Mentally drained.....

My mom was admitted for severe chest pains on the eve of CNY. She was experiencing rapid heart palpitations, sweating profusely, unable to breathe, etc...In the ambulance, I thought I had lost her. It was upsetting to see her that way. She was warded straight away, the doctors stabilizing her condition. The heart scan can only be done on Wed. 28th Jan.

While in preparation for the scan in the Nuclear Invasive Cardiology Laboratory, my mom's blood pressure plummeted drastically, her heart beat was too rapid, she vomited profusely and the doctors did all they can to revive her. I was alone outside the room, not knowing what is going on. A lot of noises was heard, doctors consulting each other, the registrar was called in... I was a nervous wreck outside. They managed to stabilize her again.

It was then in the ward, I saw Muruges (PSG friend)... I could see he was busy but he still managed to come and sit down with me. He is the Nurse in charge for all the wards on the 8th level. Thank you Muruges. All I needed was a familiar face giving words of comfort to me.

My mom was diagnosed with having Supraventrucular Tachycardia.

Supraventricular tachycardia is one type of heart rhythm disorder.

Tachycardias are rhythm disorders in which the heart beats faster than normal.

• The heart usually beats 60-90 times a minute. A heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute is considered tachycardia.

In supraventricular tachycardia, the heart rate is sped up by an abnormal electrical impulse starting in the atria.

• The heart beats so fast that the heart muscle cannot relax between contractions.
  
  
• When the chambers don't relax, they cannot contract strongly or fill with enough blood to satisfy the body's needs.
  
  
• Because of the ineffective contractions of the heart, the brain does not receive enough blood and oxygen.

Supraventricular tachycardia often occurs in episodes with stretches of normal rhythm in between. Supraventricular tachycardia also may be chronic (ongoing, long term).

Ironically my mom has been having this pain for nearly 10 yrs without a proper diagnosis. I am grateful that now it has been diagnose accurately and measures are being done to heal it.

She is at home now, still feeling the pain even though not too extreme. The appt to do a surgical procedure was fixed in April..too long. I need to get an earlier appt. for her.

I myself will be better soon. Still pretty tired and emotionally drained due to this episode.

Today, I myself will have my scan at NUH. Will know the results soon I guess. Whatever the doctor say...I know I will a better person than the day before. To know..is knowledge found. Its better to be prepared than not knowing. U agree?