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.
Just had an Ablation on June 2nd.
I have had one incident since the Ablation when I went back in A-fib. Right now I'm out of A-Fib, but have to wait until September to find out if the Ablation worked or not ??
Does anyone else have a problem not feeling their heart beating? It's really scary because I have no idea if I go back into A-Fib. The only reason I found out that I had that last incident of A-fib (HR-135) was because I went to my Primary Care Doctor to see if my UTI was gone that I got in the hospital having the Ablation. Otherwise, I would not have known.
According to the Doctor I have a severe case - it took him 7 hours to do the Ablation. My main problem is that I can not feel my heart beating whether my heart rate is 80 or 188. It was 188 when I went into the ER. The Doctor in the ER couldn't believe I was walking around (at 200 you are at cardiac arrest) .... I went to the ER because I thought I had a sinus infection (which I did have). They admitted me and the next day I went into Heart Failure (did a Cardioversion) as well as having A-Fib. Then they put me on Amiodarone and I had an allegic reaction to it (HR went to 266) Kidneys were failing and my liver went into shock.....it was pretty scary - crash cart and all came into my room. It's called "Tordades" which was "lethal" as the doctor's put it - 2 weeks in ICU through all this. Very lucky to be here!!
I have had one incident since the Ablation when I went back in A-fib. Right now I'm out of A-Fib, but have to wait until September to find out if the Ablation worked or not ??
Does anyone else have a problem not feeling their heart beating? It's really scary because I have no idea if I go back into A-Fib. The only reason I found out that I had that last incident of A-fib (HR-135) was because I went to my Primary Care Doctor to see if my UTI was gone that I got in the hospital having the Ablation. Otherwise, I would not have known.
According to the Doctor I have a severe case - it took him 7 hours to do the Ablation. My main problem is that I can not feel my heart beating whether my heart rate is 80 or 188. It was 188 when I went into the ER. The Doctor in the ER couldn't believe I was walking around (at 200 you are at cardiac arrest) .... I went to the ER because I thought I had a sinus infection (which I did have). They admitted me and the next day I went into Heart Failure (did a Cardioversion) as well as having A-Fib. Then they put me on Amiodarone and I had an allegic reaction to it (HR went to 266) Kidneys were failing and my liver went into shock.....it was pretty scary - crash cart and all came into my room. It's called "Tordades" which was "lethal" as the doctor's put it - 2 weeks in ICU through all this. Very lucky to be here!!
Good luck, what a ride.
When I am in Afib....I can always feel it!
"Torsade de pointes is an uncommon and distinctive form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) characterized by a gradual change in the amplitude and twisting of the QRS complexes around the isoelectric line (see the image below). Torsade de pointes, often referred to as torsade, is associated with a prolonged QT interval, which may be congenital or acquired. Torsade usually terminates spontaneously but frequently recurs and may degenerate into ventricular fibrillation."
from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1950863-overview
I've had a couple minor and brief episodes of what I believe to be atrial flutter and I was aware of it but it was more subtle - just a somewhat elevated heart rate, still regular, but a bit more noticeable pounding but sufficient to make sleep difficult.
As far as the "Torsade de pointes being uncommon is true. The next morning after it happened my daughter heard the staff in the hospital going over what happened to me to the morning shift and one person said "that is so cool". No one there had seen anyone have this happen before. They said they learn about it in Medical School but never actually see it. What caused it was the Amiodarone medication, which they found out I was allergic too.
I had a FIRM Ablation (which is a newer procedure and in some places still being tested) on June 2nd and have been out of
A-fib now for 2 months. I will find out in September if the procedure worked or not. So far so good.
Best of luck with your Ablation. I'm sure everything will go fine.
I was very nervous before my Ablation, but it was well worth it and there is no pain. Recovery was about 3 or 4 days for me. Mainly just taking it easy.