Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Feb 14, 2018

Welcome to the Heart Rhythm Conditions group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Did you know that the average heart beats 100,000 times a day? Millions of people live with heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) which occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don't work properly. Let's connect with each other; we can share stories and learn about coping with the challenges, and living well with abnormal heart rhythms. I invite you to follow the group. Simply click the +FOLLOW icon on the group landing page.

I'm Kanaaz (@kanaazpereira), and I'm the moderator of this group. When you post to this group, chances are you'll also be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

eileena | @eileena | Feb 12, 2020

The problem with AFIB is the heart is not pumping the blood around for you. I do think you might need the ablation, but, due to your age the Docs are rather hesitant lest they cause far more damage than good.

Keep taking care of your self; rest, keep up your lifestyle as some exercise is better than none.

lalton | @lalton | Feb 12, 2020

I had no cardiovascular problems and exercised regularly running, climbing stairs, burpees, bicycling, etc for many years. A Dr found I had an irregular ECG around age 75 but I didn't think I had any heart problems so I didn't follow up with a cardiologist. Around age 80 I was diagnosed with afib and it has gotten steadily worse till now at age 85. Exercise is a trigger for me and I haven't been doing much strenuous activity at all lately. I do not purposely exercise; only gardening, and walking or biking short distances. My cardiologist and electrophysiologist recommend that I do not take an ablation risk because I do not have any symptoms like fainting, dizziness, etc. I believe that paying attention to your lifestyle and symptoms as the disease progresses and adapting accordingly will work. Everyone has different health conditions, symptoms and lifestyles, so the best solutions are varied accordingly.

I have afib frequently; the last two afib occurances were about 4-5 days/episode with a 3-4 day break with no afib between episodes. I am now thinking I can live with continuous afib if it happens; before I tried hard to avoid afib and rested a lot when in afib, but not so much now. Find good honest doctors which are interested in solving your problems, not making more money. I do take many supplements including magnesium and potassium and blood thinning supplements. I also take 2.5 mg eliquis, and 1/2 adult aspirin when in afib.
Some research on extreme exercise and afib:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5818379/
https://www.google.com/search?q=afib+caused+by+extreme+exercise&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS770US770&oq=afib+caused+by+extreme+exercise&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.16432j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

sue225 | @sue225 | Feb 12, 2020

Not really a migraine. No headache. Apparently a twitchy irritated retina.

eileena | @eileena | Feb 12, 2020

I had those until I had my heart procedure. If you are not getting enough blood to your head you will probably have those ocular migraines.

I've provided a links to the articles that I read.
https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20060718/migraine-aura-ups-heart-risk#1
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/migraine-cardiovascular-disease/

eileena | @eileena | Feb 12, 2020

In reply to @crashnam "Hello. I've had problems with PVC's and SVT's for about 45 years. Basically started when I..." + (show)

@crashnam

Hello. I've had problems with PVC's and SVT's for about 45 years. Basically started when I came back from Vietnam. Anyway, PVC's are skipping and fluttering, etc. in the lower chambers of the heart, and SVT's are the irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers of the heart. I got used to experiencing both over the years even though they could get pretty bothersome at times. I worked with them, and played with them. My problem is that I felt every one of them and still do. They can be very alarming at times. Anyway, on occasion during this period I would experience a sudden burst of racing which would last 8-10 seconds or so and then stop. About 8 years ago when I was work sitting at my desk I experienced this sudden onset of speed with my heart but this time it didn't go away. It lasted for 14 hours at approximately 180-200 BPM. It ran its course I guess and when I woke up I was back to a normal heartbeat rate, with the exception of my normal palpitations of course. Well, as time went on the intervals between episodes became shorter and shorter. I did get a cardiologist and tried to manage it when the episodes occurred, but medication never seemed to slow it down. Went to ER with the episodes only three or four times over the 8 years because I just wanted to tough it out. It's called Paroxysmal AFIB which means it's not persistent or permanent like you have at this time. In talking to my cardiologists an ablation was mentioned from time to time. I was really scared about it. But in April of 2019 I decided to go through with it since I never knew when an episode was going to hit. They scheduled it for June of 2019 and about two weeks prior the episodes were getting pretty bad. Luckily I made it to the day of ablation and at that point I told my Dr. just do what you gotta do. Took about four hours. I spent the night and went home the next day. A little scared because my heart still felt a little weird. I've been AFIB free for 8 months with the exception of a few minor episodes lasting 10-15 seconds but that's it. Still have my normal skipping and jumping but the AFIB was actually the biggest concern. They say that sometimes you need another one or at least some touch up if it comes back. I would most certainly do it again if need be. The success rate is pretty high with the type of AFIB I had, but permanent AFIB like you have can be taken care of as well with an ablation. Success rate is a little lower but the key is that there is success. I've always taken as few medications as possible over the years, and still don't take much other than a blood thinner (Eliquis) and metoprolol. At 70, I still smoke and drink beer on occasion. I guess I would be considered a renegade but I live my life the way I want to. Feel free to ask me any questions. This is a pretty lengthy response to you, but there are many things I could probably fill in for you.
Larry Hall.

