I Went Into Atrial Fibrillation

[2metalhips]

Good luck Jeff. Have you read "The Haywire Heart" by Leonard Zinn?

[KJMUNC]

Originally Posted by Jeff N.

I'll get an ablation if it becomes necessary, but I'm going to ask my cardiologist for a low voltage "whack" (cardioversion) before any drugs. I took some metoprolol prescribed from my ER visit but that crap made my BP nose-dive and did nothing for the A-Fib. I also know that the longer you're in this arrhythmia the likelihood of returning to regular sinus rhythm without intervention is reduced to a very low order of probability. A few days ago it felt like it was "trying" but...no go.

Flecanide dles the same for me….any time I took it to convert I knew I needed to be somewhere I could be on the couch. Hope you get back in rhythm soon one way or another!

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Jeff N.

I'll get an ablation if it becomes necessary, but I'm going to ask my cardiologist for a low voltage "whack" (cardioversion) before any drugs. I took some metoprolol prescribed from my ER visit but that crap made my BP nose-dive and did nothing for the A-Fib. I also know that the longer you're in this arrhythmia the likelihood of returning to regular sinus rhythm without intervention is reduced to a very low order of probability. A few days ago it felt like it was "trying" but...no go.

I certainly wish you the very best but remember, cardio version is attacking the symptom, not the cause of afib/aflutter/tachycardia. 'Something' is causing the afib...

[robt57]

I know a tachycardia bout can be converted by sticking your face in a bowl of ice floating in water, cold cold cold.

Wonder if this might convert you.

[bigbill]

Jeff, I hope you find a solution. I kind of understand, at the end of 2011, I was having chest pains, staggered to medical (I was still in the Navy and on the USS Nimitz, in port) and blood work indicated heart attack. In the ambulance to the hospital, I wasn't afraid of dying, I was just pissed that I might die. I had approved retirement orders and all kinds of plans that I might not get to do. The hospital had a mental health professional, a NP I think, who was there to help my "fear of dying." I told her I was just pissed and to go away.

I hope you get back on your bikes and I thank you for the great deals you've given me over the years.

[teleguy57]

Originally Posted by robt57

I know a tachycardia bout can be converted by sticking your face in a bowl of ice floating in water, cold cold cold.

Wonder if this might convert you.

Micro cold plunge!

Sorry, I know it was a serious recommendation. I'm getting a little goofy working toward my second knee replacement a week from tomorrow.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by teleguy57

Micro cold plunge!

Sorry, I know it was a serious recommendation. I'm getting a little goofy working toward my second knee replacement a week from tomorrow.

Best outcome for that. Plan ahead for the pain killer kiss of digestive death. It got me recently with a Laser Lithotripsy for Kidney stone. PKs on top of general anesthesia add that extra special condition in case the pain itself isn't enough.

[Flinch]

If you have AFIB, be SURE to know the 'Eply Maneuver', a breathing technique that can halt an episode. I've got Paraxsymal AFIB, with only one major episode in 2018. Several minor ones, ledd than a minute cince then. Also had Atrial flutter, with heart rate up to 220, my normla max is 158. All I could think about during the ambulance ride was, "Wonder how fast I could climb at this heart rate?". I'm on minimal dose of Metoprolol daily, and no AFIB ever detected on my yearly EKGs. Unfortuantely, my recent cardiology ultrasound sez I've got enlarged aortas. Not enough to be super scary, but at age 73, concerning. Doc sez, and I quote, "Don't worry, if they rupture you only have 30 seconds.". I like the guy!

[ckamp]

Scary stuff, hopefully everything gets back to normal!

[Marvinlungwitz]

Originally Posted by Flinch

If you have AFIB, be SURE to know the 'Eply Maneuver', a breathing technique that can halt an episode. I've got Paraxsymal AFIB, with only one major episode in 2018. Several minor ones, ledd than a minute cince then. Also had Atrial flutter, with heart rate up to 220, my normla max is 158. All I could think about during the ambulance ride was, "Wonder how fast I could climb at this heart rate?". I'm on minimal dose of Metoprolol daily, and no AFIB ever detected on my yearly EKGs. Unfortuantely, my recent cardiology ultrasound sez I've got enlarged aortas. Not enough to be super scary, but at age 73, concerning. Doc sez, and I quote, "Don't worry, if they rupture you only have 30 seconds.". I like the guy!

The Epley maneuver involves turning the head to treat vertigo.

If you’re referring to the Valsalva maneuver to increase Vagal tone and halt a tachycardia, it’s most effective in tachycardias caused by reentry and in which the AV node is part of the circuit. It may temporarily slow atrial fibrillation, but unlikely to stop it as the arrhythmia originates from above the AV node and impulses only pass through it on the way down.

Ditto for other things that temporarily increase Vagal tone.

[flying]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

I certainly wish you the very best but remember, cardio version is attacking the symptom, not the cause of afib/aflutter/tachycardia. 'Something' is causing the afib...

^^^Exactly This ^^^

[parallelfish]

Originally Posted by Flinch

If you have AFIB, be SURE to know the 'Eply Maneuver', a breathing technique that can halt an episode. I've got Paraxsymal AFIB, with only one major episode in 2018. Several minor ones, ledd than a minute cince then. Also had Atrial flutter, with heart rate up to 220, my normla max is 158. All I could think about during the ambulance ride was, "Wonder how fast I could climb at this heart rate?". I'm on minimal dose of Metoprolol daily, and no AFIB ever detected on my yearly EKGs. Unfortuantely, my recent cardiology ultrasound sez I've got enlarged aortas. Not enough to be super scary, but at age 73, concerning. Doc sez, and I quote, "Don't worry, if they rupture you only have 30 seconds.". I like the guy!

Isn’t the Epley Maneuver a head positioning exercise to relieve vertigo?

Oops! See it has already been answered