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Your symptoms sound distressing at the very least... here is what I think I know, RN with husband in and out of afib for 10 years, electrically cardioverted about 7 times successfully. He finally had an ablation 15 months ago and was one of the few who have an awful experience. Quite low risk but they burned a hole in his atrium, he bled into his pericardium (sac around heart) and needed urgent tap for a quart of blood in the sac.
Anyway, after a year of unstable pulse rate but mostly in normal rhythm, his heart seems to be healing and he can exercise again. He is on Tikosyn, an antiarrythmic drug with scary side effects, and on blood thinner Xaralto. There is now an antidote for Xaralto and it is much easier to deal with than coumadin, but that is individual decision.
So anticoagulants and afib- the risk of a stroke with someone going in and out of afib is significant, look it up on the internet. Every cardiologist has really pushed for anticoagulants more than aspirin, although that certainly provides some protection against clots.
Ablation the first time is about 50/50 successful, many people try it but don't be fooled into thinking it is a minor procedure. They work inside a beating heart, burn a group of places where atrial fib can start, then wait for scar tissue to form to see if it worked. When it works I have heard wonderful results, but many have more than one procedure and it does have risks such as my husband had. Get a couple of opinions.
If you can possibly prevent afib by figuring out your "triggers", I would sure try that first. For some people it is alcohol, one friend can't have a single beer without going into afib. Ditto for smoking, and I don't know about caffeine. No one wants to change lifestyle but afib at 200 rate is not any fun either.
Finally, another friend is going to Houston for Dr. Wolf to do a Wolf Minimaze, newer than ablation but claims a success rate of over 70%, worth some research. And as my husband and other afib patients say, "I want my life back" but that is not how medical issues work, no amount of wishing can change things. My best wishes to you in your decisions. Linda Libby RN VT
Replies to "Your symptoms sound distressing at the very least... here is what I think I know, RN..."
Larry, thanks for the update. I take Eliquis and have had no negative reactions. But note that I don’t have a PVC issue. My Gp and cardiologist both argued that given that I have had a few long lasting Afib episodes they want me to have some more protection against clotting than aspirin gives.
Re the sensations you have.
I can understand that medicos might not pay sufficient attention to feelings. I suspect this is because we find it hard to give them specific, precise descriptions.
What about making some notes each time you have these feelings. Write down the date, where the feeing is, the sensation it gives, the time it lasts. Then takes these notes to your next appointments. Give them to both GP and cardiologist.
Cheers
Yeah, I do make notes with symptoms. Never does any good. It's like the doctors have heard it all before. I have read thousands of testimonials from people with all kinds of heart conditions and sensations, and I still think I am unique. Try to describe to doctors the best I can the sensations hoping it will hit on something, but doesn't seem to.
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Hi Linda. Thanks for the scary advice. Just kidding. Have read up on ablations and realize there are risks. Still hesitant anyway. AFIB actually not as bad as it was (less events). Once a month on average the last 5 months. It's the heart floundering around (all kinds of whacky beats, pauses, etc.) in between that bothers me much more anyway. Very uncomfortable. Can feel fine one minute and then feel in distress the next. Used to have good days, now I have good hours. I need to find the willpower to stop smoking and drinking coffee for a few days to see if PVC's will let up some. Then I would know that it might be part of the problem. Wish they had rehab for smoking and drinking coffee where I could go for 3 or four days. Not likely though. Have been prescribed Eliquis but have been afraid to take it since I have bleeding hemmerhoids on occasion. I do take the baby aspirin, but I would seriously like to try the Eliquis. Thanks for your advice and concern.