Afib and heart failure

I have not been diagnosed with afib, but know I have it because can feel it. It was worse until I cut out all caffeine. But lately have been having short episodes of a few seconds to a few minutes. I am not a run to the doctor person because have never experienced help from them and am 76 yrs old. But I have experienced much help from info and changing habits and diet. With this new year I hope to get rid of the afib and another issue I have had for about 4 years. I will be doing some things different and let all know if/when successful and details of what helped.

Diastolic heart failure is when the heart muscle walls cannot relax so the chambers cannot fill properly which in turn means it's hard for the ventricle to fill. In essence, the walls are too stiff.

@leara484
Thanks
I did not know this.
77 and still learning.

I am 78 and I have no intention of "tolerating" A-fib if it breaks out again. All that I have read tells me that it should not be ignored, especially in the early stages where, as you have noted, there are lifestyle changes that can help to control it. I, too, have given up caffeine, chocolate and alcohol. Good sleep is important too, as I have learned. But persistent A-fib does eventually do damage to the heart walls and that is what I want to prevent. We may be older but we don't have to accept deterioration of quality of life so I hope you will go to a good cardiologist and get answers to all your concerns. If the doc doesn't take you seriously, I suggest finding one who listens! You wouldn't accept a lousy mechanic for your car, so don't accept a less than excellent physician for your heart and health! 🙂

Is it possible to get a 2nd opinion from Mayo Clinic with only sending test information (from another teaching hospital, Stanford)?
My husband had open heart surgery at Mayo in 2012 and is having shortness of breath, diagnosed as needing a new aortic valve. Stanford is moving at a snail's pace and he needs help right away.
I would appreciate any thoughts.

@elewis203
I know many other health facilities will give second opinions after sending medical information to them. I did this with UFHPTI. I am a Mayo patient but wanted a second opinion. Mayo sent my medical information to UFHPTI (must sign consent forms but UFHPTI handled it).

I then got a second opinion from them in person.

Not sure which Mayo Clinic you live closest to but call them. Also consider Cleveland Clinic another outstanding heart specialty clinic.

@lindy9
To self diagnose whether you have AFIB or not is not something I would do. I respect your right to your body and thus your decisions so I am just speaking for me.

Do you know if AFIB or PVCs. Without at cardiologist running a ECG would be hard to diagnose. These days great medications out there to help with both AFIB and VFIB and PVCs.

I think if you went to a outstanding facility like Mayo or Cleveland Clinic your opinion of medical institutions may change. I can only tell you my expereience at Mayo Jacksonville has been outstanding and all my doctors and specialist work as a team.

My humble opinion is to fight like the devil to get his treatment as soon as possible. Raise the roof, go get a second opinion and find someone who will take this seriously. This is your life and your loved one! Don't take no for an answer! You can not be passive and survive in the current healthcare system! I told the last doc that I wouldn't leave until I got "fixed" with a plan. I am a former nurse and I can tell you, there are A+ docs and C- docs and you need to find one who listens and is empathetic! Best of luck to you!

Thank you for your concern, however.... 1 I have been reading for months the comments on this blog, what people experience with the meds and treatments. Some work, some for awhile, and the side effects of the meds. What goes on with the treatments, and no thanks. 2 I now live in another country for over 10 years, and they have what are considered excellent docs etc.

Although there are different names for the heart beat problems, I had serious episodes for 7 years from age 14=21, and learned some people are extremely sensitive to caffeine. I quit and did not have problems until age 75 when I was eating coffee ice cream made in the US, and realized that was the problem. Since then have had minor issues.

I will make some add'l changes and see what happens. Was talking to my sister last night and she and her husband had gone to docs and they did umpteen tests and said they could find nothing. That is why I don't go. Been there and done that.

I am not interested in spending the rest of my life having tests, reactions to meds which I always have, and yucky treatments. I know how they do in the US surrounded by teams. If I would have something done it would be here. Nine years ago, I had a cancer on my cheek. He examined it, opened a book and showed me the type I had, and dug a small hole to remove all the same time, and was healed and cannot tell I had a problem. The whole procedure with antibiotics cost equal to $140. In the US there would have been visits and team of doctors and bills and stress.

I could write a book on the ridiculous experiences I have had with docs that did not help. We are all different, but for me, knowledge, habit and diet changes to get rid of the root of the problem, and prayer work for me. We will all die of something, but for me it will not be because of drug reactions, icky treatments, teams of doctors, or in the hospital, and I have seen what occurs there in the US and here.

Add to my post, and I apologize for the length. My friends aunt was diagnosed with stomach cancer at age 80. She was told that she needed an operation, chemo and radiation. She said No!

They told her it was her only hope or she would die soon. She lived 12 more years. A friend had breast cancer. She did it all, lost her hair, and spent the last year of her life in doc office, hospital, etc. until she died. She like many others I know ended up saying, if they could do it over again, she would not have gone that route.