BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?

Subject: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Apr 26 - 02:12 PM

Following a particulary nasty chest infection that took 3 lots of antibiotics to shift I seem to have been left with Atrial fibrillation. I am fully aware of what it is and am receiving great care from our local medics. I am not too worried about it either and am now getting back into the swing of things. I have been unable to do much for about 6 weeks but now starting up excercise and healthy eating again - Something that I have practiced for a long time anyway.

Just wondered if any fellow 'catters suffer from it and want to share any stories or general lifestyle advice.

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 26 - 04:37 PM

Another one of those things that seems to have a lot of sources. I pulled up a Mayo Clinic page and the bottom of the list of "Causes of AF" are "Infections from Viruses." That's a huge category!

On a National Institutes of Health site on the topic it lists these objectives:

• Identify the etiology of atrial fibrillation.
  
• Outline the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation.
  
• Summarize the treatment and management options available for atrial fibrillation.
  
• Explain the interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication regarding the management of patients with atrial fibrillation.
  

Where do you fall in this set of objectives?

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Apr 26 - 08:01 PM

Had it for 35 years+. Had the old "jump start" twice, to no effect. When I had my bypass,they said it would go back into sync, it didn't.
Spent many years on warfarin having fortnightly blood tests and juggling dosage. Several trips to the hospital when the INR shot up. "Go straight to ER, Don't fall over and don't bump into anything!"
About 18 years ago I asked my asked my new doctor if there was surely something better as a blood thinner than Warfarin. He said "Yes, There's Eliquis, just take one pill morning and night and that's it."
No blood tests or trip to ER in the middle of the night!

I'm a happy man living with AF.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Apr 26 - 08:45 PM

I also take Eliquis & went back to my medical emails cos (being a Bear of Small Brain) I don't remember exactly why I'm on it apart from it thinning blood!   

"Monday Dr L. did tests, then sent me to Emergency around 1pm (tram, bus & foot) with a referral saying I was in Atrial flutter with irregular ventricular rhythm & had the chance of a stroke! I eventually left 7.30ish after lots more tests with a prescription for blood thinners which I'm taking."

Now I know!

A few years later I was told to stop for 2 days as I was having a procedure that involved being knocked out! So I didn't freak out sometime last year when I forgot to take a tablet one morning - dunno how that happened ...

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Apr 26 - 09:00 AM

Around 5 years ago I was diagnosed with Afib and had several stents installed followed by an ablation and was prescribed Eliquis, which wasn't cheap back then. A year later I had a Watchman device installed and now the only thinner I take is a daily low dose aspirin. All those procedures were done laprascopically. I haven't experienced any Afib since. Note the risks involved with the Watchman implant and consult you cardiologist if interested.

guest gillymor

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Apr 26 - 09:19 AM

It is a condition that can come and go. It is not a life sentence of risky rhythm.

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Apr 26 - 10:10 AM

It's not a condition to be taken lightly. It can lead to a number of complications including stroke and heart failure.

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Apr 26 - 11:14 AM

I’ve had a stroke, heart attack, and brain surgery. A stress test in January showed “slight” fibrillation.   Otherwise it was good “for your age and health condition.” I take a bargeload of medications (or so it seems), which include what we used to call baby aspirin as a blood thinner.

Now if I could only get my banjo allergy fixed….

Subject: RE: BS: Atrial fibrillation anyone?
From: robomatic
Date: 03 Apr 26 - 03:31 PM

I have been diagnosed with Afib, not given a source of it. I have HBP (high blood pressure) which I'm taking drugs for on a daily basis. I do not know if the HBP is related to the AFib. I cannot personally tell when my blood pressure goes up, only a measurement will tell me. I CAN tell I have irregular heartbeat. It may or may not be related for me to not be able to maintain extremee levels of effort, such as hiking uphill or running at sustained levels. That COULD be age and sedentary behavior.
I am encouraged to exercise and lose weight. I have been prescribee eliquis. About ELIQUIS, since I have consulted a specialist:
ELIQUIS is not aspirin. It is NOT necessarily to be considered a blood thinner. When you have irregular heartbeat, the blood within your heart chamber is moved around more 'chaotically' than it would be from regular, 'smooth' muscle compressions. This increases the chance of spontaneous clotting. Eliquis reduces this chance an the likelihood of clots, strokes, heart attacks. Eliquis does not require regular monitoring as does the older medicines which have been prescribeed in the past. As a blood donor, I caa stop taking eliquis for some days, make a donation, then go back on it.

I have not sought ablative therapy. I've been told I should first lose weight, continue to exercise, maintain a low fat ddiet, then get a treatment related to defibrillation to see if 'bouncing' it back into regular beats will be more than temporary. I have no encouragement that this will work. So I'm trying to lose weight and get in more better physical condition. The person who told me about ablative was very positive about it and thinks I'm overcautious, but I keep thinking, it's my dam HEART.