huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/11/2021 10:01 AM |
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Has anyone had experience with afib?
Did you go the drug route? How did it affect you? Did it work, or did you end up finally with ablation?
How did yours start out? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/11/2021 10:51 AM |
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Treatment for Afib is highly individual and depends on the severity of the condition. For some, nothing more than blood thinners are required. Those patients usually never feel much more than a "flutter" in their chest, which can get corrected with something as simple as a cough.
Others have more serious periods of Afib....ablation can be the only option for some patients.
A good buddy just had an ablation last April (?) and is feeling great now and working his way back up to Ironman training.
As you probably know, Afib is often not a continuous condition. Most patients are in and out of Afib, sometimes across the day, others intermittently over several days. It can make an accurate diagnosis challenging because if you aren't in Afib when you get screened, it can be missed (but not always).
Based on your post, though, it sounds like you have been positively diagnosed? If you are interested, we have a blood pressure monitor that can detect the presence of Afib (patented technology). I'd be more thna happy to send one out to you if you want it. Just lemme know! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/11/2021 12:38 PM |
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Yeah, I was diagnosed a few years ago by my endocrinologist at the time as part of my myriad of side effects from massive glucocorticoid treatment for lymphoma, but it has gotten progressively stronger and more frequent in the past year.
I recently relocated and am going to seek out a cardiologist. I don't stay in constant afib, but may have it last continuously for twelve hours. It did it recently on two rides and had me concerned as I definitely felt its effect - physically and psychologically.
I am going to have to have an ankle replacement or fusion in the next year and am also wondering iff they will clear me for surgery if I don't have control of the afib.
Tell me more about the blood pressure monitor. Of my other symptoms, I have very low blood pressure. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/11/2021 02:03 PM |
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You can get more details at the link below, but it is a professional level BP monitor, designed to be given to patients to monitor their BP and screen for Afib at home. If it detects the presence of Afib during a reading, it gives you a notification.
https://www.microlife.com/professional-products/watchbp-home/watchbp-home-a-afib
Shoot me an e-mail at my work addy: mark dot boufford at microlifeusa dot com and I'd be more than happy to send one out. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 02/11/2021 03:28 PM |
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Excellent posts by CK.
It’s unusual, but just noting that some cases of Covid present with afib. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/11/2021 04:33 PM |
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| Thanks LSD - was first diagnosed four years ago with the afib. It started presenting itself more often about two years ago, and now quite a bit more often. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/11/2021 04:36 PM |
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| Thanks CK. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/11/2021 04:45 PM |
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No, not really....for some people they don't know if they are in Afib (or even know if they have it)....so the unit acts a screener and can alert them that they need to get checked by a doc.
But offer stands if you want it just to check your BP.... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 02/13/2021 07:43 PM |
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I've dealt with afib for about six years. Started to notice when I was getting ready to do one of my favorite rides around Lake Tahoe. Some weeks I could ride ok than other weeks could barely get home. A few miles into the ride I could not catch my breath. Had to turn around.
Spent a year doing testing, tread mill etc. Had what I call jump the start. Put the paddles on your chest. Worked for a few weeks than back again. Since then I've had two ablations and it seems to be under control. I still take four meds to slow my heart etc. Was on blood thinners for a few years. First Coumadin. Do not under any reasoning let them use that option! I ended up bleeding internally and ended up in the hospital for a day on a potassium drip. I was bleeding from everywhere. Take one of the newer choices. I've been been off blood thinners few years and will never go back no matter what. I'm 70 and my health is no longer tip top. But I don't have the same heart palpitations etc I had before. And don't end up so short of breath. But I have never regained my same cardio. But I'm old and out of shape. I've used some products from Kardia that do a simple EKG. They work good for just layman use.
You can google a video where this guy explains what is really happening in the heart chambers by using jumping jacks to explain what the heart is doing. Great explanation for a lay person like me. |
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 02/13/2021 07:53 PM |
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| Another place to get info is the guy on velonews. My brain is farting. He is one of the tech contributors and has written tons of books on bicycle repair etc. He also builds frames etc. If you want real indepth info on dealing with fib check him out. He has written at least one book on the subject. |
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 02/13/2021 07:58 PM |
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Lennard Zinn I believer sorry.
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/13/2021 10:36 PM |
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Thanks, Mondonico.
Will do.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 02/14/2021 08:23 AM |
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Posted By Bill H. on 02/13/2021 07:43 PM
... Was on blood thinners for a few years. First Coumadin. Do not under any reasoning let them use that option! I ended up bleeding internally and ended up in the hospital for a day on a potassium drip. I was bleeding from everywhere. Take one of the newer choices. I've been been off blood thinners few years and will never go back no matter what.
Been on warfarin/ Coumadin for almost ten years. Zero issues. My INR is very stable at 1.8 - 2.1
I take basically the same dosage as I did when I first started.
Totally understand that different people react differently and different medicines react together but for me I've seen no benefit to the $300/ month drug as opposed to the $4.00 a month FDA approved rat poison. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/14/2021 01:32 PM |
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Dale -
Are you taking Warfarin for afib?
I am curious what type of symptoms others have had. Mine are quite random and unpredictable. Over the past 4 years, some issues have lasted 12 or so hours and as little as a few flutters. I would get episodes with weight lifting and not cycling, now it's sometimes the opposite. I've never(knock on wood) had them happen during hard interval sessions(at home, on trainer). I get a little pressure in my chest, but am not sure if that is simply my paranoia or chest congestion.
Just curious what others have experienced? Was it progressive for them? |
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 02/14/2021 02:15 PM |
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| Great to see you've done well for ten years. From my experience and my late aunts 40 years ago have nothing positive to say about warfirin. My cost for alts was only 40 a month not 300. And after a few months of bleeding uncontrollably for every little scratch and ending up in ER for inr of over nine enough for me to never agin. |
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