One Week Ago

[DawnTX]

It was one week ago just about this time that I was being wheeled into surgery. I cannot believe how decent I feel this morning. I am not breathless and I am walking something it was impossible to do for over the past three months at least. I lost track. The lack of oxygen had done that to my circulation. Even a Shuffle across the kitchen floor brought tears to my eyes. Yesterday was not a great day and now I know there are gonna be days like that because there is no perfect surgery for a fib but they are getting close. FYI, I have back issues and originally was due to get a laminectomy. With everything going on I wasn’t sure where the pain was coming from. The leg situation had to be my a fib now I just have the same old back pain again lol that too will be taken care of eventually but right now it’s all about the heart because without that we have nothing.

I just wanted to share what a difference a week can make or even a day. I was so blessed to land in the direction of my new doctor Dr. Valderabbano

[Figbar]

May I ask what surgery you had?An ablation?

I’m delighted you are feeling better; thank you for sharing your good news😊

May you continue in regaining strength and healing.

Of course, may you end the a-fib!! A hope for us all!

Best!

[Singwell]

It must feel so good to be less breathless and without the leg pain when walking. Be kind to yourself and take it slowly. It can take longer than they tell us to heal. The basic cellular healing is one thing but our whole body and mind adjusting too - that's a longer process I think.

[bassets]

How fab for you! But please take it easy for a good while

[DawnTX in reply to bassets]

Thank you and yes I have learned from past experience as this was my third surgery. This was a little bit tougher but not that much considering what has been done. Suddenly when you think you feel better you just want to run around and do everything you have not been able to do lol no that’s not smart to do that ha ha.

[bassets in reply to DawnTX]

👍

[Jajarunner]

Great news. Don't overdo it but keep as mobile as possible to help your back - little side bends and twists every hour just to keep it loose. Stiff muscles make everything ache a whole lot worse. Good luck x

[theohappy]

That's great news! Do you feel that most of your exhaustion was the AFib? I feel like I am dying. Seriously, very, very weak. Not sure what has changed, accept my AFib getting worse? I thought it might be the Eliquis and may still be a contributing factor. But now wondering just how weak the AFib can make a person?

[DawnTX in reply to theohappy]

It was hard to tell because I believe I had Covid and the exhaustion followed that. I did not get tested because my housemate was confirmed positive. It seemed my a fib got worse from there. The worst part for me was I had no flexibility in my lower legs actually from my thigh down both front and the pain was unreal even to stand on my feet without moving. My primary believed it was lacks of oxygen in the blood and circulation and I also had it in my forearms so even trying to push a grocery cart became impossible as if my forearms knotted up I am very bad about calling my doctor looking back I think I should have.

Don’t forget when you have a fib it means your blood is not pumping correctly so if you’re not getting blood running through you as it should you will be exhausted. I am still tired but it is more relaxed. Prior to my surgery I could sleep 12 hours and wake up wanting to cry I was so tired. I really could sleep around the clock and not feel better so yes I believe it’s the afib. My legs are still bothering me and I am getting a lot of body cramps. I have lost a lot of fluid and hopefully some weight in the past week. I am drinking sports drinks for my electrolytes and eating bananas. They pump so much fluid into you during surgery and I was there for quite a while so now it’s time for the fluid to leave and I think your body goes off kilter. I am still breathless but nothing like I was most of me wants to run around and do things. If you noticed I wrote earlier about my back. When I first got to Houston I had been planning on back surgery but life got in the way and a fib reared its ugly head again. The back still has to be fixed but I honestly believe except for being a bit breathless at times that there is a big difference in my a fib and just one week and it is for the better. I was caught between a rock and a hard place getting to meet my doctor because I had just moved to Texas from Florida and being retired had to deal with all of my insurance being changed and changing doctors as well as having previous records sent to the new doctor. This doctor will not even meet with you until he can go through your records. Because I’m a newbie I only had 44L pages. Then of course tests were run that I have never had before. Houston Methodist is amazing. People come here from all over the world and somehow someone looking over me gave me one of the best doctors that exist. What I love about him also is that he will talk TO you not at you. When dealing with Drs remember surgeons are different lol they may not be as warm and fuzzy but I don’t need a teddy bear I need a good doctor and I got the best. I am still shaking my head at how lucky and blessed I am today. I only got afib about two years ago

[theohappy in reply to DawnTX]

Thank you for all your sharing! I've heard a lot of good things about Houston Methodist. That's where several patients have gone for the Wolf Mini Maze. Curious if your EP mentioned that surgery prior to your 3rd surgery? It's so important to get an excellent surgeon when it comes to the success of a procedure. Glad to know you are doing better. Thank you, again, for sharing.

