Newbie here.

I just got a 'loop recorder' implanted Friday.  The backstory is:  Since about February I'd been experiencing 'butterflies' in my heart/chest.  The attacks varied in intensity.  But I would ignore them because they didn't last very long and it really wasn't causing any pain.  Plus, I already have GERD and chalked up the symptoms as being part of that.  FF to one day in June, my heart started acting up again.  This time he hurt like hell and it wouldn't go away. But eventually it subsided and went away.  Later that night, I had already just went to bed and fell asleep.  I was jolted awake with that same hideous butterfly feeling, heaviness in my chest.  I ended up going to the ER.  During my 18 hours there, I was immediately dx with afib.  I had two tests: an ultrasound and a drug induced stress test.  Both came back normal.  I was discharged with a rx of flecainide 50mg. 2x/day and orders to follow up with my primary and also with a cardiologist...both kinds; the physical heart doc and the electrical part of the heart doc.  At some point I was rxd a blood thinner.  I must say, since being on the thinner, I haven't had any heaviness in my chest or headache-y pressure in my head.  But I still would be getting the afib despite the flecainide BUT not as intense as before I was on it. So up to this point in time, I'm holding steady....but with this new thing-a-ma-jig in my chest.  I was surprised to learn that I may have to have it in me indefinately!  Why?!  No!  I don't want it in me forever.  But it is what it is, I guess.  I don't know to expect or what the future holds for me.  I'm a little scared to be honest.  By the way...I'm a 52 year old male.

5 Comments

Welcome to the AFib world. Wish you could go home.

by AgentX86 - 2018-08-26 19:47:30

You don't give enough information to tell why you need a pacemaker, now, but I'm sure your EP has a good reason.  It won't help your AFib and even if it could, it wouldn't be an immediate need. 

First let me clear up some misconceptions.  The "blood thinner" has nothing to do with the change in symptoms.  It's (really an "anticoagulant") sole purpose is to prevent the blood in your heart from pooling and forming a clot.  Such a clot can break free from the heart and if it does, there is a good chance that it'll travel to the brain - instant stroke.  Not good!  I'm surprised that wasn't the first thing that they prescribed.  It's essential that you take these when prescribed.  Even one missed dose can be bad news. Yeah, we're all human but this is important.

The Flec you're on is an antiarrhythmic, which may prevent you from going into AFib.  Antiarrhythmics are all bad news and don't work for long, if they do at all.  Flec isn't as bad as some but as you've noticed, it's not doing a perfect job, either.

You probably should be on a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker, too.  Do you know what your maximum resting heart rate is?  This is fairly important to track, too.  If it's too high (ever above 100 for a period of time) you really need to get it down (the above BB or CCB).  These are the two dangers of Afib (stroke and high heart rate).

Again, you don't give enough detail to figure out why they want you to have a pacemaker but it's not a big deal.  Think of it, not as a foreign invader, rather a new and better life.  It really is and it's no big crimp in your style.

Loop recorder...not pacemaker.

by 285dollarman - 2018-08-26 20:15:48

I don't have a pacemaker.  I have a loop recorder.  Cardiologist hasn't mentioned anything about a pacemaker.  This whole thing going on with my heart is new to me.  So I'm on a learning curve, so to speak.

D'oh!

by AgentX86 - 2018-08-26 21:24:04

You did say it was a loop recorder.  Sorry, I have "pacemaker" on the brain when I'm on this site.  I'm surprised he put a loop recorder in right off the bat. Loop recorders are long, long term diagnostic tools.  Holter monitors or Event monitors can be used for a month, thoug it's a PITA.  A loop recorder isn't fun either.  Normally they use a loop recorder to find really intermittent events.  There is also a new "patch" recorder that's good for at least a 2-lead EKG.  As the name suggests, it's just a stick-on patch that sticks to one's chest.  Surgery for a loop recorder is usually a last-ditch test to find something that hasn't been found by one of the above.

As far as having it forever, you always have a choice.  The choice isn't one most of us want, though.  It's rather like getting old.  No one says you have to.  You've already had the implant surgery so if you do need a pacemaker, the worst (what little there is) is behind you.

 

indefinite

by ROBO Pop - 2018-08-27 14:42:55

indefinite doesn't mean forever.

Many people have electrical issues with the heart that are difficult to nail down. I have friends that it took almost a year of monitoring before they nailed down their issue and were bale to take corrective action. 

If you are indeed enjoying Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) or Atrial Flutter, that's a PIA to resolve and requires patience on your part, but the first step is to make sure of the diagnosis. A lucky few do enjoy a reprieve using medicines like Flecinade but usuaqlly that just reduces the effect. I will say that it is abnormal for A-Fib or flutter to be painful, so there's likely more going on here, vis a vis the loop recorder. 

Good luck and hang tough

Vitamin D test?

by BOBTHOM - 2018-08-27 16:09:38

Just for the heck of it, if they have not done so, have them check your vitamin D level.  I found during winter months mine drops low and I get more PVC's.  It's not something they routinely check and it's seperate from other blood tests. Never hurts to ask.

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