It is hard to accept your life changing in one moment. I had decided at 38 to become a volunteer firefighter in our local area. I was in good shape and ran 2 to 3 times a week and had to pass a pretty tough physical to become a firefighter so as far as i know all was well. I took my emt class and started responding to medical calls and fires in our local area in July of 2006. On December 11, 2006 I was at fire training. I had left my daughter home alone, knowing i would be gone for only a couple hours. After a stressful training session we were having a standard debriefing and I had aired some greivences that I had with fellow firefighters. At the end of speaking I dropped my keys on the floor and slumped over. My fellow firefighters rushed to my side, lowered me to the ground and checked for a pulse and breathing. When they discovered I had neither they immediately began bagging me and connected me to the aed machine. Our assistant chief called into dispatch that he had a firefighter down, code blue. The next station over has 2 paramedics and they were at training still as well, and they "jumped the call"...and were at our station within 3 minutes...what would normally be a 7 minute drive. The hardest part for my friends and coworkers is that I was close to them all personally. Our assist. chief shocked me twice getting me back with the second shock. When the paramedics arrived they started giving me iv's and pushing drugs. Unfortunately by this time I was posturing and quite combative so I pulled most of them back out. By the time the ambulance had arrived they had got some medication in me and I was breathing on my own. The paramedica and emt that responded were who I had done my ride along with when I had trained for my emt. The supervising paramedic that responded was my emt teacher...so needless to say this was an extremely emotional time for them all. The fire department brought out chaplains because they pretty much thought I was dead. Even my assistant chief, who has worked ambulances as an emt for 21 years was planning how he was going to tell my family when he got back from the hospital. He told me later that in all of his years as an emt he has only seen one person live after being shocked. When he arrived at the hospital they told him I was talking and he said he couldn't even speak he was so stunned. When I finally came around I kept asking what had happened. Of course no one could give me an answer yet. By the next morning they had discoverd that I had a very low potassium and magesium level which caused an electrolyte imbalance that caused sudden cardiac death. I had an icd implanted on December 15, 2006, and have yet to have a shock, thank God. I hear this is not the best feeling. The hardest part is how radically this has changed my life. I can no longer be on the fire department and my hopes of becoming a paramedic are no longer viable. All of the things that I am unable to do has left me horribly depressed. I have no idea how common depression is after this experience and I keep asking why this had to happen to me. It is nice seeing a site that lets me know I am not alone.
To save one life is as if to save the world.
Acceptance
Hi
I was shocked five times & still here. I did have a near death expeience & passed over to the other side & the light was intense. That is another story.
This happen six years ago after a sudden heart attack, four stents & three months later implanted pacer/defib.
I gradually had depression descend on me about a year later.My personality changed but people would say "you look so good." I was a libarian so you know I was active , loved books & people. I got to the point I wanted to stay home, talk & see nobody,I was overwhelmed by stores,crowds & the worse part I could not collect my thoughts to read a book. I carried a book with me for three years just in case...
I told the doctor that I could set & watch the world go by & I had no engery to wave as it pass me.
I tried several brands of antidepressants. They made me sleepy & I was like a statue, Finally Wellbutrin SR made me feel better & worked right away. Also my family doctor was a MD & Alternaive medicine. He researched & came up with a program of having your urine tested. It would tell them which chemicals was to much , to little in the brain. Use vitamins that would repair the transmitters & recepters.This is called NeuroScience. The doctor selects the different vitamins that you need for the grade of depression you are experinceing. Not all doctors know about this -Larry King had a program on time. Medical insurence does not pay for this treatment. I took my pills for three years & only on two per day now. I am back to my old self but figured out some things that I use to love is no longer interesting . I understand how life changing this can be. I feel that I am here for a much higher purpose & I just tell my story.
I still get overwhelmed at times & it hard for me to speak in front of a group. I was off the computor for three years. I do understand how a person can feel for I been there.
There is light at the end of the tunnel...
Dear Ladygrace.
Your story is impressive.
I admire your doctor,who also think "alternative Medicine".Vitamines are not "voodoo
medicin" and notorious to repair nerotransmittors.(Specifically Niacin/Vitamine B3).
Of course this is my personal opinion(Not many studies to prove it).
You must know what kind of vitamin B3,how to take it and when.
Ask your doctor,he should know.
I am 33 years old. I had a cardiac arrest on Dec 14, 2007 while at a restaurant with my 8 year old daughter. I have no recollection of the event to include up to a week prior through my stay at the hospital. My daughter said I told her I wasn't feeling well then all of a sudden my head went forward and then back. I fell off the stool and hit the ground. Within seconds, 3 people rushed to our aid. I had stopped breathing and had no pulse. One person started CPR, the other person called 911, and the third person took care of my daughter. My daughter called my husband and told him I had fallen down and hit my head. The 3rd person got on the phone - told my husband what his name was and that he was taking care of our daughter. My husband arrived and was told I had had a cardiac arrest. The responding ambulance was within 2 minutes away - having just returned from a prior call. At their arrival I had went into cardiac arrest again. They had to use the paddles on me. I was rushed to the hospital. Luckily the hospital had just implemented the therapeutic hypothermia and my temp was brought down to 32 degrees c. I was put into an induced coma and woke up on Dec 20, 2007 - though I don't recall that. The first date I remember was Dec 22, 2007 Nurse Debbie....that's what I read on the dry erase board. As my husband and child filled me in, I was overwhelmed with the amount of love and support from family and friends. I don't feel lucky or fortunate - I feel blessed. Seems I was at the right place at the right time - from the 3 people who saved my life, to the ambulance, to the new procedure at the hospital, to the new cardiologist. I believe in God and the power of prayer. I feel blessed to not only have the guardian angels around me but that so many people having prayed.
Those 3 people - they were 3 Navy Corpsman having just returned from Iraq - celebrating their arrival.
Logically - I feel blessed but cannot help for feeling a bit guilty for feeling upset that my life has changed so quickly and suddently. I am grateful to be alive and to see my family and friends - the quick and sudden changes in my life are challenging.
Argh - acceptance....patience.
I am 67 years old and on Jan. 25th 08 i passed out [SCA] at work, my wife started CPR and my son called 911 and went to the parking lot to look for the EMTs, they gave me 5 shocks to get me going again,i was in the hospital 7 days and only remember the last day, i returned to work in 3 days , but no longer go to construction jobs as i did in the past , i go to rehab 3 day per week and have a ICD i feel blessed to be alive and thank god for that.