almost a month ago I had a cardioversion and it was amazing. I have been dealing with a heart rate in the 150s since the end of April. When I woke up from the CV it was 82. I actually had a smile as I awoke. I did not even know my heart rate was down yet so maybe it was the drugs lol but I felt happier than I have in a very long time. Since then it has felt so good just to walk through the house without huffing and puffing and I slept better than I have in a very long time. Unfortunately Saturday evening I told my cousin somethings wrong. Yes the thumps has returned. I had actually been in the 70s that day and it was incredible how good I felt. When I took it again it was 95 and it has gone up from there. I called my cardiologist Monday unfortunately he was out with an emergency but I did see him early Tuesday morning. This is my new doctor only a month and I am very happy with him. He cuts to the chase and told me he wanted to try the cardioversion before any surgery. He also told me many people do not like or believe in them. He won’t do repeatedly instead I will be meeting with the EP he works with on December 7 and discuss an ablation. It will be my fourth procedure the good thing is that it is only my flutter that returned. It has been gone since the end of April. He said flutter is much easier to correct. I have never heard that before but was very happy. He changed my meds a bit And immediately had an appointment set up for me with the EP. If I could do it today I would have. I knew cardioversions did not come with any promises but I had hoped at least to get through the holidays. I was very emotional and an interesting fact. The nurse told me she hears that from many patients so it sounds as though we are not wimpy it is a fib affecting us in someway. I am not normally emotional because I am on an antidepressant/anti-anxiety. Normally I cannot cry but I just lost my 14 year old cat and oh did I cry at her grave the other day. I think we need to put a booklet together about the odd things that come with a fib so we know we are not crazy or weird but many of these things are normal with a fib.
Yes I am disappointed but I am ready for the next step whatever it is because I want to feel good. I was just spoiled these past few weeks by feeling normal. ❤️
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DawnTX
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I’m sorry that it has returned just before the holidays, and don’t blame you for feeling down. I lost my ‘avatar’ cat during the pandemic, and that is enough in itself. (I now have a different rescue cat, and she is lovely - but it takes a while.)
A Fib definitely affects me like that. I get very weepy in the mornings, the time of day that my heart rate gets highest, and I get lowest.
Hoping you get your ablation really soon. I have also heard that it’s a much easier procedure - just in the right atrium, so no need to go through the septum. Also with a much higher chance of it getting zapped for good - 95% I believe.
thank you for the positive thoughts about it. It has been gone since the end of April when I had my VOM and I guess I took it for granted it was gone because I had both prior to that. I honestly do not find much of a difference in how horrible it feels. Prior to the cardioversion my heart rate was in the 150s 158 seemed to be its favorite number. Now it is sticking about 105 when I first wake up and climbs from there. My new Metropolol XR with an increase of two times a day now seems to be giving me some peace inside my heart unless I push myself. I just have to remember I cannot do things at the same pace as normal right now. The past couple of weeks since the cardioversion I felt so normal and it was wonderful.
i’m glad you mention also getting weepy again when we share things like this I think it’s good so we know we are not alone 🤗
My Cardiologist said that my body is very resistant to things. I wonder if that was true when doing the cardioversion. I have a feeling he doesn’t tell you things that will not help you fight on or things that might make you worried when there’s nothing you can do. I don’t need every little detail but it’s nice to know why certain things do not seem to work. He stated many people do not like or believe in cardioversions But he wanted to try it for going with some thing more. That is how he seems to be whether it is medicine or treatment, less is more I am a believer in that. You can always go back. L O L I just said that when I got my haircut the other day Growing up I had a doll and you could cut her hair than pull more out of the inside of her head lol unfortunately hairstylists can I do that so I proceed with care.
