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.
Hi everyone. Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I have been reading posts here since my first episode of a fib last February and have learned a lot more here than in conversations with my cardio doc.
Background on me: Im 65, always overweight and sedentary but also really good cholesterol and normal to low blood pressure, the kind of person who LOOKS like she should have bunches of health problems but actually never had anything at all up to February. Very cold spell, my pipes broke in my old farmhouse and I panicked for most of the day, running around, mopping up water furiously, moving heavy things, etc. Then a couple of days later noticed I felt really off, kind of nauseous, when I went to bed could feel my heart pounding. My PCP sent me to the ER and I ended up spending 4 days in the telemetry unit, had an ECHO (which showed everything normal, slight enlargement of left atrium). They tried several things via IV to bring down my heart rate, which was bouncing all over from 100 to 180. Sent me home on Metropopol and Eliquis plus Diliatizem, I think, and after 30 days I had an electric cardioversion that did the trick, at least until the first of July.
I think what triggered the second episode was a large mocha latte that I had without even thinking about it, plus stress at work. I had not been diligent with the Eliquis so my cardio doc was going to wait another 30 days for another electric cardioversion, but gave me Multaq in the meantime, telling me it most likely wouldnt work. But it did, converted after 4 days, although the Multaq gives me wicked intestinal issues. Still on Eliquis and Metropopol and I was hoping for the best, but last Monday night doing a more or less casual check of BP and heart rate with this little wrist monitor I got, turned up another episode of a fib. Not at all sure what triggered this. Im in the middle of moving house, have been doing more and more heaving, toting, scrubbing floors, etc., plus ongoing and worsening tension at work (they didnt meet payroll on Friday, not a good sign). But generally Ive been feeling good, energetic, getting stuff done.
I saw my PCP on Tuesday, had an EKG that confirmed the a fib. My cardio doc was not in the office but he called my PCP this morning to say I should stop the Multaq and keep my regularly scheduled appointment with him on Oct. 26. My heart rate is quite a bit lower than in the earlier episodes, not going much over 100, so my symptoms are not as bad. I just feel pretty defeated. I know this is not going to kill me, but I hate the decrease in stamina I start to puff after climbing 3 stairs, Im really really tired at the end of the day. Sometimes I even nap during the day when I have a break. Now I cant imagine how Im going to pull off all that needs to be done to complete my move, still about two rooms to pack up into boxes. Im having movers do all the toting and lifting, but theres stuff I cant delegate.
Pretty sure my cardio guy is going to push me to go for an ablation. I dont think I am going to convert spontaneously, it didnt happen before. He might try another anti-arrhymmic first. The ablation scares me, especially what sounds like a long recovery period. I work with kids in a job with no sick leave or vacation I dont work, I dont get paid and Im nowhere near ready to retire.
Are there any good questions I should ask my cardiologist when I see him? Is the progress of this thing always downhill? Any and all information is basically helpful to me; I like knowing more, even if its not always good news. And I have really enjoyed all the posts Ive read so far, so I wanted to share a little with you guys as well. Hope its not too much. Thanks!
Background on me: Im 65, always overweight and sedentary but also really good cholesterol and normal to low blood pressure, the kind of person who LOOKS like she should have bunches of health problems but actually never had anything at all up to February. Very cold spell, my pipes broke in my old farmhouse and I panicked for most of the day, running around, mopping up water furiously, moving heavy things, etc. Then a couple of days later noticed I felt really off, kind of nauseous, when I went to bed could feel my heart pounding. My PCP sent me to the ER and I ended up spending 4 days in the telemetry unit, had an ECHO (which showed everything normal, slight enlargement of left atrium). They tried several things via IV to bring down my heart rate, which was bouncing all over from 100 to 180. Sent me home on Metropopol and Eliquis plus Diliatizem, I think, and after 30 days I had an electric cardioversion that did the trick, at least until the first of July.
