A-Fib anyone

[loretta]

Since I found out (5 yrs.ago) that I had mitral valve stenosis I also found that I have A fib. Had my valve replaced 12/9/03 & go into a fib a few times a year. Been put on different meds when ever i go into it. Now I am on Sotalol. Has anyone else developed this? Dr. says I may some day be in Afib 24/7. My coumadin range is crazy. Do my testing at home at least once a week call my dr. & he changes the dose take it again in a couple days & he changes the dose. Can't seem to regulate it. Today it was great 3.0 told the dr. i will take 5mg. two days a week & 4mg 5days . we will see what that brings. I want to have spinaach or broccoli 2 times a week . Am I asking too much? I am on lipitor my cholesterole & trig. are veryhigh. Heard Omega 3 helps that . Has any one else have this problem & tried it?
this is my first Thread ( i guess its called)
THANKS TO KARLYNN WHO HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS SITE.
Loretta

 

[geebee]

Hi Loretta,

I am in a-fib 24/7. I don't take any strong meds but I do take Inderal to help with it a little. I think the Inderal helps keep the rate "quiet" rather than pounding so I usually can't tell I am in a-fib unless I listen really hard.

The only problems I notice is a lack of stamina sometimes. I also can't exercise to the levels I used to so I have a few extra pounds I can't lose. Other than that my life is unaffected which is why we have not been aggressive with treatment.

The doctors feel my chronic a-fib is due to multiple surgeries causing an enlarged atrium. However, I did have some occasional a-fib after my first surgery so there is probably a connection.

As far as your INR goes - if you adjust your dosage and re-test in less than a week, you may not get an accurate result. It takes at least 4 days for coumadin to register in the INR. If I make changes, I do not test again for 1 week. Maybe that is why your level has not been regular.

Your eating habits are not too much to ask. Just be consistent with the salads and your INR will factor that in.

Good luck.

 

[bvdr]

Like you, I also had mitral stenosis too and now have a St.Jude mitral valve. I think I even had a similar surgery as you. I likewise have problems with atrial fib, and have had since before surgery, but it is pretty much suppressed with the drug flecainide. A-fib is very common with rheumatic heart disease/mitral stenosis as you probably know.

Like Geebee, my left atrium is still dilated and it doesn't show any signs of changing.

I also think you might be changing your coumadin dose too often. I test once a week and are in range most of the time. Sometimes it takes a while for a change to kick in. A dose you take today may no even be reflected in your INR for about 2 1/2 to 3 days. Just a few things to consider.

 

[Nancy]

Joe also had rheumatic fever and has an aortic and mitral replacement. He was fibby for the longest time, fluttery too. And it was 24/7. He couldn't take the usual meds for it, so his cards just let it go. After several years, his heart magically reverted back to normal sinus rhythm. Have no idea why, but why ask questions?

I suppose he could go back into afib again at any time.

 

[John & Joann]

Joann has atrial fib that comes and goes. She takes 320 mgm of betapace (sotalol). To take this dosage, you MUST have a pacemaker or the old heart will slow down and you will pass out.

This works and beats ameioderone and all of the side effects.

Happy clicking since 1971 with 10 prescriptions daily.

 

[loretta]

A Fib

A Fib

hi , im so glad to hear from you. i guess slowly but surely I'm learning to use this site. Yes, I think i will only test once a week & see if it will stay more in range.

I was never put on inderal for the a fib. Been on plenty of others. I had thevalve replaced & the surgeon did the less invasive. I am cut under my right breast. Very fast healing less complications. Surgery went very good. my Dr. wasAubrey Galloway @NYU med.cent.
Does your a fib/heart beat just keep jumping around constantly? What number is your heart beat stay at 7when do you know when to go to the ER? I used to do exercise so i had bought a heart monitor @ Sport Authoritywear on your wrist & around your chest. As soon as i feel it coming on I put on the monitor & watch it race all around.
Right now am i writing to you personaly or will everyone read this? Have to learn all these words Cp , user, threads,etc. If you don't mind I will keep in touch with you. Loretta

Hi Loretta,

I am in a-fib 24/7. I don't take any strong meds but I do take Inderal to help with it a little. I think the Inderal helps keep the rate "quiet" rather than pounding so I usually can't tell I am in a-fib unless I listen really hard.

The only problems I notice is a lack of stamina sometimes. I also can't exercise to the levels I used to so I have a few extra pounds I can't lose. Other than that my life is unaffected which is why we have not been aggressive with treatment.

The doctors feel my chronic a-fib is due to multiple surgeries causing an enlarged atrium. However, I did have some occasional a-fib after my first surgery so there is probably a connection.

As far as your INR goes - if you adjust your dosage and re-test in less than a week, you may not get an accurate result. It takes at least 4 days for coumadin to register in the INR. If I make changes, I do not test again for 1 week. Maybe that is why your level has not been regular.

Your eating habits are not too much to ask. Just be consistent with the salads and your INR will factor that in.

Good luck.

 

[geebee]

You are posting on the public forum. If you want communication to be private, click on someone's ID and click on the "send a private message". That will take you to a screen where you can send a message.

My heartbeat is usually pretty eratic. I will get 3 or 4 regular beats and then it goes into a wacky rythym. My heartrate is around 90 BPM but it varies. Of course it goes up with exercise.

I would go to the ER if my heartrate got above 150 and I was not exercising or if the rate was so eratic that I had breathing problems or other symptoms.

