Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Hello. Thank you for sharing. I will put in my two cents: if the pacemaker is a definite cure, and in view of the pauses andthe procedure being simple and minimally invasive and relatively safe, I would definitely consider it.

Dear "isabelk,"

It is not my place to give medical advice. But I can give life advice. Make sure you are feeling heard by your doctor. If that is not true? You don't have a doctor. Your doctor's care should be all on YOU, not on the bottom line or on how your treatment may be profitable. Unfortunately, we are headed into a time of mistrust. It is essential you get your personal needs met. I do not know your case. But I care about you.

Dear hello I cannot figure out this text handle brat stuff,

I am still here, tomorrow is not clear. Today is near. We will persevere.

I'm a 63 yo male. I starting having palpitations last April and took myself to urgent care where they diagnosed me being in VT. They rushed me a to a local hospital in Baltimore where they stabilized me. The next day I had a heart cath which revealed 90% blockages and the next day I underwent quadruple bypass. Sadly, the bypass did not fully resolve the VT and I had an ICD put in. My EP scheduled me for Ventricular Ablation and as part of that preparation took me off Amiodarone 8 weeks prior to the ablation appt. Amiodarone is the main drug that controls my VT and one should not stay on it long term. The EP claimed that I needed to be off it so that during the ablation he could see where the VT was occurring. When pressed, he called it a calculated risk. I lost the bet and 2 weeks into being off the drug, I experienced a VT storm and my ICD went off while I was driving. Fortunately, I was able to control the car. I wound up in the hospital for 2 days getting reloaded on the Amio. I changed EPs who scheduled me for an ablation without taking me off the Amio and sadly, he could not get my heart to go into VT while under anesthesia. So no ablation was done. Ironically, upon coming out of anesthesia, my PVCs started right back up again. My doctor is now telling me that although my heart structure is very good and performing well, I will just have to manage the VT with medicine. I've read that lifestyle changes are important too. No caffeine, very little if any alcohol, etc. I have always been active and exercised and I drive a lot for my work. So it's all very worrying and disappointing that even one of the best VT specialists in the country could not find where to ablate. The CT and MRIs did not show any scar tissue. So it's likely an irritated nerve ending, I am told. I'm trying to get used to the idea of living with this the rest of my life.

I am 76. All I can say is, I wouldn't.

I am sorry to hear this. My story is similar ( over 3 years now). I have changed cardiologists and am about to see another electrophysiologist in New Orleans. I fear I will hear the same . My episodes are “ nonsustained” but beta blockers, calcium channel blockers do not control my v-tach. I have almost passed out while driving but never been shocked by my defibrillator until I underwent a surgery for melanoma ( no one mentioned this to me until a pacer rep did an interrogation). I have been on amiodarone( almost went into full CHF. Most recently tried propafenone with control but same side effect. ( my abdomen looked like I was 9 months pregnant and I couldn’t breathe. I have had possible POTS, ruled out anxiety, ruled out thyroid, ruled out potassium, magnesium and calcium problems. Was told to try lexapro( I refused). Now being told possibly brugada syndrome. Very erratic heart rhythm in the evening and especially after meals. Hopefully I will find some solution. I have HCM ( nonobstructive). Good luck but try not to settle. I am a usually healthy, active 65 yr old!

Wow, I found some great resources out here about AFIB!

I began getting notifications of afib on my fitbit about 2 years ago, saw my doc and a cardiologist, and was put on Xarelto. About 6 months later I had a massive bleed, got 2 units of blood, and have been unwilling to take Xarelto ever since.

I have been on a Beta blocker for years. My physician recently took me off of it due to bradycardia. Since then, my pafib occurs more often, and I have wide qrs. I also have right bundle branch block.

I have been referred for a 3 day monitor and appointment with my cardiologist, but I am wondering if I should be looking for an electrophysiologist? Any thoughts?

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Yes, you should consult with a cardiologist initially, see if you can control the AF with medication, and you should probably get in line to see an electrophysiologist (EP). The cardiologist can maybe stabilize you. You want to be in AF as little as possible in order to keep your heart in good shape. If he/she can do that, then you have bought some peace of mind and can stand to wait a bit until you see an EP.

Some of your consideration will be how AF makes you feel. Some of us cannot abide it...it makes us feel awful, and it almost ruins our lives. Others have no idea, no sensations, and they don't really care as a result. You have to learn more, decide what your risk is for developing other heart problems if your events begin to pile up and you're spending more and more time in AF. AF begets AF...so don't be in AF!