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Ablation of the heart

  • 1.  Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-15-2019 21:13
    I had radio frequency ablation to my heart about 09/15/18. I just got through wearing a monitor for a month. I now have arrhythmia 20% of the time. I see my Doctor that performed the ablation next month, December. I'm of course anxious with anxiety and don't know what my Doctor will say to me as I am with the impression I can't do nothing but I also don't know what can be done. That's where I am now coming into the holidays.
    Richard Danks - Evergreen, Colorado

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    Richard Danks
    Evergreen, Colorado
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  • 2.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 07:04
    Hello Richard
    • arrhythmia to me is very frightening, and the fear then compounds itself
      with the watching and waiting for more arrhythmia to come from someplace
      at any time

      My surgery was in August of this year, and my arrhythmia just started in the
      last couple of weeks.  I brought it up to the nurses in rehab, but they said
      that they had no info that they could share that may help the anxiety
      that goes along with the Palpatations

      I googled the subject and even there could not find much information for
      myself

      I have not called my surgeon, but if the arrhythmia continues, I will do that

      Fairly new here, so I have not read anything on this subject here at all

      Thanks for bringing this up Richard




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    mary hedtke
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  • 3.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 02-06-2020 18:12
    Hello Mary.
    Please talk with your Doctor about your arrhythmia. This is not something that can be ignored. I take medication to correct mine. I have a bigeminy arrhythmia. I call it my Bigeminy Cricket. But it's not cute and it doesn't wear a top hat and sing.
    Take care.

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    Margo Floyd
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  • 4.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 02-06-2020 19:48
    I'm going to have my 2nd radio frequency ablation next week. My arithmia came back last fall. I'm sure not as much as before. I now experience arithmia 19% of the time.
    As for the anxiety, I'm going to try chamomile tea and a cookie. Sounds like a bit of a British custom. Try this and try to completely relax. Also for me I like my heart people to explain things to me, that reduces my anxiety some, but some people don't want to know much. It's up to you and experiment what works for you.
    I personally find ablation, arithmias, very interesting. I am especially intrigued by how the arithmia is able to return. Just some thoughts on my part that I hope you can get something out of.
    Respectively---- Richard Danks

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    Richard Danks
    Evergreen, Colorado
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  • 5.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 02-06-2020 23:46
    Thank you Margo, I did call my doctor and told him about my heart skipping beats, and he hooked me up to a Holter Monitor for 3 days and in that time he said there was no significant arrhythmia and I should come back in a year ....

    What I did discover is that when I took off the Nicotine Patch I started wearing in August after quitting smoking, the palpitations have nearly stopped.  If I eat alot of sugar, which is not good for me, I get palpitations, and if I drink too much caffeine, I will get palps also.  I quit a 50 year smoking habit in August, and never had palps before this surgery.

    Doctor said if I start getting palps again, he will put me on a monitor for a longer time to record events as they happen...

    Thank you so much  



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  • 6.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 10:35

    Richard,  Many Americans live normal lives with arrhythmia every day and I am one of them. I have had A-fib for about 20 years, so I was seeing a cardiologist about once a year. Five years ago, the doctor asked me to take a stress test. That resulted in my having a 4X CABG (so the A-fib saved my life). I still have A-fib and wear an Apple watch because it will monitor my heart rhythm and call 911 if I need it. I can even take an ECG test on the watch and record it on my phone to show the doctor. I have no physical restrictions and exercise regularly, do my own yardwork, do volunteer work with Mended Hearts, the K of C, the Air Force Museum, and the Boy Scouts. Life is good so just keep a positive attitude, do what you have to do, and have a happy life. By the way, I am 77 years old. Stay strong.  Ray Steck




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  • 7.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 16:47
    Ray, I was told that by having afib I was wearing out my heart, putting the heart under too much pressure to keep functioning. I got a different response from you or am I missing something?
    Richard Danks 



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  • 8.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 21:04

    Richard,

     

    You're a-fib might be different than mine. Yours may be causing your heart to beat very rapidly or otherwise not allowing the heart to pump enough blood to sustain your body. Mine just sort of skips a beat every few beats.  The doctor tried to shock mine into a normal rhythm several times but it always went back into A-fib pretty quickly. Finally the doctor told me that I tolerate it well, and that anything else they could try was more dangerous than the A-fib, so I should just live with it, and that's what I do. I exercise regularly because I always figure it is better to attack a problem from a position of strength rather than a weak position.

     

    I have read that many people with A-fib do not even know that they have it, so there are different degrees of A-fib.  So just keep educating yourself about A-fib, get a second opinion if necessary, and stay positive.  Good luck and we will all be praying for you.

