just saying hi

[Cagney31]

I folks , I’ve just joined this group as I feel not really anywhere to go to talk about this stuff. Albeit I have been volunteering for British heart and stroke foundation. Been helping people who have suffered strokes.

well l I had a cardiac arrest just after my 50th birthday , I had never been ill in my life , regular outdoor , gym swim kinda guy . Hardly sat down , worn with young people so was always out and about doing different sports and activities.

Well there you go you just don’t know what’s around the corner, I went in for work one day in June 2017 , woke up in the hospital a few hours later , never had a clue what was going on , they said you’ve had a cardiac arrest , this happened as I had just started work 0730am in the morning and it was now noon , I was doing a handover and colleagues said j just started slipping down the chair as I was talking , I had went unconscious, so my colleagues done cpr until a fire crew turned up and defibrillator me, four times and taken to hospital. Were I woke a few hours later thinking I’m fine but obviously I wasn’t , problem with my heart I never knew nothing about , dodgy electrics , left ventricular failure, fitted me up with defibrillator and gout me on medication.

Machine went off several times , inappropriate shocks they called this , teething problems but eventually sorted them. It’s the worst feeling in the world thinking this thing could just go off anytime but I thought if it does , it does , so have just went about my business as normal

As I’m writing this im recovering from my third cardiac arrest , this time and the last time , I had defibrillator inside me , which kick started me.

The last time in 2021 Halloween night - I was sleeping , had a nightmare in which I dreamt I was having a cardiac arrest and my defibrillator was kicking in , in the dream but at this time my defibrillator was actually going off as I’d had a cardiac arrest while sleeping This was really happening. Four times this went off , Chang of meds , which wasn’t good for a few months , but got there eventually.

Third time - I had been feeling unwell due to having the flu and was starting to get better , then on Wednesday 17.04.24 this week , I was sitting after being out visiting friends , I got back in around 2330pm , as watched a bit of TV having a glass of red wine , then around 40 minutes later I felt like a wave , strange feeling coming over me from my stomach upwards , I felt I can’t stop this , then I woke with a bang , I’d dropped my glass and it felt like my defibrillator machine had went off , everyone in the house heard , the something as my dogs had been laying on me , as the do taking up the couch , ones a Great Dane , dachshund and a Chihuahua. Had all ran upstairs and woke my daughter and my wife , A Great Dane jumping on my daughters bed with its little friends to , certainly woke her .

I was like still trying to suss if I’d just fell asleep and dropped the glass but I felt my machine must have went I of as it was sore in the area were its implanted.

I cleaned up the glass , Julie my wife talked about going to A&E but decided just to go to slee as I felt ok

I got a call from the hospital in the morning informing me I had had a cardiac arrest last night and my machine had zapped me , my heart had went away past 300 and my heart had stopped that In lucky to be alive, they said everything is fine now , we have monitored your Defibrillator and all is good , we will send out some appointments and your consultant will calm you later , he did , said all good , I will review your medication and we will have you in for some check ups , you will receive some appointments soon. I felt in limbo since , no follow up calls or appointments yet , I’ve died and now ok so see you soon , not forget to remind you no driving for six months.

well I’m still here that’s the main thing , still feel healthy and fit. A bit bored at present but the sun is out , so could do some gardening or walk the dogs , that’s the plan for today sorted . Take care

[BeKind28-]

Hello

Not really a Community we want to join but once we find ourselves here there are some lovely supportive members and always someone to talk to

Reading your post I thought goodness what a lot to deal with yet you are still here as you say and that machine certainly is working

I saw your dogs in your picture they are lovely and a mans best friend as well as I bet they would alert the rest of the family if they were in different rooms and something happened

It is ironic as there you were and well done volunteering for BHF and Stroke and now you are here but you are very welcome and I am sure as others see your post as they come on they will share their experiences with you x

[Cagney31 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi , hope you’re good and enjoying this beautiful day. I think we all have a lot going on with our life’s and health right now , and it’s great that we can just have that little chat to remind us , there’s always someone wanting to be there for you.

I’m still here and healthy , I’ve woke today and I’m back to my usual self , feel great , I must admit the last few days I’ve been like the walking dead , grumpy , sad case, been grumping about , moaning about not been able to drive , stuck here.

Well I’m back and I’m just going to keep positive and get on with things . After all , here I am chatting to you guys now so everything happens for a reason. So have a wonderful day and I look forward to chatting soon. Keep smiling 😊

[BeKind28- in reply to Cagney31]

Hello

I think I have caught your grumpy moaning mode it must be catching

I am so pleased you are feeling better and hope you have a wonderful day to and keep smiling x

[Cagney31 in reply to BeKind28-]

Yes you gotta keep smiling , I know it’s hard sometimes but we got to be strong and enjoy this life. Life goes that fast. Got to enjoy it and make it the best time ever. Keep in touch x

[BeKind28- in reply to Cagney31]

x

[Thumper76]

Hi Cagney31 and welcome. How amazing are your dogs waking everyone up and how amazing that the defib did it’s job and how amazing are you! I’m sorry you feel a bit in limbo cos that’s not good but hopefully you’ll feel lots of support from the many lovely people on this forum. Stay strong 💪😊

[Cagney31 in reply to Thumper76]

Thanks , I’ve actually woken up back to my old self today as the last few days I was a bit of a groan and sad case but all good today. I think you just got to get on with it , so talking to you guys it’s definitely going to give me the boost I need and hopefully I can help you guys too with a wee blether or two. The suns out so we all got to keep on smiling ☀️

[iansHealth1]

wow.

Glad you’re here buddy, seems a bit touch and go at times.

I always think that my health condition - heart failure - is the worst, then you read someone else’s story and the cheeks get puffed out.

I have to say that I refused an ICD and only because I’m such a coward as on my second heart attack they tasered, sorry, resuscitated me whilst I was awake and that hurt like mad.

Anyway, keep us updated and stay well.

[Cagney31]

Cheers Ian ,

What can you do mate , you just got to get on with it . Back in 2017 when this all started I remember the consultant talking about the ICD and I’m like you I don’t want it it the consultant was like Kenny , you could leave here right now and be fine for weeks , months , years and nothing happens or you could be out and about and it happens again , but it could and this Machine will save your life. My wife like your taking it , mind saying that it has xx saved me twice now but I was worried about getting this , and have moaned about having it as it’s had so many false alarms and still went off.

I felt fit and healthy and didn’t think I really needed it , I read about it and was thinking I will be scared to leave the house, ive said so many times I going to get this thing taken out . I’ve went through some dark times after it’s went off but I’ve always been one if it happens it happens so I’ve just got on with things , went about my life as normal, actually started to forget I had the defibrillator in and then boosh Wednesday 17/04/24 it bangs me , said my heart had went up past 300 , stopped and machine hit me once.

I’m still here so all good, and I’m just going to get in and forget about it again , and fingers crossed it doesn’t go off again lol.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

Stay strong buddy. Wish you a long and healthy life. Whilst a lot to take in at once, at least you know where you stand and you are being treated for the better.

Try to keep your mental health and stress in check too.