Member Profiles
LINDA HARRIS
My problems started when I was 17. I noticed
that my heart rate was abnormally high quite often and not associated with any
particular activity. The episodes would last anywhere from a few minutes to
several hours. I told my doctor and he said that I must be stressed out because
young women who live a healthy lifestyle just don't have the problems that I was
describing. My heart rate in his office was normal at the time and no testing
was done. This went on for 4 years and I told other doctors the same thing. Now
I was called anxious, crazy and any other term you can come up with. All without
any testing being done. When I was 21, I found a doctor who would listen.
Diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, I was started on Tenormin but I only felt
good for a short while. After many different drug trials, I ended up in the ER
after work following 6 hours of chest pain, elevated heart rate of 180. EKG
showed SVT and after being loaded up on IV Verapamil I was told to see my
internist. He looked at the EKG and told me not to bother the ER anymore because
the SVT would have eventually reverted on its own. I quickly found a new doctor.
I had 5 EP studies with ablation from 3/94 to 12/94 followed by a dual chamber
pacemaker placed after SA nodal ablation in January 1995. I had my 6th EP with
abaltion 1 month afterwards. Open heart followed in April of the same year for
surgical ablation of multiple fast tracks. My atrial lead was removed one week
after the open heart due to failure. My doctor had to utilize the epicardial
lead sewn in during the open heart because they were unable to place another
atrial lead. Too much trauma still from surgery.After 3 bouts of respiratory
failure and multiple thoracentesis, I was fine for about 2 months and had SVT
again. Six months of cardiac rehab ensued. I then had been placed on Cordarone
for ventricular bigeminy and SVT. Worked great in combination with other
medications but after 5 years the side effects proved to be too much. I've been
on multiple antiarrhythmics, had a 7th EP study with failed ablation attempt
8/02 for ventricular bigeminy and a focus of ectopic atrial tachycardia was
found off one of the branches of the coronary sinus. I'm told it's extremely
rare. I take Sotolol now which works wonders for the bigeminy but does nothing
for the SVT. I'm in a supraventricular rhythm more than I am paced. I have
presyncopal episodes several times a week. On bad days, I'm dizzy and tend to
sleep a lot. On my good days with my scars covered, you would never know there
was anything wrong with me. For that I'm very thankful.I'm waiting to hear from
Cleveland Heart Clinic to see if anything more can be done. During all of this,I
had my gallbladder removed, a hysterectomy, both ovaries hemmorhaged 8 months
apart, both knees scoped and cleaned out, 2 back surgeries, a GI bleed, chronic
urinary tract infections, asthma and a variety of other illnesses. I told my
doctor the other day I am beginning to feel like Humpty Dumpty :o) He made the
mistake of telling me he felt sorry for me. I told him to feel sorry for someone
who really needs it. Even though my medical history is appalling by some
people's standards, I consider myself lucky because I know it could be so much
worse. I tell them, "I have 2 good arms, 2 good legs and a bright alert mind.
It's just that some things in between that don't always work right." My doctor
says he's amazed by my attitude. He said, "Most people in your situation would
crumble and never get back up." One of my other doctors thinks I'm a cat with 9
lives and had to have used up several by now. I smile and tell him I have a few
lives left then. I continue to work as an RN part time. I love what I do and I
wouldn't give it up for anything. I think God has a plan for all of us and in
each path there is a new lesson to be learned. Through the years I've learned to
take nothing for granted. Take the time to see all of the beauty in the world. I
think William Blake says it best.."To see the world in a grain of sand and
Heaven in a wildflower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in
an hour." May God bless each of you. Linda LHarrisRN@aol.com
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