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.
I have had it! Last year I had one afib episode all year. This year, I've had seven full blown episodes, and over the past few days, have been slipping in and out of afib. My heart rate shoots up to 135 when I'm sitting at my desk at work, and I start feeling awful. And yeah, my stomach then gets upset, and then.. I'll spare you the details.
Yes, I'm under a lot of stress.. I'm packing my condo by myself because I'm moving. I walk up the stairs, and I start afibbing. I move a box, i start afibbing...i feel like an 80 year old lady. It's just awful!
But three years ago, I was under much more stress with the illness and death of my mom. Yet I only had two afib episodes that year.
I'm angry, and I'm upset. I did everything right, I don't drink, I've never smoked, I swim laps, I eat almost exclusively organic. So why me?!!
And what is wrong with medical science? The best they can come up with is burning and scarring your heart.. And with only a 20 to 40 percent success rate?
And yes, I'm afibbing as I write this. This is progressive.. And I can only look forward to more and more of this?
I can't take it! I want to be healthy again!
-rant over-
Yes, I'm under a lot of stress.. I'm packing my condo by myself because I'm moving. I walk up the stairs, and I start afibbing. I move a box, i start afibbing...i feel like an 80 year old lady. It's just awful!
But three years ago, I was under much more stress with the illness and death of my mom. Yet I only had two afib episodes that year.
I'm angry, and I'm upset. I did everything right, I don't drink, I've never smoked, I swim laps, I eat almost exclusively organic. So why me?!!
And what is wrong with medical science? The best they can come up with is burning and scarring your heart.. And with only a 20 to 40 percent success rate?
And yes, I'm afibbing as I write this. This is progressive.. And I can only look forward to more and more of this?
I can't take it! I want to be healthy again!
-rant over-
I can't go to Mexico with our grown kids because of not having this well-controlled enough. It stinks.
I won't give you any advice. Even good advice rarely helps when one is feeling the loss.
Sounds like its time to move forward.
1; I hope you are on a major anti-coagulant, not aspirin.
2: Make an appointment to see your EP, are you on a rate or rhythm control rug? Sounds like its time for a med review and maybe an ablation.
------ I put off an ablation for years, I was stuck and disabled. You need to get unstuck and move forward. While the prospects for AFIB cure are not great, our condition is manageable.
Go for it !!!!
I don't know where you got the 20 to 40 % success rate but from the appointment I just had with my EP, the success rate is more in then 60 to 80 % on first ablation and higher on second ablations.
Now lets define success: for most EPs success means afib free and medication free (permanently). So what if you were to redefine success: get ablated and be on med to achieve a considerable decrease in attacks frequency and duration. I think one definition sounds better than the other but at the end of the day both definitions have a very positive side; either a diminution of the attacks or complete stoppage.
Of course I would rather have the best result of the two but the second best is just as good in compare with your "right now" current state. I had 5 episodes of afib this year so far. They vary between 1 to 5 hours each time. I take medication and I will get an ablation to isolate my pulmonary veins and arteries and any other hot spot they may find.
If needed I will get a second and a third ablation. I would rather do that than live with that crap in a permanent state. Not because it's dangerous, but because it pisses me off I feel it too much. Once I retire, maybe I will stop fighting it and take rate control medicine but before that while I still work I will do anything and everything to stop it or slow it down.
I guess what I'm trying to tell you is not to give up and whoever gave you that bad success rate should be questioned. I have heard interviews that if an EP gives you a bad success rate, go to a different one because he/she is giving you his/her personal success rate.
A good EP which advocate in favor of an ablation normally will have a good success rate. An EP who advocate against ablation has normally a bad success rate and they will even use scare tactics like "Live with it of get a node ablation and a pace maker right away". Some will advocate life changes like diet and stress elimination and yoga but when that doesn't work then what? I have read it in other posts on this site. If you have afib and change your life style it may change? NOT!!! you already have afib.
Remember that success rate has variables and if I get an ablation and medication that would lower my afib by even 50% for a few years.....this has already some success in it.
Lastly, "Why me?" be happy that you don't have cancer. It's cruel but It is what it is my dear. Remember that apart from being a pain in the ass, afib is not particularly dangerous. Just get some blood thinners to eliminate most risks of stroke and some meds to lower the risks of more episodes.
Fight this thing and stay strong.
