AFIB Support

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  • 1.  Afib caused by CABG

    Posted 03-09-2021 07:13
    Hello! My name is Jamie and I am a thirty-eight-year-old woman that recently went through CABG x5 (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft). When I say recently, I do mean quite recently. 10 days, if we're being exact. On the third day after my surgery, my heart began to show signs of Atrial Fibrillation, which was confirmed in the following hours when it failed to stop. The doctors assured me it was normal, stating that 30% of patients undergo this as a side effect of CABG. They have also assured me that "it usually fixes itself in a few months" and proceeded to give me some medications that are supposed to help control it. The control aspect is only meant to keep it below 130 bpm with PVCs. Has anyone found this to be true? Or is it perhaps just a pipe dream and I'll be feeling these for the remainder of my life?

    Any comments are appreciated.

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    Jamie Stanforth
    FAIRFIELD OH
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  • 2.  RE: Afib caused by CABG

    Posted 03-14-2021 21:39
    Jamie, I'm sorry nobody answered sooner, hopefully I can share a little insight.

    Indeed it's common for our hearts to exhibit Atrial Fibrillation as well as other abnormal rhythms after open heart surgery. Think about it, your heart has been roughed up and severely abused so it's rebelling and telling you not to do that again. Fortunately as your doctors said this issue usually resolves itself as the healing progresses and the A-Fib disappears.

    That being said, there are cases where the A-Fib is stubborn and doesn't relinquish it's hold on your heart. To my knowledge there is no real way to predict whether yours will go away on it's own or not. There are meds that can help as well as procedures such as cardioversions (shocks to your heart,  I call them Jesus jolts) and Ablation. 

    You are still very early in the healing process so follow your doctors guidance and hopefully this will resolve itself soon. Good luck

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    Warren
    TucsonAZ
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