1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

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.

soph | @soph | Feb 5, 2020
In reply to @kancha "I am a 74 years old female. All along I had very healthy life. Being a..." + (show)
@kancha

I am a 74 years old female. All along I had very healthy life. Being a professor at university I had hectic life style. Stating at six in morning going till late at night. I started feeling heart pulsating with higher rate around five years ago. But it did not trouble me. (I never had any other symptom ever. Neither at this time not even now which is acsurprise) Then I went for a routine yearly check up and my cardiologist got concerned with my ECG. He asked me to take a number of exams. . Then asked me to take some medicine and come back after two months.i came to USA and had my cataract surgery. I heard the doctor say that the surgery was successful and then I open my eyes in intensive care unit. They said my pulsewent to 200 and I had to be under observation. They gave me metaprolol and relived me after few hours witha warning that I should go to heart specialist as soon as possible. Next week I went to HS and he confirmed it was Afib. He put me on Eliquis and metaprolol and had cardiac procedure with electric shock after a month. For a day I was out of Afib but then it came back. For a year I took these medications. Then changed the HS. The new one after a month told my heart was getting affected so either I go for ablation ( which I did not want ) or take Tikosyn. This medicine will be given in a hospital, I will be admitted and supervised for three days but first dose it self can make my pulse rate out of control leading to death ( though they will not let it happen) I was puzelled. Why should I take a medicineto die. I said no. After rethinkingfor a month I told him I will go for it because I do not want to livewith the fear of stroke. I tool it and it brought me in sinus rhythm. It is since Nov 2018. I am out of Afib thanks to my HS at UCSF and Tikosyn (The generic name is dofetilide ) it costs me $100 .00 pm but it is keeping me out of Afib. I do not know why my other doctor did not try this?

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It sounds like you are doing well now. I am 85, I've been taking Tikosyn for 4 years. For the first 2 years I had no return of afib. Now I have it occasionally. One trigger is jumping up too fast in the morning. If it comes back sometimes, see if you can figure out what triggers it. It sounds like you are a hard worker. You might have to slow down a bit as "healthy today" recommends. Good luck!

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Feb 5, 2020
In reply to @kancha "I am a 74 years old female. All along I had very healthy life. Being a..." + (show)
@kancha

I am a 74 years old female. All along I had very healthy life. Being a professor at university I had hectic life style. Stating at six in morning going till late at night. I started feeling heart pulsating with higher rate around five years ago. But it did not trouble me. (I never had any other symptom ever. Neither at this time not even now which is acsurprise) Then I went for a routine yearly check up and my cardiologist got concerned with my ECG. He asked me to take a number of exams. . Then asked me to take some medicine and come back after two months.i came to USA and had my cataract surgery. I heard the doctor say that the surgery was successful and then I open my eyes in intensive care unit. They said my pulsewent to 200 and I had to be under observation. They gave me metaprolol and relived me after few hours witha warning that I should go to heart specialist as soon as possible. Next week I went to HS and he confirmed it was Afib. He put me on Eliquis and metaprolol and had cardiac procedure with electric shock after a month. For a day I was out of Afib but then it came back. For a year I took these medications. Then changed the HS. The new one after a month told my heart was getting affected so either I go for ablation ( which I did not want ) or take Tikosyn. This medicine will be given in a hospital, I will be admitted and supervised for three days but first dose it self can make my pulse rate out of control leading to death ( though they will not let it happen) I was puzelled. Why should I take a medicineto die. I said no. After rethinkingfor a month I told him I will go for it because I do not want to livewith the fear of stroke. I tool it and it brought me in sinus rhythm. It is since Nov 2018. I am out of Afib thanks to my HS at UCSF and Tikosyn (The generic name is dofetilide ) it costs me $100 .00 pm but it is keeping me out of Afib. I do not know why my other doctor did not try this?

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Sounds like you are ok. Good. Read up on the subject. There are lot's of articles and ideas. There are two ways to handle afib. One is to get the heart back in rhythm, Tikosyn. The other is rate control where the heart may go in and out of afib, but the metaprolol helps keep the heart rate down and that helps you feel better. I've done both. I also have heart valve issues so it's complicated with me. I haven't had any surgery and feel pretty good. I'm 72. Also, Eliquis is an anticoagulant and helps prevent stroke. I'm on both Eliquis and metaprolol. Sounds iike you blasted your way through life and it finally caught up with you. Time to slow down, as boring as it is.
.

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kancha | @kancha | Feb 5, 2020

I am a 74 years old female. All along I had very healthy life. Being a professor at university I had hectic life style. Stating at six in morning going till late at night. I started feeling heart pulsating with higher rate around five years ago. But it did not trouble me. (I never had any other symptom ever. Neither at this time not even now which is acsurprise) Then I went for a routine yearly check up and my cardiologist got concerned with my ECG. He asked me to take a number of exams. . Then asked me to take some medicine and come back after two months.i came to USA and had my cataract surgery. I heard the doctor say that the surgery was successful and then I open my eyes in intensive care unit. They said my pulsewent to 200 and I had to be under observation. They gave me metaprolol and relived me after few hours witha warning that I should go to heart specialist as soon as possible. Next week I went to HS and he confirmed it was Afib. He put me on Eliquis and metaprolol and had cardiac procedure with electric shock after a month. For a day I was out of Afib but then it came back. For a year I took these medications. Then changed the HS. The new one after a month told my heart was getting affected so either I go for ablation ( which I did not want ) or take Tikosyn. This medicine will be given in a hospital, I will be admitted and supervised for three days but first dose it self can make my pulse rate out of control leading to death ( though they will not let it happen) I was puzelled. Why should I take a medicineto die. I said no. After rethinkingfor a month I told him I will go for it because I do not want to livewith the fear of stroke. I tool it and it brought me in sinus rhythm. It is since Nov 2018. I am out of Afib thanks to my HS at UCSF and Tikosyn (The generic name is dofetilide ) it costs me $100 .00 pm but it is keeping me out of Afib. I do not know why my other doctor did not try this?

