Back on Deck

Hi,

Feeling slightly better, hope to go for a day sail today over to Bruny Island.

Will have to take the monitor with me, have more tests (Echo sound) at the end of the month.

Bloody nuisance, not knowing what sets it off and when and where it may happen again.

I've been living with the SVT for twenty years, but the addition of the AF which could increase into VF is a worry.

Thanks for everyone's good wishes.

Dusty

Just now my aunty explained, your condition and the way they monitored.
She suggest take an easy, no stress and physical load and thin the blood.
VF is a serious worry than heart working on 50% only.
Lets take an easy until condition ease. Wish you well. Mick

Good one Cisco, if I get to go thru the whole alphabet I'll be happy.

SVT is (excuse spelling) Super Venticular Tachicardia, where the heart races out of control. I have been recorded at 240+ beat per minute, with little or no blood pressure, due to cavitation of the heart valves.

The new one into the equation AF = Atria Fibulation, which is for me is the heart racing at irregular speeds. i.e. anywhere between 50-180bpm.

I suspect from the conversation in the ambulance that I may have been into VF, which is ventricular Fibulation = irregular heart beat from below 50 to higher than 180bpm which causes the heart stop pumping blood.

On the way in to the emergency the amulance stopped twice, once to administer pain killers and the second time to hook up a drip. The paramedic told the driver that he was not willing to give me any drugs for the SVT as the underlying AF made it too dangerous.

This statement was reinforced in the emergency dept.

This statement also has totally destroyed my confidence in recognising the symptoms in the future.

I will not let this beat me though, like the first time. I was told by the cardiologist to sell our yacht and give up boating.

We sold the yacht as instructed, purchased a Markline flybridge cruiser with twin diesels the next day. Kept that for thirteen years, boating nearly every second week.

After thirteen years, I said to my wife, "I miss yachting" sold the Markline and purchased our present yacht. The two of us then sailed it back to Hobart from Sydney. That was four years ago.

This time a little more srious, therfore I have purchased a portable ECG machine, that will enable me to not only recognise a problem, but give the paramedics and doctors a recording or printout of the heart beat, etc.

Charriot, I try and take it easy, some life style adjustments to make. Not used to sitting around, like to be on the go.

Sands, I'm lucky, I have the best crew possible. A little mutinous at times, but I still love her.

Dusty