Matthew_94's interview
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How did all start?
I was cycling to work when I reached a downhill stretch, naturally I stopped cycling and let the bike do its work. The next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the road with my heart racing, chest pain, trouble breathing and extreme dizziness.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I have a working diagnosis of Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, though this is yet to be fully confirmed. It has taken me three years to get to this position.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I have been (and still am in some cases) treated by the following specialities: Cardiology (current); Neurology (current); Gastroenterology; Psychiatry (current) The most useful has been cardiology as they have performed the most diagnostic tests compared to the others.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Morphine...unfortunately. I have found that my episodes of SVT bring severe chest pain with it and as such, morphine is the only medication that can bring this down and also brings my heart rate down.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
My biggest difficulties are both diagnosis (as this has taken three years) and getting doctors to accept and understand that it is a real, physical condition, not just psychosomatic symptoms. This is especially bad in the local Emergency Department where many believe that people with IST are nothing more than "problem patients" and seekers of medication to help their "addiction".
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My social and family relationships have both changed over time. My family has become even closer and we now talk about anything and everything. My social relationships have suffered greatly as I am limited by the amount of time I can go out with friends, though those still around me are understanding of this.
What things have you stopped doing?
Working. This is the biggest thing I have had to stop doing. Aside from that, I have had to stop exercising, going out as much as I did, drinking alcohol.
What do you think about the future?
I think I have a bright future ahead. I already have a guaranteed position as a candidate for a political party to stand as a Borough Councillor and I have taught myself carpentry in the time I haven't been able to work, so this could lead me to another job as well.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
2012, two years before my illness started. I was working at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a Security Officer / Team Leader. I had many nights of working with fantastic teams and also got to meet some athletes and coaches!
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would have joined the British Army as a Military Police Soldier. Either that or I would have gone into politics much earlier.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
My life is full of surprises, some good, some bad, but my illness is only a part of me, it isn't who I am.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Stay as positive as you can. There are ways to control it, you just have to persist. Never take no for an answer, and never take "I Don't Know" as an answer because in my opinion, there are many things that can be done, it's just getting a doctor to do them.
