Perm afib now with ef of 35

[Bigwavell]

Oh my what a ride . Found out I had afib 5 months ago. Made all the appointments. Had a failed cardio version 2 months ago and the doc left before I even woke up. He did tell my wife it failed but I had nothing to worry about. Never herd back from him so I called in yesterday to find out my next step. Doc first said my cv worked —— I replied no I’m still in afib —- he changed his mind ( must have been looking a another chart). Then he tell me I have a weak heart 35 percent ef. He said he told me this already. That’s total bs cause last time we talked was befor the cv and he said my afib is nothing to worry about bp and rate is good.

Waiting to schedule a cat scan. Sooo frustrating. HMO in California. My symptoms are cold hands and feet. Short breath when up stairs. Major anxiety

Meds. Prodaxa stoped taking diltizem cuase with diet change my bp is good.

I’m now freaking out cause of the low ef 35 percent?

[Desanthony]

Sharp intake of breath from me Bigwavell. Hope everything goes well for you from now on. I would suggest you try and find another cardiologist or EP too. Definitely wouldn't go to see that Doc again if I could avoid it.

All the best.

[Sean_C]

Hi there, I was in permanent AFib for about 5 months and had an echo before my first cardioversion. They said my EF was 37% which freaked me out because that is verging in heart failure. I had the cardioversion and was back in normal rhythm for 6 weeks when they called me in for an MRI this time. My EF was now 57%. Perfectly normal, so in my case the low EF was completely due to the AF. After the cardioversion I felt like a lead overcoat had been removed. If you sort the AF out chances are your EF will improve dramatically.

Best wishes.

[Maagaa]

Sorry Bigwavell sounds like you’re in a terrible state. Since you live in CA you should have access to good cardiologists and please go online with the largest teaching hospital you can find in CA or states surrounding your home. Hunt for an Electrophysiologist I also had one conversion that didn’t work so my EP put me on 800mg of magnesium and 400mg of amiodarone for 3 weeks and hit me again and it worked and I have been in steady sinus rhythm for one year. The only thing I had to do 2 weeks ago was drop Amiodarone which he had dropped to 100 mg 8 months previous it has terrible side effects. Good Luck

[WhitstableWanderer]

My EF was measured at 9% after I experienced a virus-led heart attack last June. Was 17% by the time I left hospital two weeks later, up to 27% a couple of months later. Was a candidate for an ICD as below 35% but persuaded docs to wait and see. Most recent measurement of EF was 35 to 40% and we've agreed a moratorium on any invasive procedures until another echo in September. I hope that it will be up to 50% or so, nearly ' normal' then.

So don't panic about being at 35% you can recover with time, a good diet and some exercise.

[Eliza2]

Are you up for an ablation?

[Bigwavell in reply to Eliza2]

Don’t think you can get an ablation in perm afib??

[Eliza2]

I think you can.

[Eliza2]

I think you can.

[amyrosie]

I have been in permanent AF for 12 months. I saw an EP on the NHS just before Xmas. He said my AF is very advanced and left atrium significantly enlarged. I had been on Amiodarone, which restored me to NSR but had to stop taking it because of hyperthyroidism. No other medication has worked. Anyway, back to the ablation. The EP said he would do it, but it will not be a cure but may give me a better QOL for 12 months. He said if I go back in a year he won't consider it as my heart will be too damaged. There is 50% chance it won't do anything!! Also have to have it done under sedation as NHS do not fund GA for this. So yes, you can have an ablation if in permanent AF. p. s. I have talked myself out of it!!

[amyrosie]

P. S. I can have the General Anaesthetic if I have it done privately - £15k. Also the waiting list on the NHS is 9 months. I live in Wales.