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Perhaps you could use an AliveCor device. It can register both Afibs and PVCs. I had PVCs regularly at 10/minute for quite a while. Then in 2015 they decided to get a little bit more frequent. It was the blood bank that spotted them, BUT called them only skipped beats. When they were checked by a cardiologist in 2013 he claimed they were harmless and at 10/minute not so bad, except that the blood was getting stuck inside my heart and in 2015 I began having signs of heart attack; profuse sweating, bad fatigue, sleeping for 2 hours after work, shortness of breath, fuzzy brain work. That was when they had increased to 20/minute.

When they got to the point of causing all those problem, mimicking a heart attack, my GP sent me to get one test, can't recall which one now, then to see a cardiologist who ordered the Angiogram on a Tuesday, and I had the Quad on Friday of same week, BUT...still had the PVCs. So about 3 months later I had the ablation. Best decision. Though I still get the occasional PVC they rarely show up in my AliveCor readings.

If you get one take it to your Cardiologist and ask what to look for. The PVCs will look like little beats close to the previous one followed with a long gap when the beat returns to normal.

I have recorded only 2 Afibs in the 4.5 years I've had mine and the devise will let you know you are having AFIBs. It helps you tell the cardiologist the number of times you are in AFIB or having PVCs.

sue225 | @sue225 | Feb 12, 2020

In reply to @healthytoday "What to do...I look up the side effects of each one, and they all have a..." + (show)

Yes, I have had flashing in one eye. Twice in the last two years. It's been diagnosed by the opthalmologist as an ocular migraine. The retina gets irritated. (Nothing to do with the metoprolol which I take to control a ventricular arrythmia). Important to have it checked to ensure it's nothing serious (e.g. detached retina).

healthytoday | @healthytoday | Feb 12, 2020

In reply to @suzanne2019 "I was on slow release metropolol(beta blocker) felt like crap, rtightness in chest and upper body...." + (show)

What to do...I look up the side effects of each one, and they all have a list. I guess it's trial and error. I'm on metropolol for rate control on my afib...Only been on it about one year. Anyway, I'm grateful for what works. Any one having flashing in one eye?

bill54321 | @bill54321 | Feb 12, 2020

In reply to @kates1221 "bill54321 thank you so much for taking to time to reach out to me. I eat..." + (show)

Yes .Some herbes, spinage, cranberry etc are generally to be avoided. I have been told consistently, it is O.K to eat them on occasion, Just don't put them in the frig and eat on them until they are gone. Eat a portion and do not eat it again for 2 to 3 weeks. This is what the Coumadin lab at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, NM says. Those are from Pharmacists

jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Feb 12, 2020

I've been on metoprolol for over 6 years, now up to 50 mg for past 2 years or so -- never had any problem with it. I tolerate it very well. Back in 1996, I weaned myself off of Tenormin because of similar issues -- fatigue, depression. I had been on it for 11 years. I didn't have any problems (at least nothing overly significant) until 2013 and had a bunch of stuff going on -- was put on the metoprolol. Works for me!

mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Feb 12, 2020

In reply to @suzanne2019 "I was on slow release metropolol(beta blocker) felt like crap, rtightness in chest and upper body...." + (show)

I was put on that years ago and I had to stop due to similar issues. This is a bad drug.

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