OT: Anybody Here Living With Atrial Fibrillation?

In the ER they told me "Nobody dies from afib - it's the blood clots that get you later on."

But it seems like people *do* die from afib unless I am reading various accounts incorrectly. Wilt Chamberlain, for example....

My cardio guy takes copious notes and he can tell my *exactly* what I said three visits ago.... but he doesn't volunteer much and the drugs he has me on (beta blocker and anti-coagulant) have sent my quality of life right down the toilet.

I'm shopping for another cardio guy - somebody older with more practical experience and a more talkative personality.

Until then, I thought I'd troll the veritable font of knowledge that is this forum.....

??

Reply to
(PeteCresswell)
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You can eat junk food or you can be healthy. Most people can't do both.

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Reply to
Ralph Pringle

My wife has had it for 15 years. Yes, your quality of life will be changed. The drugs themselves, though common, should not have a major effect by themselves. Blood thinner has to be monitored though.

If you don't already have them, get a blood pressure machine and a pulse oximeter so you can monitor yourself.

Medication is the first line of treatment, but in some cases you can have an ablation to eliminate it. My wife had that done and it helped for a few years.

The a-fib can get your heart rate way up and that wears out the heart over time and can make you more prone to cardiac arrest, but that can be years away, even never.

No need to plan your funeral this week but it can change your life depending on the seriousness of it and the effect. We've seen heart rates as high as 197. That tires you out.

You can email me if you have questions. There are cardio guys that specialize in heart rhythm so you may want to ask about it.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

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I've lived with it for the past thirty years or so. Usually late-onset in o ur family. Most of the family end up with it. My best advice...READ...Google or other search engines have facts...you hav e to sift the grain from chaff. A smart GP will find a cardiologist to get you on the right course. Hard to treat it for all of life's situations but you can try. I have seen the time I went off medication for six months...no problem and then a stressful situation and your back on the pills. My older brother had a surgically implanted pacemaker which solved the prob lem for him. I may end up going the same route. All for now.

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Reply to
Roy

You're in no position to lecture:

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;-)

Reply to
Micky

can i eat junk food if i take my blood pressure and cholesterol pills?

Reply to
Jimmy Jons

I don't have it but talking to others these drugs are just the first step. I take them as well as others but they should not effect your quality of life. I've been on Coumadin/warfarin for years but will probably switch to Xarelto just to get out of the test cycle which is at least once a month. Will just cost a little more.

Friend with afib started as you did, then had the shock to stop it and finally the cardiac ablation. Don't know what did him in but he lasted to 83.

Another guy I knew refused warfarin. I don't know what happened to him at age 65 but it could have been a stroke. I had urged him to take it. Little blood clot in the heart can go right to the brain.

I talk to my doctors, try to be succinct and not waste time but want to understand what is going on and options but to me the proof is in the pudding - good results are better than good bedside manner.

Reply to
Frank

(PeteCresswell) posted for all of us...

Does your cardio guy have what is known as a "patient portal"? Most do. (Federal regulations) Basically a dedicated email system. Ask your questions in there and you can get a written answer. Of course that leads to other questions... I like the portals and I think the docs do too. No endless barrage of phone calls the nurses have to take and go through a third party answer. My cardio is my best friend. I had trouble along your line with another doc. I wrote my cardio and what I had been waiting for weeks was now being answered in minutes. Also contact your GP he or she should give you either a another referral or get answers from the cardio person. One HAS to have at least one doc they have a great relationship with to help guide you. I know the docs are under tremendous pressures but it's your health. Do you have any teaching hospitals or trauma centers near you?

Reply to
Tekkie®

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