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.
Gang,
I have very much enjoyed this support group...tons of very important information, especially from Petey. Wednesday, 2 Janauary 2013 I will be having the CardioFocus (laser balloon) ablation at Johns Hopkins. I was lucky enough to get into a study that they are doing on this new technology (well, somewhat new...I understand they are approaching 1000 patients at this point). Only 15 enrolled at JH.
I have not suffered nearly to the extend that many of you have...my first visit to the ER was July, followed quickly by another in September...but the drugs (flec and metoprolol) are KILLING me....most of the day is spent in great fatigue or dizziness. So I am going for the "cure" very early in this process. I KNOW I am making the right choice, but I also know that the nerves will be hitting SOON! Heart surgery? ACK!
God bless us all who suffer with this nasty thing...and let's all hope for some serious progress in technology in the next few years, so that future generations will not have to suffer with this!
Happy New Year and NSR to all!
Bill
I have very much enjoyed this support group...tons of very important information, especially from Petey. Wednesday, 2 Janauary 2013 I will be having the CardioFocus (laser balloon) ablation at Johns Hopkins. I was lucky enough to get into a study that they are doing on this new technology (well, somewhat new...I understand they are approaching 1000 patients at this point). Only 15 enrolled at JH.
I have not suffered nearly to the extend that many of you have...my first visit to the ER was July, followed quickly by another in September...but the drugs (flec and metoprolol) are KILLING me....most of the day is spent in great fatigue or dizziness. So I am going for the "cure" very early in this process. I KNOW I am making the right choice, but I also know that the nerves will be hitting SOON! Heart surgery? ACK!
God bless us all who suffer with this nasty thing...and let's all hope for some serious progress in technology in the next few years, so that future generations will not have to suffer with this!
Happy New Year and NSR to all!
Bill
petey
Cheryl
Penny
Kelly
To Life and NSR!
Annette
Home now from my 2 January 2013 Laser Balloon Ablation at Johns Hopkins...wow! I must say, I felt like I was hit by a TRUCK for the first day...had to spend an extra day in the hospital due to bleeding at the entry site. The catheter used for the laser balloon is said to be quite large (French 17, whatever THAT means!). For all the info I saw about "I went shopping when they released me!" Or, "Pieceof cake!" I say....God bless you! I am still whipped! My Army boss came to the house yesterday and said "Come on old man (at 57, definitely old by Army standards), you don't need to come back to work on the 7th!" I think I may take her up on that offer. Now, the one thing I must say..the nurse told me that everything went wonderfully well, and that my heart was not enlarged at all, since I did not wait too long after getting into afib to go for the ablation...now, through my brief months of research it just seemed that the OBVIOUS thing was to go for a cure, with surgery. The nurse, who was WONDERFULLY helpful to me through this entire process, said "Oh no, absolutely not! In your case it was good because you were so symptomatic, and wanted to finish up your military career...but this is a HUGE decision, never to be taken lightly." She then went on to explain how many people do VERY well with just the drugs. So, while I of course hope that this is 100 percent successful for me, I would say...pay much more attention to Petey/'s blogs! So much good information! And best of luck to all of you who are struggling with your decision.
Again, mine was done by Dr. Hugh Calkins at Johns Hopkins, as part of the laser balloon study they are doing. That guy is nothing short of INCREDIBLE! God bless you all...hope I can stay awake for football this weekend!
Bill Coyne
I wish you wonderful luck with your procedure. Trust me, you will have no scars:)
Heather
Congrats. The French scale or French gauge system is commonly used to measure the size of a catheter. It is most often abbreviated as Fr, but can often abbreviated as Fg, FR or F. It may also be abbreviated as CH or Ch (for Charrire, its inventor) in French speaking countries. A catheter of 1 French has a diameter of mm,[1] and therefore the diameter of a round catheter in millimeters can be determined by dividing the French size by 3.
While not a major operation, I understand how ablation could wipe you out.
I still feel like a truck hit me from the flu. No incision. No catheter. No ablation. It really has put "feely bad" into perspective. With afib, you look for every possible symptom and wonder if it is afib related. With the flu, the symptoms look for you.
petey