AFIB

More information is needed

by AgentX86 - 2019-03-25 08:12:19

Is Afib new? Why did you get a pacemaker?

Note that a pacemaker isn't a cure for Afib. They can sometimes be used to pace one out of it (not reliably, according to my EP) but a pacemaker can only start a heartbeat, it cannot stop an errant beat once it's started.

Five years experience

by Theknotguy - 2019-03-25 15:13:46

You don't say what pacemaker you have.  That can make a difference.  But anyway....

I had a bad experience because the afib medicine I was on didn't slow my heart, it stopped it.  So I woke up in the hospital six days later with a newly implanted pacemaker and spent the next two years getting back to "normal".  

As AgentX86 said, the pacemaker isn't a cure for afib.  Post pacemaker when I went into afib with RVR, my heart rate was up about 130 and the pacemaker just sat there and watched.  Not a good place to be.  However there are other things to take into consideration.  

Two cures for afib, ablation (chemical or electrical/freezing) or being dead.  Second option not the best.  Two methods for handling afib.  Rhythm control and rate control.  Don't know about rhythm control so won't discuss.  Rate control is where they leave you in afib but use chemicals (drugs) to slow the heart. They found out a long time ago that if they slow the heart, it sometimes kicks you out of afib.  In my case, post pacemaker, they slowed the heart below the speed that would keep me functioning and used the pacemaker to bring the heart rate up to a "normal" rate.  Not always the best place to be either but my other option is being dead and I'd like that a lot less.  There's also chronic afib and persistent afib.  Treatment can depend upon the type you have.  

There isn't too much you can do about the fact your grandparents swam in the wrong gene pool.  Unfortunately mine won the lottery on the bad heart issues instead the lottery that has all the money.  But with modern technology there are mitigating things you can do.  I have chronic afib and am in afib about 15 to 20 % of the time.  My EP says I'm not sick enough to have an ablation yet.  But then again he doesn't have afib at all so what does he know? 

To the best of my knowledge only one pacemaker brand, Medtronic, has programs to control afib.  It's always fun to listen to the various company reps when they tell you the advantages/dis-advantages of pacemaker controlled afib.  They don't have a pacemaker, don't have the program(s) running so can't really tell you what it's like or if it helps or not.  Most of the time it sounds like, my dog is bigger than your dog.  But I digress. 

Fortunately I have the Medtronic Advisa with two programs running on it for afib.  One is APP (Atrial Preference Pacing), the other is Minerva.  APP works about 10% of the time, Minerva works about 80% of the time.  The rest of the time I'm on my own.  The programs cut off 2 to 5 years of pacemaker battery life but I feel the trade off is worth it.  My pacemaker sits there and monitors all the time.  If I go into afib, the pacemaker determines what type of afib I have and starts the appropriate program.  If it starts APP, it will raise my heart rate and monitor.  For some people raising their heart rate will kick them out of afib. Some guys with afib will take a walk when they feel they go into afib knowing (or hoping) raising their heart rate will kick them out of afib.  APP works about 10% of the time.  If my afib persists, Minerva kicks in.  What it does is to watch the pattern of my afib and then changes my pacing to pace me out of afib. Minerva works about 80% of the time.  With APP I get a hot flash when it starts.  With Minerva I get a stutter step feeling because I'm expecting a heart beat and it doesn't happen when I anticipate it.  Both programs will start and stop over a pre-determined period of time.  So you'll sometimes hear me walking down the hall saying, "Would you just make up your mind!!!"  Most of the time I'm in afib for only a few seconds to a few minutes.  The programs kick in, stop the afib and I don't really notice it.  

The other 10% of the time I'm on my own.  I had that bad episode with afib with RVR.  Talked with my EP and I have a plan of action.  Basically a modified form of the "pill in the pocket" which will get me by until I can make it to the hospital.  

What can you do?  Mostly some research and then avoiding things that will cause afib.  For some people their afib can be triggered by food or alcohol.  So you need to avoid those foods.  For others, no cause can be determined so you have to go the medicine or ablation route.  It can be really frustrating.

Fortunately my pacemaker has changed my afib picture.  I used to go into afib that would last for up to a day and a half.  Now, with the pacemaker programs my afib usually lasts, at the very most, about four hours at the worst of times.  Like I said, most of the time I don't feel it at all and I lead a "normal" life.  I still have to take heart meds for afib even though I do have the pacemaker.  I'm on two heart meds at this time. 

I hope this gives you enough information to help you in your research.  Hopefully you can talk to your EP/cardiologist and come up with some kind of plan that will help you with your afib.  My best wishes go out for you.  
 

Heart Rate

by Dave H - 2019-03-25 21:36:39

Get that 100+ heart addressed ASAP by whoever.  You should "boot" any Doc. who is not concerned with that Tachy condition.  If ignored, or not treated correctly, a cardiomyopathy (heart failure) could be in your future.  Remember, 50% of those diagnosed with heart failure die within 5 years.  I'm in year 7, so I've dodged the bullet so far.

--Dave--