Anyone have atrial fibrillation(aFib) ?

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dave holl

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Just returned from a checkup with the cardiologist. Turns out aFib has returned. It's my third time in 9 years. First two were fixed with cardioversion ( a shock to the heart to jolt it back in normal rhythm). I seem to be asymptomatic, that is, nothing obvious to tell me that my heart is in aFib. I feel like a "normal" 71 year old.
The options are: do nothing, try cardioversion again, or ablation.....a process that involves going into the heart with a catheter and, using radio waves, burning the areas that are creating the aberrant current paths. (stroke risk 5%) My blood pressure and heart rate are normal.

The doctor is conservative, saying, since I am asymptomatic, it's not worth the risk to try ablation, but he wants to do another EKG and echocardiogram next week and we'll talk more then.

Are any of you living with aFib now? I am discouraged, and I guess that's why I'm asking for some advice, from people whose threads I've read for years, and for whom I have much respect.
Thank you.
Dave
 
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I've been living with it for four years. Really not a problem, but I haven't been running, and watch my INR like a hawk. The cardiologists say, and I have had that confirmed by many other docs, that there is no more danger of a heart attack with AFIB the sinus rhythm.
But the danger is strokes.
 
yep sucks too. More'n anything I hate the blood thinners Xarelto for me and there is no antidote(yet). Mine comes and goes sometimes easily..sometimes with hospital stay. Last few times it was A flutter which is easier to ablate than Fib. Cardioversion scares the crapo outta me. I helped docs do them years ago...some patients didn't make it. Things have changed a lot over the years... And I have sick sinus syndrome also. Makes for a pulse rate of 36-40. So they put in a pacemaker.. Keeps me at 60-62..but the PM doesn't do anything for A Fib. Ablation may be the only thing that will work long term. Seek 2nd or 3rd opinions. I think there is a great cardiac place in Cleveland. In fact I just got over a hospital stay with A Fib got home last night
 
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Update

I have A-Fib also. Had a pacemaker put in a few years ago and also had the cardio conversion, which put me back in sinus rhythm. Recently went back into A-Fib and was put on Xarelto, but after one day I was getting blood in my urine. Was switched to Warfarin and no blood in urine after the switch.
However, I had some tests done and found out I have a kidney stone, 1/2" long by 1/4" wide, which I didn't know I had. No pain or signs of it being there. Going in for surgery to have it removed on 08/27. I cannot tell I'm in A-Fib, but Drs. say I am. Don't know if they will do the cardio conversion again or not.

Saw my Cardiologist today and he said that my last stress test in May showed I had weakened heart muscles, and that further he doesn't think a cardio conversion will work. As I do have a blockage or two, he wants to do a heart cath to see what shows up. I'm having it done the day before my surgery for the kidney stone, as I have to be off the Warfarin for that. He also said that if things go well, he will refer me to a heart doctor with the Cleveland Clinic to see about having an ablation done, which would be much better than the cardio conversion. Hopefully the beat goes on.:D
 
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I was fibbing about once a week for about 24 hrs. It started the day after knee replacement surgery. This went on for a little more than a year. As an active 68 yr old it drove me crazy. My Dr. recommended ablation. I did ablation last Jan. Afib stopped ,but the day after I came home it returned. After about 3-4 days it stopped and hasn't been back since. No pills either. Dr.said the short return and a couple of minor chest pains are normal as it heals. I recommend it if your Dr. does.
 
Also, the worst part, was having the cute young nurse pull the catheter out of my wiener.
 
Dave - a couple years ago, I also had A-fib at 54 years old. Didn't even realize it. Meds did not control it well, and I hated the weekly blood thinner (Warfarin) injections and testing, as well as the increased risk of stroke from blood pooling in the heart.

After 6 months of blood thinners, I had the Oblation procedure done (No pain to speak of, one day in and out procedure), and the A-fib has not returned. No more meds needed. My Dr. advised me the stroke threat from the procedure was less than 1%, much higher if left untreated.

All I can say is it worked for me, and if you are in otherwise good health, I would consider the Oblation procedure if I were in your shoes. It amazes me what medical science can do these days. Good luck with what ever route you and your Dr. decide on.

Larry
 
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Me Too

I've had A-fib and I've been cardio-verted three times. So far, I'm going on two years without A-fib. I'm on a blood thinner and cardio medication whose names are Pradaxa and Rythmerol. Seems to work.

Be advised there's a new treatment in which some sort of tiny pacemaker-like device is inserted into the heart through the femoral artery and which is supposed to stop the A-fib.

I find that with A-fib, and the medication, I lack energy. My wife and I are cyclists and I can no longer keep up with her. It feels like my heart has a governor installed, limiting the amount of oxygenated blood reaching my muscles.

Also, be advised that A-fib should not be dismissed lightly. Untreated, it increases your chances of suffering a stroke.
 
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I was not a candidate for a stroke, but I had a minor one a couple years ago and they performed MANY tests including wearing a heart monitor 24-7 for a month and about 8 different ultra sounds, a couple MRIs. Even with all the tests could not find a reason for the stroke but they put me on one 325 grain aspirin a day to thin my blood. O boy add that to my other meds and I bruise and bleed super easy.

They suspected Afib but tests never showed it,(hence the aspirin regimen) They still have no clue why I stroked!

I saw my MRI pictures and it clearly showed that I have a couple holes in my head.(actually dead spots) Of course people that know me were not surprise by that revelation!:D
 
Heart-felt thanks for your replies and aFib stories. My next appointment is next Thursday for another EKG and echocardiogram. I plan to follow the cardiologist's advice.
To be continued....

Dave
 
dave b said:
Also, the worst part, was having the cute young nurse pull the catheter out of my wiener.
Click to expand...

The catheter doesn't go into your weiner, it goes in your groin into an artery.

I've had a-fib for years. Started back in 1980's. Since then I've had one cardioversion, about 4 radial ablations, and one cryo-ablation back in 2012, and I've been well ever since.
I initially has a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted in 1986. Then, when the battery was wearing down (1990), I opted for an ablation to see if that could help me, and not have to keep having surgeries to replace my device every 4 years.
I was on Warfarin and also Coumadin on and off, and for the past few years, one 325 grain aspirin to keep my blood thinned. Seems to be working fine. I also take a drug called Sotalol.
I am 68 y/o.
Good luck to you at your next appointment.
 
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More than one kind of catheter. I'm thinking he knew which one he had. ��
 
The one in your Weiner is to keep you from watering down the work bench.
 
My doctor found A-fib on my EKG when I had my annual physical last winter. I went to a cardiologist for a stress test, and the A-fib went away under stress! Lesson learned: Get my butt on a treadmill now and then and do a little light working out!

Good luck to you, Dave...I'm sure you'll be just fine. :)
 
Had an ablasion done in Feb, the morning after the Super Bowl, end of issues. 6AM at the hospital came early that day.

It worked for me. No more dizziness, feeling faint, almost passing out etc.

Bob
 
The stroke that my wife is recovering from now was a result of afib and coumadin. She has been in afib for 8 and a half years and the coumadin has worked well. She was needing a nerve block to help some pain in her back so the back doc wanted her off the thinner for several days. Long story short, day 5 off the thinner and she had the stroke.
Our lesson learned was if any other doc want you off the thinners double check with your cardiologist.
Larry
 
My father who is 71 has been dealing with afib since he was a kid. He had the ablation surgery in January and is doing great, it can take up to a year to heal, and for your heart to relearn how to beat properly again. His Dr. Name is Wilbur Suh Google his name he is the leading dr in this procedure. In the real delicate areas of the heart he sends up a ballon and freezes the bloon to burn the vary thin part of the heart.
 
Coumadin stinks.

At least for me. I can't get the INR stabilized. So when I got A-fib, we went straight to ablation. Worked like a charm.
 
For the last three years, I have been pacemaker dependent as my heart and brain aren't on speaking terms. I am still in aFib even after a his ablation.

I feel fine.

The only drawback to buying a used pacemaker from eBay is every time I scratch myself, I open my neighbor's garage door.
 
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