Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

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.

Thanks for this. Funny you should mention a device for monitoring those things - I literally was looking into those when your message arrived, for the exact reasons you stated.
Not worried at all about the hip - it's doing well. I had a knee replacement some years back and have done 2 Nepal trips with it without a problem so am confident I can assess its readiness by next October.
My cardiologist tends to give me about 5 minutes of his time and just doesn't seem to understand that not everyone wants to live a sedentary lifestyle. When I saw him for hip surgery clearance and mentioned a future trekking trip he said I should take up swimming instead because of the hip and didn't even mention my heart! I really would like to find a cardiologist who has experience with this type of activity.
You make an excellent point about remoteness, but that is a factor for everyone doing these trips - there is always the risk of a problem (altitude sickness, injury, etc) and turning back or even helicopter rescues are quite common. I guess my risk would be somewhat higher due to AFib. From what I've read I might need a slower schedule in order to acclimatize going up; we are always very particular about that but would need to be even more so.
Sorry but I'm not familiar with PVC.

The Nepal trip sounds like a lot to take on with Afib, medications, and a recent hip replacement. I would suggest that you use a device (e.g., Apple Watch) that monitors your heart rate, detects Afib, oxygen levels, etc. so that you know what is going on when you are training. And of course, get clearance from your cardiologist. In the past, I had a lot of difficulty running when I was put on a beta blocker for PVCs. What would concern me more is that you may not be within reach of medical care if you have a problem when you are trekking in Nepal.

I do hike at sea level too but it doesn't hold a candle to the Himalayas. I actually don't know if I have tachycardia but I don't have any chest pain and so far no shortness of breath. My Afib seems to be well controlled with my meds so far and the only time I notice it is if I have a bit of alcohol.

Honestly? Can you take up hiking at sea level altitudes?! Do you have tachycardia or shortness of breath or chest pain with your afib? Is it continuous?

Hi. My name is Doug. I'm 70 years of age and was diagnosed with AFib a year ago. I'm on Eliquis, Bisoprolol and Flecainide and these seem to control my condition very well. I am usually very active although not much in the past year to to hip problems, but after a hip replacement 4 months ago I am just getting back on my feet. I'm hoping to do another multi week trekking trip in Nepal which would include altitudes up to 5,000 metres (16,000 feet). My last Nepal trip was in 2019 and I handled the heavy exertion and altitude quite well after training hard, but that was pre-Afib. However the new meds have slowed my heart rate considerably and I'm not sure how realistic this is. I'm thinking with my "pump" running at a lower speed it could be pretty difficult doing this sort of trip again. Would welcome any thoughts from others.

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.

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?

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

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