I am so glad you got another cat because there are so many that need our love. We have a little family outside of somewhat feral. We are trying to get them all fixed and they are becoming domesticated enough to catch. Unfortunately they were too preemie litters earlier this year when we first moved to this house. They didn’t survive it was not their time. My baby is their angel now out there with them. She had seen them when they were fighting to live and now she is buried with them. For some reason that makes me feel better. She never had babies of her own. The others here are definitely becoming loving and brave. Many of them will now come into the house although they like to go back out they love playing outside and we have an acre of land. The last group of kittens is almost 6 months old now and so precious. I can pick each one of them up and kiss them and hold them. I won’t say they are thrilled lol but they let me do it and I think they don’t mind being loved
Sitting outside when I give them their afternoon treat makes me feel better. Just enjoying nature. The land here is pretty I have deer in the backyard at times because we feed them as well. This is my form of meditation😻🥰
How wonderful to have deer so close! I live near the city centre in Edinburgh, so the closest we get is foxes. Though during lockdown there were some deer coming into the city.
Jennie the cat took a little while to settle in - and still hides a bit from our grandchildren. Though now she will let them stroke her, as long as they’re quiet. She rules the house really, stealing seats as soon as folk get up, and stopping me knitting. Though she does that with cute little head bumps, so who could deny her?
The very best of luck with your treatment - my first ablation is next month. Medication hasn’t worked that well for me so far, so I’m crossing fingers with this.
Please keep in touch let me know how you are doing. I have not been on here much until earlier. Since things started back up I have not had the strength to even get on my phone for any length of time. I am not sure if it is mental or physical fatigue at this point but just lifting my arms seems to be a big effort. So many things I want to do and cannot and I know you understand that.
The fact that she will let them pet her a little bit is a good sign. They go through so much trauma before they meet us and get our love so it is no wonder they are afraid. Children can be scary lol. They certainly know how to steal our hearts. The mama of all the kitties outside has stolen my heart for sure as have the others but she really tugs on it because you can tell she is tired of being a mama. She will be the first to get fixed shortly to give her a break I really want to get all the girls in at the same time. I am still trying to figure how many girls are in the new litter because so far the ones I thought were girls have turned out to be boys lol My cousin has been great letting them come into the house but the boys especially can be a problem if they start to spray so they also need to be fixed. We have one male out there my cousin took him another male and a female from a neighbor he had the guy had them locked up in cages their entire life not sure on the age but they are all adults. Watching them bloom just knowing they are free and getting love and food makes my heart feel better. Little dude as he was called it was quite the tough cookie but you should see him with the newest babies. I thought he was the dad but neighbors two houses down have two cats that look just like the kittens. Supposedly they are both neutered I don’t believe it. Both of the males also show interest and are over here constantly now so they are either not being fed or these are their kids lol For the most part they have been excepted which is strange with this group so again I think they could be the dad. The others are all black and white cats of various markings. I called them the mini moo family. The two invaders are striped and gray and gold as are the babies lol what do you think? I love them all but I do want to stop the breeding and just spend our love and money on the ones already here. Another male has turned out he is huge and gorgeous head to shoulders pure white and black the rest of the body long-haired also. It looks like he’ll be joining the family if the others let him. They are very tightly knit they still have not excepted the girl who grew up in a cage although they are OK with the two males. Poor Dolly I try to keep her inside as much as possible
You have so many lovely cats, but end up with quite a responsibility getting them ‘done’! My old cat, Ella, came from a rescue centre that has both domesticated cats and some feral outdoor ones. Sometimes the outdoor ones go to farms. Ella’s owner had died apparently, so I always said she had ‘one careful lady owner’. She settled in very quickly.
Jennie had been rehomed already, and hadn’t taken to another cat, so it was harder for her. She did come out of hiding though…
Ah, it has shown the ‘alt text’ for some reason. They certainly help us to relax.
They are beautiful. The black and white is the mother of all the others there are three litters. She is only a couple of years old and needs to stop having babies. She is sweet and a little timid that comes to us now and will even come into the house for a few minutes. I am very sad the brother of the oldest two who had survived has disappeared. He and his sister were inseparable so I have to believe that something very bad has happened he also acted as the daddy to all the other. We have a dozen and three who are extremely feral out there that also get fed and we try to put them at ease. Once they are fixed it will be easier right now they are all trying to prove they are men lol.
