I need some problem solving minds on this thread. Need a system to alert my husband if I don't feel well.

[nevergoogle]

Back story is that I had a cardiac arrest six months ago. I have a history of fainting/vasovagal episodes and now have a implant loop recorder to record an ECG the next time I collapse.

This afternoon while home with my six month old baby and recovering from the implant surgery, we both took a nap. I put my phone on silent.

By the time we woke up, there was missed calls, texts, emails from DH and a friend was shouting through my letter box. Convinced I was in a heap somewhere unconscious, DH was in a total panic and had left work early. He'd also spoken to the police who were on standby to knock down my front door if my friend hadn't been able to get me at home.

He's obviously anxious but it was made worse by a text I replied to in the morning hadn't sent so he hadn't heard from me since he left in the morning, although i was unaware of that and clearly he was getting more and more worried as the day went on. I'm not sure how much his anxiety is justified really, maybe he needs help with that, more than anything.

I'm wondering if there's an app for my phone that I could alert him simply if i was feeling unwell. Or any other creative ideas.

I had an amazing sleep btw.

Thanks. I'll check it out slimjim.

Take a look at ICEassist, it sounds ideal for you

And my sympathies, I suffer with vasovagal response myself, its a little disconcerting

Sorry posting on phone and first one said it didn't post

Following a cardiac arrest, it is protocol to start CPR immediately or you would die!! I'm not sure you understand the severity of a cardiac arrest.

It is utterly different from a vasovagal episode.

Nobody in the history of the world has recovered spontaneously from a cardiac arrest unless you count Jesus!!

yes, exactly, and as I've spontaneously recovered about 8 times on the bathroom floor, this is why the doctors, as previously, think it's vasovagal.

it's just that on one occasion i did it while attached to a heart monitor and it appears that my heart stops, for about 30 seconds.

it might be worth noting I did not ask for medical advice on this thread.

oh and I am a MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL as you so shoutily put it.

stop being nuts.

I think, annoying though it undoubtedly would be, you might need to get back I to the teenager mode of letting people know your whereabouts for a while.

Could you not send your dh a text as you go for a nap, saying 'off for a sleep, if you don't hear from me by X time then worry'

And then another text as you get up?

There is an element of readjustment in this, for both of you, and I think you are right that he might need to get help for anxiety (but at the same time can see why he would be worrying)

interestingly I was at a health conference thing yesterday and saw heart traces of people whose heart had just stopped for up to a minute and then spontaneously restarted - wasn't a "proper" cardiac arrest as we know them, was simply the heart pausing as a response to (probably) a fault in the autonomic system.

Thanks to other posters for the app links and others - we're looking for something for (fainty) DD for when she goes off to university, and I won't be around to listen out for odd thumps as she hits the floor.

leaping, that is exactly what I think is going on and what the cardiologists are trying to prove with my implant loop recorder.

I wasn't being shouty, and I'm not nuts. They were caring for you and felt you needed.....oh, do you know what? I can't be arsed.
I hope you find a way to sort it.

bakeoff, I've no idea why you're getting all huffy with the OP. She recognises perfectly well that the team around her had to follow protocol and do CPR, and was merely commenting that although they got one useful piece of information because she happened to be on a monitor (viz, that her heart stopped), they didn't get another piece of information (viz, whether it would restart).

What on earth are you getting hot under the collar about?

Would you be open to not putting your phone on to silent for a bit, while he calms down?

Also, I used to have an app called Muzzlephone that allowed you to set up rules -eg all calls apart from those 3 go straight to voice mail, and texts on silent apart from that one and that one. It was super easy to use. That would only work for naps through. Man down would be better for emergency alerts obvs.

You could also put your medical info on your phone lock screen - almost like a medic alert bracelet but not quite. So you could reassure him that if you were out and collapsed, someone might find your info.

I used to have one of those devices! Is yours sort of back armpit?

I was simply trying to point out that the people were doing their job -eg. Medical professionals, and I've been accused of being shouty and nuts by the OP?
I did offer advice about the beige old people's alarms- I was simply to point out that the OP's husband is understandably worried.

the implant is on my chest quite high up. hoping it's not too visible once the bruising and swelling goes down.

I've downloaded the mandown app onto my new phone that arrived today. need to have a play with the other settings for naps etc.

as DH instantly forgets everything I tell him it would seem that I am disappearing on a daily basis! I am not happy to be tagged for that reason alone. he really does need to compromise too and I allow me the freedom to get on with my day which inevitably involves changes of plans. In return I will keep him updated when it's appropriate and reassure him he'll be contacted I'd there is an actual problem.

thanks for the ideas, it has really helped to have the options discussed. we've come a long way in six months when I had to carry a walkie talkie to go for a walk outside on the path post c section.

Sorry to hear about what happened to you.
This has been a useful thread for me too. I have epilepsy, and my last seizure was in the first weeks after DD was born. I am now expecting DC2, and DH and I are slightly worried about what if it happens again when I am in the house with a 3yr old and newborn (fortunately DH was right next to me last time and I wasn't holding DD at the time). We were wondering about apps or if it is possible to put a picture of DH on the phone screen that DD could just press to call him in an emergency. We could teach her to call 999, but I probably wouldn't need an ambulance, just DH to come and look after us, and she wouldn't be able to open the doors for emergency services anyway. It has been useful to see some relevant apps etc recommended here.