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Cardiac tamponade: is it painful?

Posted , 7 users are following.

may17751
may17751

Hello,

My 10 years old son left us last week end after having a heart attack and I have some questions related to that.

Last Saturday everything was normal until he puked around 3pm and 4:30pm. He wasn't feeling very well but I didn't think much of it; I stupidity thought it was a small stomach ache and since my son wasn't complaining I didn't do anything other than put him to bed and check on him.

Around 5pm he puked again while lying in his bed and he wasnt moving at all so I tried to wake him up but even though he had his eyes open he just wouldn't move. I rushed to the hospital and in the car he was very odd, like half asleep. I talked to him the entire time but it was like he wasn't even listening to me he was just not here with me... When we arrived at the hospital finally talked to me and told me he wanted to walk so I was very reassured and let him walk on it's own to the emergency room. Less than 2 minutes after we arrived the doctors took him since I called them in the car to tell them something was very wrong and it was urgent. But less 2 minutes after they took him he had a first heart attack. They saved him but he had a second heart attack a few minutes later. The doctors told me he had a cardiac tamponade and a heart tumor and it was extremely dangerous. Sunday morning my little boy had another heart attack but they couldn't save him this time...

All this time my boy had this horrible heart tumor and none of us had any idea about it... his blood tests were good (7 months ago) and he had zero symptoms, I don't understand.

I want to know if a cardiac tamponade is painful or not. The doctors told me my little boy was probably too comatose to feel any pain but I'm not convinced. I still haven't accepted his...departure, and I need to know if he was in pain or not.

I hope you won't mind my terrible English but I can barely keep my eyes open since I can't sleep anymore so please be understanding. Thank you for taking the time to read me.

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • xanthoula47725
    xanthoula47725 may17751

    Posted

    Your pain is beyond any comforting words. I have not heard of another case like the one you describe and I am shocked that small people can have a heart attack.  There is nothing worse than losing a child.  I would like to believe that little is felt when you lose senses.  My heart goes out to you, courage.

     

  • emily56262
    emily56262 may17751

    Posted

    Reading what happened to your son made me terribly sad, I am so sorry for your loss sad Your baby boy was very young to have these kinds of problems. My prayers go out to you and everyone else who is experiencing this devistating loss, but according to what you said I honestly don’t think he went through pain. It sounded like he was not all their anymore hun rolleyes It seems like he did not experience much pain because he was somewhat gone already. This reminds me of the time my aunt describe a friends death to me. He was in pain when he was at the hospital but before he even died he was not “their” anymore he was like unconscious. It sounds like your son had a similar experience. Just know that he is not suffering anymore, he is with god now. Nothing is painful in heaven, everyone up their is full of happiness. Many hugs on my part to you and your family. 
  • judith75147
    judith75147 may17751

    Posted

    My heart goes out to you at this terrible time.  To lose a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent. And so young and so suddenly; without warning.  I doubt he was conscious enough to feel much of anything other than the nausea when he vomited.  I’ve read that the heart itself doesn’t feel pain; that’s why heart attacks often involve referred pain to the arms, the chest or the jaw.  If he hadn’t been complaining of pain earlier, he probably wasn’t feeling any.  

    My boy died suddenly of a seizure 2 years ago.  He was 46. The age makes no difference.Even though he did get more time than your son did, they were difficult times because he was a high-functioning autistic.  The pain never really goes away, but you do learn to live with it.  

    You have my very deepest sympathy. I hope you have a lot of support and someone you can talk to at this difficult time.

     

    • Scotgal
      Scotgal judith75147

      Posted

      In response to your statement , "the heart doesn't feel any pain", it most definitely can.  The only organ that can't perceive or feel pain is the brain.

      Patients get referred pain, because blockages (temporary or permanent)

      are affecting flow to those areas.

  • amburr99
    amburr99 may17751

    Posted

    I am so sorry for you loss. He was far too young. sad
  • Scotgal
    Scotgal may17751

    Posted

    I am so sorry for your loss, losing a child can be devastating.  Your doctors were

    being honest with you when they told you your boy most likely didn't experience

    any pain, because tamponade from any cause reduces flow to the brain, thus a

    patient would not perceive any pain.  Cardiac tumors, when they occur in the pediatric patient are usually malignant, and cannot be cured.

  • tiffany75011
    tiffany75011 may17751

    Posted

    I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I’m praying for you and your little boy. It does sound like he was already unaware and not there to feel pain anymore dear. I’m so very sorry. I pray peace and comfort in this horrible time. sad 
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