Does someone need to complain?

Hi Everyone

I wonder if anyone can help. I'm actually messaging on behalf of my ex husband, bizarrely, but he's in his 70s, in hospital and doesn't have anyone to fight his corner, if indeed it needs fighting.

He suffered a cardiac arrest in December. Was admitted and had a pacemaker fitted. Then on Christmas Eve he was back in with a stroke. Apparently he should have been prescribed warfarin, but wasn't. He is still in hospital. He was transferred to a rehab unit but is now back in the main infirmary because the leads to his pacemaker - only fitted a month ago - are loose.

I have no experience about this, but it seems a bit of a fiasco. I'm going to find out a bit more and see what the complaints procedure is, but I wondered if this sounds normal or not?

I hope someone can help.. .we have an 18 year old son, but he's not really mature enough to start kicking up a fuss about this.

Thank you!

4 Comments

Overwhelming

by Grateful Heart - 2016-01-23 04:01:32


Take it a step at a time and talk to his doc. Your ex husband had a heart attack. There must be something else....an electrical problem with his heart if he received a pacemaker. Find out what that is so you can better understand the reason.

Unfortunately, leads can sometimes come loose early on, one of mine did too.

As far as the Warfarin, again, talk to the doctor. He should explain the diagnosis and plan of action for your husband.

From what you wrote here, I don't see that a complaint is warranted....but communication is.

Get some answers from the doc and then come back here and post if you need clarification. There are a few very informative members here.

Well wishes for your ex husband.

Grateful Heart

Lots of Questions

by BillH - 2016-01-23 06:01:53

"Cardiac Arest" just means that his heart stop.

That could be from an MI, where the plaque in a cardiac artery ruptures and a clog is formed to "seal the wound", but is big enough to block the artery. And depending on how long and how much of the flow was blocked some of the heart muscle can die.

Typical neither a pacemaker or warfarin is used for after MI, but it can specially if the pacing parts of the heart where damaged.

After treatment for an MI, depending on the type of treatment, and anti-platelet is usually prescribed. That reduces the change of an other blockage being formed by a plaque rupture.

But warfarin is not an anti-platelet, but an anti-clogging agent. Clogs are formed when blood is stagnate or slow moving. And if they form in the heart then can move to the brain and cause a stroke. Some electrical problems in the heart and/or muscle damage can make one at risk for clogs forming in the heart.

But also the same plaque rupture that causes an MI can also happen in the brain and cause a stroke.

Also strokes can be caused by a bleed in the brain. And the use of either anti-clogging and/or anti-platelet meds can increase that risk.

So there is often a balancing act.

However, the "heart attack" might have been caused by an electrical problem in the heart, thus the need pacemaker.

Or he might have had an MI, but the testing also showed existing problems that where not related.




Blood thinner

by Zetha - 2016-01-23 07:01:40

Hi!
I can only comment on what I know in connection with blood thinners.... I am 4 months post PM and have been taking Xarelto for 3months+ now, because of the warning: without blood thinning meds Arterial Fibrillation can result in having a stroke, so.... that is what I know....

Regards, Zetha.

blood thinners

by Tracey_E - 2016-01-23 09:01:18

Blood thinners are not routinely prescribed just for having a pacemaker. Some people with pacers are on them, but it's usually for afib or something else that makes them a stroke risk.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.