Just returned from a road trip to west Surrey - my sister and I discussed some family health issues resulting in her giving me a copy of my Dads death certificate. Can one of you or any of you clarify something for me ............ does or can atrial fibrillation progress/ convert into ventricular fibrillation or are they both stand alone health issues ?
Asking because on the death certificate as cause of death is 1a) Ventricular Fibrillation; 1b) Ischaemic heart disease and finally 2) Perforated duodenal ulcer.
The poor old guy was a 20 year old diabetic, died aged 78 and had been my mothers carer for 14 years ( she had alzheimers ).
Meanwhile from a miserable grumpy old Bah Humbug, Merry christmas to you all wherever you are on this crazy planet.
Afib doesn't progress to Vfib. However the underlying factors including bleeding ulcer and ischemic heart disease can be factors in causing the Vfib. Condolences on your dad's death.
I would think that the Ischaesmic Stroke where a clot gets lodged somewhere and
cuts off oxygen.
I had this stroke also called an ...........stroke in 2019.
But it awoke me. Sore head and my CT scan showed the area in the left frontal lobe. I was also found to have undiagnosed AF. Within 4 days a carotid arteries scan I had thyroid cancer which can cause AF and thus the stroke. Irregular heart beat pools blood which cause clots.
That is why most of us are on anti-co.agulants. (Blood thinners)
AF I understand comes from electrical responses in the Ventricle chamber. Mine is
enlarged so I cant have an ablation. Age 73.
My father died in hospital and because he kept falling out of bed he was post mortemed. Dr listed, Lymphoma (undiagnosed), heart failure years. He was also a diabetic controlled but that was not listed.
I hope this helps.
Very unusual to die of AF but the AF produced a clot which gave him a stoke.
Thanks for your comments. Mum was initially diagnosed with Cerebal Atrophy at the age of 58. So, my fathers caring function started at about that time from generally monitoring her behaviour and her medication and taking her to medical appointments etc. Basic stuff. Her state deteriorated gradually although she did manage a make a lone trip to Australia (Sydney) where I lived with my family at the time. We noticed odd things happening like half drunk cups of tea being put away in the china cupboard in the kitchen. It was after her return home to UK that things quite dramatically changed and continued to change increasingly rapidly until her death at age 72. So the demands on my Dads time were not great in the beginning but rapidly became totally absorbing and he kept her at home all the time until her last few months of life by which time she was beyond anything he could do for her. needed proper medical care.
Yes, none of the family can understand how he managed this caring function. Mind over matter doesn't even begin to describe it.
Just done a 540 mile return road trip from Cornwall to Surrey to see my sister who is doing the same thing for her husband who has now well advanced Vascular Dementia. Luckily they are reasonably well off and can afford some home care. Bloody awful. Very upsetting to see a guy who was larger than life reduced to basically a vegetable.
I find guilt creeping into my life as I'm the eldest at 78, just a highly controlled AF and OA in shoulder joints, and still driving buses and workin g, al beit part time. Pretty much as fit as a fiddle ( touch wood).
Thank you again. Hope you have a great Christmas.... I have it on good authority that Santa has upgraded his Sat Nav to include New Zealand 😂😂😂
Lots of folk get tangled up in straight dementia and alzheimers.
I nursed a doctor in UK amongst others. A doctor now being cared for in a home. others at various stages. They didnt find anything on my CT scan or they haven't told me. None in my family history.
At 73 now but at 70 I didnt expect a stroke, AF and Thyrod cancer. No meds prior although there was an effort to get down my systolic BP figure of 150.
It didnt work instead deleted me of protein Losartan or something like tgat derivative from metroprolol which does not agree with me.
Northland Hospital say they use it as first med for stroke but have since changed to Bisoprolol for AF.
It took a private cardiac specialist to control me on CCB Diltiazem 120 am and 1.25 Biso at night. Must separate them CCB and BB. But with a H/R at rest Day over 120 and a H/R night of 47 which has never changed through the changes apart from loss of energy or have to stop now and ten on exertion I am grateful to be alive.
I'm glad that you are controlled. On what? Or have you had procedures.
I have had no medical/surgical procedures ... absolutely none. The control has come purely from Medication and change of diet. That said, I was diagnosed and treatment started to lower my heart rate (clocked at 156 ) within 9 hours of my feeling unwell - the unwellness being feeling like flu coming on and a massive drop in BP, like, from 136/80 ish down to 76/50 in a few hours.
What caused my AF. Very difficult to say but several factors have come into play. 1) genetics, 2) 3 years of medicated blood pressure, and even much longer of non medicated blood pressure 3) age was 65 at time of diagnosis 4) a sensitive/dysfunctional vagal nerve ( although that only emerged much much later long after I'd returned to work after diagnosis).
Interesting to note that anecdotal comments from workmates, friends and family, were that I looked so good after diagnosis and treatment, whereas before AF I seemed to always have a ruddy, flushed looking complexion.
Can’t really help you but wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
My dad died aged 65 of coronary artery disease (he was a smoker) and mum had heart attack aged 75 then a major stroke some 16 months later. Pneumonia set in and she died 4 days after her 77th birthday. I’m glad I take Rivaroxaban.
My deepest condolences regarding your Dad it is very sad and very hard to take on board I have been through it. My Dad died nearly 30 years ago and had dementia the last 3 years although they did not diagnose these things that way then. In recent times we had my wife's mum in a similar situation as you many miles away and so difficult to cope with and to help.
Thanks for your thoughts and comments Pete. Yes, you are so right about the way in which they diagnose these things, in the past and today .... quite different.
Merry Christmas and hoping we all have a less challenging 2023.
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Clarification needed regarding the abbreviation "PAF" 
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