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.
ok since i have been diagoned with a fib i am on the following meds .please know that i have high blood pressure and sleep apnea .
i take lisnopril , noravex,hydrochlorizide for bp
started using cpap machine for sleep apmea
for afib , i am on metropol,diaoxgen ,warafin,
i am sure i had the a fib long time but was found to be exact in may of 2011 now here is the q.since i am in afib all the time but only feel it when i lie night time i have been told to get cardio verted atleast once .i am not eager to get ablation .i have also cut down on salt and sodas and seriously working on loosing few pounds.
my cardio and the ep are not really caring and hardly give me any time ,i get the feeling they just read my file when i see them
any way what do i do , i been walking for 3 miles aday and do that ok .
thanks
i take lisnopril , noravex,hydrochlorizide for bp
started using cpap machine for sleep apmea
for afib , i am on metropol,diaoxgen ,warafin,
i am sure i had the a fib long time but was found to be exact in may of 2011 now here is the q.since i am in afib all the time but only feel it when i lie night time i have been told to get cardio verted atleast once .i am not eager to get ablation .i have also cut down on salt and sodas and seriously working on loosing few pounds.
my cardio and the ep are not really caring and hardly give me any time ,i get the feeling they just read my file when i see them
any way what do i do , i been walking for 3 miles aday and do that ok .
thanks
I have treated sleep apnea.
I have persistent afib.
I have asymptomatic afib
It was diagnosed this February.
Probably had it a long time not knowing it.
I take a beta blocker to slow heart rate.
I take Pradaxa.
CHADS score 0.
I try to keep fit.
The likelihood of cardioversion helping for me is slim to none. If a miracle happened, I would be in Normal sinus rhythm for a period of time and would not know it and would still be on meds. Many centers don't see ablation as a treatment for asymptomatic, benign afib. They just keep you on rate control and anticoagulants and monitor your heart, like your ejection fraction, to see that things are staying the same. I am 63. Age is another thing they look at. Ask about your left atrial size, if it is enlarged at all. Mine is. That's another reason to not jump into cardioversion, ablation, or whatever. Your blood pressure has to be controlled also.
If you are older, can't feel afib, have good ejection fraction, your rate control works well BP beta blockers do that), you take your Warfarin (I take Pradaxa), eat well, exercise moderately, keep your weight under control, get regular checkups with your EP/Cardiologist and stay out of bad neighborhoods, you will be on this support group when your 95. -Pete
It got to where I would only stay in rhythm for a little more than a week so I finally made the decision to get the pulmonary vein ablation. I had that done 7/2010 and have felt great since. I went out once right after surgery but since then have been in rhythm. As of this past August I am off ALL my meds and still feel great and am staying in rhythm. I would do the ablation again if my symptoms would come back.
One of the keys to the ablation, if you choose to go that route, is to find a good EP that does the surgery all the time. I live in Memphis and Stern Cardiovascular has the 2 top Afib gyus in town. Dr. Eric Johnson did an awesome job and he is a great guy as well.
kindest regards
ray
los angeles