Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardiov... - Page 3

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@stargazergal wrote:
After Echocardiogram, EKG, Blood Tests a Cardioversion was odered as
treatment.   The Cardiologist after 3 tries was unsucessful in getting the
heart to beat back to regular.    The Cardiologist then sent him to a
specialist who now wants to treat him with another Cardioversion.   He
says he will be more agressive with the Cardioversion.   I am on the fence
about this treatment somewhat.   Still doing our homework.
Does anyone out there have any stories to share ?    Please do tell.   Thank you !

@stargazergal I had A-fib and have been on Flecainide for eight years, told doctor I didn't want cardioversion unless nothing else worked. I just had a heart ultrasound and all seems well, hopefully, it will stay that way. Flecainide was the only med that worked.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@151949

And I once again agree with you.

hn

hckynut(john)

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@mousiegirl

I am glad your med has worked so well for you for so many years. 2 friends of mine with Afib seem like they are changing dosages, and meds, in a much shorter time. They

have told me they have to go in as an In-patient when they do anything with their dosage or change their meds.

I am not as familiar with the Afib as I am with some of the other cardiovascular issues. When there was Double occupancy in hospital rooms, when I was on the Heart Floor, several of my roommates had to have a Cardioversion. Even those they did get back in sinus rhythm, I have no idea how long it lasted.

Really glad you are doing so well with you Afib, and your meds.

hn

hckynut(john)

KonaKat · ‎03-10-2010

I have AFib. I tried the med route which was not successful as it quit working for me. The cardiologist referred me to an electrophysiologist who said I would benefiit from an ablation. This is a procedure in which the offending cells are destroyed after they map the heart to find the 'bad' cells. This was a 3 hour procedure in which only one side of t he heart was done because of the length of time.

Because the other side of the heart could not be done, as well as some cells near a valve, the electrophysiologist changed my meds which required me to stay in the hospital three days because of the requirements for that med.

So far, so good after 3 years with the ablation, the med change and xarelto for blood thinner. Had it not worked, they would have gone back later to do the other side of the heart.

**************** "A black cat crossing your path just means that it is going from one place to another." Proud owner of a black cat and a shopper of QVC since the merger with CVN.

twinkies · ‎03-11-2010

I was supposed to hae an ablation but I decided not to do it .Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't . they have to stop your heart to do it , Still thinking about it.Sometimes you need to do it more than once and they don't always work . cathy from ma

stargazergal · ‎02-18-2016

@hckynut wrote:

@Mom2Dogs

My Cardiolgist(s) will never do a Cardioversion as an Outpatient. While I do have Cardiovascular Disease, and have had PVC as far back as I can remember, I have never needed Cardioversion to get my heart back into Sinus Rhythm. If I did, it would be ad an Inpatient.

hn

Thank you everyone for your input. Update is the second Cardioversion did

not provide the results. It turns out my husbands Specialist

is specialized in this field with, heart rhythm.

Medication has been changed with one pill out of the 4 he has

been taking since diagnosed.

Next appointment will be a check up and a scheduled Ablation. On a very positive

note we are very happy with our husbands specialist and staff. I appreciate

everyones input. Ps. Our husbands Cardioversion treatment has Never been outpatient.

stargazergal · ‎02-18-2016

I am so appreciative of everyones input about my husbands Afib diagnosis. Both of us have delved onto the internet to find out more. The internet is a treasure trove of information. Without delving my husband and I did not know what kind of questions to ask the Cardiolgist as this is all new to us. It is nice to hear of

everyone and their experiences. So Thank you to all for your input. I am happy to report the Hospital and Specialist have shown us nothing but positive support and have answered any questions we had. And again Thank you to everyone for well wishes and your wonderful words of wisdom !!!

@hckynut wrote:

@stargazergal

2 heart attacks/have had PVC for as far back as I can remember, no Afib. Leave the decision about what procedures to have up to the person that is going to have it.

My wife, though she is just or more concerned as others, leaves decisions for my body up to me. That's just the way I want it. Should something bad happen to me, why would I want my wife to feel it was her mistake or fault? I wouldn't.

The same is true with my wife's several illnesses and procedures. If she is conscious and a decision is to be made? She, not me, makes that decision. A person can never learn too much about these topics, and it's great that you want to do so. Again, I am a believer in leaving the decisions up to the patient, unless for some medical reason, they are unable to do so.

There are few, if any active or invasive heart procedures, that have no risks, and that is why I make the above statements.

hn

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

@stargazergal

My Dad who was 85 at the time had unsuccessful cardioversion, followed by successful radio-ablation, which corrected his irregular heartbeat. He had had a CABG 10 years prior.

This was done as an inpatient in a major medical center.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

stargazergal · ‎02-18-2016

Thank you so much for taking time to reply. I hope I did not come across

as being the one to make health decisions for my husband. He and I both

have discussed the journey together.... figuring out what questions to ask by

reading about Afib and coming here also has been enlightening. I appreciate

your replies and input, sincerely it is much appreciated by both of us.

@hckynut wrote:

@Coquille

Every persons body is unique to them, and there are many procedures that work for many, and just as many that do not. Doctors make their decisions based on their specific patient, thus the many different choices of treatment.

Reading knowledge is power, but many things in the medical fields are not conclusive. Oh how much simpler life would be for the doctors and patients. Each doctor makes their medical decision based on the knowledge and experience with each specific patient. And that is why, in my opinion, when physically and mentally able, those decisions should be left solely up to the patient.

hn

stargazergal · ‎02-18-2016

Awwwwww Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me of your moms experience. It is helpful to hear of everyones journey in this. My husband had his second

Cardioversion a couple of days ago. It did not take. His Heart Specialist

is feeling an Ablation is the way to go. He has been on Prodaxa which was

tough at first in that he would have some stomach issues. From reading

about it is one of the side effects, but subsides as time goes on. It has.

The doctor says his age and health are on his side with this procedure

and feels hopeful for a positive outcome. We feel confident with his Specialist

and Staff Members have all be amazing in making us feel comfortable and

explained the procedures and any concerns we had.

I hope your mom is doing better. And thank you so much for sharing

your moms heart health journey with me !

@ScrapHappy wrote:
@stargazergal wrote:
After Echocardiogram, EKG, Blood Tests a Cardioversion was odered as
treatment.   The Cardiologist after 3 tries was unsucessful in getting the
heart to beat back to regular.    The Cardiologist then sent him to a
specialist who now wants to treat him with another Cardioversion.   He
says he will be more agressive with the Cardioversion.   I am on the fence
about this treatment somewhat.   Still doing our homework.
Does anyone out there have any stories to share ?    Please do tell.   Thank you !
My Mom has had AFIB for many, many years. She's 79. Many years ago, a cardioversion was done and it was a success. But she eventually developed AFIB again and had a pacemaker inserted. She went on a blood thinner but unfortunately had terrible and life threatening side effects. She went off it for many years and refused to go back on. Her doctor wanted her to consider the Watchman procedure. It's mostly for those with AFIB who can't take blood thinners but my Mom didn't want to do it. When she would go in for her PM checkups, she was in AFIB more than she was not. She ended up on a blood thinner again, but a different one. My MIL was diagnosised with AFIB about a year ago, she had the cardioversion but it didn't work on her. She's also now on a blood thinner.