Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
It looks like things have taken a turn for the worse. My ablation was one month ago, and while I was initially considering it a total success, now I'm not so sure.
Last Saturday, after almost a month of glorious NSR, I had the worst afib episode I've ever had. Now it seems my heart has rewired itself with afib being the new normal. Sleep used to allow me to self-convert, but for the past two nights, afib has woken me up, so intense that I can't get back to sleep. That never happened before. Before the ablation, I would have days of SVT, which is easier to deal with. Now it's nothing but afib.
Since I am still in the blanking period, my EP seems reluctant to do anything, which I guess is understandable. It just seems odd that I would be in continuous NSR following the ablation for almost a month, only to have afib return with a vengeance, worse than it was before. I thought the normal course of events was to have some arrhythmia immediately following an ablation which gradually tapers off over time.
At this point, I am thinking another ablation is in my future. I have no hesitation about that, I just wish I didn't have to suffer at least 3 more months of this crap before anything can be done about it.
The worst part is the anxiety. I've had afib for 20 years, so you'd think I would be used to it by now. Unfortunately, my EP doesn't seem to want to deal with the anxiety aspect of it. Plus I live in a state where getting a prescription for xanax is next to impossible (doctors offices here have signs on their front door saying they will not prescribe it or anything like it, and the few psychiatrists who are able to prescribe anxiety meds are booked a year in advance). So dealing with anxiety is something I guess I just have to do on my own. I am so sick of the platitudes from people who know nothing about this condition, "it will get better, you just have to have patience"..."go see your doctor, he should be able to help". On the surface, these people say they want to help, but in reality, I think they would ssy anything to get me to stop talking about it, since no one wants an honest answer when they ask, "how are you doing?"
Sorry for the rant, I am just frustrated and more than a little pissed off, and other than this board, there isn't anyone I can talk to who truly know what I am going through.
Last Saturday, after almost a month of glorious NSR, I had the worst afib episode I've ever had. Now it seems my heart has rewired itself with afib being the new normal. Sleep used to allow me to self-convert, but for the past two nights, afib has woken me up, so intense that I can't get back to sleep. That never happened before. Before the ablation, I would have days of SVT, which is easier to deal with. Now it's nothing but afib.
Since I am still in the blanking period, my EP seems reluctant to do anything, which I guess is understandable. It just seems odd that I would be in continuous NSR following the ablation for almost a month, only to have afib return with a vengeance, worse than it was before. I thought the normal course of events was to have some arrhythmia immediately following an ablation which gradually tapers off over time.
At this point, I am thinking another ablation is in my future. I have no hesitation about that, I just wish I didn't have to suffer at least 3 more months of this crap before anything can be done about it.
The worst part is the anxiety. I've had afib for 20 years, so you'd think I would be used to it by now. Unfortunately, my EP doesn't seem to want to deal with the anxiety aspect of it. Plus I live in a state where getting a prescription for xanax is next to impossible (doctors offices here have signs on their front door saying they will not prescribe it or anything like it, and the few psychiatrists who are able to prescribe anxiety meds are booked a year in advance). So dealing with anxiety is something I guess I just have to do on my own. I am so sick of the platitudes from people who know nothing about this condition, "it will get better, you just have to have patience"..."go see your doctor, he should be able to help". On the surface, these people say they want to help, but in reality, I think they would ssy anything to get me to stop talking about it, since no one wants an honest answer when they ask, "how are you doing?"
Sorry for the rant, I am just frustrated and more than a little pissed off, and other than this board, there isn't anyone I can talk to who truly know what I am going through.
Daisy day 80 something in NSR??!! W-O-W!! My average has risen somewhat and is now 45 but not days, hours! It sounds like once you got your thyroid under control you got your a-fib under control. Way to go! It couldnt have happened to a nicer person.
Take care,
atp