Wellness

[Scooby Doo]

---

@hckynutjohn wrote:

---

@Scooby Doo wrote:

I've been dealing with Afib for a couple of years.  I was first misdiagnosed with SVT and took meds for that which didn't help much.  Finally last October I wore the monitor again and this time was diagnosed with AFib.  The sudden fast heart rate got more frequent and wore me down.  I decided to have the heart ablation done and I'm glad I did.  I only occasionally have an short episode.  I fully understand the low energy part of that.  Some days I would just sit in my kitchen chair because I didn't have the energy to get up.  But I also found out that my thyroid wasn't working properly either.  Now that I have both of them fixed I feel like a new person.  I've spend several full days working in my yard getting it fixed up.  Now if my back would just cooperate.

So it is fixable and fairly common as we age.

Be careful with those blood thinners.  Recently I scratched my leg and accidently made a hole in a varicose vein.  It wouldn't clot and I got a ride to the ER to get it stitched up.

Life sometimes gets real interesting.

@Scooby Doo 

Are you still on a blood thinner after your Ablation? A friend of mine started having Afib years ago. What he was doing at the time of Afib made no difference. He was put on Coumadin(warfarin)and while that helped, he did not like getting his INR/ProTime blood draws.

He decided to have a Watchman Installed. After, I believe 8 weeks, his doctor weaned him slowly off of Coumadin/Warfarin. He now takes one 325mg of aspirin daily. That was over a year ago and he is doing fine. He is 86 years old.

As one that is minus 3 Lumbar Spinal Discs, 2 open surgeries! Ones back seems more cooperative for those that find the right stretching and strengthening exercises that work for them. Took me awhile to find them, and as I get older, I have had to change and modify a couple of them. My back rarely is uncooperative with me.

Hope you find something that might help you with that, and that you all stay well after having an Ablation.

hckynut  🇺🇸

@hckynutjohn I take Eliquis blood thinner.  The protocol is that you take it for the remainder of your life.  A couple of my aunts have died from stokes so I don't mind taking it......yet.  I have heard of the watchman and I'm keeping that as an alternative if my afib returns.  Sometimes the ablation doesn't work completely the first time.  My nurse said she had it done 3 times.  She told me about one time she was assisting in the OR and her afib caused her to pass out and hit the floor.  She had to be revived.  But there are 3 different types of afib.  

For my back I was put on one of those stretching tables at PT.  They strap you down and then a machine pulls you.  That helps me the most.

---

---

[chrystaltree]

@Scooby Doo 

It's been one thing after another since I turned 50...lol.  I was soooo healthy before that and then came the thyroid disorder, spinal stenosis, arthritis knees, retina problems.  Sometimes I think someone put a curse on me....lol.  But I am ever so thankful that the things I have are treatable or controlled with modern medicine.  I feel blessed.  I had been attributing my fatigue to laziness so I didn't see it as a medical problem but in thinking about the last year or so, I have been in slow motion. I'm just happy my doctor recognized it as something that could be serious.  Getting older is definitely not for sissies.  I was on a blood thinner for a month after my knee replacement years ago and I heard what they told me and promptly forgot about it.  Then I cut my self with a kitchen knife, put a dressing on it and it kept bleeding and bleeding and I went and bought more gauze pads and I was confused because the cut was not very serious, it just would not stop bleeding. I waited until hubby the RN came home and told him. I was scared.  He reminded me that I was taking  blood thinner.  I hadn't thought about that...lol.  It was minor and eventually stopped bleeding.  I will not be blase about it this time.  

[hyacinth003]

My dad was in atrial fibrillation for many years.  He took warfarin.  He never even felt it.  I discovered it (I'm an RN) listening to his heart for some reason.

He lived until 92 with it.

Hyacinth

[chrystaltree]

---

@hyacinth003 wrote:

My dad was in atrial fibrillation for many years.  He took warfarin.  He never even felt it.  I discovered it (I'm an RN) listening to his heart for some reason.

He lived until 92 with it.

Hyacinth

Yes indeed, take my Xarelto for stroke prevention and I expect no problems at all.  I had no symptoms.  I'm fortunate in that I mentioned to my doctor that I have some unusual fatigue.  She didn't think it was cardiac related but she had them do the ecg anyway.  Lucky for me.

