I'm sure I would like this site if I could understand all of the abbreviations!

[Qwack]

I have atrial fibrillation since aortic valve surgery 2008. Heart rate is controlled with Metoprolol, irregular heartbeat is annoying. I was hoping to get some insights to my problems using this site. Alas I can't make head nor tail of what other forum members are talking about.

[ForensicFairy]

Hello, I’m also from Australia. Ask a question and I’ll see if I can help.

I totally get how frustrating acronyms are. There is a pinned post here which explains them but here’s a few quickies to start off.

AF - atrial fibrillation

BP - blood pressure

BPM - beats per minute also written as b/m

EF - ejection fraction which is the efficiency rate of the left ventricle moving blood out of the ventricle (shows level of heart failure)

LV - left ventricle

HR - heart rate

EP - electrophysiologist

PAC - premature atrial contraction

PVC - premature ventricular contraction

Cheers

[Qwack in reply to ForensicFairy]

Hi ForensicFairy,

Thank you.

Many thanks,

Qwack

[BaileyC57 in reply to ForensicFairy]

That helps a lot, I was confused too and these letters!

[pip_pip]

Abbreviations (acronyms) have been creeping in to postings for a time now. PAF is persistent AF or Paroxysmal AF and so on...... Your guess I suppose, and other abbreviations I have to check online if I can find them. Members here for a time generally know what the abbreviations are but newer members can be left befuddled.

Phil

[Qwack in reply to pip_pip]

Hi pip_pip,

Thank you for your answering post. I have been using Google as I read a post and have found it quite useful, once I have found the answer understanding is a lot easier. After reading someone else's problem mine seem to go away!

Cheers Qwack

[Paulbounce]

Hi Qwack.

Here is the link that explains the abbreviations and their meanings, although ForensicFairy has pretty much covered it.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

I am guilty as charged M'Lud of using them a lot. However, in my defence, I always put the correct medical terms in brackets when using them to answer a newbie's post.

TMI SRY BTW TTLY LOL

Paul 😉

Edit. Welcome to the forum - I can see this is your first post.

[Qwack in reply to Paulbounce]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your answering post. I have been using Google as I read a post and have found it quite useful, once I have found the answer understanding is a lot easier. After reading someone else's problem mine seem to go away!

Cheers Q

[Paulbounce]

I'll edit this post as it was a bit long-winded. As BobD writes below the answers can be found in the pinned posts.

Have a great week HUC.

Paul

[BobD Volunteer]

Quite simply, if you look at pinned posts top right of your screen, fifth one down answers all your questions.

[Paulbounce in reply to BobD]

That's the link I put in my first post on the thread Bob.

Paul

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Paulbounce]

Thanks Paul, some odd time frames on posts can be confusing. I guess lots of people never think to look in pinned posts or even know what they are.

[jeanjeannie50]

I've been on this forum for many years but some abbreviations, which I've never heard of, still pop up. I often Google them to (hopefully) find out what they mean.Welcome to the forum.

Jean.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

AF is always Atrial fibrillation.

BB - Beta Blockers

CCB Calcium Channel Blockers

ACE A different sort of Blocker

HF - Heart Failure (not really just some irregulars in the heart workings)

BPM Beats per minute

AVGE - Average

HR Heart Rate

BP the systolic (top reading) and diastolic (under systolic)

otherwise I change over and ask google what the abbreviation is.

Metapolol - well I refused it after the stroke but still got it. Made me breathless, 185 H/R average but couldn't exert, sweating profusely. Heart monitor also proved pauses at night with my Heart Rate Night 47bpm average.

Back in 2008 - 49.75 was OK but doubling it by a new Dr was not.

Since then weight dropped off. It went low in 2010. I dropped 20 kgs.

Metapolol is not No.1 for AF. Bisoprolol is. My Dr said 4-4 years on Bisoprolol should help mend damage. The Cardiologist laughed. Except my Locum Dr has had AF and knows what she is talking about - in her 80s. She had an ablation in Australia.

No BBs could control my rapid beat but when a private Cardiologist (was working at our Base Hospital) introduced me to CCBs. I never looked back. Now given up the 2.5 Bisoprolol as BP went low.

Still the CCB Diltiazem controls my heart rate under 100.

My med regime is:

Synthroid 100 mg taken 5am on ( no food before 4 hours) (No milk or iron 4 hours after) No soy. iodine, tofu, seaweed etc.

Diltiazem AM 120 CD mg 1 hour later with food.

PRADAXA 110mg 10AM

PRADAXA 110mg 10PM

In Sept diagnosed with Embollic Ischaemic STROKE, Rapid & Persistent AF & Carotid arteries scan showed up a shadow on my thyroid. Yes papillary Thyroid Cancer. 4 mths later operation Thyroidectomy plus. Yearly ultra-sound check.

