Ablation for afib rvr

[belindalore]

Anyone here have afib rvr. Apparently that's what I have. Very important. I am waiting for test results for something wrong with one of my lungs which won't be til probably the 1st part of Sept.. I have problems with yeast overgrowth and mold allergy. My primary care Dr wanted me to take antibiotics but I declined not knowing for sure what it is. So she got me an appt with a pulmonary Dr. Wondering if the Afib was caused by my lung problem. I ended up in the hospital with the Afib a week after I saw primary care. Hospital Dr prescribed

Eliquis blood thinner and Metoprolol to keep heart in rhythm. And made an appt with a cardiologist after leaving the hospital. Not doing well with the metoprolol. Tweaked the dosage which was okay with the cardiologist when I saw him for the 1st time. Lots of side effects on the metoprolol and asked to try a different med. The metoprolol causes more palpitations,opposite of what it's supposed to do . I have no energy, headaches, stomach pain etc etc.He wanted to put me on a 3rd med. Amoridane (sp) or something like that to counteract the metoprolol. The amoridane causes even worse side effects. I am very sensitive to meds so I declined and he said well then you'll probably have to have an ablation. I told him about my lung and he only said it's possible it caused the Afib. Didn't say maybe we should see what that is before we try anything else. I didn't tell him but the day before I saw this Dr I'd seen my primary care and she said my heart was strong and I could try a different rhythm med. But since I was seeing the cardio Dr the next day I wanted to see what he'd say. So she didn't prescribe the med she mentioned. Either I'm not getting the whole story or this cardio Dr wants the money. I live in Florida and not the greatest Drs here though with all the elderly people you'd think the opposite. People in the U.S. not getting in the office now because of the pandemic. Or have to do the tele health visit over the computer . Which I and a lot of people can't do as we don't have computers. Have a cousin in California and he said he wondered if the cardio Dr wants me to do the ablation cause the office he's in with multiple Drs aren't getting the appts like before the pandemic. Cardio Dr also wants me to do a nuclear stress test where you are injected with radioactive dye. And I don't think that's a good idea with my lung problem which gives me problems too. Had a couple friends who went through all that and they said it's very taxing on the body. It can actually cause permanent damage to the heart and possibly a heart attack. With my sensitivity to meds that is very concerning. Along with my lung problem as I said. Will be calling my primary care and see what she says.

Sorry for the long post. I was just very recently diagnosed with Afib rvr and still hasn't sunk in yet. Plus don't know yet anything about my lung. Been on meds less than a month. It does take awhile for the meds to make difference. Angry that cardio wasn't willing to try a different med.

So anyone out there had a nuclear stress test or ablation for Afib rvr? Need some feedback. I'm 68 yr old female. This all really snuck up on me.

[BobD Volunteer]

Here in UK and Europe Amiodarone is the drug of last resort due to its side effects. To be more accurate its effects as they really are not side!

Ablation is not always appropriate but has helped many many people including myslef but it is important to understand that it may need more than one procedure and as any and all treatment for AF is only ever for quality of life (there is no cure) there are lots of other things that can be tried first if money is an issue. Life style is importent. A reduction in meat and processed food intake.,no alcohol or caffeine, redused stress and above all weight loss aiming for a BMI of 25 or better have all been shown to reduce AF burden.

[belindalore in reply to BobD]

I have always exercised and eat pretty well. Used to have one cup of coffee in the morning but gave that up. Always been sensitive to caffeine somewhat. We have crazy insurance in the US but mine would probably cover it. Multiple times I don't know. Insurance over here is big business and the insurance companies are more profit driven. Some people can afford better insurance than others. I'm confused why the cardio Dr isn't more concerned about what is in my lung and or finding out if that is what caused the Afib. I would would wonder if finding out and getting treatment for it might cause some improvement in my condition. Instead of hurry up and do an ablation when there's something else going on. Makes me side with my cousin. Thanks for your input though. Much appreciated. Take care.

[Buffafly in reply to belindalore]

AF rvr simply means AF with rapid ventricular response ie your ventricles try to keep up with the messages from your atria. Some people don’t have fast AF or their meds keep the rate down, which is what the Metoprolol should help with. I agree that I would certainly want to know as much as possible about the lung problem and have treatment for that before jumping into an ablation as it is well known that lung disease of any kind can affect AF.

You did not say if your AF is permanent or comes and goes - Paroxysmal AF. If the first one you should be offered a cardioversion before an ablation is attempted. There are other anti arrhythmic drugs before you get to the big gun - Amiodarone.

It is true that early intervention is probably the best thing to nip AF in the bud but, my personal opinion only, you should ensure your general health and lifestyle are good first. I also have a suspicious nature!

Hope that helps.

