A-FIB Anyone? Well I have it! And I am pissed. A-Fib, A Definitive Guide

[Epoman]

Well my A-Fib stopped hours ago, luckily. It only lasted about 5 hours, I'm so happy it didn't last days like last time. Thank you all for your kind words. My bp is 110/70 pulse of 55 as of this writing, and beating regular. 

[tamara]

Very good to hear, hope it has settled for a good while this time...................

[nextnoel]

Excellent news!  I hope it continues on!

[Epoman]

Well at 2:00am Christmas Day I awoke in A-Fib. My son woke up at about 8:00am wanting to open presents but I was REALLY feeling bad, so I told him go lay back down for a little while until I feel better, my son is very understanding of my situation. So he laid back down for a couple of more hours, poor thing. Then we woke up at 10:00am and told me dad I turned the Christmas Tree on and Santa came. Unfortunately I was still in A-Fib, and I video tape him every year, but I was still feeling bad. So I told him give me another hour and at 11:00am I'll get up no matter what. As I said he is very understanding. So at 11:00am I was still sick but I forced myself to get out of bed and video tape him opening his presents. He was very happy with his gifts.

Well it turns out I stayed in A-Fib until 7:00pm for a total of 17 hours. I laid in bed the whole day. So I ruined Christmas for everyone.  I really hate living like this. 

[Sluff]

It's a rough way to live but It is so cool that your family is so understanding. You are so blessed, I just wish the a-fib and a few other health things would give ya a break.   

[okarol]

Wow that sucks. No one ever wants to keep their kid from enjoying Christmas morning.
What a great kid you've got.
Some of the best advice I ever read was on another family's page. It was written by the daddy
of a little boy who has since gone on to heaven where there is no cancer. This daddy said to hug and
hold your children every day, to tell them you love them and make sure they know it to be true.
Epokid knows you love him.
I hope you feel better soon E.

[charee]

Sorry to hear your day was bad , but  I'm glad your feeling much better now and you sure do have a great supportive family 

[angieskidney]

I am sorry to hear you didn't have a good Christmas. I hope I haven't added to any stress (wasn't intended) as that is the last thing you needed. Your son is lucky to have such a caring dad who will pull himself out of bed when feeling so crappy. I am sure he can see with that alone just how much you love him.

Our prayers are with you and hope the new year will be better than this one. Wish I had some advice or something but I honestly know nothing about A-fib other than it is heart-related.

[Lucinda]

I am so sorry you didn't have a good Christmas but your little man sounds absolutley terrific.  My father is on dialysis and he has been AFib for about 30 years so I think the chances of seeing your son grow up are extremely high.  Just don't stress about it Epoman because that will aggravate it an make it worse...always did with Dad. Dad had it pretty regularly for the first five years and then after that he had attacks about once a year for two-three hours.  I think he only had one episode the whole of 2006 because he handled his stress better.  You'll be fine.  Dad is 77 now and he has had numerous health problems since he was early 30's but he is still here to tell he tale.  Keep your chin up and remember........don't STRESS!  warmest regards, Cindy.

[Joe Paul]

Sorry Epoman, that your day was ruined. Hoping today you will feel much better.

[Sluff]

I hope today brings better news. 

[nextnoel]

Hope you're feeling better and had a Merry non-afib Christmas!

[nextnoel]

Please excuse the awkward way I put my thoughts in the last post; sometimes I think my brain goes to The Twilight Zone.  What I meant was, after the rotten 17 hours had passed, there was still some Christmas left, and any good Christmas time is better than none at all, soI hope that part was merry for you! 

I'm sure you didn't ruin Christmas for everyone - remember, they're happy to have you with them, and there's not any present or celebration in the world that would be the least bit as good if you weren't around!

[paris]

Christmas is more than just the 25th. Your Christmas spirit shines bright and your son is the fine young man he is because of your spirit.  Merry Christmas, Epoman

[kitkatz]

I know your son just enjoyed having Christmas Day with you no matter how you felt.  I remember one year being so sick on Christmas Day, then waking up around 8p.m. after being so sick, and sitting with my Mom in the livingroom, and watching a Christmas movie that was on TV. She fed me soup and crackers and I got to stay up until near midnight with her.  Just a fond memeory I have.  Your son will have good memories of the Christmas time becasue you tried to make it special.

[Epoman]

Thanks guys, I know he still enjoyed Christmas. But I always think how much better a husband or father I could be if I was not sick, I really hate myself and I hate the fact that I am going to cause so much emotional trauma to my wife and son when I die. No A-Fib so far today, but it takes a little while to recouperate after a near day of being in A-Fib. Now I have one more thing to deal with in my life and I am not looking forward to living like this, constantly wondering "when" will I go back into A-Fib and will this be the time I stay "IN" A-Fib. I know, I know I have a lot of blessings but I can only take so much. Let me take a moment to feel sorry for myself, shall I?

13 Years of Kidney Disease/Dialysis (straight, no transplant).
Severe Osteoporosis.
2 Broken Hips (5 years, metal pins holding me together).
Thyroid Cancer Survivor(thyroid removed).
Left Vocal Cord cut due to Thyroid surgery.
Confined to wheelchair almost 6 years.
Enlarged Heart.
High Blood Pressure 10+ Years.
Chronic A-Fib Sufferer.
3 Mallory-Weiss Tears.
Teeth ruined due to PTH levels.

Shall I go on? There's a few more things but I am to depressed to go on.  Sorry, I usually don't go around feeling sorry for myself, but even I have my breaking points. Sorry. 

- Epoman

[goofynina]

Did you ever watch Laverne and Shirley,  remember when one of them were down the other would sing...

    Just what makes that little ol' ant
think he can move that rubber tree plant
doesnt he know an ant      cant        move a rubber tree plant
cuz he's got HIGH HOPES, he's got HIGH HOPES, he's got
HIGH APPLE PIE in the SKY HOPES

Boss, i am at a loss for words and the only thing i can think of is to say something stupid to try and get a smile out of you.  I cant imagine going through all you have gone through and still have ANY motivation to do anything else in life.   You are an inspiration to so many (especially me) and you do so much for so many and expect so little in return.  You rant as much as you want Boss,  but remember, no matter what, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO LISTEN   

[kitkatz]

I have no idea what to tell you to help make it all better.  I do understand some of it though.  I do understand being too sick to really enjoy what the kids are doing on holidays and birthdays.  As a parent you want everything to be perfect.  You would love to be up and at them early in the monring and do everything.  Illness makes you stop and really get to the undercore of things.  The undercore that is love and togetherness that makes a family a family!  My girls grew up with Mom being sick from kidney failure from around your son's age onward. I know they remember the good times with me.  I know your son has only known you as sick Dad, but to him you are just Dad, health problems and all. He does not separate the illness from Dad.  He loves the entire package of Dad.  

[Sluff]

I have just the thing to cheer you up but unfortunately I can't show it to you here. Oh well what the hell here ya go.

[Epoman]

I have just the thing to cheer you up but unfortunately I can't show it to you here. Oh well what the hell here ya go.

Still waiting for it to strip. What's with the 'G' rated crap? 

[okarol]

[goofynina]

Okarol, that one is gonna cheer him up allrighty,  i know it cheered me up   lol

[Epoman]

HAHA! That's more like it. I NEVER expected that from you okarol.  

[kitkatz]

Oh my!

[goofynina]

Ladies and Gentlemen, let's give it up to Okarol    WOOHOOOO, you go girl!!!   You cheered the Boss up