Heart Failure

[fairgo45]

I've had afib for many years now its become permanent despite 3 ablations I have developed heart failure as well Im on Jardiance for this but I'm worried because I've read that permanent afib with heart failure can cause cardiac arrest does anyone know if that's true as I also have had 2 stents fitted for coronary artery disease .

My cardiologist tells me not to worry but I do and wonder if anyone is in the same position and perhaps had a pacemaker or an Icd fitted

[Deejay62]

Hi yes I have a CRT-D fitted but I had that before I was diagnosed with Afib. I also take edoxaban, anticoagulant because I was told I’m at risk of getting blood clots without it.

I use to be on warfarin for about 5 years but after a while my kidneys couldn’t take it.

[fairgo45 in reply to Deejay62]

What was happening to you that required having a CRT-D fitted?

[Deejay62 in reply to fairgo45]

I have dilated cardiomyopathy which as progressed to heart failure and mor. It was a replacement for my old one as the battery was running out, so it was an upgrade. It also was in case I wanted a transplant as my heart function had gone down to 10% the defibrillator would kick start my heart if I have dangerous arrhythmia. My function as improved with medications, but now I have severe pulmonary hypertension.

[fairgo45 in reply to Deejay62]

Oh my goodness you have had a lot to cope with. Are you on the medication that is meant for diabetes but has been found to help with heart failure.

Whats your options now that pulmonary hypertension has kicked in

[Deejay62 in reply to fairgo45]

Yes I’m on Dapagliflozin, that one as helped me a lot. I don’t have an option I’m just glad I’m still alive but how long for I don’t know. If pulmonary hypertension progresses and begin to fail the right side of my heart and my EF drops again that will be it for me.

[fairgo45 in reply to Deejay62]

I hope not there are very good things said about Dapagliflozin i have HRpEF so take the other one Jardiance i have found it makes a big difference to breathing and being able to do a lot more but I still worry about getting a sudden cardiac arrest to the extent that we bought our own defibrillator as we are miles from any hospitals.

[Deejay62 in reply to fairgo45]

I’m not sure they have Jardiance over here. Where I live I have 2 easy to get to hospitals and the emergency service is quite good.

I still find some of the terminologies difficult to remember. I just know I have heart failure caused by DCM.

Sometimes I think that’s why I don’t stress over my illness. The only thing I think about is if I will go into cardiac arrest and be in terrible pain for a long time, I forget I have a defibrillator and from what I’ve heard that’s horrendous when it shocks you. I understand people who have had a heart attack when they say the slightest chest pain makes them anxious.

[fairgo45 in reply to Deejay62]

The same here an ICD you'd think would make you feel safer but what if it went off how would it feel anyone care to share