Heart stopped while out with friends?!
Question: Heart stopped while out with friends?
What do I do? Ignore that it happened?
Oh I have dilated cardiomyopathy if that matters.
Answers:
Sounds to me like you are in denial. Your doctor gave you specific instructions to go to the Emergency Room if your defibrillator fired. Your friends need to know to call 911! Make sure everyone knows that if you loose consciousness it is potentially life threatening. Tell you parents immediately. You need to be evaluated by your cardiologist and you need to be smarter about what's going on with your heart. Talk to the cardiologist like you are the patient! Do not allow mommy and daddy to monopolize the discussion or talk around you or over you. This is YOUR life we are trying to preserve. You need to take responsibility for it.
34 years in cardiac nursing.
Yes, you should let your doctor know. You probably don't need to go to the ER at this point, but definitely have your parents talk it over with your primary doctor or your cardiologist ASAP. Both doctors should have their own answering service, and even if they're not available, they should have another qualified doctor available to take phone calls for them. Your doctor will need to know more details about exactly what happened, and only then can he/she give you advice about whether this needs to evaluated right now in an ER or not.
I am a physician with over 18 years of experience.
Go to the ER! and tell your parents. I don't know what instructions your doctor has given you but at the cardiac centre where I work all patients with an ICD are told to go to the ER anytime they receive a shock. Ask your cardiologist what the procedure is if this happens again.
cardiology tech
I think it would be a good idea to let your parents know about this event, and to also let your cardiologist know. It's possible that something needs to be changed in the medical management of your cardiomyopathy.
Myself - senior medical student
I was gonna say Panic Attack , since the symptoms of Panic Attacks are terrifying and similar to heart related issues but since you have Dilated Cardiomyopathy/ ICD. You should deff. tell your parents and get checked out ASAP by you're Doctor or a E.R.
You should always notify your primary care doctor or cardiologist any time your ICD fires, ESPECIALLY if you passed out
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