Ana's Journal

Richard Munson  P.s. i also had asymptomatic afib and dropped eliquis but because i have an aneurism i stayed on metropolol and added low dose aspirin. Had maze 3 years ago. 

Ana Kelton-Brand  Thanks for responding, Richard.  Good to hear that you're happy with your loop recorder.  Can you feel it in your chest?  I'm almost 5 weeks post-surgery and the thought of having another procedure done so soon scares me, though I've heard the insertion of the loop recorder isn't a big deal.  Was that your experience?

Richard Munson  Think putting a chip in your dog. Its that simple. My cardiologist did it and the medtronic sales guy assisted. Very small. Tiny actually. Yes, i know its there but no one else does. Except now you. Don’t tell anyone. Yikes, now the whole site knows. It comes with a hand clicker you can activate if you notice something you want your doctor to take note of. I have never used it. I should look for it as i misplaced it. If anything abnormal shows up my cardiologist knows and would notify me. Nothing yet. The recording device sits by your bed and sends data to doctor. I wanted it because my a fib was silent. The other types of recorders are short term and stick to your skin. I hated them. Holter etc. i take a shower with no worries and no skin issues like before. Anything else just ask. Ready, willing and able. I forgot, my wife and my dog know its there. 

Richard Munson  I should have said i had mitral valve repair with maze and chord replacement 3 years ago this month at mass general in boston via minimally invasive method. I was 79 at the time. So far so good. I had a great surgeon who i would and have recommended to others. Keep in mind that no matter what they do to your heart, its considered open heart surgery. How they get there is the difference. Also everyones recovery is different . I had a pretty good one, others take longer. We are all different. Lots of look with your loop and a fib. 

Ana Kelton-Brand  Thank you so much for your reassuring words, Richard.  You've allayed some of my anxiety.  Your sense of humor is so helpful.  I also had minimally invasive surgery, but I had so many procedures done, I forget that recovery takes longer than I expected.  Afib also threw a pretty big wrench into it.  Good news is that I haven't been in obvious Afib in three weeks and haven't needed to be rehospitalized again.  That's progress!

Klara Čičić  Richard is our angel at this site and has helped me so much, too. Only side effect felt from his humour was right after the surgery when it was uplifting but literally painful to read his posts :))))

Rose Madura  Hi Ana, yes I had Afib and Aflutter on and off after surgery for about six weeks.  It was horrible.  My case was typical in that it stopped after about six weeks.  I hope you feel better soon. Each time I went I to Afib, I had to be hospitalized because was very symptomatic.  How are you being treated? Amiodarone? Metoprolol?  God bless you. I really feel for you.

Brady Busch  Yes,I developed it after surgery,during my time at the ICU.Some days and nights,it had to be ridden out.Then,maybe the last day on that ward,a nurse gave me three,5mg doses of Metoprolol,through an IV,pausing a little between each one.The first didn't do too much,but by the last,it was noticeable that my heart rate slowed.By the time leaving the hospital,I was in normal sinus rhythm.
There was also a pacemaker installed,which can sense a number of things.So,between first recording and about three weeks later,there were 44 occurrences of AF.Then they stopped and didn't happen again,until maybe three months later,with two,only seconds long each.
The pacemaker gets read in two months and I'm eager to see the results.
Right now,I'm taking Metoprolol,low strength aspirin and continuing with the blood thinner,Eliquis,even though it's been over two years.

Abhishek Sharma  Yes i also had afib till 7-8 weeks after surgery. Doc said it was normal..  now after 10 weeks i am ok..

Ana Kelton-Brand  Rose, this really is horrible.  I've been hospitalized 3 times this past week for Afib, also because I was very symptomatic.  I'm hoping to stay home for more than a day without going back in Afib.  
I am being treated with Amiodarone and Eliquis.  They wanted to try me on Metoprolol, but my blood pressure is too low.  

Ana Kelton-Brand  Brady, I hope you get a good reading from your pacemaker.  Have you had any problems on the Eliquis?

Ana Kelton-Brand  Your stories give me hope that this nightmare will be time-limited.  I'm hoping the range of my HR while I'm in Afib gets lower so I don't keep having overnights at my local hospitals.  I got pretty discouraged by my third Afib hospitalization.  Doctors are hopeful that Afib should start getting better as I move further away from my surgery date.  Today is two weeks, so I have to be patient.  

