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.
Hello Friends,
Just enjoying some time with my son last Tuesday watching the Women's Softball College World Series. Noticed my HR was a little high, so thought I'd go have a check. Sure enough i was up to 151.
Started the AFIB protocol: taking diltiazem, Eliquist, maybe a metoprolol. Over the last few days with this combo was able to get my HR to stay between 100 and 140. I was satisfied with that as I contacted my Dr's at Duke.
A few emails later, and one I sent Friday seemed to get their attention (not that I did not have it before) when I indicated that they don't like for me to go more than a few days in AFIB since my ejection fraction declines every day that I'm in AFIB.
Started getting calls at 9 AM today: nuclear stress test tomorrow AM, admitted to the hospital by noon, start some meds, await my time in the electro-cardio-version queue (which may be WED). Dr coming by WED to discuss options. I'm hearing ablation #4 (yes #4) either TH or FRI.
Told nurses that I must consult the Dr about ablation #4 before I sign on the dotted-line (hence the WED consult). Interestingly after AB #3, Dr indicated that he'd do no more on me and I could not have another AB. That was SEP'13. Evidently things had changed, and hopefully for the better.
So, like so many of my friends here, I thought I had kicked AFIB. I was off all MEDs since January, and only had a few seconds of irregular heartbeat.
After a week of FBAFIB (full blown AFIB), i get to stay in the FIVE STAR Washington Duke Resort and Restaurant (Duke University Hospital).
Just like John Lennon said... "Starting Over..."
Robert
PS: I'll never watch Women's Softball again! An the game was really slow and boring. But now, I'm all fired up!
Just enjoying some time with my son last Tuesday watching the Women's Softball College World Series. Noticed my HR was a little high, so thought I'd go have a check. Sure enough i was up to 151.
Started the AFIB protocol: taking diltiazem, Eliquist, maybe a metoprolol. Over the last few days with this combo was able to get my HR to stay between 100 and 140. I was satisfied with that as I contacted my Dr's at Duke.
A few emails later, and one I sent Friday seemed to get their attention (not that I did not have it before) when I indicated that they don't like for me to go more than a few days in AFIB since my ejection fraction declines every day that I'm in AFIB.
Started getting calls at 9 AM today: nuclear stress test tomorrow AM, admitted to the hospital by noon, start some meds, await my time in the electro-cardio-version queue (which may be WED). Dr coming by WED to discuss options. I'm hearing ablation #4 (yes #4) either TH or FRI.
Told nurses that I must consult the Dr about ablation #4 before I sign on the dotted-line (hence the WED consult). Interestingly after AB #3, Dr indicated that he'd do no more on me and I could not have another AB. That was SEP'13. Evidently things had changed, and hopefully for the better.
So, like so many of my friends here, I thought I had kicked AFIB. I was off all MEDs since January, and only had a few seconds of irregular heartbeat.
After a week of FBAFIB (full blown AFIB), i get to stay in the FIVE STAR Washington Duke Resort and Restaurant (Duke University Hospital).
Just like John Lennon said... "Starting Over..."
Robert
PS: I'll never watch Women's Softball again! An the game was really slow and boring. But now, I'm all fired up!
Im really sorry that it came back. Must be a bummer. I dont think that there is a good side in any of this but the fact that you may be getting a 4th ablation is positive. Always remember that if they want to ablate, it is because they think that the chances of success are good.
I had 2 ablations myself, 2011 and Feb 2016 and both did not work at 100% so I had to stay on BB and Xeralto both times. Yes the second one did help at 90% but I still get a few bouts of afib here and there for a few seconds and still on meds and AC. Its much better than before but I know that there is no cure and its just a matter of time before ablation # 3. What is important is that they either slow down you heart or keep you in NSR. Either way, once that is under control, there should be no chance of further damage.
I dont view ablations as a cure but as something that will improve your quality of life for a while longer and that to me is very encouraging.
Good luck to you with all of this. Remember that this thing may be scary but afib will NOT kill you. You only need some treatments and medication to keep it benign.
Scooby
Just got out of the hospital today after an electro-cardio-version and a tikosyn load. Glad to be back in NSR.
You thoughts are essentially what the DRs said... that generally AFIB won't kill you but it does affect your quality of life.
DR said that we'd stay on the meds for a few months, to see how well it goes, and later on there may be a 4th ablation in the future. He noted the chances of success are 50/50. Basically, it's a 'I don't really know...'
I have tolerated meds OK in the past, and are beginning to understand that I may need them long term.
Robert