REPLY
2 replies
healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 20, 2020
In reply to @catro "Thanks. I go by Catro. My irregulat heartbeat is relatively recent. I noticed it a little..." + (show)
@catro

Thanks. I go by Catro. My irregulat heartbeat is relatively recent. I noticed it a little over a month ago. Started supplementing with magnesium and it went away for awhile but is back now and magnesium no longer seems to work. Had my blood level checked and it was 7.7 on a 1-15 scale of normal. I have an appointment with my cardiologist Wednesday. He has been following me for a mild aortic valve regurgitation since I had a triple bypass three years ago. Could there be a connection? I hope to find out.

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How do you feel?

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catro | @catro | Jan 20, 2020

Thanks. I go by Catro. My irregulat heartbeat is relatively recent. I noticed it a little over a month ago. Started supplementing with magnesium and it went away for awhile but is back now and magnesium no longer seems to work. Had my blood level checked and it was 7.7 on a 1-15 scale of normal. I have an appointment with my cardiologist Wednesday. He has been following me for a mild aortic valve regurgitation since I had a triple bypass three years ago. Could there be a connection? I hope to find out.

REPLY
1 reply
dsisko | @dsisko | Jan 4, 2020

I had an ablation in August and have had no problems since. Am on Lorsatan once a day and Eliquis 2x daily. Previously had afib 2-3x/week. I'm wondering what's holding your doctor back from the ablation. So glad I had it as I worry less and am comfortable that my health is much better.

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1 reply
dyannne | @dyannne | Jan 4, 2020
In reply to @ch665296f "It looks as though we have similar issues. I have been diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,..." + (show)
@ch665296f

It looks as though we have similar issues. I have been diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular tachycardia, and some myocardial bridging. I have just about every test imaginable the last two years, and so far i'm being treated with drugs. I have worn a holter monitor 4 times, the last being a month long. At the present I have had a loop monitor installed to monitor my heart rhythms 24/7. I could have this in place for 3 years. I believe from this monitoring, my team of cardiologist will be able to determine whether or not I will need an ablation. They seem to be covering all the bases before any more invasive action is taken. Personally, I wish the pace would pick up a little. I'm getting pretty tired of being tired.

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I put off having an ablation after my cardiologist first suggested it. I put it off for two or three years after reading a few negatives about it on the internet. When I finally had it done after I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, I kicked myself for having put it off. I felt SO much better. I got my life back.

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ch665296f | @ch665296f | Jan 4, 2020

It looks as though we have similar issues. I have been diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular tachycardia, and some myocardial bridging. I have just about every test imaginable the last two years, and so far i'm being treated with drugs. I have worn a holter monitor 4 times, the last being a month long. At the present I have had a loop monitor installed to monitor my heart rhythms 24/7. I could have this in place for 3 years. I believe from this monitoring, my team of cardiologist will be able to determine whether or not I will need an ablation. They seem to be covering all the bases before any more invasive action is taken. Personally, I wish the pace would pick up a little. I'm getting pretty tired of being tired.

REPLY
1 reply
elegantgem | @elegantgem | Jan 4, 2020
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello @saddleup, Welcome to Connect. I moved your message and combined it with this discussion as..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hello @saddleup,

Welcome to Connect. I moved your message and combined it with this discussion as I thought it would be beneficial for you to connect with the many members who are talking about Afib.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Would you be able to share a few more details? Have you been diagnosed with Afib? If so, how are you managing it? I look forward to hearing from you.

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Hi, I haven't posted for awhile but am experiencing abnormal heart beats more frequently. One doctor is recommending
an ablation and one doesn't think it will help very much. My problem is irregular heart beats and a feeling I am going to faint. Although I never have. I was wondering if people could tell me how often this happened to them before they went ahead with an ablation.

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ksbluebird | @ksbluebird | May 21, 2019
In reply to @elegantgem "I definitely have high heart rhythms. I was hospitalized for beats over 200 recently. My doctor..." + (show)
@elegantgem

I definitely have high heart rhythms. I was hospitalized for beats over 200 recently. My doctor is constantly telling me not to let this stop me from exercising. My condition is not considered life threatening. But whenever I exercise my heart is ok until I stop and about 5 minutes later my heart is racing. I usually wait it out but do have 30 mg of dil tiazem if I need it. Does anyone know of a good exercise book that is gentle on the body? I do walk but it does give me issues. I am gaining weight but I hardly eat. My doctor isn't for an ablation since she feels there are risks for me.

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You might check out "Silver Sneakers". Our local gym offers classes in it. It is for "seniors". Much of it is done seated. I am sure that there are videos that you can watch on YouTube, or purchase.

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