Shortness of breath

[Myheart101]

Hi, still new here and I have a question, well, maybe a few. I had a bad weekend with increased shortness of breath and exhaustion . I am going to have a abulation November 4th. Will this make me feel better and breathing better? Dr already told me that the success rate is not better than 60 percent and I might have to have this done 3 to 4 times. I am going to try it hoping it's better than not. Plus I'm kind of scared.

[Padayn01]

Hi sorry that you are feeling horrible symptoms, can i just ask why are you having an ablation?

[Myheart101 in reply to Padayn01]

Hi, my Afib is not responding to any of the medicine I was prescribed. I'm new to this.

[Padayn01 in reply to Myheart101]

Really sorry to hear that, what medication are you taking that is not working may i ask? with Ablation success rate it is i believe 60-70% success rate first time and than 80-90 % second time, BobD on here can correct me if i'm wrong, there is also in our pinned post recovery and preparation for ablation which i think you should read to be as prepared as possible

[Myheart101 in reply to Padayn01]

Hmmmm. I am taking metoprolol 50 mg 2x, amiodarone 200 mg 1x, diltiazem 120 mg 1x,eliquis 5 mg, baby aspirin 81 mg, plus all for other reasons. Just thinking about them makes me want to be sick.

[Padayn01 in reply to Myheart101]

Has your GP tried to switch Beta Blocker to see if that has any success? But saying that your ablation just over a month away

[Myheart101 in reply to Padayn01]

He has talked about increasing yadda, forgot which one. Nothing about the beta blocker though. Although he said I am taking pretty high doses of my other meds and didn't want to increase those.

[allserene in reply to Myheart101]

I was started on meto at 50mg times twice daily in April and it totally zapped me. I was zombified and waking around in trance and having frightening nightmares. Told the doc I was halving it and he said ok.. So I have been splitting tabs down to 25 mg times 2 daily and I feel much better. I want to start getting off them altogether after my October consultation but even at 25mg I am going to take a full month going down really slowly and pausing. This stuff is dynamite and when teemed up with cardizem in emergency, it stopped my heart 5 times for 5 seconds each time... So if you do get off it, be very careful and take it really really slowly and only with the Doctor's say so.. ps I am 194 lbs and 6ft and I still laid low by 50mg....

[Madscientist16 in reply to Myheart101]

No wonder you are so tired and out of breath. Many of these meds have those symptoms as side effects.

[Myheart101 in reply to Madscientist16]

I know and they also make me stopped up.

[Buffafly]

I think Amiodarone can affect your breathing but hopefully you will be able to come off it after ablation. Best wishes 💜

[Myheart101 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks! I hope I can stop a lot of them!

[Hidden in reply to Myheart101]

Amiodorone can cause big problems with your lungs, has any investigation been done to see if it is effecting you?

[Myheart101 in reply to Hidden]

Going to see an APRN tomorrow. Don't know what she will be able to help with? She thinks it might be fluid. Can they drain that in the office? I have a dog and really don't want to be hospitalized for this.

[Hidden in reply to Myheart101]

I would have thought that they would give you medication for that, but I'm no expert

[Myheart101 in reply to Hidden]

Put me on a diuretic. I go in again this week for a recheck.

[Hidden in reply to Myheart101]

That's good, at least they are doing something to help.

All the best

Mike

[Ppiman]

Some people cope very well with heart rhythm problems like flutter and fibrillation, but I didn't and suffered horrible symptoms similar to yours, starting in April this year. I was lucky to be offered a very quick ablation in early June. The echo-cardiogram showed that the flutter had weakened my heart and even caused a valve to function less than perfectly. I'm guessing something like this has happened to you, given your symptoms? Have you had a heart scan at all? Did the doctor mention how strong your heart was pumping and so on?

The ablation was the first hospital stay of my life and, like you, I worried a great deal about it, but, in the end, the worry proved unnecessary. It was very straightforward and all went well. It did, however, take months before I began to feel that I was on the road to recovery, but now, having come off all tablets except the anticoagulant, I am at last feeling more like my old self. During this recovery, I had one very severe bout of fibrillation and I still get frequent palpitations or ectopic heart beats. Three echo-cardiograms and one recent stress MRI show that my heart is well on the way to returning to normal.

Steve

[Deadwoodmike]

I had a fib for twenty years before I finally decided to have an ablation. Sometimes I would go two or three months without an episode, but always knew it was only a matter of time until the next one. I was scared to have it done, but went ahead anyway. July 13, 2016 was the day. I still take my meds just as a precaution, but haven’t had an a fib episode in almost 2-1/2 years. I recommend that you do it. I hope I never need another one but would do it again if necessary. Good luck! I predict you will be good to go for the holiday season.😊

[Ianp66]

Amioderone is known to cause shortness of breath, as is afib . Had my ablation in April this year and wish I'd had it sooner after suffering afib for years which became persistent around May 2018 after a virua and stomach bug put me in hospital with dehydration and severe afib . I originally started getting the odd attack 1/2 times a year which then became more frequent and stronger culminating in last years decision to go for ablation . Best thing I've done, now 5 months on and feeling good, no afib and no breathlessness, retored quality of life and coming off meds in next 6 months hopefully. Afib is a progressive condition and I'd have another ablation tomorrow to feel like I do now.

Ian.

[robert1957]

Look at your liver health

[Plantwords]

Hi there! I also had shortness of breath and this was a big factor in my decision to have an ablation which I had in August 2016. I have been AF free since a couple of months post-procedure. The ablation took 5 hours in my case as they cauterized 4 pulmonary veins. I was worried about it but I knew I couldn't go on with AF the way I had it (started in 2009) because my quality of life was terrible. If you've reached that point in your thinking, then, you're making the right decision. My EP told me the ablation had a success rate of 75%-80%, so think on the bright side that yours will be successful and give you many, many years of living without AF. Take care.

[ShimmeringLillyMae]

I had an ablation July 12th and just started occasionally having flutter again, the ablation was fine I was put out completely and the worse part after was a sore chest & I couldn't lay flat for a couple nights. I had extreme shortness of breath for months before the ablation constantly, having the ablation didnt help it but 3 months later it seems to be passing.. I believe the shortness of breath had something to do with my esophagus but not sure & Dr's couldn't explain it. Dont be afraid of the ablation, it was definitely worth it to me, I'm off all the medications and feel much better but I think I will end up needing another one in the future.. Good luck! 😊

[Myheart101]

Thank you all for your reply's. I did send a message to my Dr. about the symptoms I am having. They want me to come in and be seen. An APRN not my cardiologist asked that. She said it might be because of fluid build up with the tachycardia. I think it's becuse of all the med. I am taking. Going to see her this Thursday. Hmmmm what are the signs of fluids building up apt where?

[Myheart101]

He's the best I have been told but he told me the 60 something success rate and I might have to have it repeated. Is That because they miss the spot or spots? I haven't responded with the meds that I am taking , it's stubborn. I have had the cardio version 2 times.before