1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Afib - do I just live with it?

Posted by kfox21 @kfox21, May 3, 2021

I am in permanent afib for 18 months. Because my quality of life is good (mild SOB on exertion) I am told to just live with it vs ablation. Is this a good recommendation?

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dbynum | @dbynum | Feb 25, 2023
In reply to @elizaolson "I find it interesting that all the comments here talk about Afib sessions that do not..." + (show)
@elizaolson

I find it interesting that all the comments here talk about Afib sessions that do not result in going to the hospital. I have been told that I should call 911 if I have an attack. The challenge is that as soon as I think I should call 911 it quits! I have a pacemaker because my heart rate dropped below 55 and I was blacking out. My heart rate at age 16 was 72! At my last check-up of my pacemaker the technician raised the heart beat to 81. After a few weeks, I asked for it to be reduced and he refused. A few weeks ago, I had a phone call session with my cardiologist and he told me that my heartbeat wasn't 81! Fortunately, I have kept copies of my heartbeat sessions and it clearly shows that before the change it was lower and the pacemaker is set at 81 beats a minute. I am concerned that this higher rate may have a negative impact on my heart. I would like to know more about the positive and negative benefits of raising the heartbeat beyond what was my normal since my teenage years. Any information would be helpful. I am concerned that I suffering from "senior dismissal" or what you want to call it, when you are a senior and your concerns are dismissed. BTW I didn't have any blackouts until I was 80. Now I am 84! I hate mentioning my age. I used to be proud of it. Now it seems to bring negative reactions. I took a cognitive test a few years ago and I aced it. 30/30! My doctor wasn't sure he could do as well.

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"Normal heart rate is 60-100 and changes throughout our lives. For some of us, resting 50s is normal.

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2 replies
elizaolson | @elizaolson | Feb 25, 2023
In reply to @dbynum ""Normal heart rate is 60-100 and changes throughout our lives. For some of us, resting 50s..." + (show)
@dbynum

"Normal heart rate is 60-100 and changes throughout our lives. For some of us, resting 50s is normal.

Jump to this post

Thanks for that information. Mine certainly slowed down. My concern is that setting my pacemaker above what my normal heart rate is, is there a chance of an negative impact or is it the opposite. I think what angers me the most is that the technician arbitrarily adjusted it up without an explanation or reason why. Then he refused to change it when I asked.

When I talked about it to my cardiologist, he told me it hadn't been adjusted to 80. I have kept the records of my blood pressure checks and it has definitely changed. I feel like I am suffering from the "old person's syndrome." I am too senile to know what's best for me. I took the cognitive test a year ago or so. I aced it 30/30! My doctor wasn't sure if he could do as well. Any suggestions on how to impress on people I am quite capable of making my own decisions?

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pamgalvani | @pamgalvani | Feb 26, 2023
In reply to @elizaolson "I find it interesting that all the comments here talk about Afib sessions that do not..." + (show)
@elizaolson

I find it interesting that all the comments here talk about Afib sessions that do not result in going to the hospital. I have been told that I should call 911 if I have an attack. The challenge is that as soon as I think I should call 911 it quits! I have a pacemaker because my heart rate dropped below 55 and I was blacking out. My heart rate at age 16 was 72! At my last check-up of my pacemaker the technician raised the heart beat to 81. After a few weeks, I asked for it to be reduced and he refused. A few weeks ago, I had a phone call session with my cardiologist and he told me that my heartbeat wasn't 81! Fortunately, I have kept copies of my heartbeat sessions and it clearly shows that before the change it was lower and the pacemaker is set at 81 beats a minute. I am concerned that this higher rate may have a negative impact on my heart. I would like to know more about the positive and negative benefits of raising the heartbeat beyond what was my normal since my teenage years. Any information would be helpful. I am concerned that I suffering from "senior dismissal" or what you want to call it, when you are a senior and your concerns are dismissed. BTW I didn't have any blackouts until I was 80. Now I am 84! I hate mentioning my age. I used to be proud of it. Now it seems to bring negative reactions. I took a cognitive test a few years ago and I aced it. 30/30! My doctor wasn't sure he could do as well.

