WELCOME

[Momto3]

WELCOME TO THE HEART RHYTHM FORUM!

Were you recently diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder?  Would you like more information on the heart’s electrical system?  Are you feeling overwhelmed, frightened and/or confused?  Are you scheduled for EP tests, procedures, and or surgery?  Is your arrhythmia medication giving you trouble?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are in the right place!
  
The Heart Rhythm forum is comprised of a group of people who share an interest in learning more about arrhythmias.  The forum covers an array of topics including:  Afib, Aflutter, PVCs, PACs, SVT, WPW, palpitations, pacemakers, ICDs, procedures, tests, medications, post procedural/surgical expectations, and much more.  If it is related to your heart’s rhythm, chances are we can help.
  
Some of us have been living with arrhythmias for years while others are new to the world of electrophysiology.  Regardless of why YOU are here, welcome!  Here are a few suggestions for making the most of the forum.

1)  Check out the "Health Pages."  The link can be found in the upper right hand corner of your screen.  The “Health Pages” address topics relevant to cardiology.  Among the pages is a great resource for common cardiology acronyms.

2)  Please join the community.  Once you have had a chance to look around, why not create a profile and tell us a little about yourself?  Your profile can be as simple or as complex as you like.  In any event, you will meet people from around the globe!  You will have the opportunity to learn and share experiences with members who share your concerns.

3)  Consider posting to a current discussion, or try staring one of your own.  Don’t worry - you’ll get the hang of it very quickly.  You’ll find that you will want to come back often to check up on your new friends.  If you’ve got something on your mind, please don’t be shy.  There are no dumb questions and we are all here to learn.**

4)  Get acquainted with other members.  There are several ways to “Add a friend” but one of the easiest is to scroll over the member’s name and click on “Add a friend”.

5)  Consider keeping a journal.  Your journal can be private, public, or available only to those people you have added as a friend.  Journals are a great way to share your story, frustrations, experiences, history, etc.  You will probably find there are others who can relate to your story.

6)  Want to speak privately to another member?  Send a private message (PM) by scrolling over the member’s name and clicking on “Send Message”.

7)  Only have a minute and want to welcome a member, or send good luck wishes?  Scroll over the member’s name and click on “send a note.”  Unlike PMs, everyone can view “Notes”.

8)  Once you’ve created a profile, click on “My MedHelp” (indicated by a little red heart at the top of your screen) and check out the many great features and setting options.

9) Lastly, we would like to point you to the TRACKERS!!  There are a number of trackers available to our members, but we would especially like to point out the ‘Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Heart Rhythm trackers.  You can add them to your profile by clicking on "My MedHelp" (top) and then go to the Tracker Widget -- At the bottom of the Tracker Panel click on "Add Tracker" which will take you to the tracker page, where you can select the BP, Cholesterol and/or Heart Rhythm tracker.  You can begin using your trackers today!  Keeping track of your cholesterol and blood pressure are great ways to do your part to manage your heart health!!  The rhythm tracker is an excellent tool for you to document  symptoms, frequency, treatments and procedures relevant to your heart rhythm!

**Please read the Terms of Use at the bottom of your screen.  There are a few general posting guidelines that are for the benefit of all community members.  
  Please do not hijack another member’s thread.  If your comments are relevant with the current discussion, post away.  If you have a new topic of interest, please begin a new post.

We are so glad you found us!  Please don't forget to join our community!  We would love to have you!  Pull up a chair, get comfortable and get ready to meet a great bunch of people!  

If you are already a member, won't you please take a minute to welcome our new members as well as those who are lurking.  Would you mind sharing your story to let others know how the forums have helped you.

Your Community Leaders

[Mely1987]

Its nice to be able to read about other people with the same problems as me. I am 23 years old and I have SVT. Its so scarey. The finally did an abaltion last March because it was so bad I was passing out and  I have 2 toddlers. The Dr. told me he belived that it was 100% sucessful. I thought so as well. But this week I seem to be getting all my problems back. Racing heart,chest pains,dizzy and Ive been so weak and tired. I have also been expierencing migranes(which I never did before). Not sure if the migranes play a part with SVT? anyone else had bad migranes and SVT? I am worried that my ablation was not suscessful. I have read that some people have multiple abaltions before completely having no more palpitaions...?

