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.
Dear Friends,
Im back and so is the AFIB.
If youve been here a while, you may remember my journey. Afib in JAN 2011, (2) ablations (JUN 2011, SEP 2011), (3) chemical conversions, and (2) electrical conversions.
Since the last ablation SEP 2011, I had been doing great! In rhythm nearly all the time. Only had two episodes of break-through that lasted a total of 30 minutes. When my DUKE DRs released me in FEB 2013, I was cured and felt great. We planned to wean off the MEDs when I got back from my CA business trip in June.
Since I was doing so fine, my kids wanted me to wog (walk-jog) a 5K with them the July 4th week. Downloaded an app to help train. Day 1 was to walk ~ 2.5 miles, day 2 was to walk a minute, jog slowly a minute, repeat. Did that OK, but had trouble getting back to the hotel (I was on a business trip to CA). Finally got back and determined my HR was ~ 135 bpm. Unfortunately I did not have my diltaizem with me but was able to get some at the pharmacy (lucky for electronic records).
Chewed the pills for a week and was finally able to head back to the East Coast. All the time my HR didnt ever go down. Luckily for me, it didnt cross the trip-wire as determined by the doctors above 140 go to the ER, 100 140 take pills, below 100 dont worry. Bottom line is that my HR went open loop and went up but never came down. BTW all my DRs said I should have been able to wog w/o AFIB. After all, they want you to get exercise but if your HR goes up and never comes down, then you cant.
Finally got home, saw my CARDIO DR who confirmed AFIB. Three days later in the hospital letting the flecainide wash out (still in AFIB) plus amped-up meds to keep the HR below 100. A few more days later, went back in for the electrical cardio-vert plus the tikosyn drug load. Been out less than 2 weeks, and now think Im back in AFIB. Boo
Interesting discussion while in the hospital. DRs indicate that it is possible that where I was ablated before, it may now have healed.
Thus the dots that were burned to not allow electrical impulses have recovered and now allow electrical impulses. Also seems the CRYO ablations are no longer in vogue and data shows that most AF doesnt come from the pulmonary veins. Thus less PVI procedures. Theres the new talk of clustering but I havent figured out what exactly that means. Maybe something like instead of individual dots causing the AFIB, these are localized into clusters. So maybe instead of hitting the dots, maybe they use a larger catheter and ablate larger areas. I dont know for sure, but if its a new procedure, likely my DR is doing it.
So whats next? Not sure I see the DRs again in ~ 6 weeks to see if they want to try AB#3.
Final side bar: while in the hospital, I had a number of V-TACHs. Later we figured out my potassium was border-line too high (5.0) and my eating a banana must have pushed it over the edge causing the V-TACH. We all know what a rhythm looks like, but when it hit, my EKG was more like a sine-wave. This really freaked-me-out!
Thanks for listening and allowing me back into the club!
Robert
PS: Yes, Ive read a lot about AFIB from all over, but still like this place because of the characters and vibe! And you let me whine when others dont know or understand.
Im back and so is the AFIB.
If youve been here a while, you may remember my journey. Afib in JAN 2011, (2) ablations (JUN 2011, SEP 2011), (3) chemical conversions, and (2) electrical conversions.
Since the last ablation SEP 2011, I had been doing great! In rhythm nearly all the time. Only had two episodes of break-through that lasted a total of 30 minutes. When my DUKE DRs released me in FEB 2013, I was cured and felt great. We planned to wean off the MEDs when I got back from my CA business trip in June.
Since I was doing so fine, my kids wanted me to wog (walk-jog) a 5K with them the July 4th week. Downloaded an app to help train. Day 1 was to walk ~ 2.5 miles, day 2 was to walk a minute, jog slowly a minute, repeat. Did that OK, but had trouble getting back to the hotel (I was on a business trip to CA). Finally got back and determined my HR was ~ 135 bpm. Unfortunately I did not have my diltaizem with me but was able to get some at the pharmacy (lucky for electronic records).
Chewed the pills for a week and was finally able to head back to the East Coast. All the time my HR didnt ever go down. Luckily for me, it didnt cross the trip-wire as determined by the doctors above 140 go to the ER, 100 140 take pills, below 100 dont worry. Bottom line is that my HR went open loop and went up but never came down. BTW all my DRs said I should have been able to wog w/o AFIB. After all, they want you to get exercise but if your HR goes up and never comes down, then you cant.
Finally got home, saw my CARDIO DR who confirmed AFIB. Three days later in the hospital letting the flecainide wash out (still in AFIB) plus amped-up meds to keep the HR below 100. A few more days later, went back in for the electrical cardio-vert plus the tikosyn drug load. Been out less than 2 weeks, and now think Im back in AFIB. Boo
Interesting discussion while in the hospital. DRs indicate that it is possible that where I was ablated before, it may now have healed.
Thus the dots that were burned to not allow electrical impulses have recovered and now allow electrical impulses. Also seems the CRYO ablations are no longer in vogue and data shows that most AF doesnt come from the pulmonary veins. Thus less PVI procedures. Theres the new talk of clustering but I havent figured out what exactly that means. Maybe something like instead of individual dots causing the AFIB, these are localized into clusters. So maybe instead of hitting the dots, maybe they use a larger catheter and ablate larger areas. I dont know for sure, but if its a new procedure, likely my DR is doing it.
So whats next? Not sure I see the DRs again in ~ 6 weeks to see if they want to try AB#3.
Final side bar: while in the hospital, I had a number of V-TACHs. Later we figured out my potassium was border-line too high (5.0) and my eating a banana must have pushed it over the edge causing the V-TACH. We all know what a rhythm looks like, but when it hit, my EKG was more like a sine-wave. This really freaked-me-out!
Thanks for listening and allowing me back into the club!
Robert
PS: Yes, Ive read a lot about AFIB from all over, but still like this place because of the characters and vibe! And you let me whine when others dont know or understand.
What an Experience!!!!!!!!
I'm shaking my head in befuddlement..........No,no,no I want to say. Was it a 'fib' just waiting to happen?
You shared quite a lot of interesting information too.
I wish I had read it somewhere else, and not from You~
You're back in the fold, our allegiance is true.
We understand your frustration, and share your boo hoo:-(
We'll pray for Divine Guidance to carry you through,
and Hope you will soon know the Best thing to do!
Sorry to hear about your experience. It shows how difficult and challenging afib is to treat. Your discussion of clustering sounds a like the rotors that Dr. Narayan identifies when doing a firm ablation.Hope everything works out well for you. Keep in touch and lets us know your progress. We are all in this together and pulling for you.
opsyn
Keep the faith...things may settle down again soon for you...at least I hope so. Take care
Everyone here can relate to how tricky A Fib is (and discouraging).
Hope your heart decides to calm down.
Please keep us posted.
D.