HI Cathy,
You might want to seek a second opinion from a different electric heart doctor and see what that doctor says about putting a pacemaker. I would definitely ...Read more
HI Cathy,
You might want to seek a second opinion from a different electric heart doctor and see what that doctor says about putting a pacemaker. I would definitely want this done and over with if I was in your position. I've been having shortness of breath and so I can't exercise and can't function to do every day things. We have been having trouble just getting someone to fully investigate why I am having the shortness of breath. I have had past heart stuff. I was born with an Atrial Septal Defect and had that repaired but I was also born with leaky heart valves. I did have a maze procedure and Mitral valve repair 8 years ago. I am on my third pacemaker.
Cathy Zuber Third pacemaker?? people I know have had to have the batteries changed..not the unit itself!!?? You ... Read more
Cathy Zuber Third pacemaker?? people I know have had to have the batteries changed..not the unit itself!!?? You sure have reasons to have the heart troubles..I had known about the mitral valve prolapse for years..just turned into a bad leaky valve last year. I too had a Maze procedure when the mitral valve was replaced...at least I know the shortness of breath comes from a combination of Asthma and heart stuff. Good luck getting answers....
Hi Cathy,
I noticed that you mentioned having diastolic heart failure and I had done some research and they mentioned that a Bi-Ventricular pacemaker can help. ...Read more
Hi Cathy,
I noticed that you mentioned having diastolic heart failure and I had done some research and they mentioned that a Bi-Ventricular pacemaker can help. It paces both the bottom part of the heart and the top to help them work better together. I don't know if this information helps you or not. I didn't know if your doctor discussed anything like this with you.
Cathy Zuber Hi Stacey, thanks. Yes, the "electrician" for my heart has mentioned this. I can't have an ablatio ... Read more
Cathy Zuber Hi Stacey, thanks. Yes, the "electrician" for my heart has mentioned this. I can't have an ablation for the AFIB/flutter. They know it comes from the top left area..and he'd have to cross over a metal mitral valve to (maybe ) fix my rhyrtm problems. I would risk another OHS to repair any slips..basically..no surgeon here will touch that surgery. They don't want to kill this gal. The alternative, next time I have an episode, would be to put in a pacemaker. I just wanted to have it done and "close the door" on this cardiac adventure..Docs said just wait..every day I'm stronger, etc. so far..(shh!!) I have been in sinus rhythm for 2 months!!!!!
Stacey Potter I'm with you. I would just want them to put in the pacemaker and get this done and over with. Right n ... Read more
Stacey Potter I'm with you. I would just want them to put in the pacemaker and get this done and over with. Right now I am having shortness of breath and I can't exercise and I can't function to do normal every day activities. I can only walk 10 ft and have to sit down and catch my breath and right now we are in the process of getting me up to Cleveland Clinic. We have a virtual appointment with a Cardiologist that deals with heart failure on Oct. 2nd which is suppose to fast track us getting up there for testing and meeting face to face with this cardiologist.
Hi Cathy... read your story about your afib struggles. Mine is a flutter. The med they have me on is currently working but I'm assuming an ablation is in ...Read more
Hi Cathy... read your story about your afib struggles. Mine is a flutter. The med they have me on is currently working but I'm assuming an ablation is in my future also. I just wanted to wish you well . Prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery. I am curious as to which meds you've been on for Afib? When you get the chance. Best wishes that all goes well. 🙏🏻💞
Cathy Zuber Hi Wanda, thanks for the good wishes!! In my history of AFIB, I've been on way too many different ... Read more
Cathy Zuber Hi Wanda, thanks for the good wishes!! In my history of AFIB, I've been on way too many different drugs. Cardizem, digoxin, atenolol..Tambocor ( flecainide) kept me going well for about 6 years. But, I would have an episode, and the dosage would be increased. This past Fall I changed to Tykosin. ...but I had more episodes of AFIB, and now I'm on 200 mg of Amiodarone. That's half regular dose. The side effects were getting me. Not an encouraging history, I'm sorry to share. .....
Hey Cathy...thanks for writing in my guestbook. It sounds like our surgeries are happening at about the same time. I'm doing a photo project while I'm waiting ...Read more
Hey Cathy...thanks for writing in my guestbook. It sounds like our surgeries are happening at about the same time. I'm doing a photo project while I'm waiting for my surgery where I'm digitizing a collection of 4 X 5 negatives from the late 40's to early 50's from Minneapolis and St Paul. I hope to have a showing of them at a local gallery later this year. It sounds like quilting sparks joy for you. I hope your repair goes well and you have a quick and uneventful recovery. Let's keep in touch and compare notes on how things go
Cathy Zuber Hi Ben..great idea to compare notes on recovery,etc. I had a carotid artery ultrasound today, then b ... Read more
Cathy Zuber Hi Ben..great idea to compare notes on recovery,etc. I had a carotid artery ultrasound today, then blood tests and chest X-ray on Friday. I did start to get weak-kneed when I also found I needed to meet with anesthesia in person..also Friday. I have had 2 other major surgeries..a mastectomy with reconstruction, and a hysterectomy, and I only met with anesthesia that morning!! Not fun!! Scary is more like it. ...
You are Into photography?? 40's and 50's pics are so interesting....how things have changed.!! Yes..my daughter and I quilt and do needlework. Keeps the hands and brain busy!
Hi Cathy, I noticed you wrote you are a B. cancer survivor & can have blood draws only in one arm. Have you had lymphedema & do you have concerns of it " acting ...Read more
Hi Cathy, I noticed you wrote you are a B. cancer survivor & can have blood draws only in one arm. Have you had lymphedema & do you have concerns of it " acting up" after surgery? I'm pretty nervous about that- I know to avoid the blood pressure cuff, draws, etc in the affected arm, but I worry that the long time on the surgical table with arms overhead might cause a problem- swelling. I haven't talked to my surgeon yet about it & can find no info online about lymphedema & surgery. I have no problems now, I'm extremely careful with it, but had major problems going through radiation. Curious if you have any thoughts about this- maybe it's a non-issue & nothing to worry about...I'm hoping that's the case.
Cathy Zuber Hi Barbara... good to find another B. Cancer survivor!! Yes, I have Lymphedema.. yes, I wear a glove ... Read more
Cathy Zuber Hi Barbara... good to find another B. Cancer survivor!! Yes, I have Lymphedema.. yes, I wear a glove and sleeve when I clean house and garden. It'll be 21 years this Summer. Someone else who knows what it's like to say "you can only use this arm"!!! I get a pink bracelet at the hospital for my too many stays for AFIB....was more worried that they'll get busy working on me..and need to put in another IV, etc. and forget about my arm having that pink bracelet!! Yes, those are my concerns..but..I had a Hysterectomy 3 months after my Mastectomy..and I didn't have any problems with lymphedema at all!!
Barbara Wood Thanks Cathy, that's reassuring. I'm going to ask for a pink bracelet... I'm afraid they might try to ... Read more
Barbara Wood Thanks Cathy, that's reassuring. I'm going to ask for a pink bracelet... I'm afraid they might try to stick a needle in my arm when I'm "out"! When I had my cardiac Cath thru my wrist they had to put the blood pressure cuff on my calf since it couldn't go on the same arm- man that hurt! Best wishes for an successful surgery & smooth recovery- you're a couple weeks ahead of me:)