I’ve debated about writing this, you guys know me, and I tend to keep personal stuff, well… personal. But I finally decided I may be able to tell more people about this, and who knows, maybe someone can benefit from my experience. I’ve shared with local friends so now I’m just using a bigger stage.
About a month ago, I “disappeared” from this blog for a few days.
I had just taken the flag down at the library, closing for the day, when my heart kind of did a WHOOSH… feeling like it dropped from a height… and then it went to pounding away. My boss/friend asked me if I was ok, and I told her frankly, that I didn’t know. Now, I know the signs of a heart attack for men, the elephant on your chest, sweating, clammy hands, and I also know women’s symptoms can be very different… but we decided to go sit at her house for a bit. She lives just out of Ten Sleep versus my 20 mile drive home. Fifteen minutes later, we decided to head for the ER, which is 30 minutes away.
We may have arrived a bit faster than that.
The ER personnel hooked me up to an EKG and found my heartbeat was 200 beats per minute! Yeah. Impressive, huh? The doctor called for medication… I was beginning to feel some classic symptoms… maybe not an elephant, but I had a medium sized dog on my chest. My palms were starting to sweat and a dull ache was traveling along my neck and jaw. It wasn’t painful, but I could feel it.
Here’s where my story gets fascinating. The doctor said, “Let me try something. I’m going to push on your neck, hold still.” He grabbed the top of my head firmly with one hand, and pushed against my jugular with the other. He held it for a bit and let go. “Anything? Feel any different?” “No,” I shook my head.
I think right about then, the nurse arrived with the requested medicine, but he held her off. “Let’s try this. I’m going to push on your belly. You push back as hard as you can and hold your breath for as long as you can.”
Well, that’s kind of a weird request, but, okaaaayyyyyyy…
A minute later, I let out my breath, he stopped pushing, and BAM. A switch was flipped. My heart quit racing. My discomfort eased. It was MAGICAL. I looked at him and my friend in disbelief. She could tell I felt better. I couldn’t believe it. The nurse turned away with the unneeded medication.
”Cool, huh? It’s called the hepatojugular reflux.”
It’s my understanding that by pushing on the liver, you “back up” some blood in your heart. When released, the normal rhythm is reinstated and your rapid heartbeat goes away.
I was shocked. I’ve taken First Aid classes since I was a Girl Scout, and even did some basic EMT classes, and I can’t tell you how many times Resusci-Annie and I have gone mouth to mouth! I’ve never heard of this.
”Oh, yeah, there’s many ways to do this besides the two we tried.” says my doctor. “You can fill up a shallow pan with ice water and dunk your face in for a bit. That’s the Diver’s Reflex. Or even sitting, pushing like you’re having a bowel movement can kick start normal heart rhythm.”
The only person I’ve met that knew something about this was a vet. Evidently, you can use the hepatojugular move on horses…
As it was, it was an hour and a half between my first rapid heartbeat and my “magical” treatment in the ER. I felt fine afterwards. In fact, I was ready to pack it in and head home. However, the ER Doc was much smarter than me, consulting with a cardiologist in Billings, and watching the enzyme levels that may indicate that my heart sustained any damage from going 200 beats per minute for an hour and a half.
Even though I felt just fine, I won myself a helicopter ride to Billings… at midnight, when all I could see was lights and no scenery… That’s another part of the story… but the main part I wanted to share was various ways to “restart” your normal heart rhythm.
Had I known that at 5:03 pm, I may not have “won” my trip to Billings. It was a good thing I did go but I just wanted to throw this idea out there. I sure can’t tell you to do this, I’m not even sure I have all the details right… but I do wish I’d had the chance to try this on myself before I blasted off to the ER. I suppose there’s some reason they don’t teach this alongside CPR, but if straining like you’re having a bowel movement can stop someone from going into further cardiac distress, it seems like it would be something to know.
I’m just sharing my experience… Jim, I’m a rancher, not a doctor! But I found this to be sooooo interesting!
Find me here!
I am sorry to be a couple of days late in writing a comment, especially when you had such a precarious health saga. So thankful you got such wonderful emergency care with an excellent doctor. Sure hope and pray you will not have any repeat of this. Once is enough!
It stimulates the vagal response. Sometimes that is a very bad thing. That is why it isn’t taught in first aid class. A bit more knowledge is required to know if you are going to do harm or good. I’ve been taught about it but would only try it after obtaining medical direction.
Fascinating story and thanks for sharing. Wondered if the problem was heart related.
Who knew.
Thank you for posting this, Carol. I have a friend with AFIB and had no idea that interventions like this were possible. I learned a lot, way better to have some idea about possible interventions than to have no clue if something were to go wrong.
Just glad you’re ok! I had heard of the last one you described, because I’ve been told to try it for Afib. Sometimes it helps a bit, but not enough, I guess, since it comes back quickly when it’s bad. I’ll have to keep the others in mind.
Mine was May 14 2019, only my pulse rate was 30-32 and I would pass out. I got to take a helicopter ride also and within 15 minutes of arriving I was having a temperary pacemaker installed. Folks if you feel any symptoms like any that have been mentioned here on Carols blog go to the emergency room. It might not be anything serious but be on the safe side. I wasn’t going to go but after I passed out the second time my wife convinced me to go. And now back to Carols regular blog.
Amazing. Thank you for sharing. I now need to re check with my Drs as I’ve had similar experience. Pulse 140 per minute but BP normal. Usually lasts 1-2 hrs. But one lasted a lot longer but no bad pain or breathlessness. My ECGs outside of an ‘episode’ were normal. BUT NOW I WILL SEE IF THE DRS HAVE HEARD OF THIS. Will let you know.
Glad you shared. The RN in me loved it. I hope you do not have any further episodes! Knowledge is power!
Wow, so glad you are okay and thanks for sharing this story. I have a friend with afib and I’m going to pass it on to her. So thankful you had a caring friend and a great doctor!
I had the same thing happen to me when we were living there in Ten Sleep(must be the weather). Anyway Kate got me to the hospital in record time and they use the paddles on me to shock my heart back into rhythm. I’m now on medication to help keep that from happening again. Seems to work although I have had a couple that my heart went crazy and now knowing what to do I’ve been able to get it back in rhythm. Scary isn’t!!!!
Wow, what a story! Glad you’re okay. I’ve had Afib for 14 years and have been cardio-converted many times but have never heard of these maneuvers! Amazing.
Wow! What an incredible story! Many years ago, in my 30s, I went into the ER complaining of chest pains. (This clears the room instantly, BTW.) Turned out I had an esophageal spasm, which mimics the symptoms of a heart attack very well. False alarm, and I got more good out of it when the internist who saw me became my regular doctor. He got me through a medication-mediated weight-loss program that saw me drop 60 lbs.
Good to know you’re okay!
Thank God. What an amazing doctor.
Somwhow I figured it was heart issue, AFib or something. Thak goodness you are ok. Never heard of that either!
Thank you! We did an impressive run to ER when living in Ten Sleep. Bob’s heart rate 200 +. In the end that’s what were told. But not that night. Three hits with the paddles to his heart. Now, he does just as you said. Magic! Tale good care.
That’s fascinating! Bio reset!