Hello to all from 'across the pond' (USA, Virginia). Thanks to all who post here and Happy New Year! Please accept a 'Yank's' gratitude and appreciation for the knowledge and comfort gleaned from the many informative posts contained herein.
'A little traveling music' as a thespian would say: Diagnosed with PAF after a stroke--(turned out not to be my only, by the way--both 'freaky' in cause). Dx for PAF was just past age 80 (Happy Birthday to Me...:). Hijacked onto Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) 20 mg daily. Thirty-day Holter indicated Bradycardia issues along with an escalation of AF episodes along with flutter after commencing Xarelto.
Anyone else notice or correlate this after starting an NOAC?
Life has been a roller coaster ride through a 'bad new buffet' of health issues ever since (had to surrender almost all the neutraceuticals that had kept me so healthy all these years). Health and fitness aficionado since mid 30's; slow metabolizer (causes prolific 'drug allergies and sensitivities'), never any hypertension or BP issues. Incredibly stressful life in younger years; however. 'Blow it out' exercise, Yoga, Tai Chai, Meditation, healthy eating, all great stress busters.'
I have just been cleared by Cardio to resume 'whatever exercise I feel I can handle,' this after a new Transthoracic Echo indicated both enlarged right Atria and Ventricle, with 'good pressure' (not sure what that means, but working on learning).
Questions: Anyone else on this site have any experience with right-side heart enlargement? Also, Echo report mentioned dilated inferior vena cava. As soon as I saw the word 'morbidity' associated with the search words, the Leonine drama queen that I am, immediately envisioned herself in hand-to-hand combat with the Grim Reaper! Not the best 'mindset' with which to begin one's eighth 'rise from the ashes' year!
Thanks for the help..............
cj
Written by
chrysalis8x
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Morbidity just means the condition of being diseased - disease literally means dis-ease although today it seems to be associated with infectious diseases so many people use the term condition for chronic things like PAF. co-morbidity = more than one disease or conditions.
Endurance exercise can cause an enlarged atria - that’s why quite a lot of endurance atheletes develop AF - often in their 40’s. Kill the exercise and the atria can go back to normal.
Words in medical terminology tend to have very specific meaning which can be a tad scary for laypeople so it pays to know the exact meaning.
Excellent question....thanks for suggesting I pose it, and the other comforting info....am lobbying for a referral to an EP (a specialty I never knew existed until I 'stumbled across' this site).
I'm such a 'heart function' neophyte (except for 30 years' experience differentiating tachy from irregular in dealing with PTSD episodes) that I wouldn't recognize AF from Flutter if it stood in front of me with a sign on the forehead. You are, however, precisely correct--I shouldn't blame Xarelto for my own esoteric metabolic processes. Tsk, tsk, tsk on me.
Dear Chrysalis, you should consider yourself very fortunate being past 80, and having been told by your cardiologist, that you can exercise as much as you can tolerate. I would leave right there and try to enjoy life to fullest. Do not bother by the findings in your tests, as long as you feel OK for your age. No one past 80, is expected to have anatomically and physiologically perfect organs. All parts of the body carry an expiration date by the time you are born and they wear off over time. The expiration date for each organ is different and they aren’t the same for everybody. However, hair and skin seem to be the first ones to go in many people, then comes hearing, eyesight and so on. Modern medicine can nowadays, replace some expired o damaged body parts, but not all. Your bradycardia and other heart arrhythmias are already announcing that the “battery” of your heart is about to expire and soon will need a man-made replacement (a pacemaker). Anticoagulants, like Xarelto do not cause arrhythmias. In your case, it is very much needed to protect you against further strokes. You have succeded avoiding a premature death, by doing all the “nutraceuticals” recommended. You and I have passed with flying colors the mark of what is considered dying prematurely. Why worrying now? Have a happy new year and make plans for getting wonderful times and avoid becoming an amateur medical detective or a hypochondriac. Humans like everything in nature, are NOT supposed to live forever.
tachp, thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom in such a caring and informative manner.
Your post brings to mind two philosophies I have long observed:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
(Hunter S. Thompson) or Paul Newman's poignant: "It's been a privilege to be here."
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." (Emerson)
I go with Paul Newman , and ,still keeping cracking.A few 'nasties' circle my halo,mostly unheart related .Enjoy life as much as you can and just give up the silly things like bungie jumping,climbing too many high mountains and a few more unmentionables!
I’m the drama queen type as well ... forever dramatizing my ultimate demise from this condition. I have had two four hour episodes in nine months. I suppose that l should be thankful and l am ... but l don’t like that word morbidity as well!! Prayer helps me to fall asleep at night ... along with meds and healthful living. Good luck to us and may we all have zero events during 2018!
“Zero events” do not exist in nature, nothing can be 100%. We have to accept that we're imperfect human beings and need to learn to be happy with that. Do not allow AF to become the only thing that matters in your life.
Thank you ... l was just out untrimming the house ... what a job! I have spoken with three people today... all of whom are suffering with far more serious issues than afib ... and l simply thank God that l am feeling great! Thank you again for the sensible words. ❤️. Jan
Welcome to the 'Sisterhood,' Janith. As a card-carrying member of the 'more emotional' gender--with the new challenge of A-fib--I initially vacillated between the mentalities of Rosie the Riverter (I can do anything!) and author Pat Conroy's depressive 'snake-belly low' (fortunately the latter passed with the last stage of grief for the loss of my fifty years with no Rx meds and rare OTC's).
"Fear cripples the Soul....you just have to fight it." (Diane Keaton)
"Stress is a killer, and secrets will keep you sick." (Wynonna Judd Bio)
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human Soul." Goethe
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Anyone else in afib 100% of the time?
AFA Patients' Day - great source of information especially if you're new to AF
happy new year,exercise,travel,self pity bouts
Weight Loss and Reduced Number of AF Episodes
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