[belindalore in reply to Buffafly]

I was just diagnosed with Afib in June 2020. All I was told is that it is afib before I left the hospital. Some Drs here don't think they have to explain any thing to a patient. My primary care Dr explained Afib rvr to me as like an irregular irregular heartbeat. And what happens when an episode takes place. She says I have a strong heart and really should do okay on the meds. I do seem to be doing better. I've also read people who get ablation is because they keep having Afib episodes. I've only had one and the cardio Dr wants me to do it. Red flags. Sounds like the UK has some better Drs over there. Not ruled so much by $signs or by the insurance companies like they are here in the US. Thanks for your input. Stay well.

[CDreamer]

If you look at this morning‘s posts if I would sign up for the US cardiology Patient Day which is an on-line event, in your position. You will hear the best advice, from the top AF specialists in the US and you may (????) be able to ask questions of them but in any case you will learn so much about AF from the top that you will then be able to ask informed questions of your doctors.

Sounds like you are at that very early stage of diagnosis when it is a shock to learn there is something wrong with your hear which is normal and we all remember being there. Knowledge is potential power as it enables you some control and offers you choices, this is important as AF can leave you feeling out of control.

You don’t need a computer for any online event - you should be able to join from a smartphone - which I assume you have as you have made a post to this on-line forum.

Also go to the AFA web US version and read all you can about AF and it’s treatments. AF is scary and takes time to adjust to but many people live with AF. I had 2 ablations and AF returned, as it often does so ablation is not a cure as Bob says. Treatments are about improving quality of life so if a treatment fails to do that, then it isn’t worth having in my view, unless of course it is life lengthiness and treatments for AF are not going to lengthen your life as AF is not immediately life threatening.

Here is a link to the AFA US website heartrhythmalliance.org/afa/us

[belindalore in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks so much for your info. Yes I have a smart phone that allows me to get online. Take care.

[Hidden]

I have had both, nuclear stress test is nowhere near as bad as it sounds, I hardly felt my HR increase at all. I did feel hot and feel like I wanted to pee but that is normal and only lasts a second or two.

I had an ablation 3.5 years ago and so far I am still in NSR, I would have another one no questions if I needed one.

I was on amiodorone for about 9 months. I felt terribly ill whilst taking it, I would get sunburn even indoors if the curtains were open (even in winter and wearing factor 50 sunscreen) and it was discovered that it damaged my thyroid. like Bob says, there are only effects with this dirt drug and none of them very nice. I have refused to take it ever again

[belindalore in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your input. I am concerned about the nuclear test because of the meds involved. With my history of sensitivity to meds I don't feel comfortable with it. Still have to speak to my primary care about it.

[Deb1838]

I had fast af all the time had a nucleus test but because it was so fast I didn’t require drugs to fasten it

[dmjtanner]

So Sorry you have to wait until September to see the pulmonary doctor. I believe some lung conditions can cause afib such as pulmonary hypertension. Have you had an ECHO yet to check on this or to see if you have any heart valve problems?

Also, there are so many other anti-arrhythmic drugs to try before Amiodarone, surprised he was going to give you that one first. Maybe a different cardiologist is in order. I know it is discouraging to have to find another doctor amid the mess of corona virus in Florida. I live here too.

[belindalore in reply to dmjtanner]

They did an echocardiogram while I was in the hospital. It was supposedly okay. Getting info out of some of these Drs is nearly impossible. They are like politicians sometimes. Forget they work for us (and the insurance companies). I'd love to find another cardio Dr. But I have HMO Medicare advantage (all I can afford) and your choice of Drs is limited. I Google reviews for Drs in my insurance and the reviews aren't too good for most. I do like my primary care so tomorrow I'll be putting a call into her office and get her advice. I think some of these specialists are getting hit in the pocket too due to this virus and might tell a new patient like me I need something I really don't........

Thanks for your input.

[Madscientist16]

My AF episodes always included RVR. Any AF where the heart rate goes above the recommended rate of 100 beats per minute is considered AF with RVR. I was told it is very common. I had a cryo-ablation 8 months ago and have had no AF since. I am also not on any meds now either.

[belindalore in reply to Madscientist16]

I was just recently diagnosed with Afib rvr in June. I don't know if they do the cryoablation here. They do the one where they cauterize. My cardio Dr wants me to do it a nuclear stress in office and stop taking the metoprolol 24 hrs before. It's not safe to stop taking it abruptly. I've read things people say about stopping it abruptly in different online forums and they immediately have bad problems. And I'm alone so I don't believe it's a good idea to do that. If it was being done in the hospital I could be watched. Doesn't make sense when the Drs say don't abruptly stop taking it (my primary care said the same thing) and then wants me to stop it at home for 24 hrs and then come to the office to have a nuclear stress done???

[Madscientist16]

I know it sounds off, but you can't conduct a stress test on metropolol because it lowers your heart rate and the test results won't come out right. I know of others who had to stop metropolol suddenly, because the doctor wanted to put them on something else. It should be fine. They made me stop taking all of my meds the day before the cryo-ablation. Cryo means freezing, but other ablation procedures use radio frequency (cauterizing). It is the same procedure, just a different method. Perhaps you can find a friend to stay with you before your stress test.