Steve at LSESSI suggested I contact you about a problem. I was struck by lightning in 1992 and since then I have had periodic problems with sinus tachycardia and arrythmias (my resting pulse is 120 bpm. Since I had my baby six months ago the tachcycardia has been out of control my bp is usually 105/40 or less and I have been having constant chest pain which is completly deblitating at times. I have blacked out six times since the end of Jan. (when I passed out and fell down a flight of stairs).
Do you know of any other lightning survivors with a similiar prob? I have no family history of heart disease in the family. I only weigh 130 lbs (I am 5'7"). This problem started after the lightning. I have seen four cardiologist in the last 3 months and they are baffled. I would appreciate any help that you or Dr. Hendler could provide.

i am not sure if this helps, but i am an electrical shock survivor and i constantly getting chest pain, palpations which takes my breathe away, i have had test done also and show nothing wrong, but i never had this before the injury! my b/p will rise and they watch it because now it gets high for me, which mine is normally 112/70 but it has been 140/80 which the nurse states , normal range then i tell her, no not for me! i wish i could find answers also! it gets pretty scary at times! i get real light headed from it, most of the time it happens when i am just sitting and trying to relax!

Anonymous,

Sounds very scary. It would be very dangerous to give medical advice on the internet, any doctor would need more detailed information. Do you think there is anyway that you could come to see Dr. Hendler?--or perhaps we could arrange to have him at least review your medical records?

Thanks,
Kathy

I recieved an electrical shock, and have experienced symptoms similar to the posting of anonymous tues april 3. Very painful and scary,I have passed out and nearly passed out several times.It seems to hit most often when I am getting stressed out, and in my sleep. I have had several visits to the emergency and cardiologist. No explanation so far.

Doug,

Did the cardiologist do any testing? Is he still looking for answers? or did he just give up?

Kathy

Kathy, I wore a heart monitor, and did a tread mill, and the Dr. found little or no regularity. An ecco cardiogram revealed slight damage to a mitrial valve. The DR. indicated that he could find no evedence of heart disease. I have whatched the veins on my fore head and arms pulse, and get a pulsing head ache often with the symptoms. I have never experienced any thing like this, prior to getting shocked. His last comment to me was that even normal hearts experience some irregularity from time to time. He seemed like a decent, conscientious practitioner, but I think just lacked the experience with electrical shock patents.

Doug,

How long did you wear the heart monitor? and did these symptoms appear during the time that you wore the monitor?

Kathy

Kathy, I wore the monitor for several weeks. Most of the time I had the problems at night, and I could not wear it at night, because the patches itched, and I tossed snd turned so much I would pull the wires loose. the few times I had strong symptoms, the monitor was malfunctioning, and didn't record anything. I got it fixed, recorded some mild episodes, and the Dr. said it was nothing to be concerned about. It feels pretty serious when it is occuring, but it has been a year and a half, and I am still here, so maybe the Dr. is right. They have been less frequent lately, and not as stong, although I did pass out, our nearly pass out[I am not sure if I have ever experienced total loss of consciousness]a couple of weeks ago. I usually have a fair amount of warning when this is likely to occur, and usually I am able to avoid it. The Cardiologist recomended that if I am lying down when this happens, get up, and if I am standing, ly down. it seems to help. Keeping my additude in check as often as I can remember to definitly helps.

had this problem lastnight myself im a electric shock victim i just lay down and try to relax i will stand next time and see if it helps i have had all soughts of tests done i think it is just stress. if you want to talk about it doug leave your email address and i will contact you.bye

HI IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHAT ABOUT ELECTRICAL INJURIES CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL EXPLOSION I HAVE A LOT OF SYMPTOMS JUST WOULD LIKE TO CHAT TO ANYBODY WITH SIMALAR INJURIES IM IN AUSTRALAI MY EMAIL IS
MMONKEY91@HOTMAIL.COM

Gary, I have very frequent chest pains,and several times I have been so concerned, I made a trip to the emergency room. I was assurred that there was nothing wrong with my heart. While visiting some relatives, I experienced very strong symptoms, and took a nitroglycern tablet that was prescribed to one of my relatives. It relieved my heart pain within minutes. I ended up back at the hospital, where a different DR gave me more nitroglycern. This again relieved the pain, but gave me a rude head ache. I don't take it because the head ache is worse than the chest pains. I am going to see Dr's that are better informed on electrical injurys. I wish I had taken more aggressive steps a lot earlyier, but I kept thinking I would eventually get better on my own.

i get frequent chest pains also but it is very very dangerous for someone to give you there nitro unless prescribed by the dr. are you aware that taking this can lower you bp drastically? it is important for a dr who treats you to be familar with what electrical shock does to the body. i have talked with many and i know of a man who has had alot of chest pains and many many trips to the er but i know that dr hendler from the clinic got his problem straightened out..i believe you are playing with fire something very very dangerous taking others pills when not prescribed to you! there are lots of side effects to taking nitro , please do not take others meds and self-diagnosis is dangerous also.