     

    Ray Steck




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  • 9.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 21:20
    I won't know until I see my doctor in a few weeks what the plan may be. If nothing more can be done to stop the afib, the heart will wear itself out and from what I understand I won't go on a whole lot longer. This is my understanding of my situation and people can and do vary depending upon their experience. 
    Respectively---- Richard 



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  • 10.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-16-2019 17:12
    Thank you Raymond for your reply...This has eased my mind very much, I still don't like it that I have
    it, but will not freak out anymore

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    Mary H
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  • 11.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-17-2019 09:26
    Hi everyone,
    My name is Bev Goldstein.
    I am the President of chapter 333, the Villages Fl.
    I have afib. It does not stop me from living a healthy , productive, happy life.
    When I do go in to afib, sometimes my wonderful doctor needs to cardioversion
    me back to proper sinus rhythm.
    I have never heard:” it wears out your heart”!
    I question how reliable the source of that information is.
    I have learned that you will hear and read a lot of things.
    Especially, on line.
    That does not necessarily make it true.
    I think it’s very important to work with a cardiologist you trust and feel comfortable with.
    That really is the best person for you to bring your questions and concerns to!
    Fondly,
    Bev

    Sent from my iPhone


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  • 12.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-17-2019 10:58

    Hello Bev,
    So good to hear from you....and it is true that all questions should initially go
    to your trusted cardiologist and not Dr Google when you have questions

    I have never heard about wearing out the heart either, I too wonder why that
    was mentioned.

    I have also learned that caffeine and some food additives like MSG and High
    Fructose Corn Syrup can affect the hearts rhythm and really have to
    keep an eye on labels when shopping and stay away from Deli foods unless
    the ingredients are listed in plain sight

    Slow deep breathing in through the nose and then out through the mouth meditation
    is also wonderful on a daily basis or even throughout the day to calm anxiety ...
    Being aware of how moods affect us is also key to recovery in many cases

    M




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    Mary H
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  • 13.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-18-2019 06:37



    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone



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  • 14.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-18-2019 15:17
    I have been asymptomatic A-FIB  for the past several decades.  Heart valve replacement surgery (1992) did not correct it but appropriate medication has allowed me to live, what I consider to be, a productive and healthy life.  I am now 82 and president of Aiken, SC chapter 294..

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    Philip Winsor
    Aiken SC
    (803) 641-1192
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  • 15.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-19-2019 11:32
    Actually I had a Cardiologist tell me that our hearts have a finite number of beats and I'm using mine up with all the arrhythmias I enjoy. He's no longer with us...I fired him.

    I was diagnosed with end stage heart disease 13 years ago and have so many different rhythm problems my heart beats to a different drummer. It is what it is, but here I am still spending the kids inheritance.

    We really need to stop with the doom and gloom and enjoy whatever time we have. There are no guarantees and frankly I could get killed tomorrow by an irate wife so why worry about my heart?

    Remember something I learned watching my mother-in-law spend 15 years waiting to die...you really aren't living if all you do is worry about dying.

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    Warren
    TucsonAZ
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  • 16.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-19-2019 15:12
    Hello everyone in this conversation. So glad Richard asked the question and happier still to see all the responses. Like all od you Afib and all that goes along with it the monitors and waiting for answers is scary. 
    Like Ralph, I quit one doctor to find another I trust completely. He explains everything to me and tells me why he is doing tests.
    Since my 4X CABG, I have had to have a pacemaker installed because my heart would just stop and I would pass out without warning. 
    Richard If you trust your cardiologist you will find your stress level will go down. If you do not trust them then find one you can trust. 
    My meds and pacemaker and CABG have all saved my life and I like the others who replied here, I am happy as hell it happened. It added years to my life and I am going to enjoy it. 
    Like you have read here, we have all had this worry, but it is what you do about it that will make the difference. Remember the old saying "Don't worry, be happy". It sounds dumb, but having your sense of humor will be you through the rough spots. 
    Take care all,

    Richard Short
    Chapter 395



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  • 17.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-17-2019 20:55
    I think I have had misinformation directed at me regarding the status of my heart. Thank you Ray for your input and the input from the other people who are dealing with afib. I'm 67 years old and have had afib for probably close to 20 years years before my ablation a year ago. 



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  • 18.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 11-18-2019 07:57
    Just a side note Richard,
    I quit smoking 3 months ago and am wearing a nicotine patch, and have had
    worsening palpatations in the past 2 weeks...After researching the Patch and
    its drawbacks, I may be getting too much now after I have not smoked for this
    amount of time

    I took off my Patch this morning and will give my body a rest from the nicotine
    I was using to offset the withdrawals...

