Atrial fibrillation post surgery

[Christina L]

Hi everyone,

I am having my mitral valve surgery in November. The thing, I think, that worries me the most (ask me tomorrow and I will have a different fear) is going into atrial fibrillation post surgery. Does everyone go into a-fib post surgery for a short time or long-term? What does it feel like? Some of you have said you have gone to the ER for it - that is scary to me.

If you are living with a-fib (which I guess post mitral valve patients get more often than aortic valve surgery patients, have read 50%) what is it like? Is it irritating? Does it make you tired? Do the medications for it make you tired?

As you can tell, it is the "fear of the unknown" that is getting to me the most. I have started taking my Ativan regularly as my thoughts and worries are in overdrive.

Thanks for your help.

Chris

 

[Ross]

Girl you've got me ready to take Ativan. You worry way too much, but you do have a valid question so I won't pick on you continuously--YET!

 

[Christina L]

Ross,

Sorry, I have always been a worry-wart and now I really have something to worry about!!

Well, what are your answers to my questions?

Chris

 

[Ross]

My answer is that I am the Supreme Worrier and you have now surpassed me.

I had a round of it in rehab last September. It's rather unsettling. The heart starts spazing out for no apparent reason and your quite aware of it. It starts making you think things that are not pleasant, but in my case, it went back into it's own rhythm within 24 hours. I had mega super fast beating of the heart, high enough that they got my Doctor out of bed and had him prescribe a couple of different things to bring my heart rate down. None of them worked. Needless to say, I was pretty worried there for a spell. I didn't know what they were going to do next and I wanted out of there badly. It was kind of a kick in the teeth at the stage I was in. I had already been in there for 55 days or so.

I figure I'll let one of the chronic A fibbers answer this one as they have more experience with it then I do.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Christina,

Atrial fib was the very first obvious sign that I was having problems with my heart. It was the investigation of it that led to the uncovering of my valve problems.

I had several episodes of it (over about a year or more ) that quit by themselves after 30 or so minutes to 10+ hours before I decided I shouldn't mess with it by myself but needed to get it documented and treated. My atrial fib was very very fast.....160-180+ bpm. My heart would feel like it was pounding sometimes but then other times I was aware of it but it was real tolerable. I would feel very tired and somewhat short of breath but no chest pain or anything like that. It would tend to occur when I was very busy and already tired.

Last December it started getting worse. I was cardioverted with drugs in the ER twice and was put on alot of medications to control it. I think the medications made me more tired than the atrial fib but that is hard to determine because that was also the time my mitral valve began a more rapid deterioration. It does that sometimes you know. You can go along about the same for a long long time and then suddenly everthing starts escalating. During the month and a half before my MVR I was actually slipping back into atrial fib quite a bit but the rate wasn't so high because of the medication I was on. I think alot of the symptoms are rate related anyhow.

The other problem that it causes is that there is something called an "atrial kick" that supposedly comes from properly functioning atria that adds to your total cardiac output. If your output is great than it probably doesn't make too much difference. When a heart is in atrial fib it doesn't have the atrial kick. So if your output is marginal to begin then it reduces further with atrial fib you might really feel worn out.

I went back into atrial fib after surgery on and off for the first week or so. I am just over 4 weeks post-op now and today was the first time I was aware of being in atrial fib for the last week. It only lasted a short time and then went away on it's own.

My dad was in atrial fib for years and said it never bothered him at all. Many people are like that but as my cardiologist told me its much better to stay out of it if possible. Some people only find out they are in it when they have an EKG for a physical or something.

Sorry this ended up so long but maybe it helps you a little bit. It isn't something to spend much time worrying about.

 

[pillarpaul]

Hey, Christina, I think you need to listen to the elk bugle up there in beautiful Estes and take your mind off this stuff.

I had a-fib about two weeks post-op. My surgeon said about a third of open-heart patients get a-fib although most get it within 4-5 days post-op. A-fib from an acute insult to the heart is different from the a-fib that many of the folks here live with constantly. A-fib was my only complication. I woke up feeling funny one morning. Fortunately I had an appointment with my surgeon to get the staples removed that day. I had them listen to my heart and the nurse knew immediately. She called my cardiologist who offices at the same hospital (rememebr how I told you in a PM that having your surgeon and cardio in a local hospital is great for after-care?). He admitted me right away to CCIU where I was administered a drip that "converted" me (the heart, not my faith) within four hours. You don't feel pain - just real strange because in my case my heart was beating over 200 beats per minute. Felt like a bird on speed.

IF, for some reason, you get a-fib, we can all chime in with our a-fib drug stories. Lots of diverging and passionate opinions. Although I knew about a-fib I didn't worry about it (and still got it!).

Paul

 

[Nancy]

Joe's been in afib and aflutter for many years. His doctors have said he'll probably always have it. There are times when he's in normal rhythm. His is chronic. Joe is not a candidate for treatment, he has too many other problems and is on too many medications.

The vast majority of folks who get afib get a few spells of it after surgery, and then it goes away. But you should know that many people never get it at all.

There are lots of ways to treat it, if and when it happens.

Christina, your doctors are the ones who should be worrying about all of this. They are the ones with the training and are the ones who are going to be there for you before, during and after surgery. They are trained to take care of common after surgery situations like afib, and they know just what to do to help you. You will have a heart monitor on your body from the moment you get into the hospital until the time you leave. You will be watched very carefully for any arrhythmias, it's so important to the doctors that your heart is safe, they usually have a person whose job it is to watch all of the patients who are on a monitor. They sit in a little room with everyone's monitors set up there. You can't even breathe differently without someone checking on you. You will definitely not be all by yourself in the hospital. Big brother rules in the hospital, especially after heart surgery. There will be so many people fluttering around you after surgery, you won't believe it. Plus you'll be hooked up to all kinds os high tech gizmos which will be checking on you and keeping you safe.

