Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Do you know the best doctor for atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure management?

Look at next post it’s not typed out to well it was 3am when I answered it I’m sorry but I was hoping to be helpful hopefully you can read a little between the lines I’ll wait till I am a little more awake next time maybe then it will make sense to someone 😂😂🙏

No not unless you live in Manhattan Kansas then that would be Dr Thapa with
Stormount Vail

Hello all. I have been "lurking" here for a while now. Here is my story. I am a 68 year old male in pretty good health. I lift weights, ride my bike, and walk daily. In the summer of 2020, I started experiencing "thumping" in my chest and felt tired all of the time. In October 2020, I was diagnosed with persistent atrial fibrillation. I got an EP and he put me on flecainide for rhythm control and did a cardioversion. I went into NSR, but it only lasted for about a week. Since I was not too symptomatic at that time, my EP dc'd the flecainide and started metoprolol for rate control. He later added diltiazem. I did OK for a while, but I hated the meds. They made me feel almost as bad as the afib. In May of 2021 I went to the hospital to start dofetilide (Tikosyn). I went into NSR after the second dose. I remained in NSR for about a year, but then I started having increasingly frequent break through afib episodes. These episodes were pretty intense, and I was very symptomatic (strong palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety, etc). So, I had a radio frequency ablation done in June of 2022. The ablation really helped the afib a lot, although I had some SVEs and frequent PVCs afterwards. The SVEs started calming down over the summer until I had abdominal surgery in October for a hernia repair with general anesthesia. Two days after the surgery, I started having frequent PACs along with the PVCs. I started magnesium taurate in December and it has almost totally eliminated the PVCs, and the PACs eventually went away. In January, I met with my EP and complained about feeling generally spacey and low energy with a persistent, mild headachy feeling. I had experienced this for some time, but always attributed it to the afib. But since this feeling persisted after my rhythms were relatively OK, I was thinking it was medication side effects. My EP agreed and had me hold 2 doses of dofetilide to see it that helped. After holding the second dose, I went into afib, but converted to NSR after resuming the dofetilide. Next, I tried holding the diltiazem and after 2 days, I felt better, but then the PACs and SVEs came back with a vengeance (I have a Kardia). So now I remain on dofetilide, metoprolol, and diltiazem. I am doing well rhythmically, but still have the spacey, crappy feeling that I think is medication related. My EP said that he would do a second ablation if I want to get off of the meds. I don't want to do anything this summer, because I want to enjoy the season. He said he could do another radio frequency ablation this fall or if I wanted to wait, the pulse field ablation would be available this spring. I have some decisions to make. Sorry for the lengthy diatribe. I appreciate this site.

I meant to say the pulse field ablation will be available next spring.

My experience for what it's worth: Healthy guy that exercises and eats smartly. Had mitral valve repair, ablation, and LAAC at 78, 11 months ago. No more AFIB (it can work permanently, hope so). Off of Eliquis after four months by wearing heart monitor for 30 days to check for AFIB. Daily, I now take only 12.5mg metoprolol, 81mg aspirin, and 29% of RDA magnesium (have read that magnesium and moderate exercise help to stay out of AFIB). Had a great surgeon at WakeMed in Raleigh, Dr. Boulton, who did all of the heart stuff. That was key of course.

Hello everyone. My name is CjayahAnne. I'm new to tthe group. I'm 77 years old. I started having abormmal heart rythms sincce I was in my 30's. I was given Inderal 10mg 3 times a day. It seemed to help me. but I started having anxiety aand panic attacks constaantly worrrying about my heart. Even with this I had two son's and held ddown a job as a privaate duty nurse. In my 60's I had my firsst A-Fib attack I felt I was dying. I waas taken to the ER. they hooked me up to a monitor and did blood tests, ECG etc. After this experience I had more frequent attacks. Finally the caardio doc put me on Flecainide 50mg twice a day along with Inderal aboout 80mg a day plus Valium. Since then I've been in aand out of ER and sometimes admitted for abservation. I've had Echo's, Stress Tests. I do have a form of heart failure although ejection fract is within normal limits. I reached my 70's with alot of anxiety due to heart synptoms. I had tacy brady was bed ridden felt weak all the time aand scared. The Flec was not helping me aaand I develped tinngling in feet aand legs' neuropathy from the Flec. I haad nerve damage. Finally in December 2022 I had a pace maaker put in mychest. Everything went wrong the cardio doc puncrureed my lung. I was in the hospital seven weeks paart of that time flaat on my back with oxyen mask on around the clock. I'm home now but don't feel well still get A-Fib. Feel weak. I am working with a P T who comes to my home twice a week my legs are getting stronger but I live in feaaar. My paace maker area still aches worried that my body may be rejecting it. Still on Flec twice a day aand 80 mg Inderal. My feet are somewhat swollen which I never had before. I have a nuirse that comes to check on me twice a week. Also have a EKG everyweek in my home aand chest x-rays in tthe home. I never knew they could do chest x-rays in the home but they can. My BNP goes up aand down aaalso have labs in the home. I'm a firm beliveeer in God aaand wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life in the home with my husband and my family plus my little dog Ariel. I enjoy some televiision aand doing genealogy research. Also listening to audio books as I have a vision problem. Just pray to have less symtoms. Thank you. Sinceerrely your frieend ChayahAnne

Keep on keepin' on, ChayahAnne. It's worth it, from the sounds of your 'voice'.

Hi. I am a 72 year old woman who has had two cardio versions and one heart ablation. I was started on Tykosyn in December of last year. I understand about the importance of taking it on time however I realized I missed my morning dose when I went to take my evening dose. I missed another dose completely about two months ago. Do I need to inform my doctor of this?

I am on dofetilide (Tikosyn) and I have accidentally missed a dose before. Don't try to make up the missed dose. Just take your next dose at the usual time. If you did not experience any effects of missing the dose, I would not worry about informing your physician. Just my opinion. It's up to you. I have a pill box that allows me to set up my meds for the week. I find this really helpful since I take a few different meds, some in the morning and some in the evening.