I'd be inclined to get a 24hr Heart monitor to check what Metopolol is doing.

I got one after each med under the specialist cardiologist.

cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)

[Sixtychick in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

You’ve been through the mill. I hope 2025 will be a better year for you. I should be grateful I’ve only had PAF and SV T. (I’m sure everyone knows what they stand for). Hopefully neither will plague me again after my ablation 16 months ago.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Sixtychick]

Hi

Thamx all the very best.

cheri JOY

[FindingCaradoc]

Ideally, it is good practice, in any piece of writing - before first use of an acronym - to write it out in full with the acronym in brackets. So, for example, normal sinus rhythm (NSR). The acronym can then be used for the rest of the text. This is useful even when your readers are informed on the topic as some acronyms are less common than others… of course this doesn’t always happen and I’m often guilty myself of straying from the ideal!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to FindingCaradoc]

Absolutely .

[waveylines in reply to FindingCaradoc]

I could cope with that approach...thank you. I have to say I don't know all the abbreviations and I've been on here a while....and then other times I've forgotten what some are! 🤣😳😳 I'm not very good on medical jargon/speak...I think abbreviations are a barrier to access & understanding....so do we really need to use them?

I know it takes longer but for the sake of clarity. 🙏🙏🙏

Also abbreviations can vary!

[Whataperformance]

Also here in the UK a few more for your list... I'm a NHS Cardiac Physiologist, these you will see on a Clinical Report. DCCV... Direct Current Cardioversion.

VE'.. Ventricular Ectopics

SVE's... Atrial Ectopics.

SR.. Sinus Rhythm.. Ditto NSR

PAF.. Paroxysmal AF

AF... Predominantly in full AF

TOE.. Transesophageal Echocardiogram

TEE.. Transthoracic Echo (Normal Echo)

I think the country you live in the terminology can be different ie EKG /ECG. It's all fun!!

[ForensicFairy in reply to Whataperformance]

The country definitely defines the terminology used. I’m in Australia and was diagnosed with coronary artery spasms with 70% stenosis. Apparently the term stenosis in other countries only refers to the reduction of blood flow caused by atherosclerosis, not spasms. Which I find odd… it’s caused loads of ‘but you must have atherscelerosis’.

[bassets in reply to Whataperformance]

Thankl you for this

[Ppiman]

A quick online search is what I do opening another tab so as not to lose the original page and post. I have LBBB, for example, on top of my AF, which followed on from AFl in 2019. That's a form of heart block that causes a wider QRS. There's a few abbreviations for you to search!

Steve

[Sixtychick]

Sometimes I can’t understand what they mean, but you can always ask the person who posted it.

[Jetcat]

You’ll get there quack. Stick at it and just ask if you get stuck👍

[Jajarunner]

The one that confuses me us PAF. Persistent, Paroxysmal or Permanent AFib? Aren't they all PAF?!!!!! 😁

[Ducky2003]

Simplest thing to do is just ask if you dont understand anything. Most of us don't bite. 😁

[Palpman]

I've always wondered why they name Atrial Tachycardia or AT as Supra Ventricular Tachycardia or SVT. Supra being "above".

[Ppiman]

I notice no one has mentioned two of the most common heart issues and ones that do need their acronym .

Left bundle branch block = LBBB

Right bundle branch block = RBBB

Steve

[waveylines in reply to Ppiman]

Crikey Steve.....I didn't know those! Can we just hang the abbreviation cap up? Or at least limit them.....??

[Ppiman in reply to waveylines]

We should. I think you are right!!

Steve

[4Pip]

do t give up. It is thee best group to get sound solid in FB or Marion and support. I don’t write a lot in it but this group got me through three ablations. Ask. They won’t be rude or make little of you

[waveylines]

Its a fair cop! We complain of doctors doing this and then we do the same!!! 🙈🙈🙈

So sorry. Your post is a reminder to us all......thankyou

[ozziebob]

Sometimes Google doesn't immediately return the medical understanding you are seeking, but if you add "medical" to your search abbreviation, the appropriate medical understanding usually appears.

[Goosebumps]

I agree that the acronyms are maddening when you don’t have a history of being on this site. When I joined the site 5 years ago I suggested to admin to increase the number of acronym definitions on the pinned help page, but sadly I was ignored.

[waveylines in reply to Goosebumps]

That's a shame......but there are a lot!! I like Finding Caroques suggestion. Of Writing the full name with abbreviation in brackets with the first mention in a reply/post. Gives you something to reference too. And a great prompt.