Sudden cardiac arrest

[Cockerknee]

My husnd,6 4, had a cardiac arrest in on my shoulder two days and fortunately survived. I am having flashbacks so badly that it is so unbearable. I dont know where to turn for help.i am a quivering mess.

[Hidden]

Dear Cockerknee

A warm welcome to you and your husband to the forum, I really hope that it can be of support to the pair off you.

I am so sorry that you are in the shock that you are in over your husbands recent cardiac arrest, for shock it is and one of the many stages that it can drag the pair of you through.

You need help and support, your Gp is your first stage or the heart team that helped your husband, because you are not alone and this is a very common if not very distressing reaction to such happenings.

Local to you will be a self referring mental heath team { sounds so much worse than what it is } which you can self refer to, even on line.

But please realise that you are not alone, this problem can be dealt with so that you both can move on with your new lives.

I say new, as life will never be the same again for you both or your loved ones and friends.

You both have had an incredible wake up call and how you deal with it will set the rest of your lives together in a way that only this sort of shock illness can.

Please take care of each other and let us know what more we can do too help.

You are in my thoughts.

[22alfie]

You've come to the right place. What you need to remember is he's here and as you said survived. It's going to take time for you and your husband to come to terms and wonder if it'll happen again. There is no answer to that one will it happen again. Who knows? But he here and so are you. It's a big adjustment in both your lifes but in time will get better. 💞

[Hidden]

Hello & Welcome

I am so sorry to read what happened and not surprised you are having flashbacks I think for most of us would be having them to had we been through what you have

It is early days and hope in time this will start to fade but if you are really struggling then talk with friends and family and your Doctor some Counselling could really help you maybe but you must reach out and ask for help and I really hope you will

On a positive your Husband is ok focus on that as much as you can and he has no doubt had the best treatment and on the road to recovery which I hope he is doing well

You always have here to come and talk , ask questions and we will do our best to answer and I hope this will help a little to know you are not alone there are people here that understand and care x

[Puffin1963]

Hi cockerknee - I can’t think of any thing to add to what’s been said already - do seek help for yourself too , you might well be his punch bag for while and get very bruised . My friends husband was in denial for a long time about his cardiac arrest and was really hard to help - he’s getting there now as the shock is diminishing and he’s seeing more clearly . Best wishes for his good recovery - there will always be lots of support for you here .

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Cockermouth

Your other half has survived. Try and concentrate on that. He is alive and, he can listen to the medical staff to tell him what he needs to do to avoid a repeat.

If you can calm yourself then things will look a lot better.

Take yourself to the most peaceful seat within your property. Concentrate on your toes and relax the muscles in your feet, then work through your body from toes to head, relaxing each muscle. Clear your mind.

You will be better placed to help your other half. And start to feel more in control of yourself.

The flashbacks will ease given time.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Chickenlou]

So sorry to hear what happened, but glad your husband is ok.

I’m really not surprised your still shook up as it was so recent, keep talking to people - us/friends/family/GP etc, maybe try the BHF nurses or even someone like the Samaritans if you would prefer to talk to a stranger. But please tell people how your feeling.

Take a little time each day for yourself, even if it’s to have a nice bath or a little walk. Look after yourself and take care x

[EllaWhiteBlack]

My husband had a cardiac arrest on the 20th July, I performed CPR for 9 minutes until the ambulance arrived. He is alive but has brain damage and I too are having flashbacks from the CPR and the incident.

5 weeks on and I still cry if someone mentions it, wondering if I could of done more to prevent this outcome.

Our children have been offered counselling through Primary school but as it was the 6 week holidays they have had none and haven’t been offered any either.

I just talk to my friends.

Hopefully soon you will be in a better position and the flashbacks will stop.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to EllaWhiteBlack]

Hope your hubby has improved since your post x

[Hidden]

Totally agree, but sudden cardiac arrest can be caused by a heart attack, but have amended post to read better, thank you

BHF:- “Many cardiac arrests in adults happen because of a heart attack. This is because a person who is having a heart attack may develop a dangerous heart rhythm, which can cause a cardiac arrest.”

[chickeninthewood in reply to Hidden]

When you say dangerous heart rythm to you mean ectopic ventricular beats? If so, what percentage could be dangerous?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

The link you posted has got lost when you edited your post.

Could you repost the link please?

[080311]

Morning,

Welcome to the forum.

I too had to do CPR last January and had some really bad flash backs. I used to be looking down watching myself working so hard to bring him back.

I spoke with my GP and she talked me through what had happened.

Now 8 months on don’t get them very often just occasionally.

It’s not like it looks on TV is it? It’s hard work, I have had open heart surgery and I was running out of puff! When John went down he hit his head on the door handle and there was blood everywhere, that was something I kept seeing.

All I can say is with time things do improve just be kind with yourself.

Sending you both my very best wishes

Pauline