I think what triggered the second episode was a large mocha latte that I had without even thinking about it, plus stress at work. I had not been diligent with the Eliquis so my cardio doc was going to wait another 30 days for another electric cardioversion, but gave me Multaq in the meantime, telling me it most likely wouldnt work. But it did, converted after 4 days, although the Multaq gives me wicked intestinal issues. Still on Eliquis and Metropopol and I was hoping for the best, but last Monday night doing a more or less casual check of BP and heart rate with this little wrist monitor I got, turned up another episode of a fib. Not at all sure what triggered this. Im in the middle of moving house, have been doing more and more heaving, toting, scrubbing floors, etc., plus ongoing and worsening tension at work (they didnt meet payroll on Friday, not a good sign). But generally Ive been feeling good, energetic, getting stuff done.
I saw my PCP on Tuesday, had an EKG that confirmed the a fib. My cardio doc was not in the office but he called my PCP this morning to say I should stop the Multaq and keep my regularly scheduled appointment with him on Oct. 26. My heart rate is quite a bit lower than in the earlier episodes, not going much over 100, so my symptoms are not as bad. I just feel pretty defeated. I know this is not going to kill me, but I hate the decrease in stamina I start to puff after climbing 3 stairs, Im really really tired at the end of the day. Sometimes I even nap during the day when I have a break. Now I cant imagine how Im going to pull off all that needs to be done to complete my move, still about two rooms to pack up into boxes. Im having movers do all the toting and lifting, but theres stuff I cant delegate.
Pretty sure my cardio guy is going to push me to go for an ablation. I dont think I am going to convert spontaneously, it didnt happen before. He might try another anti-arrhymmic first. The ablation scares me, especially what sounds like a long recovery period. I work with kids in a job with no sick leave or vacation I dont work, I dont get paid and Im nowhere near ready to retire.
Are there any good questions I should ask my cardiologist when I see him? Is the progress of this thing always downhill? Any and all information is basically helpful to me; I like knowing more, even if its not always good news. And I have really enjoyed all the posts Ive read so far, so I wanted to share a little with you guys as well. Hope its not too much. Thanks!
I had a month of reaction to epinephrine. I was in afib most of the time. My cardio dr. told me I had to have an ablation. I was dubious. I went for a 2nd opinion. This Cardio dr. told me, I would reset my heart and be OK in time. HE was right, I have been back to reasonable afib since. I was not ready for ablation. I got an EP and he assumes everyone needs an ablation. I told him I was not ready, and he said, OK....but, assumes I will someday. Maybe so, but, I trust myself to know when.
I convert with Rythmol usually. But, when I was super stressed emotionally...it didn't work right away.
I don't know what to suggest to ask Dr. It depends on how much he is able to 'hear' how you feel. I would ask if you can be in some kind of communication with him/her after your appointment. I find after the appointment, I have time to digest and think about what was said, and then I have questions and concerns.
Perhaps, write down every thought and question that comes to you, and when the time comes, assimilate them to what is most important.
I send you best wishes with this move and your appointment!!!!!
We have all been there at one point. In my case I am allergic to all medications to regulate my heart, so I had no choice but to get an Ablation. Also had 2 Cardioversions that failed. The Ablation is painless and it's about 4 days for recovery. I have been in NSR since I had it done in June. The 1st month after the Ablation I still wasn't back 100%, but now I have more energy than I've had in years.
I was like you always tired and taking naps during the day, sleeping alot and also got out of breathe going up about 3 steps like you said. I couldn't even stand long enough to put groceries away...I would have to sit down in the middle of doing it. It was pretty scary at the time.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You need to do what is best for you....whether it is medications or an Ablation. Hopefully after meeting with your Cardiologist you will feel a lot better what to do next. I also brought a list of questions with me and sat there and asked them one by oneI. As patients we don't always hear everything that the doctor says and after we leave say "what did he mean by that", so when I went to my appointments I would bring my daughter with me or my neighbor with me. It's nice to have someone there to discuss what the doctor had to say. Don't know if your able to do this with your doctor, but I can email my Cardiologist or EP anytime and they email me back right away. It's a great sense of security. I also have an AliveCor, so I can take my ECG Reports and it tells you if you are in NSR or A-Fib. You can then send the report from your phone to your doctor to review. I've had to do that a couple of times and he put me right at ease.
I wish you the best,
Sally
Different doctors and hospitals have different procedures for ablations, but mine went like this: I went to the hospital the day before the ablation to get a cardiac MRI. This is a check for any structural abnormalities and to give the EP who did the surgery a road map to follow. On the day of the surgery, I arrived at the hospital at 5am. By 6:30 they were wheeling me into surgery prep.
