Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Ask your doc! With something like this I hope you have good medical advice. We can sympathize though !

I have SVT and blood clots. Can I take Wonder Labs Healthy Heart supplement to lower my heart rate along with xarelto for my blood clots?

Hi, I’ve had afib for over 10 years.
Had a stroke 10 yrs ago. The afib of course got worse. I’ve taken every heart medication known to man. They worked for a while, My doctor in Mn. then did 3 ablation. They each also worked for a while.
We moved to Mo. found a heat doctor that had a lot to do with Mayo Clinic, that’s why I chose him. He did one ablation, worked for a while, along with new meds. I’ve been in afib so strong, I think my hearts going to beat itself to death. Now my doctor want to put a EP Leadless pacemaker
in and do a ablation on the AV Node.
Which will cut off the electricity all together. I will still have afib, but won’t feel it. So consequently the pacemaker will be running my heart.
If the pacemaker goes out I won’t have a heart beat and die. He said this procedure is 95% effective.
It’s coming up soon and I’m getting a bit nervous. Thought I’d ask some questions from outsiders about this procedure.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Vicky

Hi thanks for thinking about me. No appointment yet. It takes such a long time to see a specialist in Canada.

Hi @deborah67 I just wanted to check in with you to see how you’re feeling. Were you able to meet with a cardiologist?

@otiswinston, I would have to agree with those in this group that are encouraging you not to go to Nepal. Of course, in the end, only you can decide.
Would there be an alternative in the States? No, we have nothing that high or probably as beautiful as Nepal, but there are plenty of hikers in this country and plenty of mountains to climb. Telluride Co is over 12,000', is a beautiful area with lots of hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, etc. I would guess there are doctors there that deal with those types of people and are very familiar with the effects of the altitude.
Maybe there's something else you could really enjoy where you wouldn't be taking as much of a risk to you health.
Again, only you can decide.

If it were me, I would not go. If you require meds to keep your rate controlled, and if you need anti-arrhythmic medication to control fibrillation, PACs, PVCs, etc, you are inviting a lot of potential advancement of your disease by incurring more stress. Your heart will be stressed. Your organs will be stressed.

Remember that it is a progressive disease. Piling inordinate demands on your system while you harbor a progressive disorder is not something I would feel comfortable doing. I would worry about kicking the disorder up another riser and have the AF needing even more medication, or a different one if that one works better. The problem with AF is that it progresses, including eventually being immune to whatever meds you're currently prescribed. You want to slow the progression....or I would, at least.

I agree with the advice to do as your conscience can handle. Just be aware that you might rue your hubris, and have fewer options except a catheter ablation, resorting to amiodarone, or worse, eventually needing a pacemaker and have the AV node ablated.

Thank you for your reply. I don't really have an opportunity to try higher elevations before going to Nepal. With my new hip working well I am now starting to test my heart's reaction to more vigorous exercise (at lower elevations where I live). From the readings I've done it would seem I would need longer time than my previous "normal" to acclimatize as I go higher, and monitor my self even more closely for signs of problems. I've always been careful about following the recommended methods for acclimatizing - staying well hydrated, taking Diamox above certain elevations, taking acclimatization days (with hikes where we walk high and sleep low), etc. I would really like to contact a cardiologist who has experience with high altitudes as unfortunately I don't have much faith in my current one.

God love you! You rock, Sir; bless your heart.

Hello @otiswinston and welcome to the group. Good idea for reaching out to this site, you'll get a lot of good feedback.
I, too, have afib, having been diagnosed quite a few years ago. And have had hypertension for over 30 years. I've been on Verapamil for years and various BP meds, then just started Xarelto a few months ago. I've lived in a city for over 30 years that's at 5000' (Denver is not the only "Mile High City"). We're close to CO so have gone up there frequently. I've never had breathing problems or increased problems with afib until last summer. (I was at 7000'). I was short of breath and my feet and legs swelled significantly. I was 73 and worked out pretty consistently. It was disconcerting.
So, will you be trying a long hike at a higher elevation in the US prior to committing to Nepal?
I totally understand the frustration that comes with having to make changes in your life as you get older and have more health problems, but regardless of other's opinions, only you can decide how you're going to handle those changes. Best of luck in making this decision.