Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Well, I had my 1st Afib encounter in 2015 when I was 63. It was so scary. I went to the ER and spent the night. Left the next day on 100mg Flecanide. Also learned I had severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. So, we left Florida and headed home. Went to Mayo Clinic, in Rochester. That was all 7 years ago. I just had open heart surgery for that tricuspid valve and mitral valve repair. I have put all my trust in Mayo. Afib is no fun. I am in it all the time but the meds are helping keep the heart beat
at a decent rate. So try not to be too overly concerned. However, that is being said by one of the biggest worriers ever!!😉

Hi, although I have had heart palpitations most of my life, checked a few times over the years with Holter monitors and diagnosed as benign, I was diagnosed with AFib in January this year (2022). Beginning in December, I had 3 AFib events that lasted 1, 5 and 7 hours, respectively, then one that lasted 2 hours while on the Holter monitor that diagnosed the condition, and recently one event that lasted 55 minutes while on 50mg Flecainide twice daily and 25 mg metoprolol once daily. While that so far is the extent of my longer-lasting AFib events, this diagnosis has kind of shifted me from being a very aerobically active, outdoorsy man of 75 years young on no meds to a confused, fearful, incapacitated old man. Of course, i am enormously grateful for my good health into my senior years, and I realize that this new challenge in my life is a shock that will take getting used to. But I do find myself in constant fear that my next heartbeat will turn into the wildly irregular and racing heart of an AFib event. Nights are the worst as I wake up several times at night with a too-fast pulse that turns out, I think, to be from anxiety rather than AFib. The biggest problem for me so far with trying to get a grip on this is total confusion, uncertainty, and doubt because there is so much information and there are so many different opinions out there about the wide variety of medications and other treatments for AFib. That’s why I am truly pleased to have found this Mayo Clinic Connect. I am looking forward to learning more from all of you about this condition by reading about your experiences and asking any questions I come up with as time goes on. Thank you!

Hi, I'm Polly. I'm 58 yrs old and I began with tachycardia in 2018. At my Dr visit, my heart rate was around 150 bpm. Was then referred to my cardiologist. A cardiac work up completed with normal results. Continued to experience episodes of tachycardia. F/U with cardiologist, the plan was to insert an implantable loop recorder to detect continous heart rhythm. This cardiac devise revealed the dx of Inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Have been on 3 beta blockers to help manage tachycardia but have been experiencing sob, chest pains, fatigue along with other symptoms. My cardiologist has recommended a calcium channel blocker to take 2x/day. Has anyone been diagnosed with IST?

I would like to wean off 25mg Metoprolol ER Succnate 1 X / day. I am 77 yr. female and had never taken any medication/s until Jan 26 2022. I hate the way I feel. I may ask my doctor about Bystolic (supposed to not have the side effects of Metoprolol), but what I would really like is getting off medication altogether. Has anyone tried Beetroot supplements as an alternative to prescription drugs?

For members using Apple Watch: have you noticed a correlation between HRV (heart rate variability) and Afib episodes?

Why are people talking about “antidote for Eliquis “? Wondering b/c I just started taking it a week ago, for Afib.

Your Welcome, and yes there is nothing wrong with good planning as we age. I too have an advanced directive and have also set aside the cost of final expenses so my loved ones will not be burdened with those issues. I know it gives me peace of mind also.

Thank you for your response, it is helpful and leads me to the next resource which is the manufacturer of my pacer to understand it’s capabilities. Fortunately, I know who to call. I never considered the mechanism might have a fail safe built into it. My heart is strong as a muscle, and I have no other heart or vascular issues. It’s a strange thing to try to second guess my body and try to plan for care later in life. I know the Advance Directives help MD’s deal with families and satisfy lawyers mostly, but it’s not a bad thing to have to consider sickness in my body, and where we might go from here, and be grateful to the miracle of all it tries to do for me. I appreciate you reaching out to me, you have a great heart!

Hello... everyone! I am female, 69 y.o., I have been diagnosed with SSS or sick sinus syndrome, with Tachycardia and Bradycardia with pauses and Atrial Fibrillation. Not candidate for pace maker. But don't know why. I fail to ask cardiologist. 2021 has been crazy on the high blood pressure and has not been under control, changing meds at intervals. Back in 2016 (morbid obese at 480#, down to 207# in 2019, and now back up at 297#), I had congestive heart failure, the pulmonigist/geriatric/internist/sleep disorders doctor diagnosed.... while the cardiologist said that it wasn't...... so the pulmonoligist said it could easily be confused with Pulmonary Hypertension as they are closely related. Whether it is one or the other, I read somewhere, life expectancy is 3-5 years. If that is true, then I might be on verge of heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure is not controlled. Plus other health issues are bombarding me, such as non-diabetic, peripheral neuropathy with symptoms more intense and timed longer (pins, needles n occasional numbness hands n sometimes arms whole asleep plus persistent numbness n burning right hip joint, despite Lyrica/pregabalin 100mg changed recently to gabapentin 300mg. I am looking to acquire more Information on this whole heart n neuropathy issue. Any input is highly appreciated.

Hi Karin, welcome to connect,, Actually I have faced this question. I did have a pacemaker defibulator for many years prior to my Heart Transplant, At the time I worked at an agency that had portable defibrillators everywhere and wanted to know how to handle a possibly emergency. My EP Cardiologist told me Actually pacemakers are designed to shut down if a external defibrillator was in use and don't worry about it. If that ever happen we can reset the pacemaker after the event is over. I also had a fellow worker with afib who had a pacemaker also and did not have a built n in defibrillator but was converted a number of times and it did not affect the pacemaker. So you may want to ask your EP Cardiologist about that.
Hope that helps.
Blessings