Living with Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Glossary

ACHD	Adult Congenital Heart Disease
AICD	Automatic Internal Cardiac Defibrillator
CHD	Congenital Heart Disease
CPR	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
ICD	Internal Cardiac Defibrillator
ICU	Intensive Care Unit
PTSD RPAH	Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
TCM	Traditional Chinese Medicine
TOF	Tetralogy of Fallot

About the Creator

My name is Angie and I have congenital heart disease. The condition I was diagnosed with at birth is Tetralogy of Fallot. Shortly after my sixth birthday, I had open heart surgery to repair this condition. In my early 20s I started getting heart palpitations. By my mid-20s the pumping capacity of the left chamber of my heart had weakened. At 31 I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. At 32 I had a cardiac arrest. A month after my cardiac arrest I feel compelled to share my story, as I’m learning to live with the uncertainty of being an adult with congenital heart disease (CHD). By sharing my experiences I hope to offer support and relevant resources for people suffering from adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) as well as their families and friends. My long term vision is to create a support network. I hope you find my story useful.

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