    Thank you again for posting

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    Mary H
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  • 19.  RE: Ablation of the heart

    Posted 12-29-2019 07:43
    HI  Richard  ( and  all)   It  seems    Afib comes in  many ways   with  several  causes  and  various  differances  as well as  affects  brief  History  for myself  in 2009  I suffered  an emergent  Ascending aortic   Dissection and   BY   the grace of God   Made it to the   state  Trauma  center   capable  of  such things    by the  skin of my tail,  My 1st BP  at the  ER  was  60/30  which is  about  2 points   above  there is no coming back ... I survived it, a year later  I elected  to  have an  Anuerysm   in the right  Popliteal  artery  ( behind the knee)  By passed  I waited  a  year and  the Vascular  doctor  was livid  (he  was there  during the  Aortic  as well  as part of the  surgical team.. skip  forward  to  2017   and  8 years  of  "retirement "   I've  Sadly  Gained  30 or 40 lbs   have  trouble with  my feet  swelling and  painfulness  limiting my ability to  walk  stand  for long  periods  etc  (but  I  didn't have an amputation either,,   But  I was  diagnosed in 2017   of  having Afib Which  was  rediculous to me  since I felt  no affects  at all.....  I take  ACE inhib and  Beta  blockers and   thinners and  well  a total  cocktail of  8 medications  anti coagulants    Lasix  to help  remove   the  fluid   collecting in the ankles  etc etc  ... from  2017   my afib  was  "persistant" , Paroxymal  and  finally   totally   In the course of  a  few months   I  had  6    cardioversions  by themselves   the first 2   i converted and   ended up  back in afib  before leaving  the premises  and  the last ones  were   pretty much a waste of  time ... on September 5th   2018,   My   "Electrocardiologist"  performed   a  Cath  Ablation,   entering the  femoral  artery  and fishing  everything  up  into the Aorta   to the  Heart  and   working in that manner.   He'd Mapped out  what and where  he would  be  working and  suspected   it would  be  a  Long surgery  time wise  I was  there  before  8 am  and   Was  Pushed into the  room   (overnight observation) about  9:45  pm  The   "best part"  was  the nurse in charge of the  room  was going to   NOT   feed me at all   despite  MY not  having anything   other the  a drink of water   after   11  the previous day...lol   anyway My    "marker"    was  that My Heart rate   when I was in Afib was  Marked   up around    90-100   sitting around  I really   didnt "feel It  generally  though ( unless  standing too  fast  or  Trying to move something .  etc   its  been  near 15  months  and  have  been in  Normal rythem   since  I  didnt    really notice   I would  ask you   are you  taking an  anti coagulant ?  (aka Blood thinner)  I was  orginally   prescribed  Pradaxa ( which is  simple  compared  to the   Warafin   Coumaden  thinners  (for me  anyway)   recently   Insurance   put a stop to  pradaxa and  I was forced  about a  month or two ago to change to  Eliquis which I have tolerated  so far   just  fine  Recently went  to have  a bad  tooth taken out  and  the  oral surgeon   freaked out   because  He  didnt grasp  that  I take   2  anti coags  for a  reason..  ELIQUIS   as well  as  Plavix.... for the time being   at least  I have  cut my self   shaving   or  while   trimming a toe nail and  I definately can  bleed longer  then  usual  but  I am doing  quite well  that way  I am told   ANti coags     are   very  nessisary  if you   want to   control the  afib  as well  as  Cholesterol   and  all the   "expected  factors"   diet and  exercise and   on  and on...       I  see  Mary   said  SHe   quit   tobacco..... ITs  a very  Important  part  IF  you do smoke  do yourself  a favor  and  quit,,,    Mary  I  decided  To quit  Oct 8th 2009  cold  turkey (almost)  They kindly  Gave me  One   patch  during my  32 days in  hospital   for MY  Aorta,   When I went home  I became  scared  I would  Open the  Pack  I'd  bought  The month before  ......  That   Pack is  Still in my consol  of my truck  10 years  and  a couple months   later  Its  kind of  Inspiration  to stay quit .... SO   STOP   USING THE  NICOTINE  !  Mary   3 MONTHS  YOU  have been smoke  free  YOU   wanna  end up Like me  after  35  years   smoking/?    1  patch in  a  month and   1  3rd  step patch  my first day home alone  when I decided  I  Had  to grow a set and  Just  quit  MIND and SOUL ....  117565 hours   since  My last cigarette

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    Jim Sanquedolce
    CT
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