Living in Florida I had 8!one point all from the same Ferel group. A friend and I scooped what was left of the colony because after a hurricane a pack of wild dogs was killing all of them. I will tell you that most of so-called ferel are very happy once inside. Mine never tried to go out they knew it was not great out there. tinker was the last of the group. Four years ago a so-called friend killed my cats while I was in the hospital and told people they were abused. Anyone that knows me knows that was not possible. I never really got over that not long after my a fib started sometimes I think it was my broken heart because of my babies.
sorry to read this Dawn, on the positive you now know you can maintain NSR post any procedure. I am so glad you have a good cardio now. Terrible news on your cat, one of your family x
thank you hon. Because of all of you out here I knew it was a very small chance of success of any length of time with the cardioversion but yes at least I got a break after over a year and especially after the six months since the VOM. My doctor was straightforward as well about cardioversion. I try to remain hopeful yet remind myself there is no cure yet. Maybe one of us will be the first maybe it will be you because you seem to do so well since your mini maze. Someone has to go first I hope it’s you staying healthy.
Thank you about my little tinker belly. Most people wouldn’t understand but she really was my best friend stay in by my side through many horrors the last 15 years. If people paid attention to their fur babies they would see understanding from them. I have no doubt that little girl understood many things. She did not suffer very long for that I am grateful and now she has a pretty spot outside with kittens that did not survive an early birth so she is their special angel. Thank you again yes I miss her so much and so does my support dog. Thank heavens we have each other as well. I am glad to see animal lovers on here that mention my baby to me. It feels good
Sorry cardioversion wasn’t the success you had hoped for but know that AFlutter always made me feel a LOT worse than AFib. In AFib I could mostly continue with normal daily activity albeit slowly but Flutter would always lay me low.
I’m sure you know that Flutter is less chaotic than AFib with a regular rhythm but often with very high HR and occurs in the right atria, not the left - which is why it is much easier to treat as the catheter doesn’t need to punch a hole through the septum which divides both atria. Flutter left can lead to AFib so is often treated quickly.
Good luck with your meeting with the EP and take it slowly and listen to your body in the meantime.
thank you for the kind and knowledgeable words. As far as taking it slow I have no choice because if I push myself I feel so ill. Prior to the surgery in April I had both flutter and a fib. It doesn’t seem to matter which one is acting up they are both so horrible. Again it is so easy to take it for granted when you feel better and those past couple of weeks after the cardioversion were wonderful. I just want something else done. I have noticed that the change and increase in my metropolol has already made a little bit of a difference as far as feeling better. I have to remind myself though to go slow. We have so many things to do in our life I’m sure everyone gets frustrated that they can’t do the things they want to do even simple things like laundry. I can do it I just have to go slow. Thank you again for writing
Dawn I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your much-loved cat. My daughter lost one of hers a few months ago and she was so distraught that she had to take time off of work. There was me advising, go to work it'll take your mind off of it. She said, Mum if I go to work I'll be bursting into tears all the time. Now she tortures herself thinking her one remaining cat is lonely and worried about where the dead one is. Grief is a natural emotion, so let it all out.
Now onto your heart. Yes, that feeling when your heart is back into it's normal rhythm is just wonderful. Oh, to be like that all the time!
I really hope the flutter ablation is a success for you.
thank you Jean. It really is hard being without my little one. She was very vocal and funny I’m not sure where she got her personality since we moved here to Texas but I wish I had it on video. You never would’ve known her age the way she jumped up and down and ran through the house and enjoyed every second of her life. She went quickly and that’s as good as it gets in fact I hope I go the same way. My poor dog is having problems without her now they were very close and we are becoming closer I know he needs me as much as I need him.
thank you for understanding about her I find there are either wonderful people like you who realize a cat is not just a cat and then there are others who do not understand they are such a part of your life. I raised her from about five weeks old and she just turned 15. She would come running to me when I was sitting on the couch and jump into my arms and take a nap. Oh how I miss her and I agree with your daughter because right now I would be crying if not for my meds that stop me from crying. Please give your daughter a hug for me.
