#MyHeartMyStory a bad day but this evening or tomorrow will be better. I’ve never spoken publicly about my heart in this way before; but something yesterday inspired me. After 12 years I wanted to share my story. It’s hard, it really is at times, but that’s a side I only barely let my family see. They know I’m more than my heart condition and I know I’m more than that, even when they have to remind you to think of all that you can do and have done when you’re jealous of their planned Thorpe Park escapades. Having a heart condition sucks. There will be hard times, but there are also pretty spectacular times. It’s important to just pick yourself back up and let the heart keep beating!
My Heart Story by Rich Morris Hi everyone, it has taken me a long time to find somewhere to share stories, thoughts and experiences with others in a similar position. And it feels good! I have been active throughout my life, playing every sport accessible to me. My first experience of any cardiac issues was at around age 18. I think I had overindulged on beer one evening and found my heart racing and struggling to catch my breath. It was only a brief episode and I soon recovered. A few months later, I was competing in a county golf match. I had just sank a winning putt and suddenly my heart started to beat rapidly. A team member took me to the nearest hospital. They rigged me up to an ECG, and decided to blue light me to Gloucester Royal Hospital where my heart rate was slowed from 220 bpm in AF, back to sinus rhythm. With no further diagnosis or medication, I carried on with my life, not thinking about it too much. At 20 I successfully joined the police force, starting my new career with West Mercia Constabulary. During my first year my cardiac symptoms started to repeat. With no official diagnosis and the force doctor unable to pass me as fit I was unfortunately discharged. After this knock back I decided I needed a diagnosis, otherwise my life would continue to be disrupted. It took years of 24 hour heart monitors, beta blockers, chest x-rays, ECG’s, and cardiac imaging to finally get to see an electrophysiologist. Dr Rajappan was fantastic, looked at my notes, and could see it was having an impact on my life. Being unable to play football with my son and go
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trampolining with my daughter was heart breaking. He offered an ablation to study the heart and see what was causing my symptoms. I did have a rough time leading up to the ablation - divorce and diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis - however I was actually positive about coming out the other side even stronger. I had my ablation on 21st Jan 2015 (then 31) and finally found out what was causing the symptoms. I had an ablation for Atrial Tachycardia and probable AVNRT. These tachycardias were degenerating into Atrial Fibrillation and causing a dangerously high irregular heart rhythm. It took around 2 weeks to feel myself again, however the team at John Radcliffe were amazing. I have since had lots of palpitations, I am unable to sleep on my left side and unable to push myself physically as it reproduces cardiac symptoms. However, it has not gone into an abnormal rhythm since the ablation 3 years ago. I feel I need to see my electro-physiologist again soon as it is starting to impact my life again, however I have not given up hope in getting back to full fitness one day.
The price of always being right! By Charlotte Monins I’m always right! Friday 15th December was the one day I wish that hadn’t been true. That was day that after months, well years, I finally got a diagnosis. Brugada! A hereditary condition that puts me at risk of cardiac arrest (apologies if that’s not quite the definition it’s all still very new). I’m first in the family with the diagnosis. Since 15 I’d been mentioning palpitations. Having had a thyroid issue as a teen I was always just given blood tests to test thyroid levels (came back fine obviously) and told to just get used to it being one of those things. In the last year I wasn’t having it anymore; they were lasting hours. It turns out my definition of palpitations had been slightly different to what a GP had assumed. When the GP finally acknowledged it, I was at the point of screaming for help; I’d been given an echo/holter monitor and I don’t know how many ECGs are in A&E. Yet these showed nothing wrong. I was starting to think it was all in my head. I was right! There was something wrong!
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