Everyone is different so I would talk to your doctor to ask about what is an emergency for you.

Stay in touch either on the public forum or through PM. I will be happy to help.

 

[loretta]

a fib

a fib

i thought i was learning this site but i'm wrong. i think i sent you 3 replys. a screen came up & said something about only 5 minutes. please let me know if u received any of these from me. thanks Loretta

Hi Loretta,

I am in a-fib 24/7. I don't take any strong meds but I do take Inderal to help with it a little. I think the Inderal helps keep the rate "quiet" rather than pounding so I usually can't tell I am in a-fib unless I listen really hard.

The only problems I notice is a lack of stamina sometimes. I also can't exercise to the levels I used to so I have a few extra pounds I can't lose. Other than that my life is unaffected which is why we have not been aggressive with treatment.

The doctors feel my chronic a-fib is due to multiple surgeries causing an enlarged atrium. However, I did have some occasional a-fib after my first surgery so there is probably a connection.

As far as your INR goes - if you adjust your dosage and re-test in less than a week, you may not get an accurate result. It takes at least 4 days for coumadin to register in the INR. If I make changes, I do not test again for 1 week. Maybe that is why your level has not been regular.

Your eating habits are not too much to ask. Just be consistent with the salads and your INR will factor that in.

Good luck.

 

[loretta]

sotalol

sotalol

I take 120 mgm a day of sotalol. I guess its ok. Amiodarone ruined my lungsWhen your in a fib does your heart beats go like 130 bpm & keep jumping up & down. my st Jude since 12/9/03 i feel pretty good. loretta

Joann has atrial fib that comes and goes. She takes 320 mgm of betapace (sotalol). To take this dosage, you MUST have a pacemaker or the old heart will slow down and you will pass out.

This works and beats ameioderone and all of the side effects.

Happy clicking since 1971 with 10 prescriptions daily.

 

[geebee]

i thought i was learning this site but i'm wrong. i think i sent you 3 replys. a screen came up & said something about only 5 minutes. please let me know if u received any of these from me. thanks Loretta

Loretta,

Look at the right top of your page and you will see I sent you a private message.

 

[William]

Geebee or anyone else, when your heart is beating 150+ per second, what does it feel like? I was close to that after surgery, but has it gone down to the 90s range. I've heard the description of "a washing machine on spin cycle that's out of balance" for the feeling. That seemed pretty true to what I went through. Will

 

[geebee]

Will,

I think that is an excellent description. The most annoying part of it is the feeling that your heart is going to pound right out of your chest. It makes me think of the movie Alien.

I also have had breathing difficulties & dizziness with an irregular heartrate that fast. Luckily it has only happened a couple of times.

 

[Nan]

I've been in and out of afib since AVR . Am currently on Betapace AF 120mg 2X a day, and this did indeed require a pacemaker or you bottom out with a really low heartrate!

Several different drugs have been tried for me, but so far this has been the best. There seems to be quite a bit of controversy over how best to deal with afib...and of course each person is different.

Probably part of the solution is how much it bothers the patient. I know of at least one person who is in afib almost all the time, but he doesn't feel it (other than having a lower energy level) so it isn't too bothersome. And then there are folks like me who feel the slightest blip in rythym.

When to go to the ER? If you feel really badly and/or it has been going on for several hours, at least per my cardio.

Re: Coumadin, I echo the others, eat your broccoli and spinach on a regular basis and test a little less frequently. Just be consistent with your "K" intake!

Good luck!

 

[Missy]

I have been in a-fib for 9 yr. Two years before my mitral valve replacement and six after. Shocking didn't budge it.

I take lanoxin and have often wondered why some doctors use one medicine and others prescibe another. What is the determining factor. My dr. answer was that lanoxin was just the best there was for making my heartbeat stronger. Does anyone know???? %

I did try amiodarone for awhile but it made me sick and didn't help much.

Lanoxin makes my heart beat stronger but I still have the fib. If I exercise too much or move too fast I really feel it. Can't lift as much. Not as much stamina as I should have. Get dizzy sometimes. Heart rate goes up. Excitement can cause this. Can't play on play station. I get tired easily.

I

 

[DuchessBear]

I had intermittant afib before my MVR, and it became constant after the surgery. In 2002 I had cardioversion to stop the afib and was started on sotalol (Betapace) to keep it away. I take 320mg a day (no pacemaker, heart rate about 70). So far, so good.

However, now my card wants to see if I can get along with a regular beta-blocker. It is with some trepidation that I will attempt the transition soon.

Afib is no fun. I hope all of you with symptoms find relief soon.

 

[twinmaker]

I started with A-fib a couple of years after my second OHS which was for a mitral valve replacement with a St. Jude mechanical. My cardio. put me on Tambacor and it worked pretty well for several years and then it stopped working so the cardio tried several different drugs. One might work for a while but then stop and I would try another one. Anyway, when my A-fib would act up, my heart would pound really hard and the rate was anywhere from 120 up. That's what the rate would be with me lying down or sitting. I would go to the ER because I would have trouble breathing and would be dizzy. I had several cardioversions but the A-fib kept coming back. That's when I decided to have an A-V node ablation. Now I don't feel the A-fib any longer but when you have that procedure done, you have to get a pacemaker. If I can answer any other questions, let my know. I too, had problems regulating my coumadin, but like everyone else said, you can't keep adjusting the dose every 3 days or you won't get a true idea of what is going on.