I wish they would call me tomorrow to have the ablation unfortunately I don’t see and meet the new EP until the seventh. I had another AP picked out but I have decided that I think so highly of my cardiologists that I will trust in him with the EP he always works with. I have a very strange feeling lol like being swaddled in safety and I like the feeling.
Thank you again you have given me such wonderful support in the past as well
This was my little warrior princess who has shown her strength since she was five weeks old and lost her eye to a virus she survived the virus and oh what a personality she had right up to the end. She was very vocal and taught me to be a better person
You are right she is absolutely gorgeous in this photo. My sister, who lives close to me has a tabby cat called Alfie who lost an eye many years ago, she has his brother George too. They are both coming up to age 16 and showing signs of their age.
it is sad when they start showing their age just like people. She was diagnosed just about a year ago with thyroid issues and has been on medication. I don’t believe that had anything to do with losing her I do believe it was her kidneys though she was quite the water drinker. My oldest cat made it to 20 1/2 unfortunately most of the others made it to the same is Tinker. When they are previously outside we just don’t know their family history. I never went beyond what was necessary medically for them because I didn’t want to know. That may sound ignorant but if you can’t do anything well just love them as much as you can for as long as you are allowed. I had one boy that I thought was 16 but the vet said oh no he was much older. When I first took him in and had him fixed they called me to tell me that he was positive for leukemia and said what do you want to do with him. What did they think throw him back out? I was angry. At the time I thought he was only about two years old and as I said he made it to what I thought was 16 yet the vet said much older. He turned out to be an amazing and gorgeous cat and became the father figure to all the others I brought in. He taught them how to be good lol if they pushed him too far he would take his power and put it on their head to stop them and make them sit down lol. If everyone took in even just one cat though how about at least two lol as they say cats are like potato chips you can never have too many. Imagine how much nice people would be? I have learned so much from mine. They are so loving all you want to do is give that back so it makes me a better person. I think cats are good for our health I’m glad you’re finding that also
What a lovely expression 'swaddled in safety'. I may pinch that and use it one day. That's how I feel with my lovely lady GP who fought for me to be diagnosed properly when I had my pneumonia and Covid together. She disagreed with the hospital sending me home, rang a department and got me admitted to a ward almost immediately.
My sister lives in Dallas, Texas - she has lived in the U.S. for almost 60 years, my nephew lives in Austin. I've visited both places, though didn't really see much of Austin, all I remember of it is looking at a river below from a grassy bank, have been to Dallas 3 times. I must say food in the U.S. restaurants is so nice, but portions overly large! Good that you're given a box to take what you can't eat home though.
this is right in my backyard. We feed them morning and evening and especially this time of year they really need it. They are coming more into the yard than they used to because they realize they are safe with us. Other areas have deer hunting which breaks my heart. They are protected in here look at the innocent face We have several babies here as well
lol yes the portions of food here in Texas are just like everything else in Texas BIG HUGE ETC because of the loss of appetite and how I usually get to portions of meals to bring home lol especially from my favorite Mexican restaurant.
I hope you got to go down to the bridge where are you can watch the phenomenon of all the bats fly in at night and back out again. People actually sit there for hours. I watched from a distance I’m not really into bats lol. You also can see the college we are from the highway when you look at it it is shaped like a cowboy hat. Christmas time is amazing to ride around the neighborhoods and see the decorations. In many areas you are no longer allowed to put up decorations but here in Texas it is still the USA of freedom and here where I am it is already starting to be decorated lovely. No one feels insulted by them here and not far from me there is a small body of water where they have the Statue of Liberty in the middle and other military and patriotic lit up decorations. The people here are kind and friendly I love that. Yesterday for the first time I ate at Whataburger. I had heard of it but we did not have it anywhere I have lived. It is fast food similar to Burger King however the service is phenomenal they come to your table they check on you and the place is so clean. I don’t know how they found such great staff because in most places when you order they roll their eyes at you lol Lake Travis is beautiful in Austin. I am not that far from Louisiana and it’s only a 18 hour drive lol back to South Florida yikes not a good or fun ride
How lovely for you to see these beautiful deer so close and it's kind of you to feed them.