Greg Lewis  I too had lots of Afib. They finally did Cardioversion on me, and got back in rhythm. It has never came back. Lots of bad PVCs though.  But after what happened,  I am thankful the pump still works at all!  Your Afib should go back into rhythm,  I would think.

Ana Kelton-Brand  Thanks for your response, Greg.  What was cardioversion like for you?  Are the bad PVCs a result of the cardioversion?

Greg Lewis  The Cardioversion was simple and so fast, I didn't even know they did it. Except I left there, sooo happy!! Because no more banging or neck popping!  Afib gone! 
The PVCs come and go. Right now, I am in a period of no PVCs. If you read my valve story, my heart took a beating 😉 and I think the PVCs are just a result. They're not as bad as Afib, though. If I ever have to do ohs again, it's gonna be scary. Might not get that thing to reboot next time!  Cheers!

Brady Busch  No problems with Eliquis.I haven't looked it up,to see if there are side effects.It's suppose to be better than Warfarin.

Ana Kelton-Brand  Greg, I can't believe what you've been through with your heart!  You're a walking miracle.  Good to know that cardioversion was quick and effective.  Not sure yet if I'm going to need it, but my doctors mentioned it if the Amiodarone doesn't do its job.

Ana Kelton-Brand  Brady, you're wise not to look up side effects.  It's not like we have much of a choice in taking it.  I've also been told it's better than having to take Warfarin.

Delise Becker  Hi, Ana. I, too, suffered from A-fib/A-flutter following my sternotomy to replace my mitral valve. Apparently, our hearts do not like to be messed with, and they really don't like getting new valves! I began experiencing A-fib while still in the hospital, but right before they were going to shock my heart, it went back into sinus rhythm on its own. However, about four weeks after surgery, I started experiencing A-fib and flutter again. My heart was thumping hard and my heart rate was up to 140, where it stayed for 12 hours before I spoke to my cardiologist's nurse after hours. She told me to go to ER, where they cardioverted my heart. I felt much better afterwards, but, unfortunately, this occurred two more times. I had my heart shocked in the ER 3 times in an 8-day period. I was on amiodarone since my surgery, and the second time I went to the ER for the same issue, they tried metoprolol via IV, but that did nothing. After my third shock, my cardiologist sent me to an electrophysiologist. He was great and recommended a titration plan for my amiodarone. I took 800 mg (400 mg tab 2 x daily) for five days; then I took 400 mg (200 mg tab 2 x daily) for 30 days; then just one 200 mg tab a day from then on. I just saw the electophysiologist again yesterday, and he took me off of the amiodarone completely. My EKGs looked great - normal sinus rhythm. He wants to see me in 3 months. He believes that my A-fib/flutter were a result of the surgery; however, if I have episodes as my body depletes the ami, then I am to call him. If it turns out that the problem was not due to surgery, then an ablation may be needed. But, as I said, he thinks my heart was irritated from the surgery. 

I know this is long post, but it was a long process! Every person's circumstances are different. Some never have an issue with A-fib; some have it only a short time; some have it for longer periods of time. I struggled and was miserable, BUT, it did pass. I've had no other episodes since Nov. 3, and both my echo (at 12 weeks) and my recent EKGs have turned out well. I am now 15 weeks post-surgery, and I feel great!! Because of the A-fib issues and the visits to the ER, I did not get to start my cardiac rehab until the end of Dec., but I am going 3 times a week now, and so far, there have been no indications of any "electrical issues" with my heart. So, hang in there, and keep your cardiologist informed. Praying that you will get relief soon. 

Ana Kelton-Brand  Thank you so much for your response, Delise.  The only thing that helped me the 3 times I was in the hospital with Afib this past week was being on IV Amiodarone for over 24 hours each time.  My cardiologist brought in an electrophysiologist in my last hospitalization  who has me on the same exact oral Amiodarone titration plan that you were on.  I'm on day 2 of 800mg.  I haven't had tachycardiac Afib for almost 2 days, so I'm so grateful.  I know I have to have patience, which I've never been very good at.  Learning lots of life lessons.  Trying hard to be positive and not live in constant fear of the next episode.  

Delise Becker  Yay! So glad that you're seeing an electrophysiologist. I pray that you will have no more episodes.