Tuesday 5th September
I remember it being a beautiful day. I had done gardening, shovelled leaves, and enjoyed lots of time outside with my son. About 5pm I was watering in the backyard and hanging out some washing when all of a sudden I felt dizzy, my eyes saw black and I thought I was going to faint. My son was playing in his cubby house as I dropped to my knees.
Luckily, the feeling passed and I slowly went back inside. I didn't feel right and after ringing my husband who was at least 30 minutes away, I suddenly felt very unsafe and scared. I rang a friend and work colleague who came over immediately. She wasn't happy with my symptoms so an ambulance was called.
A short wait later the ambulance arrived at the same time as my husband. Vital signs were fine but to check things further, I would be taken to Sunshine Hospital.
After several hours in emergency, I was transferred to the ward in the early hours of the morning. My bloods had been taken and I had tested positive to an enzyme that indicated damage to the heart. Later that day, the device technician came to interrogate the device. It hadn't recorded anything as it had not gone off. This meant the doctors had no hard data to go off but suspected I had again been in a VT rythym but it was non sustainable and I was able to get out of it before it reached 240bpm.
I desperately didn't want to be in hospital for my birthday. At lunchtime the fabulous kitchen staff brought me in a little cake for my birthday which made me feel happy. My medication was again adjusted and early afternoon, I was allowed home.
My family were at my home, including my husband, brother, his girlfriend, my very good friend Hannah and my parents, to celebrate my 34th birthday.
The events of the previous 5 months had not really been processed in my head to the extent that they perhaps should of. I had joined two support groups online and was involved in an organisation called Urban Lifesavers which promoted the need for defibrillators in public areas.
Luckily, the feeling passed and I slowly went back inside. I didn't feel right and after ringing my husband who was at least 30 minutes away, I suddenly felt very unsafe and scared. I rang a friend and work colleague who came over immediately. She wasn't happy with my symptoms so an ambulance was called.
A short wait later the ambulance arrived at the same time as my husband. Vital signs were fine but to check things further, I would be taken to Sunshine Hospital.
After several hours in emergency, I was transferred to the ward in the early hours of the morning. My bloods had been taken and I had tested positive to an enzyme that indicated damage to the heart. Later that day, the device technician came to interrogate the device. It hadn't recorded anything as it had not gone off. This meant the doctors had no hard data to go off but suspected I had again been in a VT rythym but it was non sustainable and I was able to get out of it before it reached 240bpm.
I desperately didn't want to be in hospital for my birthday. At lunchtime the fabulous kitchen staff brought me in a little cake for my birthday which made me feel happy. My medication was again adjusted and early afternoon, I was allowed home.
My family were at my home, including my husband, brother, his girlfriend, my very good friend Hannah and my parents, to celebrate my 34th birthday.
The events of the previous 5 months had not really been processed in my head to the extent that they perhaps should of. I had joined two support groups online and was involved in an organisation called Urban Lifesavers which promoted the need for defibrillators in public areas.