Re: atrial fibrillation

Posted By C.Riddle on July 20, 1999 at 09:20:56
Upon going to bed, for no apparent reason, my husband clicked into an episode of atrial fibrillation.  We went to the ER where it took about 10 hours, with meds, to get him back into a normal rhythm.  This was very frightening, and completely unlike anything he's ever experienced.  He's in perfect health and all his tests (echo, bloodwork, x-rays) came back normal.  Why could this have happened out of the blue?  Now that he's had an episode, does that mean he has a condition which will return?  Can atrial fibrillation happen just once, and never come back?  How much of a factor does stress, work related, play in a. fib?  Will exercise, or even sex, make it happen again?  He's 32, and temporarily on atenonol, 25mg.  Will coming off the medication raise his risk of another episode?
Thankyou for your time.

[Mario__0]

Posted By Mario on July 20, 1999 at 14:38:45
Hi Atrial Fibrillation can be very scary but if you scroll down the previous posts on the heart forum you will see that over 70% of posts are related to heart rythm questions. The medical community seems to get bombarded with all sorts of fibrillations, pvcs, pacs, palpitations slow heart rates, fast heart rates. They are definetaly working on this aspect of the heart.AF is characterized by irregular and very rapid electrical imp in the atrial chambers. The electrical system of the atria( SA nodes malfunction).The regular organized heart beat is reolaced by irregular disorganized spasms. This malfunction can occur regularly or irregularly for short periods or for long periods. When AF occurs blood does not get pumped out of the atria and when blood does not move around it is prone to clotting. This is why most are put on coumadin to reduce the risk of blood clots. A NSR is when there is an electrical impulse originating  in the atria(SA Nodes) and a split second after sent to the lower part of the heart (ventricles ) creating a syncronized heart beat.  The usual symptoms are fast irregular heart rate, dizzyness, palpitations and chest pain or pressure.Only the examining Md can decide on a course of action but most episodes can be treated with medication such as digoxin, beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. These meds work in suppressing the elec impulses. There  is also cardio conversion which uses external current to jolt the heart back to a nsr. If all else fails there are more invasive techniques but I feel they are best left to your md. to explaine to you. As per what causes Af and when it will occur next is still debatable. Each person is different and there is no one answer. If the MD put your husband on a medication do not discontinue it without consulting the MD. Remember if they get unbearable and all else fails they will probably suggest your husband get an ablation however only the MD can decide on a coarse of action suited for your husband. All the best to you and your husband...mario

[An-Bonadio]

Posted By Ann Bonadio on July 20, 1999 at 21:20:34
My 83 year old Mother-in-law has had periods of atrial fibrillation in the past and each time, the cardiologist has been able to restore a normal rythm using cardio conversion and the drug cardarone.  Recently she went into AF again during a hospital stay for an obstructed bowel and the conversion only worked for a period of a few days.  I took her to see the cardiologist after she returned home and he told me that he was "giving up on her."  Since I was trying to translate for her, I was not able to ask the relevant questions.  Namely, (1) is it possible to live in AF indefinitely, and (2) since the cardio conversion lasted 6 months previously, why not try it again.  Is there some danger to this procedure?
I would appreciate any information you could give me.  Ann

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on July 21, 1999 at 08:06:09
thank you for your question.
Many people do live with atrial fibrillation and accept this rhythm as their natural heart rhythm.  Usually these people require coumadin to reduce the incidence of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation.  I am not sure why your physician has not offered cardioversion again, but you would need to discuss this with them. There are many considerations that are made prior to performing a cardioversion.  One is anticoagulation as well as the likliehood of maintaining sinus rhythm.

Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mary-foley]

Posted By mary foley on July 29, 1999 at 23:56:20
I HAD AN ASD REPAIR IN 1995 AT AGE 45.  TWO DAYS AFTER SURGERY I DEVELOPED AF. I WAS CARDIOVERTED WHILE STILL IN ICU UNIT. THREE MONTHS LATER I DEVELOPED AF AGAIN AND WAS CARDIOVERTED THIS LASTED 2 & 1/2 YEARS TILL I WAS IN AF AGAIN WAS CARDIOVERTED THE 3RD TIME AND THIS HAS LASTED 3 MONTHS THIS TIME.AM I GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS SINCE I CAN'T SEEM TO STAY IN NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM. I HAVE TAKEN TAMBOCOR AND RHYTHMOL FOR THIS AND     I ALSO WAS GIVEN LANOXIN WITH THE TAMBOCOR BUT HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF IT BECAUSE IT MADE MY HEART RATE TOO SLOW. I NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH AF BEFORE THE SURGERY BUT DID HAVE EPISODES OF TACHYCARDIAS.
ANY INFORMATION FROM THE DR. WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANKS
MARY FOLEY

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on August 11, 1999 at 11:58:00
It is quite common to have atrial arrhythmias following surgery due to irritation of the heart from the surgery.  MOst of these arrhythmias resolve within 3 months after surgery.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
     Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
     doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
     1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
     Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
     address your cardiac problem.

[MARY-FOLEY]

Posted By MARY     FOLEY on August 17, 1999 at 13:06:22
   I had heart surgery 3 years ago for an asd repair. Since then I have been in  a f  numerous times and put on medications for it. Regarding your last response where you mention that it is common for this to happen up to three months after surgery, this hes been going on for three years.  Also is  A F a chronic condition?  










Follow Ups: