Teresa Kresheck
My name is Teresa Kresheck. I am 52, a mother of two adult children, a wife, an author and a hypnotherapist. I also have tachycardia.
I was diagnosed with tachycardia at the age of 26. I had been at the VA Hospital in Milwaukee in order to receive cortisone shots in my lower back in an attempt to ease the pain of a back injury. All was going well until I proceeded to go down to the main floor on the elevator. I've been told the sudden motion, along with the shock my body was already in from the shots into my back, apparently caused my heart to briefly stutter and restart. I awoke on a gurney with a young nurse straddling me and performing CPR.
After being examined by the ER doctor and the cardiologist, it was determined that I had tachycardia and I was sent to the cardiology ward for observation and a treatment plan. I was put through a battery of tests and placed on Atenolol to try to get my heart into a healthier rhythm. Though I was scared, I was young and told that if I followed my treatment plan, there was nothing to worry about.
I am now 52 years old and I have tried to stay on plan. I have always gotten my checkups and tried to maintain a healthy weight, not always with success. Today, I do admit I need to lose some weight that has crept up on me as the years have passed. But after over 25 years dealing with tachycardia on a daily basis, I have lived a relatively normal life and have no plans of changing that any time soon!