---

[Mmsfoxxie]

@chrystaltree, so glad you brought this up.  My husband just finished 30 days wearing electrodes on his chest and has the same diagnoses.  Scared me.  So glad some are saying it's not as serious as I thought.  He is tired a lot and has to walk with a cane.  He's 75.  They want to do a endophysiology study (not sure if that's the correct name) where they insert a catheter from his groin to his heart. He's on blood thinners, too.  He wants a second opinion before he does anything.  Good luck to you.

[hckynutjohn]

@Mmsfoxxie 

I have had an assortment of heart tests, several that enter through the groin. Those were called Heart Catheterization. In addition, I had the 2 Stent Angioplasties, during my 2 heart attacks. My wife had 1 that I have not had, after she had her stroke. It is called a Transesophageal Echocardiogram(TEE).

It is similar to an Endoscopy, which goes down your throat. It however uses a different type of scope. She told me her doctor said it takes pictures of behind, or of  the whole heart, and it's functions. I have never had that one.

hckynut  🇺🇸

[Mmsfoxxie]

@hckynutjohn, thanks for your input.  How you and your wife got through so many surgeries had to be with an angel on your shoulders.  My nerves are shot with so much going on with my husband.  He hasn't changed his diet and still smokes those cigars, lol.  I'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way, like everybody else as they age.

[chrystaltree]

---

@Mmsfoxxie wrote:

@chrystaltree, so glad you brought this up.  My husband just finished 30 days wearing electrodes on his chest and has the same diagnoses.  Scared me.  So glad some are saying it's not as serious as I thought.  He is tired a lot and has to walk with a cane.  He's 75.  They want to do a endophysiology study (not sure if that's the correct name) where they insert a catheter from his groin to his heart. He's on blood thinners, too.  He wants a second opinion before he does anything.  Good luck to you.

Always get a second opinion when you think you need one.  Praying for your husband and wishing him all the best.  I've been using a cane for a year due to some leg weakness when I walk outside.  I thought it was due to my spinal stenosis.  My doctor thought so too.  Now with this AFIB diagnosis, it's possible that is cause. I see the Cardiologist Tuesday and I'm going to ask about it.  And my fatigue which hubby says concerns him.   I have a heart monitor on now. I have to wear it for two weeks.  I have done a bit of research now and while it's unnerving to have this come out of the blue, the vast majority of patients do well on the blood thinners which prevent strokes and live their normal lives.

---

[shoekitty]

In 2021 , I I had a huge attack of afib.  Landed in ER with BP of 210/125 my HR was 160.  They started me on Eliquis. And was in hospital 5 days. My afib was still active after a couple months , so I had cardiac ablation. Went well.   After that afib has been inactive, although  I have had uncontrolled BP issues until recently. My main issue was blood thinners.  For months I had stomach digestive issues,  slight anemia, and extreme fatigue., and lightheaded press.   Finally 6 weeks ago I couldn't take it any longer. My fatigue and dizziness was so bad I couldn't function and I rarely slept. I told my Dr.  I don't care, I am not taking it.  If I live I live,, if I die I die.   I am 74 and cannot see the rest of my life like this.  Have no life.  I did quit and He wants a watchman device next month. I will do it for that comfort , I will feel the protection blood thinners give you. .  The blood thinners work, it is just I am one who cannot take them. Things got so bad after I was first diagnosed I couldn't even take an antidepressant with blood thinners.    I tell you the last few weeks have been the best day of my life in,the last 2 years.    I get up early, sleep is a little better, I do more and don't feel in a fog.  I wish you the best. I did have to quit coffee, caffeinated junk.   And anything stimulating.  No more monsters for me, lol. I wish you the best.  Read up.  There are meditations, and an afib website that are helpful too

[Drythe]

@chrystaltree 

Thank goodness for doctors who LISTEN to patients and follow up.

A trusted Orthopedic surgeon, would not even draw a sample from my left knee when I told him I believed it was infected.  He said it was RA which I’ve had since a teen.  With a knee the size of a basketball, and a 103 temp

he sent me home with an injection of cortisone.  Three days later I was admitted through the ED delirious from raging fever, and a systemic infection!  My knee was opened at midnight that night, 10 days in the ICU, then waited 9 months for knee replacement.

The settelment was very interesting & quick.

PS

My Dad is 96 and has had AF for 10 years.

Best Wishes to you