Wow that is some story. Here is a small bit of mine. I am a surfer and I had VT in the water in mexico. Blacked out and woke up under water. 3 months latter VT in the water in southern California. Stents than a difibulater than ablation to stop AF because my difibulator went off when I was held under water for some time. 3 weeks after ablation I have severe Angina and I am noticing some asophagus issues. The next plan is another angio to see whats "cooking". The angina pain is centered in the chest and goes up the carotid arterys in the neck, sometimes to the jaw, scarry! Can't surf, run, or hardly walk without pain. Pain after ablation perhaps they melted my stents! This is like remodeling an old bathroom, fix the toilet than the sink starts leaking.
Thanks for all the positive comments. The goal to me was to be able to get back to doing some exercise, because it gives me the opportunity to strengthen my heart and do what I should have been doing for the past 20 years. At first I found it difficult to walk up the stairs of my house, but now I can walk/run up to 6-7 kms (4 miles). I was also fortunate to be able to take time out from work to get it fixed.
Hope you all have an improved 2012 and I'll be sure to keep you posted if things change.
and Bigkev, sorry mate, while I do like to watch a bit of Aussie Rules, I prefer to play Rugby Union. cheers
Thank you for sharing your story. I came on tonight because I was feeling low about my own AF. I've had it about 12 years, had an ablation in 5/10. It was not entirely successful after 10 hours. I have had more episodes in the 19.5 months since. I am scheduled for a cryoablation in February of 2012.
I've been having frequent episodes and feeling sorry for myself for having to have my life interrupted by them. I love my work, but never know if I'll have to go in for a cardioversion in the middle of the night.
It feels better to know I'm not alone and that AF is a process. I look forward to the next ablation and hope it is successful.
Again, thank you for sharing and I wish the best for you all,
MaryLL.
Welcome to misdiagnosis! Been there, done that lol. A single TSH test can miss a thyroid condition especially hypothyroidism.
"The consensus of thyroidologists decided in 1973 that the TSH (lab) was the blood test they had been looking for all through the years. This was about two years after I started practice. Having been taught how to diagnose hypothyroid conditions clinically, I was in a position to watch to see what the relation of the TSH was to the onset of hypothyroidism. What I found was many people would develop classic signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism but the TSH was ever so slow to become abnormal, rise and confirm the clinical diagnosis. Sometimes it never did. Finally I began treating patients with hypothyroid in the normal manner I was taught. I could not see why I had to wait for the TSH to rise for me to be able to treat them." - Dr. David Derry
Thanks for posting, it's always nice to hear from someone that got to the root cause. It's a difficult process.
Thanks, it is always good to read about something working. I think most people who don't have problems getting heart rhythm issues resolved (many possibilities here, including living with it) don't come here to tell us how they succeeded.
That said, you really had to go through a lot and your story kept me in suspense to the end. Noting it is a complex story, the ending seems to my reading to say all is well at this point, Great ! Many Happy New Years.
The down side of atrial fibrillation is it tends to come back. I have had several periods of normal sinus rhythm, some lasting 1.5 years, with the aid of medications following electrocardioversions. I am currently just treating symptoms and reducing clotting risk and living with permanent AFib. But, I am 20 years your senior and the other (bad) thing to observe, is one can expect that all being equal (not a change in life style or a new cure) one wears out, heart included, as they age. AFib is more prevalent in older people, and in tall people, and in athletic (extreme?) people. I have all three problems, except my athletic past would not be considered extreme by most.
Again, thanks to letting us know the ups/downs/successes you have experienced. I hope those considering getting an ablation read you post to put more perspective on the process... can work, but not 100% effective.
Great to hear you're back on track mate; what a trip. Just shows that you have to get more than one opinion and keep trying. Easy to say, not so easy to do. You've obviously got a lot of 'ticker' (no pun intended - well, OK it was intended) and your story will help us all to keep going.
The only thing I would like to clarify is your 'contact sport' experience when you were young; obviously very fit and no problems then? Please don't ruin it all and tell us that it WASN'T our real game -
Good luck - hope you keep on going well. Regards from an old Magpie (SANFL)
Wow...what a ride! I'm so glad you're feeling better. Thanks for sharing your story....maybe there is hope for us after all :)