I didn't think i'd have much to say on this for a while seeing as term hasn't actually started yet, however I think the events of this week might be of interest!
On tuesday morning I got a call from my mum who had just arrived at her work. She said she was having palpations that had lasted for over 15 minutes and asked the first aider to record her pulse which was off the scale. Her left arm was weak, but she was experiencing no pain whatsoever, just a "heavy feeling" in her chest. As my grandad (her dad) died of an MI at the age of 48, she was clearly panicking that she may be going through the same thing.
Annoyingly, her fellow employees allowed her to drive home from work when she was feeling this way. We quickly went to casualty and mum was swiftly hooked up to an ECG monitor where her pulse was recorded at 198bpm! No wonder the first aider was unable to count it properly! As there was no sign of the pulse rate decreasing, the doctor administered the infamous intravenous adenosine. Nothing happened. He then gave her another dose and held her arm telling her "this might be unpleasant" and it certainly was, she tells me! A temporary heart block does not sound like your average treatment.
So anyway, having successfully reduced her heart rate mum was admitted to the receiving ward where she spent 2 nights being carefully monitored. It turns out she had an episode of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). Although this is usually self limiting, it can persist and may need preventative treatment. In mum's case, she was given Verapamil.
Although relatively common, dad and I were extremely worried and I don't think we stopped rushing around for the rest of the week. Thankfully she is now ok and is even taking a bit of time off from work as her job is really stressful! The medical staff were extremely efficient and kept her informed at all times - something that usually goes unnoticed when the NHS is concerned!
Overall, i think a nice glass or 2 of wine is on the cards tonight :)
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