I agree with you,but I have not had favorable results with the professional medical peaple available to me either. When I am having severe problems, I am not too worried about conventional wisdom. At least I discovered that the nitro eased my symptoms, and that gave the ER dr additional information to treat me. Several times more in the hospital, the DR gave me more nitro, and it eased my symptoms. No dr ever bothered to try it, even though I have complained of chest pains countless times. I am hoping to see Dr Hendler soon, and am looking forward to some expert help. WE only have one ER dr on duty in this remote community, and often he our she is busy taking care of prisioners from a maximum security prision in our community. When the prisioners stab each other, or harm themselves, they get priority over ordinary citizens at our hospital, because they have sued our hospital and Drs for having to wait, and not get proper, timely care. The Drs are often exausted by the time they get to you, and if you are still breathing, they move on to the next. Getting the right help is much easyier said than done. I have found one neurologist in california who was familiar with electrical injurys. It took almost four months to get to see him. In the mean time I was given medicine by other Drs that really screwed things up, and almost recked my marrage. I didn't even realise it, I was so screwed up. At my wife's insistance, I stopped taking it, and did much better. The wrong Dr can be as dangerous as self med. Well, you caught me at a moment of great frustration, so I apologise for sounding off so hard.

i do not think you hard sounding off so hard, believe me i have been thru hell and still am, my locals drs do not know a thing about what electric does to the body unless they can severe burns and treat for burns, our er is nuts...i agree with you but believe me if one goes to the emergency room to often or there family dr to much to complain about things, at least in this area, they think you are some nut case and they do not take what we tell them as truth for they are blind to finding out about what all electric does to the body, er drs do not have the time to, only get you in, after a long ass wait then hurry and get you the hell out...i have seen many many drs. alot who i think should take up a license for treating horses .......you know it is a shame in this day and age that they do not care ,only to be labeled and have that carried with you on medical records, that is also why it is so important to protect our private medical info not to be shared so anyone can go in acces it. like big co's, which they are doing and trying to get more power...but i just do not want to see you get hurt with drugs that can also do you harm, i know how frustrating it can be and is...finding those dr's who know what electrical shock does to the body is far and wide and for them to tie everything together is hard also...i hope you can find the help you need...it is very hard on the family plus ourselves hell we have no control on some of the things we do , we do not realize we are doing them..

CHEST PAIN..I to have SEVERE chest pain after elec.injury..One doc said if the elec. enters or crosses the Spine..it can cause Chest Pain due to injured nerves!!!
But he also says ..if the elec. goes thru the Heart ...it may cause Heart Disease..MONTHS TO YEARS LATER!!!!

jody, did you get an ekg? mine showed normal, even shortly after the accedent(electrical)I get chest pains frequently to the point I have committed financial suicide, by going to the E.R.My ekg at the emergency room showed normal.
My chest pains are frequently, but not allways followed by very painful head aches. One of the few things that still stays in my memory (sort of)is how bad my chest hurt after my accedent. A cardiologist found a slightly damaged mitrial valve, after one E.R. Dr asurred me my heart was just fine, and my chest pains were not heart related. Another E. R. Dr. did a very simple test that she felt was conclusive the pains were heart related. It sounds like you are going to a Dr that understands electrical injurys can injure in different ways that blunt trama and disease can. Be sure and go after the best help you can get, and as soon as you can. One way or another, you will pay the price for it, regardless if you get the help or not! Have you had problems with just freezing up, where you could not move, but were somewhat aware of what was going on? How about memory?

I suffer from a severe electrical shock 12/18/01. I also have chest pains and fatigue and the Dr's don't seem concerned. The elect. went in my right hand and grounded out thru my left wrist accross my chest leaving a deep burn aprox. 2 in. on my wrist. The contractions were so strong I got fractured vertebre in my back and neck and pulled a tendon from my elbow. I had nerve conduction test last week for my arm that revealed a pinched nerve in my wrist and neck. Said they could not do test on my back. I have severe pains in by back, neck, chest, arms, hip and legs. I also have memory problems and fill sick most all the time. I'm having lots of unexplained problems. I'm real concerned about the long term effects. Where can I find info for electrical shock injuries? My symptoms have been getting worst instead of improving.

My name is Tavis Lemay, I was electrocuted
by a 26 Kilavolt powerline twice-point of entry
being my chest right over my heart. The
accident happened on Jan 11 2001, I have
many problems that have not gotten any
better. I feel like a test dummy, with my doctors
not knowing much about what is going on they
keep trying this med and that med. Need to
find a community of victims that can help shed
some light.. any other discussion boards? My
E-mail is
tavislemay@mac.
com Thanks

try these emails.
mensana clinic www.mensanaclinic.com

lightning@internet.net

Some of the best nutrients for heart disease are omega-3's That is what I take for mine.

Some good omega-3 info.

http://www.softecare.com/Ingredients/omega3_heart_disease.cfm