The last thing I remember is being on the operating table and hearing the anesthesiologist saying, "I'm going to give you something to help you relax". Next thing I know, I wake up in recovery, with my heart rate slightly elevated, but in normal rhythm (hooray!). If you needed an EKG to confirm that you were in afib, it sounds like you're not very symptomatic. I am *very* symptomatic - I'm conscious of every heart beat, so finally being in normal rhythm felt like a good night's sleep after a week of not sleeping at all.
Immediately after the surgery, the biggest risk is bleeding from the incisions in your groin where the catheters go. They have you lie still for a few hours, and once bleeding isn't an issue, they'll try to get you up and walking ASAP. If all goes well, they'll likely send you home the next day. They told me I could go home the same day of the ablation, but I opted to stay overnight just to make sure I would be in the right place if something went wrong.
The incisions from the catheters don't even require stitches - I walked out of the hospital with a few band-aids and that's it.
Afterwards, they tell you to take it easy for a week or two - no heavy lifting more than 10 pounds. After that, they told me to start exercising again as I felt comfortable. For me that was about two weeks after the surgery.
The "blanking period" (the period where the ablated areas of your heart are healing) takes several months. But you'll likely feel like yourself within a few days after the surgery.
Hope this helps.
Yogacat, thanks for your concern and ideas for my doc visit. Samj, that's a great idea to take someone along. I used to go with my mom on her doctor visits -- weird to realize that shoe is on my foot now. Hwkmn, interesting perspective. My cardio doc wants me to lose like 90 pounds, but it is equally likely that I will become 10 years younger. Both would help my odds with this, but no guarantee.
Duder, I really appreciated the great detail on ablation. It was pretty reassuring and felt a lot more real to me than what I've read on the medical sites.
The reason I wasn't so aware of the a fib this time is because my heart rate, although I'm arrhythmic, is substantially lower than the 2 previous episodes. Bouncing from 60 to 100 instead of 100 to 180.
Junebe, I'm pretty sure I'm always in a fib when it flips on. I know a lot of folks here have bouts -- like 4 hours, or a couple of days, or even just a few minutes. But when mine starts, it goes constantly until there's an intervention. Wish I could figure out how to get it to flip off on my own. Mindfulness is just not getting it done! Thanks again -- any more thoughts? I'll Keep you postef.
Losing weight is definitely good for your overall health, but it doesn't cure afib, and too often I think it's a way for certain doctors to wash their hands of a problem and blame the patient.
Was so bad, the bed shook. Was my first experience with Afib. Contacted my cardiologist and was scheduled a Cardioversion procedure. That went well, but developed a "flutter" several days later.
Did the ablation procedure which cured the problem. Felt fine until September when Afib returned. Doctor said that the afib should not have returned but i fall into the the 10% of people that has reoccurences. Went thru another ablation procedure and was told that no case history exists that a third ablation is required. Hope this holds true. As for those who are leery of ablation, the procedure is no more different than getting a haircut, except you are asleep. I hope my problems are over.
P.S. I read an interest article just today about an Afib patient who claims that her Afib results when she has eaten several bananas. Supposedly, too much potassium is not good for the heart.
Skyking007
Generally he seems to think that unless I work on the lifestyle issues, which also include a crazy amount of stress at work, the a fib will keep breaking through. Ablation is not a cure, there is no cure. Not real cheery, but pretty much the conclusion I've come to. So I'm looking forward to at least some time in NSR after the cardio version, because it worked before, and maybe being able to quit my job, figure out if I have sleep apnea, and try to lose 25 pounds or so. That seems doable.
Doing the sleep test is a good step, and definitely one that should be done before ablation.
One other avenue that's worth looking into (if you haven't yet) is to have your thyroid levels checked. If they're out of whack, it can definitely lead/contribute to afib.
There are other things you can do that might help reduce your afib burden as far as supplements go. I take both Vitamin C and magnesium, the Vitamin C for it's anti-inflammatory properties and the magnesium for it's muscle-calming effect (the heart is a muscle!). Lots of other folks on the board here have had good results with magnesium.