Cardiac arrest during elective caesarian section. Nevergoogle in need of a bit of support.

[nevergoogle]

DS3, who is a lovely bundle of loveliness, arrived by elective c-section a week ago.

For unknown reasons (so far) I had a cardiac arrest during the surgery where my heart slowed to a complete stop. I was resuscitated with CPR and adrenaline before surgery was completed and I was transferred to intensive care. All tests so far point to an otherwise healthy heart. (Usual obs monitoring, ECG's and US)

In time I will be having follow up input from cardiology/anaesthetics/obgyn/perinatal mental health team/intensive care psychology. I'm now home wearing a 24 hour heart trace.

We haven't announced this in RL (apart from close friends and family), so if you know me please be discrete, we're still getting our heads around what happened.

But just WTF? How do I process this? How do I rebuild myself, DH and I feel completely steamrollered. All the while DS3 is BFing on demand 2 hourly, and I have all the usual c-section recovery to contend with. The other two children aren't aware but are starting to question why I keep crying and me saying I'm just so happy to be their mum is being met with .

I have zero concentration, tv/radio/music is just noise, I can't face phonecalls/visitors and apart from a birth announcement on facebook I just can't do it. I'm not even sure i'm ready for this thread so may bow out if it gets overwhelming.

On the upside, DH and I are being spectacularly kind and patient with each other and the children. We are having lots of quality time and keeping life simple and there is an atmosphere of calm in between my moments of despair and sobbing.

Anybody been through similar?

[nevergoogle]

Have weighed myself this morning. 1.5 stone lost in 2 weeks. Not sure if that's normal BF loss for a hungry baby or if stress/insomnia is causing a quicker weight loss?

[StealthPolarBear]

No, I don't think that's normal. I lost weight when bf DS but not that much. Are you getting plenty of good meals?
And the odd slice of cake wouldn't hurt :)

[nevergoogle]

loads of good homecooked meals being delivered by friends. I'm eating double helpings.
feeding every 2-3 hours since day 1 and he's gaining loads of weight.

there is a definite lack of cake and chocolate though.

think the lack of sleep partly due to pain, pacing with a fretting baby and entertaining the other two is using up lots of energy, but i'm struggling to rest and switch off which i'm sure is a reaction to the trauma.

but what a convenient time to have insomnia!

he's just finally settled so going to get off to bed.

and don't worry, i have plenty of weight to lose.

[Blondieminx]

Nevergoogle OMG what an awful shock. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[BethGoLightly]

Massive congratulations on your perfect and gorgeous DS. When I did midwifery some years ago, there was a lady who suffered a cardiac arrest during CS, she recovered and I did go and see her before she was discharged home. She was very shocked and tearful but was told that it was a rare complication to the epidural, her BP crashed. Interesting to read the NHS leaflet for spinals that says the risk of cardiac arrest is 1:3000. Rare, but poor you OP, you were this rare statistic. You will be fine, take it slow, your medical care sounds very good. Big hug to you.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/what_is_trauma.htm

[madwomanbackintheattic]

I would put money on reaction to anaesthesia.

Look after yourself - I suffered PTSD after birth trauma for a different reason, but ended up waiting far too long before seeking counselling.

Good luck x

[nevergoogle]

DH and I have both accepted referrals to the ICU health psychologist.
The perinatal mental health team/perinatal psychiatrist are aware of my situation and are putting together a 'safety net' plan for anti-depressant medication should my mood take a turn for the worse. I came off AD's when I found out I was pregnant and have no qualms about starting them again, but currently don't feel 'depressed'. They will make a recommendation based on depression/breastfeeding/cardiac risks. The information on the one I was taking is limited in BF, but gave me no side effects on starting whereas a new one like Sertraline etc may give me nausea and dizziness and frankly make me shit myself that the symptoms are cardiac.
My GP is brilliant (if you don't require eye contact and are happy to accept that the man does know what he's talking about, he just lacks the personal skills) and I trust him.
My midwife has discharged me now and is happy that all seems well for now and the health visitor has taken over. She seems fine too.
The consultant anaesthetist called me at home yesterday. He doesn't feel they are any closer to 'a reason' for what happened. He has spoken with the obgyn consultant and they will be sending me an appointment for a debrief.

On top of all that, I plan to ask the GP at my 6 week check for help to get back to exercising. Last summer I was running and I'd like to return to it but would prefer to do supervised exercise initially so will be pushing for a referral to cardiac rehab or exercise on prescription referral.

So yes, I think the NHS support that is being offered is brilliant and am going to pursue all referrals to make sure that I am back on form as soon as possible.

[MardyBaaLamb]

Wishing you all the best, lovely. And congratulations on your lovely baby.

[nevergoogle]

Thankyou to MNHQ who sent me a parcel after I missed the open day. Lots of lovely goodies, Yay.

