I've had every possible treatment for afib but not cured.
My cardiologists explanation might help you understand the reason
Atrial fibrillation causes problems such as heart failure.
Afib arises from the L atrium which like the R atrium is a very thin walled chamber.
When AF occurs and is long standing, the atria enlarge. It always happens.
The enlargement is an expected accompaniment of AF so we need to treat the heart failure differently
Thank you fairgo. I think most of us are aware that there’s no actual “cure” for Afib as yet, and that treatments tends to focus on control of symptoms and improving quality of life and life chances. However, caught in time even a persistent AFib can be kept at bay through procedures such as mini maze (particularly where structural changes eg atrium enlargement to the heart are present) and ablation. I was lucky my heart didn’t show any atrium enlargement when I went for ablation despite having persistent AFib. So now I’m back in NSR I’m assuming that the risk of enlarged atrium is reduced. I don’t know if that’s right! I hope you find the best possible way forward in your own particular situation - don’t give up, research and approaches to treatment are constantly progressing!
Thank you for your imput don't worry I never give up. The mini maze is not available in my country I would certainly be up for that if it were.
Having gone for ablations x3 before it progressed to permanent afib I'm doing all I can to make the best of things at least having developed heart failure as well I am lucky to have the medication Jardiance free to treat this new to me condition .
You could be one of the lucky ones where an ablation works even though in permanent afib I know the odds are not usually good to have an outcome like yours so fingers crossed it stays that way.
Just curious fairgo if I may ask, do you have any other heart issues that may contribute to your afib and complicate treatment ?
Thank you fairgo for your thoughts. I enjoyed reading how you never give up and it would be good to hear how you keep your spirits up - I guess that’s sometimes as important as a cure, and something we can all support one another with.
It helps that I'm a natural glass half full person and believe that every problem has a solution. starting with lone afib over the years it progressed to persistent as soon as ablations were available i had 3 but all failed.
Even so life improved then the Afib caused heart failure which I'm on a new medication for.
In between I managed to get coronary heart disease so 2 stents for that.
I have a good cardiologist and GP who check me over frequently and I have regular Echos and Holters.
I believe helping yourself is half the battle psychologically so I use all the technology available including a wellue 24 hour monitor that I just pop on it gives me a reading of everything that might have happened over 24 hours and I can share anything out of the ordinary with my cardiologist.
So the bottom line is keep optimistic be aware of what is getting worse and straight away get your cardiologist on board with any new symptoms.
I then just get on with life .
Thanks for your response fairgo. Like you I’ve had my share of heart issues having been quite limited as a child due to a hole in the heart then major surgery at 15 with all its scars - psychological ones not least! And of course, what did I do? I got on with life and actually enjoyed a mostly happy childhood not to mention some wild teenage years! Glad you are remaining optimistic too.
You have identified an important issue that AFib sufferers often do not heed - DO NOT DELAY being treated.AFib always progresses, so acting early, before atrial enlargement happens, is really important
The mini maze doesn't necessarily have to be available in your country. Several of us have travelled to have the laparoscopic procedure for AFib in Japan with Dr Ohtsuka. I travelled to Tokyo from Canada for the operation recently. I was paroxysmal and did not want to wait until I was persistent or permanent AFib.
I have had no AF in the 3 months since my surgery, and it was every other day previously.
I read online somewhere that the atrial cells, once they are stretched for various reasons, become more prone to arrhythmias.
Steve
Cheery news Steve …😯
Oh dear - sorry. It was quite an interesting study as it had some potentially good news, that the cells do seem to return to their old size and did not then exhibit arrhythmias. But the ageing process tended to mean this didn't happen. The moral seemed to be to keep the heart a healthy size and shape from day one. Easier said than done!
Steve
Hi
Who was your Heart Specialist in NZ.
I am in NZ Northland.
Only CCB Diltiazem controlled my H/Rate Day, Night avg 47.
Diltiazem 120mg AM
Bisoprolol 2.5mg PM controls my BP.
I found Dr Brandon Wong the best. He is in Whangarei.
ECHO latest shows OVERALL heart is no longer enlarged
Severe Left Atrium
Right Ventricle regurgitating
Soft Systollic Heart Murmur - new 2022.
Other working OK.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Hi Joy
Is that right that you are having the mini maze done in Japan this year?
I happened to see you come up on a post .
There's no chance of having it in NZ is there so let me know how you get on
Janet
Hi
No way. Can't have ablation anyway, nor cardioversion or anti-arrhymic meds.
I'm controlled AF on
125mg Diltiazem AM
2.5mg Bisoprolol PM
No I was looking for a person going to Japan in October and a fellow Forum poster who lives in Crete underwent the mini maze in Japan.
Hope I still get there as my 4th Neck scan Papillary cancer is back in lymph nodes 3 in question. 1 is 19mmx9mm and larger than carcinoma in the thyroid. 12 lymphs taken and 2 were infected. 100 each side of thyroid.
So on Tuesday think of me having a PET/CT SCAN.
Surgeon is right on to it.
cheri jOY. 75. (NZ)
Permanent AF?
Persistent AF
Pill in the pocket drug Flecainide and AF
Is there a chance that the enlarged left atrium will be smaller over time after the reasons for the enlargement were cured?
ELA AND PERMANENT AF
