Post-surgery A-fib question...

[Susan BAV]

Hi everyone -

I'm eleven days out of surgery, bicuspid valve replacement, and I keep going into a-fib. The doctor put me on lanoxin but I keep going into a-fib. My question is: DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC CAUSES OF A-FIB, OR WHAT (ELSE) TO DO TO GET IT TO STOP?

At first I thought I drank too much over my daily quart ration of water, and then I thought maybe diet might have something to do with it although I've been eating a very balanced diet, and now I really can't figure out why it keeps happening?! It can disappear as quickly as it comes on...two hours, twelve hours, etc.

Please help me with your experiences. Thanks, ~Susan

 

[bvdr]

Hi Susan,

Sorry you are having problems with the a-fib. It is a very very common problem after valve surgery. I've had problems with it and am on both flecanide and cardiazem to try to control it. I was on lanoxin for a while pre-op and it wasn't sufficient.

I can't think of anything you can really do to prevent the occurrences of atrial fib post-op. You are already watching your fluids and taking your medications and probably getting plenty of rest being so early in your post-op period.

I was told my atrial fib was likely caused by the enlargement of my left atrium and that that had stressed the area that sent out the impulses for contraction. Any heart surgery would probably cause swelling and stress on the tissue. I am still expecting mine to eventually go away but there is no guarantee. Mine is intermittant too.

Try not to worry about it and follow your doctor's instructions carefully about when to call him and how he wants you to handle it. Hopefully it is just a temporary condition.


maybe this is just temporary.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi susan!
joey, too, went into afib (4 days post op though). he had had some bouts with afib before his surgery and was taking sotolol (betapace) as a preventative measure_ it actually worked up until the week before his surgery. at that point he broke through and went into afib. it is for this reason that they did not even think about using the betapace after the surgery to get rid of the afib.
it is very common to have afib after this kind of surgery. i think it has something to do with "stirring things up" with the heart and "provoking it". after all that work on it, it sometimes responds this way.
do you take magnesium? i would start with that_ about 400-500mg daily. it's supposed to help regulate arrhythmias.
besides that, i would make sure you are on coumadin if you have continuous afib for more than 72 hours.
the afib itself is not life-threatening, but there is a risk of clot formation and as a precautionary measure you should be taking blood thinners for this.
has your doctor suggested any other meds? there are numerous meds that can help you get back to sinus rhythm. also, they can cardiovert you if needed.
joey was put on some heavy duty, last resort med called amiodarone (only because the other meds did not work for his afib). he is currently trying to get totally off the stuff (scary side effects that need to be monitored closeldy), and if he should go back into afib, his cardio plans to cardiovert him then.
i hope this has helped you some. if you want to, feel free to email me at: [email protected]
please call your cardio and let him/ her know that you are in afib and need something to either get rid of it or coumadin.
wishing you all the best, sylvia

 

[Kathy]

Susan,

I had A Fib after surgery. I am on Flecanide, Magnesium, Digitex, and Coumadin as a result. I was told that 40% of patients having valve surgery have problems with A Fib.

I am still hoping to convert to sinus rhythm. I was told it could be 6 months or even longer.

 

[Susan BAV]

Thank you all, and anyone following who answers also. I've been on Atenolol for a few months, although it is a minimal dose and they put me on Coumadin about 4-5 days after my surgery and then the other stuff, Lanoxin, three days ago. It is unnerving and exhausting when the a-fib comes on but I'm about "fine as frog-hair" when it's not happening! Thanks again and best wishes for your a-fib and mine to go away safely, ~Susan

 

[pillarpaul]

Susan,

I was exactly eleven days post-op when I got my a-fib. Please don't worry yourself over how it happened. Something in the surgery causes it. It is absolutely nothing you could have prevented. My surgeon and cardio talked to me about it a lot. The surgeon said there are different theories as to what in the surgery causes it such as: disturbing the electrical currents, the touch of a human hand, and on and on. Obviously if they can figure out exactly what the casue is, they would come closer to preventing it post-op and maybe even for people who suffer from it non-post-op.

I was placed on amiodarone, a very strong drug that did the trick. This is a heavy-duty drug that should not be used longer than six months. I successfully took it that long with no side effects and if they do prescribe it I can send you a PM with a ton of factual information, pros and cons (I have seen a lot of misinformation on the forums about it). Hopefully, though, your docs will continue to use more benign drugs first to see if they work.

Good luck and let us know how it comes out.

Paul

 

[Susan BAV]

Is it (can it be) just regular a-fib if it is POUNDING AND RACING? Does anyone know? Thanks, ~Susan

 

[FredH]

a-fib

a-fib

Hi Susan
Yes I found the POUNDING AND RACING was common with my a-fib. When I had a-fib and it would start pounding and racing it was very scary. I starting getting a-fib the second day after surgery and they had to give me the old shock treatment several times to get me out of it. They put me on amiodarone and after about 5 days my a-fib was under control. I was able to fly back from Cleveland to Hawaii where I lived. I had a lot of side effects from the amiodarone and had to try several meds before I found one that seemed to work without side effects. After 2 months on the meds I went off that meds to see if I could go with them. My doc said a lot people get a-fib after the surgery and then after a 2-3 months they can go off meds and have not problem. I went for another two months without my meds and then went back into a-fib. At that point the doc said I had to go on meds and stay on them the rest of my life. I went back on the meds and had not problem for almost 2 years. I moved to San Diego and my doc there said if I wanted to trying going off my meds I could try it and If I went back into a-fib it I would know I should not have gone off my meds. I went off my meds and went back into a-fib. So from what I understand a lot of surgery patients go into a-fib but most can go off meds after about 2-3 months and have not problem. I am one of those who will have to continue taking meds the rest of my life to control it. So one way or another you should be able to control the a-fib. I know it is scary right now but don?t worry they should be able to get it under control one way or another. I am on 200MG of Flecainide and .50MG of Lanoxin a day.

 

[Susan BAV]

update

update

Thanks again for your helpful replies. The cardiologist readmitted me to the hospital Tuesday and started me on Sotalol and discontinued the Lanoxin and Atenelol. He also put me on magnesium drips three times. So far so good! I got home late yesterday and it sure is good to be home again! ~Susan

 

[pillarpaul]

That sounds like a good program. Hope you continue to do well, Susan.

Paul

 

[EVELYN]

Hello Susan

First let me say how glad I am that you're doing so well. We've been away in Florida for about 2 weeks, so I haven't been around much.

Secondly, let me say that Tyce went into afib one day after surgery. Continued on the Amiodarone and converted the second day post op. He wasn't taken off the drug until November (surgery was in June) and has been fine ever since. I think what is important here is that afib is very normal post op. Our cardio felt it was inportant to get him back into nsr asap and gave him the amio....others don't feel the same way and will try other meds. I'm glad we went the way we did, but it wasn't easy weaning off it, etiher, so it's really a catch 22. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't be too upset with it, especially since you are so soon post op.

Please keep us posted....I am truly glad you're doing so well.

Evelyn.