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Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 11 minutes ago | Replies (936)Comment receiving replies
@lenmayo, let me share the experiences I have had with AFIB. Diagnosis only by EKG in my regular annual physical exam. No perceptible heart-rate symptoms then or now, seven years later. However, two years after the diagnosis I suffered a "small stroke" which affected movement of my legs, feet, arms, and hands somewhat as well as my hearing, taste, and smell. Put on Warfarin anticoagulant and still taking it daily with monthly lab tests to confirm it's working. As in the past, AFIB is detectable only by EKG and not by any variations in heart rhythm. I also have been on a beta blocker (Coreg) since my stroke. The beast is in the closet, and I intend to keep it there by continuing my AFIB therapy. Martin
Replies to "@lenmayo, let me share the experiences I have had with AFIB. Diagnosis only by EKG in..."
Martin, the greatest danger of AFIB is stroke. I'm amazed your doctors didn't put you on a blood thinner sooner as AFIB can be rather easily detected, even by wearable devices now. But your coumadin/warfarin may be able to be replaced now by any number of alternatives like Xarelto or Eliquis that don't need testing and are just as effective as Warfarin. Most importantly, you should be asking your doctors these questions. I am not an expert, but I have AFIB like you and have read and studied in addition to my treatment. If you are a Mayo patient it is easy to submit questions on your patient portal. Good luck to you. Ted
Martin, you might want to go thru my posts and look for my reply about my rare heart birth defect and my experience with WPW, Wolff, Parkinson, White Syndrome. I’ve experienced many issues with my heart since I’m 10yo and I’m 78 now. I was experiencing Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia, Bradycardia, A-Fib and Spontaneous Blackouts and had 3 heart attacks. My regular cardiologist had no clue what was wrong and my warning to any poster with a heart rhythm problem to get an appointment with an Electrophysiologist, a specialist in the heart electrical system.
Because my heart defect is so rare, a 1 in a million occurrence, the doctor was so intrigued by my symptoms he implanted a $25,000 heart loop recorder under my left breast. It monitors each beat of my heart for any abnormalities. It records 24/7 by the loop recorder and relayed over the internet to technicians in Oregon and sent to my doctor here in Pennsylvania every day. Regular cardiologist can be clueless like 3 of my doctors so if A-fib is a problem or any other rhythm problem, contact an Electrophysiologist immediately, it may save your life.
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Hi Martin,
Thanks for your reply. I never had an EKG showing AFIB except just after three operations.
I wore a Holter twice for a month with also no indication.
A friend of mine just came off Eliquis by having the watchman installed.
https://www.watchman.com/en-us/how-watchman-device-works.html
Best of health,
Len