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cardioversion or defibrillation
I had my first "kick" this week. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow. How can I tell if it was a cardioversion or a true defib? I'm pretty darn sure it was the defib but am now questioning myself. I went down in a faint fast,which I have never done,had a kick which was dreamlike,,then another kick. Afterwards,weak and wobbly with a prickly feeling across the top of my chest. Anyone have anything like this before?
4 Comments
Difference between cario/defib
by fireryan - 2008-07-09 03:07:02
I'm a 6 year Fire/medic with an ICD:
Just in case heres a little clarification between the two:
Defibrillation is used on two types of heart rythms; Ventricular Tachycardia (V tach) without a pulse; aka pulseless V tach
Ventricular Fibrillation (V Fib) which is your heart trembling...sort of like a seizure of the heart
Both can be "reset" with Defibrillation which is a shock that is delivered without a specific timing as it pertains to the electrical component of the heart.
Cradioversion is a timed Shock deliverd to V tach with a pulse. The timing has to do with the electrical "sync" of the heart. If done at the wrong time, it may send a Pt into Ventricular Fibrillation.
There is a "pacing" component used for slower stable tachycardias. These are terminated with small bursts of energy to "snap" the heart out of it without using the painful does.
Last thing.....Dude Teaxasbeat was making COFFEE!!
Thats crazy.....I try to avoid smelling it.....I'm glad not everyone is freaked out like me.
May God Bless you all
Ryan
Cardioversion and defibrillation.
by lb151 - 2008-07-14 11:07:03
I'm sorry to sound so dumb but I'm having a difficult time understanding between the 2. Would you feel the cardioversion and does it happen just before a defib? I found out I went into VTack so I am VERY thankful to have my device. Now they want to replace my mitral valve. I had it reparied 12 years ago. I go to see the surgeon this week,,,thanks Ryan for explaining better than anyone else has so far,,docs included
Simply put
by fireryan - 2008-07-15 11:07:37
lb151,
The bottom line is yes you feel the cardioversion the same as a defibrillation. They say 1j or 36j (j = joule its the measurement of the energy delivered) feels exactly the same. When you see the paddles in the hospital (now they use Patches) they deliver up tp 360 joules. The reason of the huge difference is due to the amount of tissue and bone the energy needs to travel through in order to reset the heart.
Any questions or concerns feel free to ask me. If I don't know, I'll find out.
Lord Bless you on your surgeon visit and health
Ryan
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Member Quotes
As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
"Kick"
by TexasBeat - 2008-07-06 11:07:36
My one and Only episode of "Kick" happened as I was making coffee during an electrical storm.
I went down and new it was the defib unit. Coffe was everywhere.. I felt infigorated and really Alive. it was as if every Cell in my body had the dust blownoff it. It didn't hurt it was too fast. I questioned what had happened. had Unit checked and yes it shocked me. However rate ws too low and it shocked an episode of Atrial Fib with a fast ventriccular response. Had to reset rate to 300 not 180 bpm.
...hey if it turns out it wasnt the defib unit its ok. but I am betting dollars to donuts it was the unit that "Kicked" you.
Texasbeat