By the time you are ready to come home, you will be deemed ready to go home and will be over the critical stages of post-surgery recovery. Then all that is left is the healing which takes a little time.

You will be safe and you will be just fine.

Leave the worrying to the guys with the big bucks, that's their job and they know what they're doing.

 

[Gerry Dorrian]

Chris,
I think afib falls into the irritating category. I makes me pretty tired if it goes on a few hours and although I can sleep when I have it I wake up exhausted. I convert to a normal rhythm eventually so I don't get too worried.
Right now the cardiologist has me wearing a monitor and I have started taking drugs to control arrhythmia and coumidin to prevent clotting.
I had afib immediately following the surgery and they watched it pretty closely and kept me in the hospital a few extra days. I the first few weeks at home I had it off and on. Even while I had the afib I continued to improve following surgery and felt better week to week.
I think that "irritating" is the best word because at this point in my recovery (3+ months) I feel better than I have in years on most days but then I get afib for a day. I guess some of this is a matter of adaptability.
Before surgery I didn't think I had any symptoms. (I did but I had adapted to my condition.) Post surgery I'm willing to tolerate less and expect to feel good everyday. It's all part of finding a new normal, I guess.

Gerry

 

[Christina L]

Thanks everyone for your help with my concerns about a-fib. You have given me some reassurance in knowing that a-fib is "tolerable" although irritating and that not everyone gets it. My cardiologist had mentioned something about a-fib when I told him I wanted a tissue valve because I didn't want to be on Coumadin and he said that more than likely I would end up on Coumadin for a life-time anyway because I would develop a-fib. He doesn't have the best bedside manner, but he is brilliant (so I am told) - think that is usually how it goes with those brilliant doctors.

By the way, I don't have any a-fib now (knock on wood). As for what you said, Betty, about things going downhill fast, I believe that is why my cardiologist seems so alarmed that my EF went down four points in four months - I can tell that he thinks this might be a trend and surgery now rather than later is the best way to go. So, here I go...into the great unknown.

Thanks again for ALL your help. I hope I don't drive you all crazy in the next month with my fears and worries.

Chris

 

[Ross]

Chris your not driving us crazy. Your doing what so many of us have already done and were just trying to tell you that it's not worth the effort to worry that much, that's all.

We all luvs ya!

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Chris,

Can't help you much with the a-fib stuff. I have some electrical stuff going on, but couldn't even tell you if it was a-fib or not. I think it might be SVT (supra-ventricular-tachycardia). But who knows? I am on Toprol and digitalis and don't seem to be too tired on them.

A note on worrying: Someone once said that worrying is a way of trying to fool yourself into thinking you have control of a situation that feels totally out of control. If you worry enough, the theory goes, you will feel like you have control. Guess what? You don't.

So take a deep breath, take a step back, and realize that you are in a situation that is out of your control. You can do research, find the best care possible, and then you must LET GO. Eventually you need to take a leap of faith and trust. Trust that your doctors will take care of you. Trust that it isn't your time to go. Trust that you will be able to handle whatever eventuality comes your way. You can do this.

Ironically, one of the few things you CAN control is your worrying. . . So do what you need to do to take care of yourself, do what you need to do to relax, and allow yourself to free fall.
You'll be okay.

Melissa

 

[Nancy]

hi Chris-

As far as driving us crazy--for most of us it's not a drive, but a short walk anyway. Present company excepted, of course LOL

 

[MelissaM]

Present company excepted, of course LOL

Is that because you are already there??

Leo Buscaglia had a great quote that said something like "I enjoy being thought of as crazy - it gives me much more latitude to act the way I want to"

Melissa

p.s. Confidential to Chris (male Chris, not you Christine - you are sweet =) and Ross: Evil Sister is baaaaack. Bwah hah hah

 

[Nancy]

You got it, Melissa!

 

[Ross]

Evil Sister is baaaaack.

Oh goodie, can she come out and play?

 

[MelissaM]

Sure thang. Suppose we should go play on another thread, tho. . .Christine might get mad her worry-post has turned into a free-for-all Evil Sister playground.

 

[Ross]

Someone once said that worrying is a way of trying to fool yourself into thinking you have control of a situation that feels totally out of control. If you worry enough, the theory goes, you will feel like you have control. Guess what? You don't.

Before I leave off on this, I wanted to say that this is signature material. I'm glad you posted this.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

ChristinaL -- for what it's worth....I never had a-fib...before or after surgery. I take 400mg of Magnesium and it seems to work...keeping the beat regular.

 

[Christina L]

I agree with you, Ross, about Melissa's post. That girl is too wise for her years. Melissa, thanks for the words of wisdom - again. You always have something profound to say.

And by the way, you two kids play all you want on my post site - that is answer enough for me - to not take life too seriously, right??

Chris

 

[Rain]

Hey Girlfriend...

Hey Girlfriend...

I?m not sure if I told you before.... My heart was in chronic a-fib before I ever had the surgery. My cardio knew before the surgery that it would be nearly impossible to get it out because it had been that way so long. Just wanted to make sure you know the surgery didn?t cause mine to be in chronic a-fib.

That Melissa girl is one smart cookie... . I know it's nearly impossible... but try not to worry.