Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

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.

Profile picture for sue225 @sue225

It's only happened to me twice in my life. And the opthalmologist specifically said retina irritation. I had no other symptoms. No aura. No blackness. Just at the edge of one eye like looking through a kaleidoscope.pieces breaking apart.

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I read your post. Some Psychologist have Biofeedback certification for medicare. I am not saying yours are mental. The Psychologist took over much of the biofeedback training earlier. But a referral to a certified Biofeedback practictioner would give you answer in several sessions, if this might work for you. Must be BFCIAC.Biofeedback Certification Institute of America Certified.

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Profile picture for lalton @lalton

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..69i57j33.16432j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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I read your posts. What I did not hear was what make your pace maker is. Is it a demand unit that controls Like 60 level? With all those symptoms, you do have a simple pace maker don't you.? I thought I never needed one. After implant, WoW did I have more energy or what?I had Afib all my life. I use eliquist to regulate blood thinning.

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Natural methods are really great. However, since MDs get so little training in nutrition and the pharmaceutical industry does really have heavy hands in getting MDs to embrace the drugs they manufacture there is little room for natural methods.

Try changing your MD for an Osteopath. They do have more nutrition education in their curriculum path to earn that Osteopath title. But some of them are reluctant to buck the pharmaceutical industry and the AMA.

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I take xarelto. It supposedly doesn't interact with any type of food, but I worry about the blood thinning effects of some foods like garlic, which I think would really help my blood pressure. One burning question in my mind is, if these foods thin the blood naturally, why are they not the first line of defense instead of blood thinning medication. My whole life I have used natural remedies for different things. But this time, I told myself that this is not a cold, or a pulled muscle. This is my heart. It terrified me and I am afraid to make a mistake by using non FDA approved methods to prevent blood clots cause by my afib. So I follow my doctor's orders and take my meds. Any ideas on this?

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Thanks @yoanne. Never knew the actual nomenclature, only "ocular migraines". That is exactly what mine were. I no longer have to endure them.

When I went on the web I saw some persons had taken the time to make gifs of the visual effect. Mine looked like crescents of leaded glass but were not like stained glass as they had no color effects. Began having them around the time I turned 43 and had great amounts of stress coming from supervisor and the effects of caring for a disabled teen who even at age 41 needs care that due to age (I'm now 70) and heart problems is more difficult for me to provide.

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Thanks. Will google it.

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Profile picture for sue225 @sue225

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).

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hello sue 225, this is called "scintillating scotoma". you will find the description , wenn you google it, it can happen in one or two eyes. it belongs to the migraine auras. , not necessarly followed by headache.
yoanne

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Ya know your description of the visual is exactly like mine and the ophthalmologist called them ocular migraines.

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I have the kardia monitor. Also have a YAMAY Smart Watch, $46 on amazon- great value!, which gives me my continuous bpm and history which lets me know when I am exerting too much, etc.

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Profile picture for eileena @eileena

Occular migraines do not always cause pounding headaches, nor do they cause the pressure observed with the other types of migraine. Having been a slave to them for about 15 or so years I can testify that I did not always get the pain associated with migraines though I did get the visual auras and even sometimes lost my vision completely and saw only blackness.

Each time I simply used some homeopathic remedies to allow my veins to dilate and then followed with several cups of tea to cause even constriction of same. Later, when I had the heart procedure the migraines almost completely disappeared and have had only 2 in 4.5 years as the blood was actually getting to my head due to cleared out arteries.

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It's only happened to me twice in my life. And the opthalmologist specifically said retina irritation. I had no other symptoms. No aura. No blackness. Just at the edge of one eye like looking through a kaleidoscope.pieces breaking apart.

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