Bet they are wiping their brows at narrowly escaping that live birth thread from MNHQ by less than a week.

Having been reunited with my feet perhaps i'll get started on the nail polish today. Thanks MNHQ.

[apermanentheadache]

Nevergoogle you poor thing. Hope you are soon feeling much better.

I was reading through your posts and something was rattling around in my head. A boy at my DD's nursery had a condition called Reflex Anoxic Seizure which sounds very similar to the vasovagal reaction you had in the past. It involves a short cardiac arrest, then he comes round. His mum said it was immensely scary but actually fairly benign. I am sure your medical team will investigate fully but just an idea.

[sassytheFIRST]

Ooh nevergoogle, what a scary time for you. Hoping that your fears are settling a bit now, you sound better than you did (just read whole thread) and that gorgeous newborn cuddles are the medicine you need. Keep accepting the help and asking for any more that you need. And congrats on your lovely new ds!

[nevergoogle]

The lovely Mner UniS has taken DS1 off my hands for a few hours. And provided biscuits! We do know each other in RL although became aware of each other and our children's common interests through mumsnet.

I love mumsnet and mumsnetters, i really do.

[ladygracie]

Congratulations on your utterly gorgeous baby. I'm so sorry it was so traumatic for you.
And I know this was a while ago but you absolutely can ask people to finish painting your bathroom. People will want to help so if you can give them something useful to do, that's great. Take care.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

What a shock to be the one in such a statistic. I've read the whole thread through and I'm to have got to the end and hear you so upbeat.

Ds3 is adorable.

I'm glad that you're getting good support from your healthcare team and friends and family. Your plans to ask about cardiac rehab or exercise referral scheme sound great too.

If I lived closer I'd happily paint your bathroom!

[nevergoogle]

I've decided I want Justine Roberts and Carrie Longton to come and paint my bathroom. Anything short of this would be an insult .

Get off breakfast TV and take a break from all that heartbleed/ball-ache nonsense and get round here.

The black tiles need another coat of tile paint, the walls need another coat of white, the vinyl needs laying, the bath panel painting and put back and the blind needs putting up. (a month ago we had no floor, walls, or bath/shower after a leak, so this is actually progress).

If the 7th most powerful women in the UK can't arrange this, then I really don't know who can.

Go on, I have baked muffins and Totnes is really lovely this time of year.

And besides I never did really recover from not getting to keep the Ford SMax that I reviewed.

[nevergoogle]

[nevergoogle]

When I say, I've baked, I mean DS2 has baked. He recently learned to 'sneeze to the side' when baking too. so you know, it's all good.

rofl.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

With an offer that good I can't see how your request can fail!

[onlyjoking9329]

Google what a scary time you've had.
Congratulations on your new baby.
I'm not surprised you are all emotional, sounds like you will get good follow up, which will help you process it all.
I've recently spent two weeks in ITU, it's very difficult to make sense of, gaps in your memory and not being sure what was real are all part of it.
There is a web site, think it's called something like itusteps, I've found it to be useful, take good care of yourselves eat rest and drink whenever you can, do not turn down any offers of help.

[nevergoogle]

thanks oj, long time no see! hope you are on the mend too.

strangely itu, where you know your condition is critical, is where i felt the safest. the team there were amazing and gave me confidence that they knew what they were doing.

there are little moments during the itu stay that DH is filling in the gaps. like for a little while i couldn't see properly. patchy vision that had me very concerned that there may be permanent damage/stroke. DH is able to fill me in on the timeline of how long these things lasted.

also at one point i remember something happening that had me in the most excruciating pain that i was screaming before sobbing. it turns out that i began to retch and the contraction of my stomach broke through all pain relief. i remember it being breathtaking but couldn't remember the trigger. the retching was as a result of the concoction of drugs given to me. they very promptly gave me anti-emetics and morphine and it didn't happen again.

from a professional point of view, i think all nhs staff should be rolled by a team of staff and have their arse washed with foam at some point in the careers. very humbling.

[BecauseImWoeufIt]

Oh bloody hell, nevergoogle! What a time of it you're having.

But I could just eat your little one! He's gorgeous.

[KristinaM]

Congratulations on your beautiful son and your strength of character and humour in the face of adversity .

I have only one piece of advice which is to remember that codeine can make you very constipated. No fun especially with stitches and and IBS.

I assume that they have checked that they didn't crack a rib when they did the CPR?

BTW you missed the London marathon. It was very good.

[nevergoogle]

yes, i'm only taking the codeine when the pain gets too much. also have lactulose and colofac if needed.

as for whether it's a fracture or a strain, they did x-ray although i think it was just a front to back view and the pain is definitely right on the side. either way, there's no treatment anyway other than pain relief, rest and time.