When you’ve an ongoing medical drawback, discovering a physician you belief can imply every part. Having a physician who is aware of you, is aware of your historical past, and offers you long-term assist means much less fear. Coping with sickness is tough, however having somebody in your nook makes it simpler.
That’s the form of physician Greg Szafranski discovered when he met UVA Well being coronary heart specialist Andrew E. Darby, MD. Darby helped Greg by way of a harmful episode together with his coronary heart. Eight years later, Darby continues to assist and assist Greg together with his coronary heart well being.
Caught in a ‘VT Storm’
In March 2016, Greg Szafranski knew one thing was unsuitable when his implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocked him a number of instances. An ICD is a particular pacemaker that restores your coronary heart’s rhythm utilizing electrical shocks when the rhythm will get out of whack (much like a defibrillator).
“Eight shocks or extra, I misplaced rely after 8,” says Greg, smiling. Already no stranger to coronary heart illness, he knew the shocks meant he wanted assist straight away.
He was rushed to the emergency room in Culpeper, Virginia, his dwelling. There, the care workforce discovered Greg wanted complicated care rapidly. They airlifted him to UVA Well being in Charlottesville. “It was an attention-grabbing journey,” chuckles Greg.
Getting His Harmful Coronary heart Fee Below Management
That’s when he first turned Darby’s affected person. “He got here in with ventricular tachycardia storm (additionally referred to as vt storm), which is when sufferers get a flurry of shocks from their defibrillator,” says Darby. Greg had ventricular tachycardia. His coronary heart was beating dangerously quick and he was in deep trouble.
Darby discovered Greg additionally had a coronary heart rhythm drawback referred to as atrial fibrillation (afib) that made his coronary heart skip beats. He was going through 2 harmful issues on the identical time.
WHAT IS A DANGEROUS HEART RATE?
Your coronary heart price measures what number of beats you’ve in a sure period of time. It is measured in beats per minute (bpm). A harmful coronary heart price will be both too quick (tachycardia) or too gradual (bradycardia).A standard vary on your coronary heart price is between 60 and 100 bpm.
Greg’s Historical past of Coronary heart Illness Catches Up
Greg, now 73, obtained his ICD in 2009 to manage his afib, the most typical sort of coronary heart rhythm drawback within the U.S. “A virus an infection had weakened his coronary heart,” Darby explains.
Greg underwent a coronary heart process in 2015 referred to as ablation, however it didn’t do the trick. His coronary heart bother reared its head once more within the subsequent yr when he obtained the vt storm that landed him at UVA Well being.
Within the emergency room, “there have been a workforce of docs that got here in, and instantly, Dr. Darby appeared very assured,” says Tammy Szafranski, Greg’s spouse. “He and the workforce of docs talked and he was drawing on a whiteboard.”
They walked Tammy and their 2 grownup kids by way of the likeliest reason behind Greg’s situation — scar tissue from the viral an infection. It disrupted {the electrical} circuit meant to maintain Greg’s coronary heart beating appropriately.
The medical workforce labored tirelessly to stabilize Greg, even placing him right into a medically induced coma and on a ventilator for five days.
Greg’s Well being Issues Mount
However Greg wasn’t within the clear but. He suffered a stroke affecting his proper aspect whereas within the coma.
“It was very apparent when he got here out of it that one thing had occurred, and it wasn’t proper,” remembers Tammy.
All advised, Greg spent 22 days recovering at UVA Well being, the place he was handled for his extreme tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Darby and his workforce obtained Greg’s coronary heart points underneath management, and he began bodily remedy.
Getting Greg Again to Regular
When Greg was wholesome sufficient, Darby carried out one other ablation process to repair the problems together with his coronary heart’s electrical system that brought about the harmful coronary heart price. An ablation burns a small piece of the center. That adjustments the way in which electrical energy strikes by way of your coronary heart so it beats appropriately.
The process this time was a double ablation for Greg’s tachycardia and afib. “I handled each the ventricular tachycardia and the atrial fibrillation, and I would say that is one thing that we do not do loads. Both a type of ablations by themselves will take about 3 hours. So doing each collectively is a reasonably large process,” says Darby. “A college hospital has entry to expertise ahead of a variety of hospitals do locally. So, we’re in a position to do extra complicated procedures than a variety of different hospitals can.”
This double ablation strategy, whereas difficult, has saved Greg in good long-term well being. Since 2016, Greg hasn’t had severe coronary heart rhythm points. “If sufferers get past a yr from the ablation process and have not had any recurrences, the possibilities are pretty slim that it’s going to come again,” explains Darby.
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Selecting the Proper Physician For His Coronary heart
Greg’s household rallied round him within the hospital and past, staying by his aspect by way of his restoration from his harmful coronary heart price. “His spouse was at his bedside the entire time. The household was very concerned in his care,” remembers Darby. “They’re very supportive.”
Tammy determined to ask Darby to take over as Greg’s common heart specialist. “It was a consensus between the children and I,” she says.
The day Greg wakened, she approached Darby and requested him if he would tackle Greg’s case. And he agreed. Since 2016, Greg has made common journeys from Culpeper to Charlottesville to see Darby and his workforce for his coronary heart care appointments. “My spouse made an excellent alternative switching to Dr. Darby,” says Greg. “He’s nice. And his workforce,” smiles Greg.
And so they didn’t cease at switching Greg’s coronary heart physician. “You’ve gotten a variety of different specialists right here that you simply see,” she reminds Greg. “We come down right here for many of our care,” agrees Greg. They’re now seeing eye, pores and skin, and ear, nostril, and throat specialists right here at UVA Well being in Charlottesville, and wish to swap to a main care supplier right here as properly.
Right this moment, Greg continues to make his well being his no 1 precedence. All through his journey, Greg has remained constructive, specializing in his restoration and staying in contact with Darby and his workforce at UVA Well being.
