heart ailment...

[Pleeb]

Found out I have atrial fibrillation a while ago. 

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of strokes, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

My nurse practitioner found out accidentally when she was checking my chest.  She then sent me to Emergency (St. Mikes - 5 minutes away)

This isn't something I noticed myself - I noticed a rapid heartbeat the odd time....didn't think anything of it.

An "ablation" cures this, and 99% effective.  You can do it with local anesthetic  or general, whereby you're out like a light.


The ablation is a few weeks down the road.

Heart ailments don't run in my family.

Peter

I have to learn to take my own pulse -  I never have, and I don't know what's normal or not.

[paulm]

Sorry to hear about that. I hope everything goes well for you. Take Care. paul m

[Pleeb]

Thanks, Paul.  It's not painful, thank goodness.

Peter

[Pleeb]

My medications were changed a bit recently, as my heart was still fast, and weak...

I'm getting an ECG soon to see if the med change made a difference.

My procedure "ablation" is the end of March.....probably..


I originally said I wanted a general anesthetic so I'll be out like a light.
I changed my mind - I'll go out of my comfort zone, and get a local anesthetic, which is the usual way of doing it.
Sorry if you can hear me screaming all the way from St. Mikes....

A guy on my floor had something very similar with NO anesthetic.....he said it was a cinch, and he could see his heart pumping on a tv screen during the procedure!

Peter

[paulm]

Hello Peter. Good Luck with your procedure. Take Care. paul m

[Pleeb]

Update:  my procedure was Tuesday at 7:00 (!) a.m.  I was home in the afternoon.  I think I had the ablation sooner than later because my meds weren't helping.

The doctor decided to use general anesthesia.

I don't have to go again - they fixed my problem.  My chest is a little sore - common, I looked it up.


Peter

[paulm]

Hello Peter. I'm glad that you came through the surgery ok. Get better soon. Take Care. paul m

[Pleeb]

Thanks, Paul.

Update:  2 days later I get a horrible all day chest pain...hurts when I inhale....I can hardly walk!  (I read you can get pains after an ablation)

Went to St. Mikes Emergency ....I was there for hours and hours.  Hardly any other patients!...odd.

Junior cardiologist thought it was a heart inflammation.
Said to take Aleve, which I have at home, and gave a prescription for an anti inflammatory.  Too late to fill prescription, so I took one Aleve....much better!  Another Aleve the next day even better! I was surprised.  I took the odd prescription medication I picked up, and maybe I didn't even need it...amazing.


Peter

[paulm]

Hi Peter how are you making out? Take Care. paul m

[Pleeb]

Hi, Paul....I'm doing well - no pain.

Peter

[Pleeb]

I no longer have a heart ailment, but I have to continue heart/blood pressure meds....maybe forever.

Peter

[Rich]

Peter, you should see the fist-full of pills I take each day (incl. crazy pills).

[Pleeb]

Hi, Rich.....

I take 10 meds, 2 of which are antidepressants:  Wellbutrin, Mirtazapine.

I like Mirtazapine.  Wellbutrin, I'm not sure it still works.  I tell Dr's, and all I get is "keep taking it."


My 10 meds - not as bad as it sounds:  my cholesterol med, I BARELY need, stomach acid reducer I could maybe do without.

My 3 heart meds - I no longer have a minor heart ailment, but cardiologist says to keep taking them forever.



Peter

[Rich]

Aha!  It's a contest, is it?

Well, in my (med) corner is....:

- Lithium
- Lamotrigine
- Seroquel

- Lansoprazole (stomach acid eliminator)
- Rosuvastatin (cholesterol)
- Ramipril x 2 (blood pressure meds - I need 2 of them to get me the right dose)
- Asthma inhalers x 2

So there!  Is anyone out there up to the # of meds challenge?

Rich  :-)

[Pleeb]

LOL - I also take an acid reducer, cholesterol med, 2 or 3 blood pressure meds.  A couple of others.

My nephrologist added a tiny amount of another blood pressure med to get my blood pressure under 120, which it is


My former nurse practitioner, if my b.p. was around 130, she thought that was great.  The nephrologist thinks that's really high.


Peter