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You are so right about the Senior dismissal! But the best providers don’t engage in dismissing my symptoms. I’m 76 and expect to live a long time still. I want full access to what medical science can do for me.

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1 reply
pamgalvani | @pamgalvani | Feb 26, 2023

I also have a PM. It’s not a perfect solution to AFIB, but it has taken away the uncertainty of how AFIB disrupts your life. I’ve had AFIB for 20 years. Five ablations and finally, the PM.

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elizaolson | @elizaolson | Feb 26, 2023
In reply to @pamgalvani "You are so right about the Senior dismissal! But the best providers don’t engage in dismissing..." + (show)
@pamgalvani

You are so right about the Senior dismissal! But the best providers don’t engage in dismissing my symptoms. I’m 76 and expect to live a long time still. I want full access to what medical science can do for me.

Jump to this post

I agree! I plan to take a copy of my cognitive test with me and point out that I got 30/30 on the test. LMy doctor was stunned!

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elizaolson | @elizaolson | Feb 26, 2023
In reply to @dbynum ""Normal heart rate is 60-100 and changes throughout our lives. For some of us, resting 50s..." + (show)
@dbynum

"Normal heart rate is 60-100 and changes throughout our lives. For some of us, resting 50s is normal.

Jump to this post

Can someone tell me what an "Ablation" is? And what it does?

Thanks.

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Edward (Ted) Almon | @tedalmon | Feb 27, 2023

Well, as simply as I can describe it, an ablation is a procedure where a catheter is inserted though a peripheral vein into the heart in order to kill cells thought responsible for conveying the errant pacing signals. There are two types, radio frequency,(RF) and cryo (freezing). Usually it starts by isolating the pulmonary veins but can treat other problem areas too. I am having my first one later this week. If you are serious you should do some real research beyond this chat room. I have recommended the book, "The AFIB Cure" by two prominent EP's before and I still think it is a good place to start. Good Luck.

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2 replies
ruz39 | @ruz39 | Feb 27, 2023

Re dizziness, I have lived with it for 5 years, and it's getting worse. My first AFib attack occurred while recovering from a knee replacement in Nov 2017. Cardio version corrected it for almost a year, but subsequent cardioversions were less and less effective. My cardiologist then prescribed meds that required hospitalizations. They were useless. He said he didn't think ablation would work and that I should just live with AFib and on meds, 25mg metoprolol plus eliquis 2X day. I'm 84, used to be so active and energetic. BP is all over the place, but settles in a sorta normal range. Pulse is usually in 80s or low 90s. I'm exhausted after walking 1.5 miles and dizziness is worsening. I'd like to try ablation. Any recommendations for a highly experienced EP in the Washington DC area who will offer me hope?

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mimio | @mimio | Feb 27, 2023

@kfox21
How is your AFib? I only today saw your post and read through all the responses. The last posting I saw of yours was Apr 25, 2022 and you were going to tele-consult with Dr Munger. Did you have an ablation?

Hope you are doing well.

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1 reply
joko | @joko | Feb 27, 2023
In reply to @tedalmon "Well, as simply as I can describe it, an ablation is a procedure where a catheter..." + (show)
@tedalmon

Well, as simply as I can describe it, an ablation is a procedure where a catheter is inserted though a peripheral vein into the heart in order to kill cells thought responsible for conveying the errant pacing signals. There are two types, radio frequency,(RF) and cryo (freezing). Usually it starts by isolating the pulmonary veins but can treat other problem areas too. I am having my first one later this week. If you are serious you should do some real research beyond this chat room. I have recommended the book, "The AFIB Cure" by two prominent EP's before and I still think it is a good place to start. Good Luck.

Jump to this post

Interesting information. Thanks for sharing. Is this the "The AFib Cure" (2021) by John Day and T. Jared Bunch? It's $12.99 on Kindle and $18.95 in paperback.

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