my condition and outlook on death

[madamerahil]

Hello, my name is Rachel and I'm an American Muslim. I have a heart condition called SVT or also known as superventricular tacchycardia. Sometimes my pulse gets really high, the highest being 191. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke when it happens, but honestly I don't have many emotions about it, just a kind of scared feeling.

Comments

Cath

[chemteach1]

I have had 2 heart caths in the last 4 months for a condition called primary pulmonary hypertension. They really aren't so bad. You will probably be given some valium prior to the procedure to help you relax. This may help you with the modesty issue. You will also be draped and covered for the procedure, even if they are doing the groin procedure so don't worry about being naked on the table for 3 hours. (Mine took that long the first time because they were testing a drug to see if it lowered the blood pressure in my lungs.) Your procedure should be much much shorter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions regarding this procedure.
Kathy

[madamerahil]

That's good to know. Thank you very much!! Can you feel the procedure or did you feel numb?

[chemteach1]

You feel a bit of discomort and pressure in the groin area during the procedure, but it isn't really painful. In your chest, you will sometimes feel fluttering senstions- almost like you have a hamster in your heart occasionally. You might occasionally feel your heart skip a beat or two, or feel a beat that is extra strong. I found this somewhat disturbing, but it wasn't painful. The worst part for me was the effects of the medicines that they were testing. Afterwards, I had to lay in bed, imobile for 6 hours before I could go home. The first procedure wasn't bad at all. The second time, I did have some complications but that was due to a reaction from medication they gave me, not the procedure itself. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Kathy