Another newbie

• by Cyril
• 2013-07-05 05:07:04
• ICDs
• 1572 views
• 3 comments

Hi Everyone,

I'm Cyril from the UK and have just joined the forum.

Until March 5th 2010 I considered myself a very healthy and fit 62 year old. That day, whilst on my way to a school friend's funeral (he died of a heart attack) I blacked out whilst driving at 75mph on the motorway not far from Bristol. I was fortunate, and survived uninjured but was taken to hospital by a friend where I was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome and fitted with an ICD.

When I came out of hospital I wrote a piece about my experience, with the heading "It can happen to anyone, anywhere, at anytime!" and used it to raise money during 'Heart Rhythm Week'; an awareness week run by the Arrhythmia Alliance in the UK - enough money was donated within hours to provide an AED in a secure cabinet for my village.

Life was soon back to normal (apart from not driving for 6 months) with me doing everything I used to. I do though have occasional days when there are a lot of missed heartbeats and I get exhausted doing nothing, so I just go to bed and sleep it off. I regard the ICD not as an intrusion, but as an accessory for my ''disability' much as I would regard a walking stick if I had a problem with my leg.

I am the local Subpostmaster and also a clockmaker. I still walk my dogs three times a day (about 5 miles each day) so there is plenty to keep me busy.

Cyril.