook unfortunately, but I’ll give it a google and see if they have a website.

What I wouldn’t give to be running a 5k again! Get out of breath putting my trainers on these days!

Thanks for the advice and best of luck for the future 👍🏼

[Hidden]

I’m almost 3 years post SCA, I suffered with memory issues, not just words, things like formulas in Excel which I use for my job.

I have found that everything has progressively got back to normal.

I find that once I have ‘re-learnt’ something then it stays with me again.

I am also back to a decent level of fitness, which I think helps with mental health too.

Good luck on your recovery.

[jowalk6]

I had a SCA in 2014. At first I struggled writing, the words I wanted to write just came out like gobbledegook. This got better in time. I now am left with short term memory issues and my maths s terrible. I have just had to get used to the new me. My little boy calls me miss scatterbrain! Whatever issues we still have we are still here someone was watching over us. x

[Driver11]

Hi my CA was Sept 2018 and I lost speech etc, couldn't write or spell but things do get better, unfortunately it takes time. I was always reasonably active and fit and the first thing I said to my wife is that I wanted to walk round the block! I got to the end of the road and nearly collapsed and had to come home. Speech etc is very similar and it all takes time to get it back under control. The ICD is a god send - its your insurance policy and also the hospital keeping an eye on you. I had AF last year - I didn't know why I felt unwell until the hospital called and told me what was going on . Had a cardioversion last year and now back to " normal".