[DawnTX in reply to theohappy]

I am new to Texas and what is amazing is that my doctor Dr. Miguel Valderabbano Is in the same area as Dr Wolf at DeBakey. I was not looking into any of these I thought I would end up with the same old thing although my doctor had mentioned the watchman as a possibility. I found my Dr through the happy coincidence that a trainee of his now works for my doctor in Florida. I cannot say enough good about the Hospital from the time you enter. They really respect their patience and everything runs like a well oiled machine. It is hard to believe all the people working there are real because they are just so kind and wonderful and on top of their game.

[theohappy in reply to DawnTX]

I think I have a good EP who is out of Austin, but comes up to Dallas once a month. I am looking into the Watchman.

[DawnTX in reply to theohappy]

One thing I forgot to mention to you is the heaviness in my chest. It is no where as bad so not completely gone and yes it makes you feel like you were dying. I will break out in a cold sweat when it hits me. I meant to mention my doctor is a pioneer of the new revised version of Marshall surgery. The watchman was a good idea but clotting was not my major issue and the watchmen goes to the area that controls the clots not everyone can get it. I was a candidate because they have no other heart issues and such no blockages no valve etc. if my surgery turns out to do what it was meant to do I may not need blood thinners etc. anyway everyone again is different and the major problem seems to be finding where the short circuits are so to speak. I would love to go off heart meds it will probably be several months before they know as it is with the watchman. Best of luck keep in touch and let me know what’s going on with you I pray everyone gets answers and if you don’t have faith in your doctor or you question and they don’t like it find another doctor. My doctor has every right to have a god complex but he does not one of the things I love about him already. I did have a male nurse that seems to think he has one he was the only negative of my entire medical journey. There’s one in every crowd. FYI I took him down a few pegs I worked law enforcement I’m not gonna be bullied. After our conversation and I don’t raise my voice by the way, he avoided me and if he did have to come in he spoke to me respectfully. Just like in life stand up for yourself that doesn’t mean being nasty or whiny or anything but you are important and you have rights I don’t mean rights written down anywhere it should come as a human being. You don’t have to fight to win I believe someone once said Speak softly and carry a big stick my big stick are my brains to know how to handle a situation or to learn how. Don’t let them push your buttons

[theohappy in reply to DawnTX]

My EP is one I heard about repeatedly on an AFib FB group. He is supposed to be excellent. Hope so. He does highly recommend the new Watchman Flex for me. I have had two strokes and one TIA. Not sure after my echo and heart monitor tests, which procedure he will recommend first, ablation or Watchman. I shall see!

[Bambi65 in reply to theohappy]

Be very hesitant before considering the watchman. Once it is in, it can not be removed. It has been known to leak and is not a guarantee to stop blood from pooling causing a stroke. The best guarantee is clipping the appendage which can also be the starting place for afib.

I believe it will also eliminate as a candidate for a Wolf Mini Maze , is that correct? or is it that the LAA can not be clipped if the watchman is in.?

[DawnTX]

Oh my goodness honey you’ve been through the mill. It took eight months to discover what I had they thought it was neuro. About eight months later I had an implant of a loop recorder and within two weeks they had an answer. My first ablation was scheduled almost immediately. About six months after that they contacted me because unaware to me my afib was really acting up. I went into the hospital Christmas week for a different ablation this time RF the first was cryo-. I had been doing well and before I left Florida everything checked out good. I had been feeling off but I also had gotten Covid so not sure what to blame plus the back problem. Thankfully I had doctors who worked quickly. My second ablation was amazing the next day I felt is though nothing was wrong with me. FYI those did hold but it’s like having a leak in a hose and another hole pops open I guess. Please again let me know how you were doing