1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Diagnosed last week with AFIB

Posted by starlight3 @starlight3, May 10 9:19pm

I was sent recently for an ECG, and it was confirmed I have AFIB. I don’t know how long I have had it. I can’t get an appointment in cardiology at Mayo and I’m on a wait list. I was offered an appointment mid July but I’m leaving for the U.K. mid June for five months. I’m worried that I’m not having any treatment and know the risks as my wife has it and is on medication. What should I do?

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starlight3 | @starlight3 | May 28 9:23pm

Latest update. Had an echocardiogram which showed severe left atrial enlargement. Saw the cardiologist today and he said the underlying cause needs to be determined. Most likely blood pressure and/or sleep apnea. As well as Eliquis I have been put on additional BP medication and will have a stress test in a couple of days. After that I am scheduled for a camera down my throat to behind my heart to check for any blood clots lurking there. If there are none they will do a cardio version immediately after to try to put me back into sinus rhythm. I will have a sleep study done when I return from the U.K.
He did not think it was necessary to cancel my trip. Everything else in my heart is working well. Will keep you updated!

REPLY
2 replies
windyshores | @windyshores | May 29 5:13am
In reply to @starlight3 "Latest update. Had an echocardiogram which showed severe left atrial enlargement. Saw the cardiologist today and..." + (show)
@starlight3

Latest update. Had an echocardiogram which showed severe left atrial enlargement. Saw the cardiologist today and he said the underlying cause needs to be determined. Most likely blood pressure and/or sleep apnea. As well as Eliquis I have been put on additional BP medication and will have a stress test in a couple of days. After that I am scheduled for a camera down my throat to behind my heart to check for any blood clots lurking there. If there are none they will do a cardio version immediately after to try to put me back into sinus rhythm. I will have a sleep study done when I return from the U.K.
He did not think it was necessary to cancel my trip. Everything else in my heart is working well. Will keep you updated!

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Sounds like you are getting good care @starlight3!

REPLY
saganjames | @saganjames | May 29 5:38am
In reply to @starlight3 "Latest update. Had an echocardiogram which showed severe left atrial enlargement. Saw the cardiologist today and..." + (show)
@starlight3

Latest update. Had an echocardiogram which showed severe left atrial enlargement. Saw the cardiologist today and he said the underlying cause needs to be determined. Most likely blood pressure and/or sleep apnea. As well as Eliquis I have been put on additional BP medication and will have a stress test in a couple of days. After that I am scheduled for a camera down my throat to behind my heart to check for any blood clots lurking there. If there are none they will do a cardio version immediately after to try to put me back into sinus rhythm. I will have a sleep study done when I return from the U.K.
He did not think it was necessary to cancel my trip. Everything else in my heart is working well. Will keep you updated!

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If you have not already done so, read "The AFIB Cure".

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | May 29 6:37am
In reply to @saganjames "If you have not already done so, read "The AFIB Cure"." + (show)
@saganjames

If you have not already done so, read "The AFIB Cure".

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@saganjames good suggestion... I bought that book and found I was already doing most of it! But very helpful for those willing to put in the work.

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starlight3 | @starlight3 | May 29 12:07pm

Thank you everyone and I will read the book.

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larryg333 | @larryg333 | May 30 12:59pm

All good comments you're getting, Star.

Enjoy the vaca!

/LarryG

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1 reply
starlight3 | @starlight3 | May 30 1:09pm
In reply to @larryg333 "All good comments you're getting, Star. Enjoy the vaca! /LarryG" + (show)
@larryg333

All good comments you're getting, Star.

Enjoy the vaca!

/LarryG

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Thank you!

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homer | @homer | Jun 17 1:18pm

Senior runner (77) & noticed on March 6 strange feeling of weakness. My Garmin smartwatch showed HR of 80+ when normal was 50+. Finally got Mayo appt end of March & told normal HR is 60 to 100! Asked for tests and all checked out except EKG. Couldn't get Cardiologist appt till May. Ended up in ER @ Mayo on April 6th. AFIB diagnosed as HR was 85-90 at rest & could jump to 123+ with no effort. Finally got Cardioversion procedure on May 15 (120 DC volts) & reset my HR rhythm to it normal 52+ . On Equilis and another drug to slow HR. Awaiting Cardiologist appt this week to see what normal activities I should attempt. Typically ran 3 times a week for 5 miles previously. I would see Cardiologist before trip.

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gloaming | @gloaming | Jun 17 10:33pm

Your story is much like mine. I did find that the metoprolol slowed me down enough that it was quite noticeably harder to run normally. My cardiologist denied emphatically that metoprolol would have that effect (leaving me to think he thinks it's all in my head), but recent revelations in the literature show that many/most on metoprolol find it quite a bit more challenging to resume their normal effort while running at the previous pace.

In my case, after all sorts of echo this, echo that, Doppler this, Doppler that, radioactive stress test, umpteen chest x-rays, the cardiologist said that the only other test was for sleep apnea. Long story shorter, the determination after an all-night polysomnography at a sleep lab a city away showed severe obstructive sleep apnea. The cardio said I must have an irritable heart, which I had not helped during the day when I was running between 8 and 20 km, with hills.

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phillipdobrien | @phillipdobrien | Jun 18 8:39am
In reply to @gloaming "At the very least you should be on a DOAC (Direct Oral Anti-coagulant) because the risk..." + (show)
@gloaming

At the very least you should be on a DOAC (Direct Oral Anti-coagulant) because the risk of stroke during AF is about four times what it is in the normal population. The normal population's risk, from person to person, is very low, so four times that becomes something of a concern....for most of us in AF.

You may be placed on metoprolol tartrate, a fast-acting heart rate medicine. It slows the heart beats somewhat, but mostly helps to keep the rate during AF down from well above 100...ideally. Metoprolol also makes each beat a bit weaker, so this tends to help with those who are borderline hypertensive...a bonus.

If your AF becomes more persistent, lasts longer, makes you feel terrible or just anxious, you will be asked to consider taking an anti-arrhythmic drug like Sotolol, Multaq, Flecainide, or propafenone. Sometimes you'll go on diltiazem because it has a double-acting process of both rate control and anti-arrhythmia. Depends on a number of factors and what the prescribing authority feels is right for your case.

What should you do? Ask your cardiologist about those medications, or if your GP can prescribe them, if he/she'll consider placing you on at least the anti-coagulant. That's a must.

It is said that AF begets AF. So, it's always best to nip it, or at least control it, early and for as long as possible. There are undesired changes to the heart when AF goes unchecked. But pretty much nobody dies from AF. They may die from subsequent conditions, from problems that come when AF is not controlled. But AF, itself, is not the killer. You can live with it for a long time, maybe just not very pleasantly.

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Great advice & I suggest some type of blood thinner if you cannot get in to see the cardiologist soon. Good Luck !

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