hello everyone, on Wednesday night my partner (30 years old female) had an asthma attack which led to her heart stopping. I was already on the phone to the ambulance when this happened and gave her immediate CPR, which I was told by professionals was of very good quality and is the only reason she’s even here now with a chance of fighting. The ambulance arrived around 6 minutes or so later and took over, they inserted an airway for her to receive oxygen straight away and a few mins later put a CPR machine on her. According to doctors she didn’t have a heartbeat for around 20 minutes or so. I can only believe them but it felt like possibly a shorter time than that to me. She’s currently in the ICU fighting for her life. She has a chest infection that they’re taking care of before anything and apparently she’s responding to what they’re doing to her and she is showing some improvements, which I am so grateful for. The thing that scares me, and I’ve been told I shouldn’t think about this for now and we’ll cross this bridge when we come to it, but the 20 mins of no pulse is playing on my mind so badly. I’m scared that if she does wake up she will have very bad brain damage that’s irreversible. When she initially came into the hospital her pupils were reacting to light that was shone in her eyes, but since then they’ve done a few tests and they’re no longer reacting. Granted she’s on very heavy sedatives and the doctors have said this could very well be affecting this.
I guess I’m just looking for some support with the situation and maybe some reassurance that the situation that she’s in could still end up turning out somewhat favourably. Sorry for the long post and thank you for taking the time to read it.
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Boomersheep
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So sorry to read your post ,not only is this a very traumatic situation for your partner but also for you having witnessed it & having to perform cpr , you did a brilliant job by the way! I suffered a heart attack & cardiac arrest a few months ago & also received cpr ,I'm still very very distressed as I was on my own but luckily in hospital at the time . I can't be of much help but I do hope you have some family or friends for support , hold on tight & don't give up hope for the best outcome , sending love & healing to you & your partner ❤️
Dear Boomersheep, I'm so sorry to read about all that. What a terrible shock and now a very worrying wait for you to see how well your partner recovers. Well done to you for the cpr you did, which kept her alive!
From what I understand of cpr, the aim of doing it is precisely to be the pump yourself, when the heart is not pumping on its own. The cpr is what keeps oxygen circulating through the body and brain, which is what the heart normally does. Cpr cannot restart the heart beating, only a defibrillator can do that, as the electrical current is required. That's why it's so important to do cpr and keep the oxygen flowing manually until help arrives to start the heart. Thankfully in your case that was possible.
If the brain is without oxygen, that's when it starts to die, but in your case even though it took so long to restart her heart, she wasn't without oxygen, so she has the best possible chance you could have given her.
No one can know the extent of any after effects of her asthma attack, cardiac arrest and chest infection until she wakes up, but hang in there. She's in the best place possible to get good treatment and she has you by her side.
I hope and pray that she improves and recovers well. Remember to take care of yourself too, eat and drink regularly even if you don't feel like it.
Hi, sorry to hear about your partner but there is hope. I am a member of the SCA UK (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) Facebook group which is for those who have suffered an SCA or given CPR. There is also a website that has lots of information for survivors and their families.I was down for less than 3 minutes but most I have read about were longer with plenty at a similar length to your partner and yes they have memory problems, mine suffered a bit, but they are generally okay.
There will be those that have suffered badly as a result but I presume it is a case of waiting until, hopefully, your partner regains consciousness and see how things progress. In total I was only out for about 1/2 an hour but even so, when I came round, I was then repeating the same questions as though I wasn't aware of having asked them, quite concerning for my wife at the time.
Don't forget yourself in this, you have also gone through a traumatic experience especially with giving CPR.
So sorry to hear this. Presumably her young age will help with recovery.
The fact that it happened at all illustrates there is some fundamental -presumably respiratory- problem that needs examining.
Perhaps as you wait for news, you can ensure the reasons are known for this arrest and that action can be taken to permanently prevent any future occurrences.
So sorry to hear about your partner and well done for performing cpr until the ambulance arrived.
My husband had a cardiac arrest in A&E and was gone for 13 minutes had 4 shocks. Like your partner they had oxygen on him quickly but I was warned about brain damage.
He was in an induced coma for 3 days as they couldn’t get a stent in and he had sepsis but when they woke him up he was absolutely fine. Very disorientated as he had no memory of walking into A&E but perfectly ok.
Your partner stands a really good chance of being ok thanks to your prompt response so stay positive.
I just want to add to the encouraging responses you’ve had - last year my partner saved my life by doing cpr when I stopped breathing for for 15 mins, I had 3 defib shocks and was put into a coma, and got pneumonia before they brought me round again. Your description of the worry you’re going through is exactly what my partner, son and daughter described - I’m sure you must feel helpless and in limbo.
As you did cpr, YOU are the reason your partner now has a fighting chance. I hope the outcome is as good for you two as it was for me and mine - I was very confused and talking jibberish initially, but am now back in my normal routine, doing two jobs, socialising and exercising. I have fewer late nights out and my memory has suffered a bit, but that was probably on the cards for me at 62. I wish you both the best of luck xxx
Hello, sorry to hear about what has happened. I can't offer any reassurance, only time will tell but I hope your partner makes a good recovery. I just wanted to say be sure you get all the support you can, from whom ever you can, family, friends, health care professionals. You've been through a very traumatic experience and are going through a very stressful time. Take care of yourself and good luck.
Hi, I have no advice but please know I wish your partner a speedy recovery and pray that the outcome is a good one.
What I will say is you were there and reacted by the sound of things straight away, and doing what you done you kept the oxygen flowing, this alone is a positive.
Please keep us updated on your partners recovery x
the consultant is worried about the fact she currently has no pupillary response, the same thing I was worried about. He said they’re going to give her another CT scan today and then try to wake her up to see where she’s at. I’m so worried and feel bereft of hope after he said this to me. I just want her to be ok. I feel like I’m just hoping for some sort of miracle at this point. Does anyone have any experience with anything like this where the outcome has ended up being positive?
Boomersheep firstly I send you and partner a huge 🤗. I guess at the moment being early days no one can be sure of the out come. When my husband was rushed to hospital with meningitis I had so many thoughts and emotions. I was told he would not make it. Well he did, with the devoted and outstanding care he got in ICU. They won't give up and neither must you. Breath and take each step slowly. Take care of yourself that's very important. ❤❤
I’m afraid I have no advice for you but do wish that your partner recovers fully. You are in the midst of an awful situation, but know that the clinical team looking after your partner are doing their utmost to help her. I do hope that all will be well for you, both. 🙏🏽
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