A-fib Question

[Freddie]

When your experiencing a-fib, how long would it last? After taking meds it should calm down right?

What if the symptom lasted more than 6 hours? is that normal?

I'm asking because I don't experience this symptom and a situation has developed within my sister's family (her M-I-L, very nice lady).

I don't know everything on what has happened to "Shirley", but it just seems wrong for a-fib to last that long while in the hospital.

I can tell you on what I know, but for now I would like to hear your input about a-fib.

Thanks

 

[Johan]

When I was waiting for my AVR I, "out of the blue", experienced this bubbling feeling in my chest (now I know it was A-fib and probably a symptom of the stenosed AV). Went to ER and they called my cardio and he admitted me to the cardio intensive care unit. This was the first time I experienced and learned about A-fib. Was placed on a drip and chemical cardio version commenced---took nearly 24 hours to revert back to sinus mode. Cardio was close to using shock treatment. Immediately after my AVR, when still in ICU, I again went into A-fib for nearly two days. This time amiodarone did the trick (used it for only 3 weeks) and I am now free from A-fib for nearly 5 months. We do not anticipate it returning as the cardio feels it was a symptom of the stenosed aortic valve. So yes my A-fib episodes lasted a lot longer that 6 hours, and both times in hospital.

 

[Lily]

I have a relative who's in some state of constant or near-constant A-fib, for decades now, and can't even feel it, as I understand. (I could feel it when I went into it post-op ) My relative was defibbed for it a couple of times over the years but can't stay out of it so is also on ACT for it.

 

[Lynlw]

When your experiencing a-fib, how long would it last? After taking meds it should calm down right?

What if the symptom lasted more than 6 hours? is that normal?

I'm asking because I don't experience this symptom and a situation has developed within my sister's family (her M-I-L, very nice lady).

I don't know everything on what has happened to "Shirley", but it just seems wrong for a-fib to last that long while in the hospital.

I can tell you on what I know, but for now I would like to hear your input about a-fib.

Thanks

How long has she been in the hospital? if it is still only hours, that is pretty common

 

[Freddie]

How long has she been in the hospital? if it is still only hours, that is pretty common

"Shirley" was brought to hospital Monday night (or Sunday night) after being found unconscious on the stairs. She doesn't remember falling, doesn't remember if she was going "up" or "down" the stairs.

The hospital found a hair line fracture in her cheek bone, on the back of the skull (don't know where exactly) and a hair line fracture in her wrist. On Tuesday at noon, her son noticed she was in a-fib from holding her hand and her good wrist (he experiences a-fib) and it didn't settle down until 8:00 that same evening.

On Wednesday her blood tests came back indicating that her emzines (sp) were high "that she could have very well suffered a heart attack". When asked why this wasn't noticed before the reply from a very snotty intern said "it takes 6 hours for this test to come back". huh?

I'm afraid that is lady has been a victim of mis-diagnoses as the hospital never look any sign of a heart attack when she first arrived to the ER.

They had her in a neck brace and was restricted to bed rest and was given warfarin to prevent blood clots - how much I don't know, but I do know that they operated on her wrist yesterday while on warfarin.

 

[Mileena46]

I have gone into a-fib twice....once before surgery that I didn't come out of despite the use of meds. I was reverted back when I woke up in the ICU.

A few weeks out of surgery I went back into a-fib and had to be converted by shock because the meds again did not work. I was taking Amiodarone at the time. Since Aug I have had no signs of A-fib. I hope it is behind me.

Mileena

 

[bvdr]

"Shirley" was brought to hospital Monday night (or Sunday night) after being found unconscious on the stairs. She doesn't remember falling, doesn't remember if she was going "up" or "down" the stairs.

The hospital found a hair line fracture in her cheek bone, on the back of the skull (don't know where exactly) and a hair line fracture in her wrist. On Tuesday at noon, her son noticed she was in a-fib from holding her hand and her good wrist (he experiences a-fib) and it didn't settle down until 8:00 that same evening.

On Wednesday her blood tests came back indicating that her emzines (sp) were high "that she could have very well suffered a heart attack". When asked why this wasn't noticed before the reply from a very snotty intern said "it takes 6 hours for this test to come back". huh?

I'm afraid that is lady has been a victim of mis-diagnoses as the hospital never look any sign of a heart attack when she first arrived to the ER.

They had her in a neck brace and was restricted to bed rest and was given warfarin to prevent blood clots - how much I don't know, but I do know that they operated on her wrist yesterday while on warfarin.

The intern may well have been "snotty" but it is likely he meant that it takes several hours after an "event" before the heart enzymes can be detected in the blood. When the test is sent to the lab it only takes minutes to run.

 

[deano89]

i found this when i wanted to know more about it, maybe of some help its a FAQ
http://www.a-fib.com/FAQs.htm#A-FibAttackQuestion

 

[Gail in Ca]

I went into A-fib after my 1st hospital stay for BE. I came home, 3 days later had a rapid heart rate, and a fever, again. My cardio hospitalized me again, and said some,(many) cardio's would probably use the paddles on me, but he was more conservative. 5 days in the hospital, I was released still in A-fib, but on diovan and metoprolol, along with a new antibiotic for the BE.
After a week total, my heart rate went back to normal, and I was glad he was conservative! Strangely, being in A-fib didn't bother me much.

 

[Dina]

I had aflutter in the hospital for 2 weeks while I waited for an ablation.
No meds helped to bring me out of it. Cardizem did bring my rate down from 220 down to 135,but I was still in arrhythmia until my ablation. They also can try cardioversion if none of the meds work. Hope they get her back to normal sinus soon,it's very uncomfortable and frightening when what helps others, doesn't help you.