A-fib

In July of 2006 I was diagnoded with A-fib. TEE in October showed moderately severe leak (3+). TEE in December showed moderate regurgitation without prolapse, left atrial diameter of 5.7cm, mild aortic insuffficiency, Biatrial enlargement, mild tricuspid regurgitation, with right atrial pressure of 10 mmHg. In December 2006 I had a pacemaker implanted for slow heart rate which was caused by my Meds. As of January, I am still in A-fib. My EF is 35%. In October it was at 15%. currently taking Crestor, Topro XL, Diltiaazem, Atacand, Coumadin, Digoxin and Lasix. My cardiologist keeps saying he can't do anything else until my heart rate is stronger. I have seen 2 surgeons for the Mitral valve problem and they both say to treat the A-fib and the valve problem will go away. I am easily tired and sometimes can't breath, especially upon waking after a night's sleep. I have been hospitalized twice since July for my heart rate (5 days each time). I feel that my cardiologist is not treating me with care. He said I need mitral valve surgery but the 2 surgeons disagree with him. I am very very confused. Does anyone have any ideas??

[bfg76lw]

The first surgeon I saw thinks my a-fib is due to primary cardiomyopothy. What is this??

[Momto3]

Check out www.valvereplacement.com.  There are a lot of people on that forum who have first-hand knowledge about valve problems and surgeries.

You may wish to consider a second opinion from a large medical center (Mayo, Cleveland Clinic).  CC offers an "e consult" via its website (for a fee) whereby you send all your records, tests, test results, etc and they are evaluated by a CC cardio.


The following is an excerpt from the American Heart Association's website:  Cardiomyopathy can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary cardiomyopathy can't be attributed to a specific cause, such as high blood pressure, heart valve disease, artery diseases or congenital heart defects. Secondary cardiomyopathy is due to specific causes. It's often associated with diseases involving other organs as well as the heart.

[anacyde]

Afib is associated with cardiomyopathy, both secondary and primary.  Basically what your doctor is saying is that he believes the cardiomyopathy caused the afib, and not the other way around.