Category Archives: ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

“It’s Nothing You’re Fine” Words That Can Trigger a Heart Arrhythmia Victim

Atrial Fibrillation, Ectopic heartbeat and other palpitation patients know the feeling

Woman standing on beach in front of waves. Arms open.
Photo by Ryan Moreno on Unsplash

I’ve had open-heart surgery to correct my Tetralogy of Fallot defect. They cut open your chest with a saw. Then they go-ahead to cut and patch your heart so that it works as it should.

The 10 plus cardioversions I had later in life were not bad at all. Time spent in hospital just feels like a waste of time for me. The intensive care units are the worst. Shure, they monitor you the whole time, but those beeping heart monitors are irritating. I know it’s in my best interest that they check up on me the whole time. But why do they have to take your temperature at 04:30 in the morning?

Then the taking of blood at 05:00! What a way to wake up, with a needle in your arm. I’m not complaining just stating a fact.

Sorry for that. In any case, cardioversion is when they put those paddles on you and say “clear”. They shock that 50 or 100 joules through your body. Sometimes 200 joules.

With my recent cardioversions, they also did a TEE. Basically, a pipe in your throat to see what your heart looks like. Looking to see if there are any blood clots. Don’t worry they use a date rape drug on you. I don’t remember anything. Cool.

The ablation is where they punch a hole in your groin stick a piece of metal up your arteries into your heart. Burning stuff inside your heart so that your heart stays in rhythm. I’ve had two of them. I’m extremely thankful for all the above.

“If you’re reading this…
Congratulations, you’re alive.
If that’s not something to smile about,
then I don’t know what is.”
― Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head

Only One Scar

The only big scar is the zipper on my chest. Let’s say the first cut was the deepest! I don’t have scars for the cardioversions. The ablation scars are very small and, well let’s just say they are not visible.

I’m relatively in shape not overweight and physically function 100%.

The problem I and other heart patients have with their heart is that it’s not visible. I know it’s like that with many illnesses. The small problem that creeps into our minds is that if your heart stops beating. You get the picture.

“I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
― Woody Allen

Only a few minutes. That’s how long you can survive without a heartbeat. Then if everything goes well they still have to revive you back to your “normal living state”

Like many heart patients, I hear and feel my heartbeat. Strange to explain but we just do. It’s like a superpower. To infinity and beyond!!!! Got carried away with the superpower thing.

I can feel my heartbeat. Mostly when it’s out of rhythm.

You’re fine!

It goes both ways. Sometimes you’re not fine and you want to cry it out. Pleading to them that they must feel your chest your pulse your heartbeat. It’s not fine I’m in a state! A bad state.

Other times you really are fine. Then the comment is uplifting encouraging. You feel and act as if you’re the strongest and fittest person in the room. You can move mountains. You easily forget the unfortunate many or few incidents your heart was out of rhythm or Ectopic.

I know there are the strong ones. Those who can go on with their lives even if they have an Ectopic Heartbeat spell. Even when they are not in normal sinus rhythm. They go on regardless. That depends.

It depends on how bad your heart is out of rhythm. It plays a major factor. Mine has gone from just feeling a bit uneasy and not able to exercise as I want to. But also a racing heart when I climb stairs.

Or, nearly fainting. I know others have that small problem holding your conciseness. It’s sort of troublesome. Fainting when your heart goes out of rhythm. It messes up your day. It’s the blood. There’s not enough of it getting to the brain.

“Reality continues to ruin my life.”
― Bill Watterson, The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

Ectopic heartbeats

It’s nothing you’re fine. My doctor, your doctor says it’s benign. Yes in almost all cases it is. Many people experience ectopic heartbeats, some worse than others. The problem is telling your head that your heart is alright when your heart is bouncing, fluttering, and giving “hard” beats.

You feel your heart doing its own thing, skipping, fluttering missing beats. The phrase inside your head goes. “You’re fine it’s nothing”. If a doctor said it, it must be true! But your heart keeps bouncing around.

The trigger has been pulled. Even if my heart is OK, my head is now asking “It’s something, are you alright?” The management of anxiety must begin. Don’t go down that road of asking too many questions, just live every moment.

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

My Cardioversion experience and recovery.

This was not my first AFIB episode or cardioversion.

Image for post
Photo by Alexandru Acea on Unsplash

I feel it!

Many people have asked me how I know if my heart is out of rhythm. In my case, I feel it. In many of my previous episodes, I even know the precise moment it goes out.

In nearly all the cases I hope and pray that it’s Ectopic beats(I have written about them previously) but this year I’ve had 4 AFIB “attacks”. I call them attacks others call it an episode. Well, they attack me. My life changes immediately after I feel that beat go out.

I start thinking about my work, cycling, time in the hospital, “farm” work, church meetings, my wife, my life, children, and mother.