[MollieRose]

Hello everyone. I'm not new to the community but I never posted before. I am about two weeks post-ablation for my SVT. They couldn't induce the SVT arrhythmia during the EP study but because of the way my heart responded (multiple PVC's, PAC's, etc.) and the way my heart was structurally they could still do the ablation. I've had a loop recorder (it's an implantable cardiac monitor, feel free to message me if you're curious about it :) ) in for the past year or so and that's how they've been catching the SVT on a monitor (I still have the loop recorder in, no talk about having it out yet). I've had episodes of the SVT with syncope(fainting) and near syncope for the past 5 years and it's been awful (due to me have no warning of course and also due to the fact that almost every SVT run results in syncope) . I spent a lot of time in hospital ER's due to it, though I always seemed to end up there *after* the SVT stopped and everyone thought I was just crazy. I'm hopeful that this is "the cure" (I've had no syncope since a week before the ablation) and that I will not have to worry about this stuff anymore. I did have a mild complication with my ablation (just infection, am on Keflex for a while), and the cardio says it's from the nurses using silver nitrate on my catheter site (it wouldn't stop bleeding). Hope everyone is feeling okay! <3

[Pete0629]

Hello, just diagnosed with afib 1-1/2 years ago. Looking into ablation. My cardiologist really put the fear of god in me about risks. I know it can help me if successful. Anybody had the downside?

[kay1951]

kataka666, hi, this is kay1951. That would be scary. I have expeirenced sorta the same thing. I'am 58yr's old and have had pvc's every day and alot of them.for about 8+yrs. This is an awful feeling as i can feel my heart skip the beats. I do see a EP specialist for this. I hope you have seen a heart dr. and had you're heart checked out. That way you know if their is something you should wory about or not. Please see a heart dr. and try not to get to stressed out. Hoping the best for you. kay1951

[kataka666]

Hello
I hope I CAN explain my problem good.2months ago I start have melt chest pain.The chest pain is there always for 24 hours ,Pain intense change all the time . Pain go to back arms and neck, Doctor keep saying to me it is nothing serious , even he never check me or send me anywhere to check .Now the heart start act even more strange ,it is not beating fast but hard.i GET so scary from it. I feel this big bang pulse so much. I have to stop and wait what will happening. Somebody have experience with same problem??? Please let me know
I start be really scary and Doctor dont want help me at all
THANK YOU
Katarina

[TachyAfraidy]

Hi Julie. I am 1 year and 4 months post cardiac ablation for sick sinus syndrome and transient paroxysmal atrial fib. It was (still can be) awful. Sotalol was the first drug that was tried when I spent 9 days in the hospital the first time, and even tho everyone is different when it comes to these antiarrhythmic meds, it caused pvc and terrible stomache and bowel issues. I was sick on the stuff. Amiodarone made me emotional and jittery, lots of tears and after the loading dose, did not help my flutter or bouts of atrial tachycardia. Maybe a different med would help, there are several. I reccomend a reading EKGs for dummies book that I got used on Amazon. It explained my poor r wave progression and my Q-T intervals. It is written in a ling that is easier to understand. Oh, and as far as your cardio or EP, they need to slow down and explain things if you have questions. You are putting your life in their hands. Get a new doc! I love love love both my cardiologist and my EP and am very fortunate to have them managing this mess. It is better now, much more managed, but I still jump out of rhythm for a day or two or three and it discourages me. Keep your chin up girl and go shopping for a new doctor. There are many out there. Websites that rate the office and the doc are helpful and there are many of them online. I hope this helps some. I know it is hard. This disease is a hard thing to try to get accustom to and I have been dealing with it since Christmas 3 years ago. I am 46 yrs old, I feel like I am getting old before my time. Shouldn't these problems rear their ugly heads in my retirement years? I guess not from reading the posts of 21 year olds and evena few children. Just know that we are not alone in this. This website has helped me realize this and it comforts me so much. Have a great day! Sharon