Here in the UK we don't eat out quite as much as you do. My sister never cooked at home, always went out to eat with her husband. Unfortunately, he died a few months ago, but she has family there who look after her well and she still eats out several times a week.
I love Christmas lights, the music - everything to do with it. At the corner of my road the people there have a lovely light display in their trees.
it really is a wonderful feeling when you feel like that with your physician. My doctors in Florida were like family I miss them terribly. I recently called my EP for some advice. When I left Florida last year he told me he was still my person no matter where I was. He proved he walks the walk because when I called a few weeks ago for advice about changing doctors I had a call back in 15 minutes and he was not in the office he was at the hospital. I did not leave an urgent message just a simple one asking if he could give me a call. Now that is a good doctor beyond good. The doctor that did my VOM turned out to be not a nice person I don’t care how good a doctor he is supposed to be or how well written up he is. Four months he would not return a call recently I tried to get him to do a referral He did not even read my message. I will never forgive him for that and playing with my life since VOM of which he is the pioneer of.
I wish everyone could feel swaddled as you and I know the feeling of because it is not a good thing when we are frightened on top of being ill. I had a friend from Thailand who once taught me a beautiful saying. She said if you sing a beautiful song you get a beautiful Eco back. That should go for patients and doctors
I hope your next appointment with the EP leads to a quick ablation and that sorts out your heartrate. So sorry to hear about your cat. I know how devastating this can be as we lost our beloved cat in April. He was nearly 14 and we had had him since he was only about six weeks old. He too was part of a feral litter . He was sweet and affectionate and we miss him horribly. We are feeding a little black cat that comes in our garden but it is very shy . Our neighbours were down from Paris for the Toussaint holidays and they said he/she was a feral cat that had been semi adopted by next door but one, but I guess it is happy with the treats we give it. The other day we found it sitting on our landing windowsill and it was so nice to actually see it rather than just the empty plate !
I am sorry about the loss of your cat same age as mine although I think fun might’ve been a year older than I thought. She was such a part of my life from morning tonight lol she would come to me in the morning and stand on me If I didn’t respond she would take her paw as if playing with a mouse and poke me under the chin. It would be quite annoying so yes she would get me up she also was very vocal like an air raid siren lol I loved the different tones she would use depending on what she wanted sometimes she just wanted to chat. My a fib came back less than a week after I lost her I swear I have a broken heart not a fib
I too am hoping for a quick date for an ablation. I have my cousin home starting next week because he is having a hip replaced Monday so that should prove to be interesting. I think I will be the one in better shape. Many people do not want surgery this time of year I personally just want it over with. Tell me when and I will be there.
thank you for your kind words and thoughts. If your neighbors are not there all the time taking care of that little one I would scoop him up. We have about a dozen as I mentioned. Most of them have become very friendly now especially the babies who are about five months old. I picked them up and cuddle and kiss them on the head lol no I didn’t say they always like it but they don’t struggle or react I think they’re beginning to like it and now they have my scent. people forget that feral cats are just the sad ones that don’t have a mommy or daddy through no fault of their own. They love to be loved they are just afraid. We have a nice set up outside with heaters right now because we had such a cold snap the past couple of weeks. They use everything they have which shows how happy they are to have it. Thank you for loving kitties like I do
I have had both hips replaced. There were complications with the second op and I had to stick to a walking frame or 2 sticks for six weeks but I recovered well. They get you up and walking the day of your op here if you are early on the list , the next day if you are one of the last ops of the day.
It is amazing what they do now. I have a friend who has had both done. The first failed in fact was part of a large lawsuit and had to be replaced. Last year he was back to work with him weeks on his feet because he is a police officer within an elementary school. They take no chance just letting you go back so he was ready for duty. I have another friend a fire fighter also hit. And got to go back to work it took a bit longer because of the ladder climbing. If they work with my cousin with a walker and his office he would be OK the walker is tough because of the logistics of the casino and the person in traffic. He won’t listen anyway at least not to me lol I cannot get over how careful they are being with everything prior to the surgery that should be about an hour and a half. I am glad. He is only in his 50s but having been a goalie for hockey he has the body of 100 year old lol
my cousin had the hip done this morning and just called me. He is able to get to the bathroom and will be coming home in the next couple of hours. They are doing some physical therapy with him. He said he feels better than when he got there this morning. That may be medication‘s but he sounds chipper. Just like with a fib when you feel so bad anything better has to be good
That's good news. After I had my first hip done I could tell the moment I first walked on it that it was better. It felt solid. The best therapy for post op is walking . Several times a day building up the time . There are certain exercises too to strengthen the quads and other leg and hip muscles.
One great thing about living where we are is we have almost an acre of beautiful land here to walk on. When he gets back to work he can walk as much as he wants also because they would keep him running all day long if he lets them lol. I think they wanted him to see the things he should not do more than the things he should. He is on his way home and sounds very happy
ps I have not met the EP but he works closely with my cardiologist. He is also brand new with me just since the end of October. I met him on a Monday by Friday I had an echo and cardioversion. He is wasting no time on my health unlike my previous EP/Cardiologist. I was about to meet the EP anyway to read my loop recorder. I am so impressed with my new hospital and doctors so far they say things happen for a reason I think I landed with them for a very good reason, my health. My commute know is also about 15 minutes instead of almost 3 hours at times to the doctor and hospital. Thank you for again for the words and kindness
I feel as though his changing of my meds the other day two additional plus the same but different formula is helping already. Unless I push myself, I am not getting the thudding and thumb thing as I have since Saturday. The crazy thing is I have no issues with blood pressure only heart rate. BP the other day in the office was something like 113/60 which is somewhat normal for me.
it is unfortunate that cardioversion is just a gamble. My doctor has no intentions of doing another. I know people that have had dozens but he said he had wanted to give it a try and now he knows how to move forward with me. This will be my fourth procedure two other ablations and a VOM besides the cardioversion. He told me before I had it some people are back the next day to him some could go for a year or more so he was honest. Unless the EP has a different idea when I meet him the ablation is going to happen sooner than later which is fine with me.
of course we are happier because we feel better at least I did. To just stand up prior to the cardioversion made me ill is of having a heart attack and I could barely walk due to lack of circulation and dizziness. To walk out of the hospital that day after the cardioversion seemed like a miracle.
i’m sorry that an ablation is not in the cards for you. My first lasted six months and second a year and a half. I am told that because this is just flutter that it is more treatable and easier. I had both prior to this but the floater was taken care of back in April. I see no difference in how poorly I feel. It may be easier to trade but it doesn’t feel any better or affect me less than a fib itself. I worded that way because that is how he worded it is a flutter is a separate thing. I thought it was just part of a fib. The change to the XR in my triple heart and the increased dose is making me feel a little bit better. My heart rate dropped below 100 last night for the first time since Saturday and it does make a difference in how I feel. I guess we need to get to know our own body and we are a whole different.
if I had no other choice I would take another cardioversion I would do it today just to feel better but I am thankful to know an ablation is coming shortly. The other two I felt better almost immediately. The first I had a sore throat from someone not being as gentle with the scope. That lasted 10 days and I looked like a bullfrog lol. That was the cryo- and lasted only six months. The RF lasted just about a year and a half and I was able to be fairly active until last October. I actually did the packing etc. for my move by myself for the most part I am amazed at what I was able to do compared to a week or two later when I could do nothing but fall down several times. I was between doctors and homes it was bad. We definitely take medical treatment for granted here. I am horrified at the wait that all of you must do in the UK. When I recently changed doctors I had an appointment within a week and by the end of that week I had my echocardiogram and cardioversion done in the hospital. This week when I called on Monday I was in with my cardiologist Tuesday morning and have my appointment with my new EP for December 7. Thanksgiving week messes up everything here.
Sending you healing thoughts and prayers thank you for the kind words
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Treatment for Atrial Flutter
Need advice. Back on A fib but feel really good!
Am I now in permanent AF?
Ablation now in the rear view mirror
