My cardiac ward adventure

Had a horrible couple of days. I just got home from my two day "vacation" in the cardiac ward of my local hospital. I blacked out at work on Monday and was taken to the emergency room. I had a heartbeat that ranged between 30 and 40 beats per minute. Dizziness, light headedness, and all that. Was admitted and had so many tests I think I am headed for the poorhouse. CT scan, EKG, EEG, who the heck knows what all happened. And I am home today - with NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. Apparently the hospital's main concern was making sure that my heart wasn't clogged and that I didn't have a heart attack. They didn't seem to care about the bypass, the nutritional deficiencies, or any other underlying cause. They didn't listen to me - or my husband - or even my surgeon in Alabama. They just wanted to stabalize and then get rid of me. And they tried to make me eat loin of pork for lunch. Which is unfortunate, considering how bad I am feeling. I am so miserable. Tired, headachy, the dizziness is incredible. I can compare it to the time when I "decided" I didn't want to take prozac anymore - and just stopped cold turkey. The withdrawal on that is horrendous. That is kind of what my head feels like. And the heartbeat thing. I am scared to death that it is going to slow down and then stop! My blood pressure is extremely low, and my heartbeat hit 28 at its lowest. And NO ONE can tell me anything about this. The cardiologist was talking in circles. I don't know anything about this. I read about the heart rate thingy - called Bradycardia. I read on some forums about bypass patients having it - as well as anorexics. I totally think it is nutritional - or metobolic. I haven't been eating for months! But the doctors disregarded that fact like it was nothing. I was severely dehydrated when I went in there too - but I wasn't put on fluids until 8 hours after I was admitted! Then that was because they wanted me on a potassium drip. What a nightmare. I have an appointment with my general practitioner tomorrow at 9. Then I fly up to AL on tuesday to see my surgeon. I am finally getting a scope. On a good note, I am a couple of days away from hitting the century club! Something I have never been able to do. I don't regret the bypass... just wish I felt a little better. Laura

Laura, I'm so sorry to hear about all that you are going through, it sounds like you've been through the ringer. I'm really happy to hear that you are going to be seeing your surgeon. Let us know what happens and congratulations on what you've lost so far. Loni -74 lbs.

Laura, I pray that you get better and get to the bottom of finding out what is going on. I will keep you in my prayers.

Bless your heart - I don't know what you had but it could be related to your losing weight so very fast. I was also recently in a similar spot only it was a vomiting virus that brought on dehydration and low potasium - and then kicked in my diabetes really high. So three days in ICU and I was back out. But I looked at your weight loss you charted from your surgery date - it looks like you are losing the weight at warp speed. That might be too fast - did that have anything to do with your episode (in the opinion of the Drs.)? Thx, Diane S