Atrial Fibrillation
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi, Last week my husband went to the dr. for a routine checkup to get refills for his asthma puffers. While there, the nurse practitioner that saw him noticed an "irregular heartbeat" and sent him for an ECG. He did that, and a few days later got a message from the nurse at the drs office saying that they are referring him to a cardiologist and suspect he has atrial fibrillation. He is 52. Now we are waiting. They told him to start taking the low dose aspirin in the meantime, daily. I am terrified. I have been googling, I am so scared that he is going to have a stroke or die. I have listened to his pulse...it isn't fast, it just seems that some beats are completely missing, like there is double silent time in between some beats. He told me that he had noticed it in the past after exercising and assumed that he had made a mistake when trying to listen....I asked him when that was, and he said about a year ago!!! We are waiting now, to see the cardiologist. We have 2 kids, ages 8 & 11....I am terrified we are going to lose him.
0 likes, 21 replies
Bob37393 carolyn87906
Posted
Just to defend the internet and Google, I was able to find the best recording pulse oximeter that confirmed to me that the intolerable symptoms I was experiencing on two occasions demanded urgent treatment.
?On the second occasion I monitored my pulse rate at a constant unchanging 163 pulses per minute for over 24 hrs and yet had daytime blood oxygen saturation above the critical limit of 88%. An internet search strongly suggested I had supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and my wife drove me to A&E where I waited for examination in triage.
?The doctor took an ecg and declared I did indeed have SVT and was immediatedly wheeled through on a chair to resuscitation.
?My wife had thought that I should have made an appointment with my GP but I trusted my body, my trusty pulse oximeter and an internet search.
?This is me using it:
betty47298 carolyn87906
Posted
derek76 carolyn87906
Posted
My heart rate was in the mid 40's for years and I had 3.5 second gaps between some beats but many people have longer ones.
Bob37393 derek76
Posted
Were you on a monitor during any of your 3.5 second gaps between beats?
?I understand that no electrical heart activity for four seconds may be reported by an ecg monitor as a cardiac arrest. I've been trying to fathom out why my cardiac monitor alarm went off whilst asleep on the cardiac ward and woke me up.
derek76 Bob37393
Posted
simon56380 carolyn87906
Posted
Hi Carolyn, Skipped beats(PVCs) aren't that big a deal on their own. Mine were first detected six years ago when I went in for a pre-op appt. prior to some reasonably major surgery (was skipping 3or 4 beats/min).
was referred to a cardiologist to have it checked out, but was told it was no big deal and that about 10% of the population have conditions like this, but often never know about it.
But having said all that, I do also believe that this condition, combined with some not so so great lifestyle choices and a family history of heart issues led to me developing AF.
I think think that PVCs on their own are not too much to worry about, but I would take it as a gentle reminder to live a healthier lifestyle.
My AF was brought on by a combination too much partying and undiagnosed sleep apnoea(and being 15kgs overweight didn't help the situation either). And of course, getting older!
I am 50 and 12 &14 yo children, so can totally relate to how you feel.
DON'T PANIC!
It'll be OK👍😉