Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Thanks for information on your experiences @yoanne. I'm considering a Watchman, and your experience is instructive. I already have A-fib, so unless it intensifies, I won't worry. I understand the issues around long-term aspirin therapy; as long as I'm on Warfarin, my medical team doesn't push for aspirin. My "small stroke" was not a TIA. It was a real stroke that permanently eliminated some brain cells -- fortunately not so many that my post-stroke symptoms are disabling, but I have to watch my balance more than before. I hope your current A-fib situation is truly asymptomatic and you can avoid both ablation and enduring concern about what the future may bring.

Hi,
My name is Peggy and I live in Florida. I am 70 years old. I never had a heart problem till now and I have to admit I find it scary. Last year I was hospitalized because my heart rate was 200. Unfortunately, now my heart racing is happening more often. My doctor has prescribed diazepam ,30mg. My doctor has recommended I have an ablation. So my question is do you think I should do this? Also, he has said maybe a different medication would be an option also.

Hi my name is Marlena. I am 68 and I always had a fast heart rate. Probably because I had a stressful job and I am an anxious person by nature. In my early 20s I had Tachycardia and my heart beat went totally out of rhythm and I needed injections. Since then I have been good and I felt quite healthy. A year ago I started to have sudden episodes of sudden breathlessness and a strange sensation in my heart. My GB referred me to the hospital but the stress ECG was fine. (I do have a small abnormality in my ECG, but apparently that is just the way my heart works). 6 months ago I started having sudden feelings of lack of oxygen in my chest. I was again for 24 hours in hospital on an ECG and it all seems fine. I assume that anxiety plays a big part in this. Now, I am wearing a wrist band and download in the evening my heart rate for the day (I don't monitor at night). To my surprise I can see that my heart rate suddenly drops into the 40s (45) for a short period. It made me very anxious. I saw my GP again and she said not to worry unless it is a regular occurrence. Anyone here has similar irregularities? Thank you.

Hi Peggy,
I'm Mary from Minnesota, 58 years old. I just had an ablation 5 months. So far so good. I am on Fleconide 50mg twice a day and eliquis. I have my 6 month follow up in December. My heart rhythm has been good so far. I have my energy back and feel like myself again. I am glad I had it done...I have relief from symptoms for now anyways and I am grateful. Before my ablation I was very symptomatic. Hospitalized 2 times, cardio conversion and no energy. I would encourage you to discuss this option with your doctor and consider the possibility of having it done.

Hi @mrk4445. I am impressed with your experience so far and hope others will consider talking about it with their doctors. Your stable heart rhythm and revived energy are what so many with heart rhythm problems hope for. That you went around cardioversion (by medication or electrical shock) is a tribute to you and your medical team. Would you mind sharing your understanding of your treatment with three components -- surgical ablation of heart tissue, Flecainide medication, and Eliquis? That combination suggests that you have overcome arrhythmia in both your atria (upper chambers) and ventricles (lower chamber). Does that feel like a total fix?

Hi Martin. First time I went into afib I had to call 911. In ambulance they could not get me stable for transport...went bells and whistles to the hospital. They did have to shock my heart...2 times even and it would not come into rhythm. After 3 days in hospital came back into my rythm. Then was put on warfrin. Within 6 to 8 weeks I was hospitalized again. When released they put me Fleconide to help with heart rhythm And changed blood thinner to xerolto. I could not take xerolto as it caused blood in urine. As I am only a 1 for stroke risk I went off blood thinners and took aspirin. After continued episodes of high heart rate and no energy, doctor suggested the ablation. So they went through the groin to the atrium of my heart, and cauterized 4 areas where the heart was mis-firing. It takes 3 months for heart to heal. In the cauterized areas scar tissue forms and prevents the heart from mis-firing after ablation. Doc kept me on Fleconide and put me on Eliquis...guessing Fleconide as a precaution as the heart heals and of course eliquis for clot prevention. I have 6 month check soon...he said usually they have you wear a wear monitor for a few days to see if you are having normal rythm. I don't know if they will take me off Fleconide for that or not...I do not yet know if my good results will remain long term. Of course as anyone with afib would I hope for the best. At some point I would like to go off heart medicine and see if I remain stable. And return to aspirin instead of eliquis. It will all just depend upon if I stay stable or not. It is always wait and see. What is certain is that my illness has brought deeper life lessons. Live and love in the moment, don't worry, and trust God.

As my afib is continuing the physician is suggesting to give me Tykosin ( 5 doses) as inpatient and do the electro cardio version . Then continue with Tykosin. Does anyone knows it is safe and effective to come our of arterial fibrillation.
?

There is no guarantee tykosen will keep you out of AFib. Nor a guarantee that cardioversion will keep you in sinus. It s worth a try to give it a shot but it s not a cure- all. Everyone is different so results are not the same for all.

mrk4445
@mklapperich

I had a slightly different experience. I had PVCs that would NOT stop even after having a quad bypass. ( I believe the blockages were caused by the PVCs, but have no confirmation from my doctors.)

The ablation I had was for the PVCs that now even the Mayo Clinic indicates are far more damaging than Afibs. I had a single place generating those PVCs. My Cardiologist put me on an aspirin right after I had the bypass. He had me on Metropolol for a short while and switched to Carvedilol from which he took me off within 6 months, but due to frequent migraines that abated with the Carvedilol it was difficult to wean off. It took me 14 weeks of decreasing a single dose weekly to finally be off the Carvedilol, but it's been a year and no migraines.

I never took Warfarrin, only aspirin, a regular one, not a baby one.

I also donate blood every 8 weeks. When my cardiologist asked me why I'd want to donate blood I told him it is the ONLY natural blood thinner and causes your body to generate new blood cells after you donate. Of course there are age restrictions for donating blood and the blood bank did request I talk to my cardiologist about it.

I occasionally see a single PVC when I take an ECG reading at home. I use a little device attached to an iPod, but a different model can be placed on an iPhone or there is the iWatch band. This is from AliveCore and can be obtained from their company. It has helped me monitor my condition and I'd recommend you and almost everyone else in the world get one to help them and to help their doctors to see what is happening away from the clinics.

The ECGs we get in the clinic situation are only a snapshot and do not always help the over-all health picture the cardiologist needs to help guide your health. So, an effective method is to have the technology available at your home.

Sorry, did not mean to get preachy, but did want to share.

Hi Eileena. All these conditions pose difficult challenges in our everyday life. Thanks for the information about home monitoring. I agree that our ecg in doctor's office is just a snapshot of a bigger unseen picture. It has been encouraging to hear the stories of others and the results of there procedures. I have learned much from participating in connect. Thanks for your post.