Atrial Fibrillation (Abnormal Heart Rhythms )

[Farid]

Last Sat, I noticed after dinner that my hear has a noticeable irregular beat (Atrial Fibrillation). It was so frequent that my wife got to felt it just by putting her hand on my chest. This continued thru Sun

When I met with my Cord yesterday, I informed him; and he placed a portable monitor on me for 24Hrs. When I told him he appeared disappointed. He also gave me a card to document the Time, the Activity (setting, moving, resting) and the Occurrence. The irregular beat was so frequent on Sat and Sun that I would have not been able to document all occurrences if I was asked to do so.

BTW, the EKG last week in his office was all normal.

My dad delivers the unit today with the documented occurrences.

What are your experience guys?

 

[Karlynn]

Your card is keeping a close eye on you, that's good. It's not uncommon for the heart to misbehave a bit after surgery. It's been through a lot and can be sensitive for a while. What you are experiencing isn't uncommon and it should settle down, but it's good to know that your doctor is being cautious. It may have occurred because you did a little more than you should have for a few days, or because you were a little more tired than usual, or because the sun moved across the sky.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

It may have occurred because you did a little more than you should have for a few days, or because you were a little more tired than usual, or because the sun moved across the sky.

Very true, especially the last example of causes.
Sometimes there is no reason to an arrythmia, they just happen.

Just take it easy and let the recovery proccess move at it's pace. Don't push it.

 

[DeWayne]

I had a-fib in the hospital 2 days after surgery. I knew what it was. Very strange feeling. they gave me something I do not remember what and it went away. Then 2 days later I was ready to be released, and I mean papers signed I am about to walk out the door and it came back. They put me on one drug which didn't work and switched me immediately over to sotolol, which did work, and I had to wait a couple more days before they let me out. I had 2 instances after that in the following week week and half, I was still on sotolol, which they kept me on for about a month or so. I have not experienced any futher a-fib since. Once I went off the sotolol my heart rate shot up to the 90s low 100s so they put me back on 50 mg of Toprol to slow it down. Which is where I am now, 4+ month out, I take 50 mb of Toprol and 10 mg of enalapril (5mg 2x day). My blood pressure has been runnign form about 110/65 to 120/80 and my heart rate from high 60s to about 80. If I really exert myself it seems to top out around 125 after strenuous work in the yard or a 3-4 mile walk.
I do know that once the a-fib started that is took about 6-8 hours for it to disappear. In the hospital I was sitting there looked at my wife and just said, "It Gone". 10 minutes later the nurse came in and said it was gone, my wife had her check the tapes and it ended exactly when i said it did.

 

[Farid]

Interesting. There is nothing like first hand experience. Thanks guys.

 

[maka]

Did you have any caffeine....coffee, tea, chocolate, soda? even wine?
I find that caffeine has an impact on me and my heart races Thought I mention this,

 

[John & Joann]

No Metho cough drops, vicks, etc. There are many other things that can cause the atrial fib.

320 mgm of beta pace works MOST of the time. If you are on coumadin, it is nothing to panic. (if your pulse does not go on a major run)

 

[Farid]

Did you have any caffeine....coffee, tea, chocolate, soda? even wine?
I find that caffeine has an impact on me and my heart races Thought I mention this,

Yes to ALL, except soda and wine.

However, things seem normal today.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Yes to ALL, except soda and wine.

However, things seem normal today.

I had some issues a few years ago with arrythmia's and gave caffeine up completely.

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi,

I never had an issue with this until 5 years after my surgery.

Basically, there are 3 main factors that can trigger it to occur.
1. Alcohol
2. Stress
3. Lack of Sleep.

Hmmm,,, ... BTW... My doctor also pointed out that Marijuana also has an effect that will speed up the heart rate.

Here are a few sites that may help provide you with more information on this topic.

http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/arrhythmia.php#what is

http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_disorders/atrial_fibrillation/

In the past 2 years it seems I have been averaging two episodes per year which have required a visit to the emergency Room. They have provided me with a IV drip of Digoxin, and within an hour or two.. I got to go home.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202194.html

This has always worked and put my heart rate back to normal sinus rhythm until this last time in September. This time my heart rate did not stabilize, so I ended up having to stay over night and in the morning they cardioverted me. Yikes... I didn't feel a thing... woke up feeling fine, and was on a plane to Germany the next morning! However, I really would prefer to keep away from being paddled if at all possible.

That being said, I have not given up alcohol, but I have reduced my intake some. I still work long stressful hours, and it's rare that I get a real good night's rest. As I am already on Coumadin, I am mostly protected from a clot or stroke situation, but it is not good to have the heart rate go bonkers...

Some people ask me why I still travel so much.. I just tell them it's exciting, I am getting a chance to see and do things I never dreamed I would have a chance to... and... Hey.. They have paddles over in Germany too!

A-Fib and A-Flutter should be taken seriously.. Especially if you are not on an anticoagulant such as Coumadin.

Hope this post helps...

Rob

 

[Ozmercy]

Caffeine and Fatigue

Caffeine and Fatigue

I agree with everything that has been said here. I have had times, post-surgery, where my heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest and I have had runs of afib or irregularity. By the way there are a lot of times where we think that we have Afib and it is not. Afib is when you have a run of irregular beats that does not fit the definition of another rhythm pattern. Sometimes it is just PACs or PVCs. But, back to the point I found that 3 things were usually the cause and they were either fatigue from over doing it, caffeine, or dehydration.

Dealing with fatigue is all about pacing oneself. Dealing with Caffeine and other stimulants has been hard to change but I am a total Decaf guy now and I love it. It took awhile to convert over (some headaches in the afternoon for a week or so) but now I love it. I ask for a decaf, non-fat, sugar free Latte and the Starbucks lady calls it a "Why Bother Latte!" But I still enjoy it and have found I don't need the buzz anymore. In regards to the dehydration, I drink a lot more water than I used to and if I come home from work feeling worn out the wife hands me a Gatorade. When your electrolytes get messed up your heart beat goes wacky. A sports drink of somekind will usually help get this back online. I am not on Coumadin so I don't know if sports drinks mess up your numbers or not, but I have found that drinking a sports drink and resting when I am having an irregular heart beat bring things back to normal.

One last thing, if you really have a constant problem with irregualr heart beat, the relatively new Oblation therapy is having remarkable results. My Father-in-law had it done and he went from constant problems to no Afib at all. They go in and zap with a laser the section of the heart that is twitching and it stops it. I believe a guy at Stanford is the Dr. that invented the procedure. It is done orthoscopically. No cracking the chest.

Take it easy Farid and stay away from caffeine.

 

[Farid]

Thanks

Thanks

THANK you all. You guys are a wealth of information.

I believe all is ok for now. The Late Sat (through Sun) event did not recur. But, I?m watching out for it. Coffee test terrible after the Op, but that did not stop me from getting a couple of small cups a day AAN about 3 small cups of tea. No alcohol.
The thing is if I stop coffee, I know I?ll be sub?d by tea. So moderation seems to be the answer.

No work stress yet; that?ll be out of my hand.

Thanks again.