On thursday, like a jackass I overdosed on verapamil.   Some how gave myself over 1600 miligrams in about 20 minutes.  3 hours later I started feeling really short of breath.  My wife came home and rush me to the ER.  I had a heart rate of 27. forget what the BP was but it was fairly low.  It took 10 hours to get my heart up to a normal level and I was in intensive care for about 24 hours.  They told me I was within an hour of dying.
I stayed in the hospital til this morning as they monitored my heart as I was put back on verapamil.  I was without it and Lithium for about a 24 hour period.  turns out that even on my normal verp doseage, I am still at a low heart rate.  That would explain the shortnes of breath I had been experiencing.
So I am no longer on verapamil and The beast is banging down the door hard.  Real heavy shadows right now.
After all the tests I had done, I thought eveyrthing was cool.  I was a half hour from discharge when the cardiologist called me on the phone to explain I have either a hole in my heart or an aneurysm. So iahve to get a TEE done.  I am wondering how much longer this 33 yr old heart will keep ticking.  
And these fucking shadows really suck.  At least my Eagles one today...yippee

Dude!!!!! Glad you survived, a scary reminder of the potency of the meds we have to use. Good time to take stock of what we take and doses etc. Keeping you in our families prayers. [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe

Wow Kev, and I was wondering where you were.

This is great that you posted this, so as to alert others of the same possiblity.   thank you!!!!!!!



Quote:

At least my Eagles one today...yippee

that is great.  It tells us that you are still in the game of life and taking pleasure in what you love.   Keep it up, Kev.

good reminder to use those pill boxes with the days on it.  I got out of the habit of using it and it almost cost me my life.  Pretty freaky as this came on the 11th anniversary of my sisters death.  I am alive  but I have lost a weapon in the battle with the beast.  I will talk to my neuro about a low dose of 480 per day.  My main priroty is learning about this hole in the heart thing.  All I know is thats what John Ritter had.  Praying the beast spares me this year

What a scare! I am so sorry things have gone haywire. I hope you can find the right meds. Lisa and I are going up to Jefferson Monday (Jan. 19th) if you're going to be up there too???

Charlotte

Charlotte
I have to call tomorrow for an appt but I need to correct a bill situation.  I think they or the insur company screwed up as I got a bill for $360.  I'll let you know.  I am hoping to get the heart test that day.  Its a holday for my wife and she will be able to go with me

Okay - I'm just too damned old now for you kids to be scaring the crap out of me!

Good Grief Kevin!  But, ya know, maybe this was a blessing in disguise as they've now found a problem that you didn't know existed and that could have caused you an even bigger issue.

Hope everything turns out okay.

Keep us posted.


Carol

Oh goodness what a frightening thing.

I'm just glad you are alive and able to tell the tale for the benefit of everyone else.

Please stay well and don't you EVER do something so silly again.  We need you here.

Thank God you're OK Kev!!!

and as for the hole in the heart thing, I have seen others post about it over the years.  I wonder if it happens to be CH related?

anyway, big HUGS!!!

Let me know if you're appt. works with hers. She is at 10:15. Maybe lunch would work?? It would be great to meet your wife too although you may just have to enure a bit of shop talk!

Charlotte

Glad you're OK, Kev.  Now, get those meds back in a pill box, please.

Keep us posted on how you're doing.

Whew!!!

Jackie

Wow Kev, scary stuff!!! Glad to hear your ok! I put my daily dose of Verap. in a separate container every morning so there is no second guessing whether I have taken it or not.

Sorry they found something else wrong, but things happen for a reason, and good that they caught it. Prayers on the way to you.

  Barry

I'm glad you're ok Kev.  That was a lot of verapamil.

John Ritter had an aortic disection.  It's what my MIL passed away from.  Very treatable in a young guy like you though.  The trick is finding it.  A lot of times when they do it's too late.  

Sounds like they caught it early on you.  Maybe this OD will turn out to be a blessing...

Good luck with the testing...

-Dennis-

Glad you're ok Kev!   Now lets not do that again, ok??

I'm sure that was so scary.  Hope you're feeling better.  

Hugs,
Langa

I'm so glad you got the help you needed!  Now... take care of  the problem they found and get that heart healthy!    Hope the beast quiets down for you too!

Hugs,
Jeannie

O shi-!! Glad you're okay, bro. Scary stuff!!

Kev
I also have a hole in my heart,so my heart is not filtering out blood clots.
So I have had 6 minni strokes and 1 big stroke
Iam to go the end of Jan or begining of Feb to have the hole fixed
Doctor said he didnt know if it will stop the strokes or not
The TEE is no big deal, it will make your throt hurt for a while
If you have kids get them checked, and have any bro/ sis checked also
My oldest girl and my grand daugther both have holes in there hearts but not big like mine is
Get the TEE done as soon as you can
take care and keep us posted
Happy Pappy

THAT is a scare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank god you're alive.  Prayers headed your way that the beast retreats and the heart is fixable, easily and quickly.  

Laurie

Damn glad your alive, bro....It sure makes my job of coming to find you alot easier.......LOL  :D

I aint going anywhere.  I have 2 little one's who need me.  What ever it is, the doc said it was small.  After doing some research, I am not sure whether to root for the hole or aneurysm.  I think a hole, if small is better.  I'm not pulling a Jack Tripper.  My first appt with the cardiologist is feb 9th????  But first its a consult.  That makes no sense, the doc at this office is the one from the hospital.  He knows all about my condition.  Why a consult$$$$$$$$

oh well....thanks for the well wishes everyone

Wow...scary stuff..glad you are getting things looked into.

take care

Paul

Wow! Thank whatever kept you here! Thank you for keeping up posted of your recovery.