Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

new member

pam82
  • By pam82
  • Posted February 25, 2009 at 3:25 am · 10 replies
  • In Surviving SCA
  • Shared with the public
1 Recommendation

Hi my name's Pam, i hope i've put this in the right place sorry and feel free to move it elsewhere if needed. I survived a cardiac arrest at the age of 24 in 2006 and i've just found this group and would love some support to help get over all of the feelings i have towards it all. I feel isolated and angry that it happened to me and i'm interested in finding out if others feel like this.
I am so lucky to be here as when i suffered the arrest i was walking along the main street in Melbourne Australia & was lucky to have two yes two doctors walking behind me who then in turn saved me when i fell. I'm so glad i have finally found a support group for this all as i really feel i need it.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Pain Sudden cardiac arrest Pacemaker Cardiomyopathy

10 replies

aduffy1

Hi Pam! I survived a SCA also. My happened Dec. 2007. I was lucky that my husband was home with me when it happened. I understand your feelings. I am very happy to be alive but still wondering why this happened to me. My doctors still do not have a diagnosis...I do have an ICD. It is hard to talk to others about what happened. Most people still don't understand what happened to me or that it can happen again at any time. I still look for an answer all the time especially because I have 3 children and don't want them to "drop dead". It looks as though for me it was not a herditary cause but, the doctors are not sure. Welcome to this board, I think you will find the support you need.
Anne

pam82

Thank you so much Anne it's nice to finally know that there are people out there going through what i am. I have a pacemaker as well and always find it hard sitting in with all the older peole when i need to get it checked :(.

Mary1

Hi Pam,
Welcome! I am so glad you found us! I had my SCA in July, 2006 (and 2nd in December 2007). My husband was standing right next to me when the first one happened. When the 2nd one happened, I was alone, but the ICD kicked in and saved me.
I know you find this forum comforting. I sometimes go from feeling totally isolated to feeling like SCA is a common event!
Keep writing!
Mary

brokenbutstillhere

Hi monika im 19 and the same thing happend to me september 2008. It is rough and share the feeling of being the only one and all my young friends looking at me like there is something wrong with me. And there is so much i can never do again.

tdhssp

Dear Pam,

Yes, it is not fair to have all of this directed onto you at such a young age. Most 'kids' that are teens are so far removed from the possiblity of death and your feelings are valid and real.

I am not sure this will make you feel better or worse, but we lost our daughter to a sudden cardiac arrest event at the age of 13-1/2 years. Please hang on to what is most important: You survived! You now know to monitor your care and activity as necessary (that is not easy, nor again fair, but you've been given a chance and you need to grasp it and hold on because it is such a gift...)

You are here for a reason and blessed. Please think of that above all else. : )

Love,

Velvet

(mom of Samantha ^j^)

tkidman

Hi. I had my SCA last September in the grocery store and I was with my 1 year old son. Thank God he was strapped in the shopping cart and I wasn't driving. My defibrillator saved my life. I'm scared now though, always wondering is it going to happen again while I'm on the stairs, or in the pool, etc. I feel your pain and I'm right there with you. Being on this website helps alot.

pam82

I want to thank everyone so much it's been a great support knowing that there is other people out there like me. Thank you
Pam

tkidman

Hi, I just added you as a friend. I'm learning to think of my defibrillator as a friend and not an enemy. It did save me. We just have to make sure it is set at the right heart beats and that my Toprol is at the right amount. I was 28 when I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. I'm also learning what my limitations are. I want to exercise like normal and I was told to wear a heart monitor so I can keep an eye on my heart bpm. "Dropping Dead" is inevitable with this disease, but keep in mind that your defibrillator will always save you until the Lord says it's your time. You may grow old with this disease and die from natural causes. Your fear gradually decreases over time, just like with other types of trauma people experience and it becomes easier to handle. God will not give you more than you can handle. You may have this limitation, but God will open other doors for you. Hang in there.

Nutbeem

Hey Pam,

I think we all feel that way, to varying degrees.

It's been just over a year for me, and I feel so normal now that I don't think about it ALL the time anymore, just some of the time.

Life returns to normal, and you get on with it. It's hard to accept that you could come out of this so well when others have struggled so much, but we didn't have any control over that, so it is what it is.

Glad you're here!

BurkesMom

Pam,
I hope that now, with all the replies you have received, you don't feel so isolated. My son had a sudden cardiac arrest 2 years ago (he was 21) while playing basketball. He was a Junior in college at the time and although his life was saved by the people there and the portable AED, he was without oxygen for approx. 20 minutes. So he is recovering from a brain injury as well as now he has an ICD. Ironically, the heart problem was the most easily solved. His brain injury is the big problem now. We struggle with the problems from that daily.
You are indeed fortunate (as is he) to be alive. I hope this site will help with your recovery and, with the support here, how can you go wrong?

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

Group leaders

You