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Original poster

I'm very worried about Peter today

31 replies

misdee · 12/01/2007 14:17

he is very very tired (has been back in bed since 10am), and i can hear the pause between clicks getting longer, then speeding back to normal rate. his machine readings are fine, flow rates all good etc, good fill on the pump, good flash test, nothing alarming. but something isnt right.

OP posts:
coppertop · 12/01/2007 14:18

Oh no. Is there someone you can call?

RnBee · 12/01/2007 14:20

oh misdee really hope he is ok x

Hulababy · 12/01/2007 14:22

Hope all is ok Can you call the hospital?

Miaou · 12/01/2007 14:23
Sad
Pinkchampagne · 12/01/2007 14:23

Oh no, misdee. Can you give the hospital a call?
Hope all is ok.

LIZS · 12/01/2007 14:25

. If you are concerned can you call the hospital ?

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 14:34

its only me concerned, peter isnt. he has just gt up to take his meds and gone back to bed. i know he has had a lot of pain latly with his VAD site, so it could just be tiredness from not being able to sleep due to pain. its very awkwardly sited as usually its on the front of the chest but due to peters rather huge heart it comes out lower down and on the side. he has said not to call and to let him sleep. i'm not 100% happy about it, but if i do call they will want him to come in and he isnt feeling upto travelling now. so looks like we are going with 'wait and see'.

OP posts:
jalopy · 12/01/2007 14:39

Does he have a temperature, misdee? Is he anaemic - had any blood tests recently?

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 14:40

all bloods are fine, he had some done yesterday and tuesday. temp is fine.

OP posts:
Miaou · 12/01/2007 14:41

so difficult to know what to do for the best, isn't it? Whilst it must be so lovely to have him at home, it does put so much more responsibility on your shoulders.

Fingers crossed he is ok. I'm sure he wouldn't say he was if he wasn't, he seems quite sensible like that. And he is the best judge of how he feels really

jalopy · 12/01/2007 14:45

Misdee, what's the significance of the long pause? Does the pump work independently of his heart rhythm?

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 16:21

the pump generally keeps up with his rate rate, it just helps pump the blood. when he has episode of VT (ventricle tachycardia i think) then his heart beasts far too fast (200bpm+) so the machine cant fill correctly and slows down to allow it to fill before it pumps again. the last time this happened, his ICD fired off and gave hi ma shock to get his heart back into a normal rythmn.

OP posts:
Flossam · 12/01/2007 16:26

From your original description it sounds like something quite common called af - the thing Tony Blair had a few years ago? That is where the hear beats irregularly, basically. Is he up and about now? Are the nurses still coming in at all?

maddiemostmerry · 12/01/2007 16:27

Sorry Misdee, hope it's a wrong gut feeling. Horrible to have you feeling so uneasy though.

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 16:28

yes but his icd should also be pacing him if its AF (artial fiberation is that the one?). he is still in bed now. he has said he wil lget up soon.

OP posts:
Flossam · 12/01/2007 16:29

Hmm. I don't know TBH. How often does machinery get checked?

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 16:31

his ICD was checked on tuesday and so was the vad. we do daily checks at home, readings are all fine, the fill and empty is fine, good flash test etc.

he is up now.

OP posts:
jalopy · 12/01/2007 19:01

Sorry, disappeared off for a while. How's he doing, misdee?

Blandmum · 12/01/2007 19:04

Hope he feels better soon. Could this be 'post xmas' fatuge? Dh was feeling rotten testerday, and the Macmillan nurse put it down to 'doing too much for too long'

jollymum · 12/01/2007 19:08

Misdee, how are you both? I just thought I'd tell you something to cheer you up. I have a donor card but a couple of days ago, in the car on the way to school, my DS (8yrs) asked me if he could give his heart to someone when he died I asked him if he'd seen anything on telly, it's been mentioned at home but not while he's been around. He said no and that he'd just thought of it. It made me cry a bit TBH because I thought of you two and how I wished I could help. It then struck me how difficult it would be to do and just as I really choked up, he asked me to get a "heart" form from the Docs. I told him that me and daddy would have to sign the forms, we would be very sad etc etc and he just said, "But Mum, I won't need my heart when I'm dead and someone else can use it" I am so proud of him and a bit taken aback too. Keep strong and sending hugs to all of you.

jollymum · 12/01/2007 19:10

MB and family-thinking of you all too. Sending loveXXXXXXX

Flossam · 12/01/2007 19:52

Perhaps he is getting a cold or something? Like you say the machine is there to look after him if it is anything with his heart. I hope he is feeling better now?

Original poster
misdee · 12/01/2007 19:57

he seems fine now, and no more slowing down. which is good. maybe he was just drained and needed more rest.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 12/01/2007 19:59

Good to hear he seems okay now. Misdee - I forget how stressful your day to day life is!

jalopy · 13/01/2007 14:12

How does he seem today, Misdee?