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1st post!
Hi people! My husband had a cardiac arrest in July, flatlined by the time he got to hospital, but they worked on him for 17 minutes & got him back. That was the longest flatline the hospital had to that point, with no brain damage. Then 17 days in ICU and a week in rehab to learn how to walk again, etc. His systems had begun to shut down. Prior, I had noticed his legs were a bit swollen, but I just assumed since he was a big guy, and had diabetes II, that it was just due to his weight. He's 66. He'd even had his heart checkup (from prior 1991 heart attack) three days before & was prescribed a diuretic. He never paid much attention to the "lose weight, exercise, eat right" advice. Turns out heart failure let to a flash pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs) and then the arrest. Docs didn't think he'd make it out of hospital & now call him Miracle Man. He's lost 52 lbs in 7 months now. Walks a bit every night and eats less. Still will not eat a vegetable. He takes amiodarone and got his CRT-D & seems to be doing ok; he's a professional musician and is back to work a bit, but still has a balance issues. No shocks yet. His heart failure, it turns out, is so bad, that he cannot live without either one, for the rest of his life, however long that is. We hope for the best, although we know CHF is not curable, and he has to get another 30 or more lbs off. The docs like you between 180-200, preferably the former, for CHF patients. It will be interesting to be in this forum and learn how others are doing. He went through a depression period but seems better now; mostly due to him 'losing his edge' and not feeling as sharp as he used to be. Part of that is from his peripheral neuropathy from the diabetes. NOW he realizes he should have paid more attention to his health, and not ignored his silent but worsening heart disease. All the meds you take don't make up for eating right and exercise. All the wife/caregivers out there will agree with me!
6 Comments
Thank you
by Music - 2014-02-09 05:02:03
He's got to be on amiodarone forever, unfortunately. He walks in the evening when I'm at work, so I just have to take him at his word! He needs to put a little more effort into it, though, and he wants weekends off...go figure. We used to walk together all the time, but it's so hot here in FL usually, that evenings are better re: the heat. He's mostly good about doing what he's supposed to, but not totally. At least he doesn't smoke or drink, which is great!! This looks like an interesting site, for sure. His 24 days in ICU/rehab cost almost $500,000!!....thank goodness for Medicare & our supplement, we were lucky that way.
Keep up the good work!
by JerryG - 2014-02-10 03:02:17
I too am 66. I 'restarted' my life at 65 when I had bariatric surgery to help me lose the excess weight I carried all my life. I had a sleeve gastrectomy which was done laparascopically so I was only in hospital overnight and flew home the following day. I lost 53kg (117lbs) in a year and cannot believe the difference it has made to me.
I live in the bushveld in South Africa and it is extremely hot here too. It is too dangerous to walk around on my game farm as we have all the Big 5 here so I compromised by buying a treadmill which I have on my verandah. I can't do more than brisk walk on it as I have other mechanical problems but I do a programmed workout every day. I also very quickly found it is far too hot here to work out during the day. My workout time starts at 05h00 when it is still relatively cool (± 25 degrees Celsius) and although I still sweat heavily, the heat isn't a problem. Summer days here are often over 40 degrees C and I don't think workouts in those temperatures are advisable! Perhaps if you folks are early risers the two of you could walk early morning before you go to work.
Encourage your husband to persevere with his walking as it is one of the best things he can do. My wife has major heart 'plumbing' problems (mine are only electrical) and after several major myocardial infarctions with a major arrest following the most recent one and lots of stents, she now also walks on the treadmill daily. She started very slowly and every couple of weeks increases speed and time a bit. Her last major MI was in August 2013 and her strength and stamina are building up nicely again.
Welcome to the club and good luck top both you and your husband.
JerryG
thoughts....
by Music - 2014-02-11 02:02:01
Thanks for the comments! Laben, glad to know the amiodarone is having no adverse effects on you all these years later, that's great.
Amiodarone also
by Laben - 2014-02-11 12:02:53
Just want to say welcome and say that I have been on amiodarone since age 42 and am now still here 20 years later. Hope all goes well with your husband, never give up........Laben
Sounds like you guys are doing great!
by mtaylor - 2014-02-18 12:02:10
I'm no expert, but 17 minutes and no brain damage sounds pretty good to me. When I had my incident, it took around 20 minutes for the ambulance to show up and for them to get me going, and I had to re-learn walking and talking.
Keep at it!
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by Marie12 - 2014-02-09 03:02:34
Your husband has been through quite an ordeal. Awesome that he has started to lose the weight. That much in seven months is an admirable achievement. I have CHF along with an ICD also done in July at age 53. Was on amiodarone for a while but now am off. No shocks either. It sounds like he is doing all the right things to help control the CHF. I've lost weight and exercise 30 minutes every day without fail.
It sounds like you are very encouraging to him and I recommend that you keep it up. I don't think I would have made it without the support of my husband who has now started to exercise with me in order to ensure I stay on track.
Have your considered Cardiac Rehab? It can really help with both diet and exercise and it is also a great source of support for both the patient and spouse.