Second day in the ICU. Doug's brain looks okay, and the echocardiogram study of his heart shows no evidence of a heart attack, but his cardiac enzymes are elevated, which means some kind of heart problem. The monitors were showing a "complete electrical block" meaning the electrical conduction between the chambers of the heart were not good. So the cardiologist wanted to take Doug to the cardiac cath lab for further exam and possible intervention, such as a stent if they discovered a physical blockage, or maybe a permanent pacemaker. The complication -- to do a cardiac catheterization, they give drugs that lower the platelet count, and Doug's platelets were already low from the transplant. After conferring between the heart doc and the transplant doc, it was decided they couldn't wait a week for the platelets to rise. So they decided to do the cath now, and transfuse more platelets into Doug, and hope for no bleeding.
After the cardiac cath, the cardiologist came out to talk to me. He said they found a rare condition called "Takotsubo Syndrome", also known as “stress cardiomyopathy” or “broken-heart syndrome”, that appears under circumstances of exceptional and extreme stress. The heart muscle receives a huge jolt of adrenaline, causing a shock. The heart does not beat normally.
Usually there is some form of extreme, exceptional and prolonged mental stress,... with no good way out, no relief and often feeling deep resentment (such as the loss of a dear one...)
but in a minority of patients the stress is physical (such as massive trauma, surgery or severe pain, or other type of stress.
I'd say Doug has been under both severe emotional and physical stress. We all thought he was handling it so well, but I guess not. Just my opinion but I think he might need some sort of stress reduction measures. I am going to check tomorrow to see if he can have some massage and maybe Reiki healing touch.
The good news: this condition is reversible -- the heart can heal. No surgery needed, but time to rest and recover. No way to tell how much time, but it could start healing quickly. In the ICU they will test to see how well the heart is doing by gradually lowering the amount of drugs that keep his blood pressure up. If it falls too low, they can increase the drugs. In the meantime, Doug will stay on the temporary pacemaker and the ventilator. As long as he is on the vent, he will be deeply sedated.
I came back to the hotel earlier this afternoon and took a three hour nap - I needed that.
Yesterday I surrendered to God and told him he is in charge.
Love to all.
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2 comments:
It might be helpful if someone that Douggie trusts implicitly goes in and tells him that he is on the mend and that when he wakes up he will be heal.This needs to be done again and again. He can hear and internalize everything although he is heavily sedated. Under no circumstances should anyone say anything negative in his room. He has tried to be strong for so long but literally is scared to death. Thank Heaven he is having a good sleep now so that his body can rest. Proper nutrition is very important, it is vital and often forgotten in these situations. Healing touch will also help a great deal. Douggie needs peace and rest..God bless both of youxoxoxo
Good Lord, what a rollercoaster. Pat, the cath lab is where Lindsay works at the VA. So many of the things you speak of, I have heard her talk about. We put Doug on the prayer list at our church and we ask God for strength for both of you. Through all of Lindsay's surgeries I learned to focus on only today. Like Brianne's magnet says - Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength. But you are right about taking care of the caretaker, I wish we were there to help. Love to both of you.
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