It changes everything I have planned for the next few days. Previously it was “sort of easy” because it was an easy in and out of the emergency room. But no! corona is here and now every man, child, dog, cat, chicken, and whatever must be tested.

What now?

Continue reading My Cardioversion experience and recovery.

Ectopic heartbeat and AFIB management. Easy?

My practical and easy heart rhythm management tool.

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

This is not something out there, airy-fairy, it is my way of dealing with 49 years of heart disease, arrhythmia, and ectopic heartbeats.

I think you’ll agree with me when I say that dealing with AFIB or any palpitations is actually a type of heart arrhythmia management. People that have had some experience with AFIB know that the end of it is not always the end of it. The promise of cardioversion or even an ablation may not be the final word on your arrhythmia.

That is why journaling may be one of the best ways of heart arrhythmia management for you. And the best part? you can start it here and now!

You can actually improve your heart palpitations management by writing more about what your heart is doing, and what you are doing. On Newlifeoutlook I read a very interesting article written by Eric Patterson on how journaling can help you cope with AFIB.

Thanks to his article I have yet again seen what the benefits of journaling are especially in heart arrhythmia management, and how I have applied it in my life.

WHAT CAN JOURNALING DO FOR YOUR HEART?

The two main benefits mentioned in his featured article are very important. He mentions that a journal (this can also be your own website or blog) can help with data collection and stress reduction. How can you actually use this?

Continue reading Ectopic heartbeat and AFIB management. Easy?

Coronavirus, AFIB, and Cardio-version…What I learned!

This should have been a “routine” ER visit!

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

This was not the first time I went to the ER for my AFIB. I expected it to go as smooth as……., yes my ER visits usually go smooth. Doesn’t yours?

Ok let’s say my previous 2 ER visits went so smooth it almost felt like a drive-thru take away. You drive-in, you order and you drive off satisfied.

But…. Here in South Africa our drive-thru takeaways have been closed for the past 7 weeks. That should have given me a clue. I ignored the clue. I went for the drive-thru option at the ER. That was what I was hoping for!

Continue reading Coronavirus, AFIB, and Cardio-version…What I learned!

My Heart Palpitations Were Not Ectopic Heartbeats …. but I Knew It

AFIB wanted to invade my life again! Cardioversion was looming

Family enjoying a beach vacation

The serenity prayer is wonderful, and it is used everywhere. I also believe in it. But sometimes I struggle with the first part.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” (Reinhold Niebuhr)

“To accept the things I cannot change.” Difficult.

What I find difficult to accept is the words of my cardiologist. He said: “Your right atrium is just too big; that is what puts you into AFIB.”

OK, so what happened?

Continue reading My Heart Palpitations Were Not Ectopic Heartbeats …. but I Knew It

CAN THE APPLE WATCH DETECT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND PERFORM ECG?

Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS+Cellular,40mm) Gold AluminiumCase

I was watching the launch of the new Apple watch series 5 and with amazement wondered if this watch could really detect AFIB? The short answer is YES. The long answer will include which Apple series watch can do this. How accurate. What about the ECG?. Palpitations and other irregular heartbeats? Can it take your blood pressure?

Continue reading CAN THE APPLE WATCH DETECT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND PERFORM ECG?

CAN YOU DRINK COFFEE IF YOU HAVE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION?

COFFEE AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

The short answer will be yes. The longer explanation will be about what type of coffee you are drinking, how regularly, and what your specific susceptibility is to the effects of caffeine on the factors that trigger arrhythmias. Studies suggest that caffeine intake of up to 300 mg/day may be safe for arrhythmia patients. So here’s the deal…

Continue reading CAN YOU DRINK COFFEE IF YOU HAVE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION?

Afib heart medicine and healthcare.Cardioversion or…

How to convert your AFIB heart
AFIB heart medicine and healthcare

Will my AFIB be converted by…..

What afib heart medicine and healthcare will convert my heart back to sinus rhythm?

Well, my trouble started on Saturday morning – early Saturday morning, Something did not feel well.

– but I went to sleep again.

Was it even AFIB?

Continue reading Afib heart medicine and healthcare.Cardioversion or…

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: INFO GRAPHIC: FACTS ON AFIB

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION:

INFOGRAPHIC.

I have made an infographic on Atrial Fibrillation to show just how big deal Afib is in the world. This is good and bad news:

Bad news, because many people are suffering from A-fib (and may not even know it, maybe I will do an infographic on the Myths about afib later) also this “thing” is affecting more and more people. All of us afibbers know how big shock it is to you and your family when AF strikes.

Good news, because it means there will be more research into this phenomenon, there will be more understanding of what Afib is, how it affects people, how best to treat it and ultimately more support and new cures.

I hope you find this infographic helpful/interesting or maybe shocking, and please give me some feedback about what you think.

Atrial Fibrillation: Infographic: Interesting facts.

Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation