Atrial Fibrillation...anyone else dealing with this?

[c good]

I've had about 5 episodes over the last 5 years. About the only thing that will put me back into sinus rhythm is an ER run to get a little "medicine by Edison". Electric cardioversion. My cardiologist is thinking it's time for "Ablation Therapy". I'm a good candidate for the surgery based on my echocardiogram.

Has anyone else here been dealing with A-Fib? Also, has anyone else here had the "ablation therapy" and if so, how did it work for you? Thanks for any input. c good

 

[Oldiron]

c good,
My wife has been dealing with it for six years. The cardioversions didn't help. First one held 15 min, the second one never took. She is on Coumadin for the rest of her life. One of the doctors, in the heart group my wife goes to, had the Ablation and it held for six months. My wife said no thanks. Hope this helps,
Larry

 

[ditrina]

Yup.. and it worked for me... There are some strings attached tho ( in my case) A few or two sets of pills that you'll need to take.. But the Cardio doc will set you on the right path..

He will more than likely turn you over to an
Electro-cardiologist ( Think Cardiologist " Plumber" Electro-cardiologist Electrician)

Keep us informed.. as we all wish you well..

 

[straightshooter1]

I've been in A-Fib for two plus years.

My docs recommend I stay in it. The research shows one is no more likely to have a heart attack in A-Fib that in Sinus Rhythm.

The danger is the 1-2% chance of a stroke, a 1-2% higher risk than people not in A-Fib.. The docs say that if I take my coumadin and stay in A-Fib, rather than going in and out, I should be okay.

They hasten to add that something will kill me, however , but probably not the A-Fib.

Issues-yes, shortness of breath if I walk too fast or too far or try to do too much in the way of exercise/physical work.

If I was a good candidate to get out of this, I would, but, again the docs tell me, the danger is greatest in passing between A-Fib and Sinus Rhythm when a clot could break loose and WHAMMO, hello stroke.

I rarely notice it, though once in a while I can feel the irregular beat of my heart.

I have enough other problems, medically, that this A-fib is pretty much the least of them.

I know God only programmed so many beats into my heart, but I don't know when that last number is coming up, so I spend as much time as possible making memories with my friends and family.

As I have said here before, I shoot trap every single day of the week (after Church on Sundays) and my wife shoots with me on her days off. We both won some stuff this last weekend at the Florida Fall Championships, so we are having a great time.

After all, we are all gonna end up the same way, some day. I have my affairs in order in my life and in eternity, so, whenever it comes, I am ready (though I am not pushing it).

Bob

 

[Stevens]

I have been dealing with recurrent (off and on) A-fib since 2003. I've had 6 conversions since them 3 chemical and 2 electro none held more than a couple of weeks.
Three months ago the cardiologist scheduled an ablation which was to be done about 10 days ago. On the day before I had all the tests, and cat scan. I went to the hospital at 5 am to prep. for the proceedure: blood samples, IV, shaved all over except head. The nurse walked in to say my blood levels were too high ( blood too thin and could cause too much bleeding) she didn't think the Drs. would do it, next the anesthesiologist with the same opinion. Lots of conferring with the docs they decided to cancel. They said come back and see them in 3 months. The usual symptoms have never bothered me, only that my pulse gets irregular when I'm in Afib. I'm having second thoughts about doing it at all. The coumadin is a bother and I do bleed and bruise lot but, the proceedure is by no means guaranteed to get rid of the afib so we'll see how it goes. If I wind up doing it it will probably be in at least 4 months and I'll post my experience here. I'm 64 now.
Steve W.

 

[GaryS]

If you're a good candidate for it, I'd say have the ablation. I'm surprised that they've cardioverted you that many times and haven't suggested it before.

The medications given for AF don't generally convert it to a sinus rhythm, they are for rate control. If the rate remains in the same range as a normal sinus rhythm, generally patients tolerate it well. Coumadin or other blood thinners are given for clot prevention, not rate control. Even with Ablation, they might want to keep you on it (if you are on it).

I hope that they at least gave you a good dose of Versed before you Cardioversion. That stuff hurts.

 

[olcop]

atrial fibrillation

Been dealing with it a while, had a kidney stone and they discovered it about 12 years ago, now have a mechanical heart valve and a defibrillator,(and no kidney stone), defib is installed on my left side and other than some weakness in the arm doesn't seem to curtail my everyday life style much. Just can't lift anything too heavy (50 lbs or so) I'm on Warfarin and a heart rate regulator med and all the others that come with age.
I always think about it and talk about it in the following terms: I'm questioned a lot about the bruises that show on my hands and arms from the blood thinner: I usually say that if you or I were our grandfather or even our father we wouldn't be here today, the technology to keep us alive didn't exist at that time.
I'm 71 plus and every morning I wake up is one more day for me to enjoy.
olcop

 

[pownal55]

I have been dealing with afib for about 25yrs. I usually experience 8 to 12 episodes per year. After two cardiac ablations the only improvement I have seen is the episodes have been shorter but not less frequent.
I was warned before the procedure not to expect a complete cure.
Best of luck.

 

[bgrafsr]

A couple of years ago I had to have two stents due to blockages, and they found out I went into AFib while in the hospital. I came out of it a couple of times, but then I stayed in it. I went on Plavix and Coumadin and after 6 months my heart doctor took me off the Plavix as he doesn't like his patients using it for very long.

I then ended up having a pacemaker put in, and the Dr. who did that said I should think about having the cardio conversion done. I spoke with my Cardiologist, and he said it was up to me, as sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I decided to go for it, as I was tired of taking Coumadin, so I was put to sleep, my heart was stopped for several seconds, and re-started and I've been in Sinus Rhythm ever since. I do take Sotalol to help prevent going back into AFib, but don't have to take the Coumadin anymore.