Scooby
I know how difficult a local move is.....we do way too much by ourselves. I just packed and moved boxes to have my interior painted, and then again to have carpets put in.....Awful...I got so tired and confused and frustrated...I tried to get rid of stuff, and got rid of things I don't need and stuff I wanted to keep....doing it alone is a terrible experience. So, I send you my support that it will soon be over and you will be enjoying your new home.....and my sincere sympathy for all the afib along with all the work....very draining!!!
In my experience, when things were bad and I started to get episodes that came and went for a month...for me it was drug induced both times. But, for a month I was in and out and was ready to ablate. My Cardio dr. said I must ablate. I got second opinion, this Cardio Dr. said my wiring system was messed up, but , it would reset. True for me both times...it took a month.
I am thinking, the stress and physical work and emotional drain have done this to you. The timing and suddenness make me think so.
It may just be this way for the duration of your move....if so, you just have to have faith that you also will reset and be back to your normal few episodes.
Things happen.....bad things....anything can happen to us that alters our lives....it is just the way it is and always will be. Some are best learning how to accept and deal with....no fun and we aren't graceful in this process. But as time passes....this is the way it is. We learn to be Grateful for all that is going well.
I have heard several people say, they wanted things to be the way they were....but....Change is the Rule....it's hard, and No one said life is Fair!
I am really sorry things are so difficult right now....but there is a saying.....This Too Shall Pass....that helps me.
One Day at a time, I am hoping there is some light for you today!!!!
I will
All I can say is I'm glad I made the decision to ablate. I've had zero afib since the second ablation, and it's been wonderful. I understand that it may not last forever, and I may experience arrhythmia again. But until then, I'm loving every last minute where I don't actively think about what my heart is doing. Before, it was the only thing I ever thought of. And success rate is much higher than 20 - 40%, even for the toughest cases. It doesn't work for everyone, but I'm living proof that it does work for some! It all depends on the skill of your EP and his/her team.
Who did your ablation?
When one lives with a-fib for a long time something happens: You get OLD! I was healthy till 75 at that age the success rate of full ablation is not so good, I do not believe that even a "Rock Star" can guarantee 60 - 80% success. (which I do not think is so good)
I will have AV node ablation and pacemaker that is the best choice for me. Plus I practice yoga and exercise for my general wellbeing.
The support and advise I have received from this group has been very helpful. Good luck to all forty somethings, when you get to my age there will be much better treatments. Marya
Cardiology in general (and afib in particular) is one area of medicine that has a lot of research going on, and it seems like once a month you hear about new breakthroughs in treatment. Techniques are advancing all the time, and longer you can wait, the better the outcome will be.
When I first started experiencing arrhythmia, the only non-drug treatment option was the Maze procedure, which is serious crack-your-chest-open heart surgery. Fast forward just 10 years and we now have RF, cryoablation, and the new hybrid technique, which ablates both the inside and outside of the heart for a much better chance of total success.
Twodrifters, I know about the travel thing. I had an episode at the Grand Canyon before I knew what it was. I think the altitude triggered it. I guess Machu Piccu is out of the question for me!
No, Paul... I'm on aspirin. I don't want to start the anti coagulant thing. I switched EPs. I'm on bystolic and have metoprolol to use when my heart rate shoots up.
Scooby, I got the 20 to 40 percent figure from a study I was reading on Pub Med.
Yoga, your reply really hit home with me. Thank you. I'm almost all packed.. The movers come on Saturday. Then I'm going to take my sweet time unpacking.. Maybe one box a night. And I think I'll treat myself to a spa day...
Duder, Trenton.. Glad you're happy with ablation. Not for me.The risks/benefits aren't convincing enough for me to risk it.
Marya, you raise a good point.. And hopefully medical science can solve this one day soon!
From my personal experience, the success rate at 3 years is 100%...hoping that it still holds true at 30 years!
Dr. Calkins did say 90% at 3 years for the laser balloon ablation method that he used, which had been used in France for 10 years...I have tried to find the report about the success of this method, since I was involved in the study (ablation date 1 January 2013), but my research skills are terrible...have you seen anything? Just wondering if this type of ablation is now more popular, or have they moved on to something else? What does Natale use these days?
Bill
Bill
Happy to say I'm approaching 3 years and afib free and off anit-coag
As Butch Cassidy asked Sundance who is this guy............well a soft spoken Italian gentlemen from Texas......Pick the Best and live your life!
McHale