Atrial fibrillation

[kickingandscreaming]

I was recently hospitalized for several days.  I was diagnosed with the flu (in spite of flu shot) that triggered asthma and bronchitis and a serious bout of not being able to breathe. I was on prednisone for a while and now i've tapered off.  All this stress, they assumed, brought on A fib.  Once you have A fib, you can easily have it again-- which  I did, the following week. Another trip to the ER.  This time I brought myself down from rapid wild heart beat by the time I reached the ER.

So now, the medical-industrial complex, cardiology division, wants me to do all kinds of tests and possible invasive interventions (blood thinners, cardioversion, ablation, etd).  I was discharged from the first hospital stay with a new BP drug that is also used to regulate the heart (metroprolal) which has actually done a great job of lowering my BP.  So that's a good thing.  But I'm finding myself afraid to go walking as a short walk brought on the second A fib episode. And I don't trust myself.  A Fib makes one prone to stroke and heart failure, two conditions I don't want. The whole experience has left me feeling weak and frail.

Any thoughts?

[Tío Riñon]

It just so happens that I have A Fib too!  I'm using dilatiazem for my condition.  I too suffered from shortness of breath--especially when I was climbing stairs or carrying a load (laundry basket, backpack, etc.).  I can relate to feeling weak and your concern about triggering a stroke or heart attack.  My recommendation is to exercise!  Take your walks, but go at a slower pace and build up your strength and endurance over time.  The heart is a muscle and the "work outs" will benefit you.  Tell someone your route (try to chose one with benches or other places to rest) and carry a cell phone with you just in case. 

Consult with your cardiologist first to confirm that you're not in any danger from resuming exercise.  S/he might want to have you do a few tests firsts, but over time, my condition has improved.  I still have periodic flare-ups, but I'm doing better.  I can often walk significant distances or for longer time.  Going up stairs and carrying a load is still a work in progress, but improving too.

Have the goal of living your life.  Work to overcome obstacles.

[kickingandscreaming]

Thanks, Tio.

[MooseMom]

Gosh, k&s, I'm sorry to hear this.  It must be all rather scary for you.  I don't know much about A Fib so I don't have words of wisdom, but I just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts.

[kickingandscreaming]

Thank you, MM.  It IS scary and I don't like the potential.  And I do feel limited by it.  Hoping time will soften that.

[cassandra]

I'm sorry to hear that KaS and hope you can build yourself up again.

Lots of love, luck and strength, Cas

[kristina]

Dear K&S,
I am very sorry to read this and I just want to let you know
that I keep you in my thoughts
and want to send you my good-luck-wishes.
Take good care.
Kristina

[kickingandscreaming]

Thank you all.  I will savor your good wishes and hope they help me on my way. I guess this pretty much clinches the deal that I am not eligible for a tx.  I've never been a top contender--age, diabetes and now heart issues.  So it's Big D until the even bigger D.

[Michael Murphy]

Last fall I suffered a heart attack.  During the recovery I suffered several periods of not breathing.  Finally in an urgent care center one of the episodes occurred when I was on a heart monitor.  Suddenly I was strapped to a gurney and paddles were being glued to my chest.  I reverted back to sinus rythym seconds before they were going to shock me.  It turned out I was going into v-fib and I was bundled of to the hospital. The next day it was decided I was to be transferred to another hospital for Cardiac Ablation and the insertion of a S-ICD ( a implanted defibrillator that does not run wires through blood vessels) this was going to take 3.5 hours.  It took 7.5 hours and I actually felt better after that ordeal. Since I slept through the  whole thing it was not an ordeal for me but the doctor looked like hell. Then they told me that I also had a-fib and they were going to do a cardio conversion after the week end.  During the weekend  it was discovered that Amidarone a drug that  helps with rhythm problems in the heart had gotten me out of a-fib and back to normal rhythm.  When I was discharged I could not walk more than about a 100 feet, so I bought a walker Thad had a seat in it and I went about my life.  Walk a hundred feet seat for a couple of minutes then walk another hundred feet.  This went on for a couple of months till I could walk a normal distance and I stopped using the walker.  Now I am doing Cardiac Rehab and my stamina is returning. I have hopes of getting back 90% of my stamina that I had pre disaster.  If you work at it a good deal of your function will return. It's not easy but well worth it.







sp mod Cas

[kickingandscreaming]

Now I am doing Cardiac Rehab and my stamina is returning. I have hopes of getting back 90% of my stamina that I had pre disaster.

Thank you, Michael. I certainly hope I don't mirror your experience.  But I'm curious what cardiac rehab looks like.

[Michael Murphy]

Three days a week you go to a gym, the exception is you exercise wth nurses and a cardiac nontitor uts designed to increase your endurance a little at a time.
It is also paid for by my insurance.

[Tío Riñon]

KaS:  Do NOT give up on the possibility of having a TX.  My A Fib resulted from heart surgery on my valves in 2015.  The procedure was done so that I would re-qualify for TX.  I have been through experiences similar to you and Michael Murphy.  My surgery was very long, from what I understand, around 10 hours.  I was kept asleep (coma?) to allow my system to recover from the procedure.  I woke up 2-3 days post surgery.  I have been through cardiac rehab, given Amiodrarone (and later taken off due to possible side effects on the advice of my transplant program), did cardioablation, worked through shortness of breath as previously mentioned and done anything else necessary to get back on the list.  It took me over a year and a half, but I was finally re-listed December 2016. 

Keep talking to your cardiologist and transplant center.  Ask them what your next goal is to be put back on the list.  Stay focused on the end result!

[kickingandscreaming]

You have been through a lot, Tio!   I hope all that isn't in store for me. I don't know this, but assume you are younger than I (I'm 75).  So I have several strikes against me.  In fact, I am not even on the list and am abivalent about the whole idea of tx.  I just don't like the idea that I am being blocked by yet another flaw.