I also have skip beats, which I've had since my teens, and they almost prevented me from going into the Air Force, but luckily I was passed on the physical, and don't have much trouble with them at all.

 

[brick]

My wife had cardiac ablation for her A-fib in March 0f 2010 and has been fine ever since. The heart doctor took her off her heart medicines and she is doing fine.

 

[ditrina]

If you're a good candidate for it, I'd say have the ablation. I'm surprised that they've cardioverted you that many times and haven't suggested it before.

The medications given for AF don't generally convert it to a sinus rhythm, they are for rate control. If the rate remains in the same range as a normal sinus rhythm, generally patients tolerate it well. Coumadin or other blood thinners are given for clot prevention, not rate control. Even with Ablation, they might want to keep you on it (if you are on it).

I hope that they at least gave you a good dose of Versed before you Cardioversion. That stuff hurts.

VERSED.... The 20 minute sleep drug with no loss of memory or ill effects of most other " Count backwards from 100.. >>99ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

 

[Stevens]

It sounded like Pradaxa would be a good substitute for coumadin but I have been seeing lots of ads regarding class action suits dealing with deaths from hemohraging etc. due to Pradaxa. I have no idea if they are legit or not. I am staying with the coumadin for now.
Steve W

 

[deralte]

In 06 I was to tired to do anything but go to the ER. They did a cardioversion and sent me to the Wake Heart facility in Raleigh. Since then I have had ablation surgery and it lasted for less than a year - had a defibrillator installed in 07 and a little over a year later it hit me 19 times due to being fooled by a heart valve - got new difibrillator and used it for almost 5 years - as the battery wound down they installed a new defibrillator along with a pacemaker. My heart stays in Afib mode and depends on the pacemaker to keep me going. My heart has an ejection fraction of about 20 percent. I'll be 80 in April.

 

[c good]

Thanks for all the input so far. Anyone else?

 

[gunlovingirl]

I had a-fib episodes for years. Two years ago I went into a-fib and it didn't "go away". I finally went to the ER and was admitted. They got my heart rate down to the low 80s with drugs and my blood pressure back to normal. After four months of taking Flecainide, my cardiologist suggested I have a cardioversion. After two jolts my heart went back into rhythm. The chances of going back into a-fib within a year after a successful cardioversion is pretty high, but it's been 19 months and I'm still in rhythm. My cardiologist still has me on Flecainide to help keep me from going back into a-fib, as well as Coumadin, partly because of a heart valve problem. My BIL has a pacemaker and was having problems with it because of a-fib, so he had ablation some time ago and so far he's doing fine. My best wishes and prayers to you.

 

[C Islander]

I've had open heart, two valves replaced. Three weeks ago had a defib/pacemaker implanted. We'll see how this works out.

 

[dlbx2]

My mother started having trouble in childhood. She couldn't take phys ed, anything physical. She finally had a cardiologist tell her that she had mitral valve prolapse, and put her on lanoxin. It finally got to where she made an ER visit, can't remember the meds, the doctor doubled her dose of lanoxin. Didn't bother to tell her about the depression and other psycological problems connected to high dose lanoxin. Finally went to Duke Medical Center for depression, and saw a cardiologist while there. He said no mitral valve prolapse, she had SVT and it could be treated with an ablation. After getting over the depression enough to have the procedure, she went down to Duke Hospital in the morning, and I drove down, 50 miles southwest from where I live, that evening for a visit. When we got to the room, she had her personal items packed and said that she was ready to go home. Thinking that she was still a little goofy from the Versed, I asked at the nurse's desk if she was serious and she said that she could go home if she had a ride, but couldn't let her drive until the next day. Since then, she does walks for charities, travels, and has had no problems since. She is taking no heart meds at all. She is the only person that I know that has had an ablation, so my advice is based on her experience, but it corrected hers with no problems since. Duke and UNC Heart Center have Cardiac Electrophysiologists that do great work. Good Luck.
DLB

 

[njmedic1485]

It sounded like Pradaxa would be a good substitute for coumadin but I have been seeing lots of ads regarding class action suits dealing with deaths from hemohraging etc. due to Pradaxa. I have no idea if they are legit or not. I am staying with the coumadin for now.
Steve W

There some studies showing an equal risk of bleeding with either medication (Pradaxa or Coumidin), the diference between the two is in the part of the clotting cascade they work in and that Coumidin can be reversed with FFP or Fresh Frozen Plasma a blood product. FFP will not help with Pradaxa. Both agents have multiple decade histories of use in Europe.
bob

 

[Shuutr]

I'm a pharmacist that used to run a Coumadin clinic so not a cardiologist but I do have some info/ advice:

A fib is common. It's one of those conditions that a lot of people get eventually if you have enough birthdays. It's not a problem for most people, but it does set up potential for risk.

In case they didn't explain it, our hearts work as a coordinated pump. Atrium current causes atrium to contract. Blood moves from atrium to ventricle emptying the atrium and overfilling the ventricle. Current then passes through the node and then through the ventricle. The current then causes the ventricle to contact and sending the blood on its way.

The problem: a fib means that first current isn't coordinated and the atrium doesn't contact fully. This increases the chance that the full amount of blood in the atrium doesn't move. When blood doesn't move it can clot. Clots cause serious problems in all the little vessels and do the most damage if they end up in the lungs and/or in the brain.

Some a fib (breakdown in the coordinated current) is simple than others. My suggestion is if you are in otherwise good health, attempt the ablation and avoid Coumadin. Coumadin monitoring can be annoying (monthly tests and dose adjustments). Pradaxa is okay for most but it can be expensive.

That being said, should you ablate, and it works, a fib could rear its head again years down the road.