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04-17-2010, 04:42 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bangor
Posts: 770
M.O.C. #8816
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Out of the hospital
Well in the end it all happened real quick. In Feb. i was lucky enough to retire fulltime. One week to my final day I was taken out by EMT's to the hospital. The diagnoses was Atrial Flutter. Well from that day on i was to the ER at least once a week to get my heart slowed down and back in rhythm. This was the only thing that worked. So this past Thursday I went to the ER again and after i got slowed down my DR. handed me some papers and said you staying.
Than his partner (an electrophysiologist) came in and told me an Ablation was in order. So the next day at noon i was in a futuristic setting being ablated. The procedure took a little over 3hrs, and the best part i was awake for the whole thing. An Ablation is a procedure were they find the area sending the bad signals and burn a hole in the signals pathway.
Things aren't totally back to normal yet I still have an erratic beat now and then, but at least my heart isn't beating 160ppm anymore.
The reason for the Irregular beats is not Atrial Flutter, It's Atrial Fibrillation which i also have. But this condition is treated much easier with meds, I HOPE.
I also have done a lot of reading about these two conditions. The word is over 2 million people suffer from one or both conditions. Though not life threatening, there is a really bad side effect with this, blood clots and stroke. Anytime your heart isn't beating properly from one chamber to the other this is really bad. So please be aware of the symptoms.
A fluttering feeling in the upper chest, hard or rapid heart beat for no apparent reason and shortness of breath with either symptom. Most people can be treated with meds, for me meds didn't work or I couldn't take them. This is a web page that has a lot of info about the condition atrialfibrillationblog.com/ So I'm on the mend and can't wait to get out and about.
Be safe and Be healthy,
Kevin
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04-17-2010, 04:59 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Blanc
Posts: 2,508
M.O.C. #5965
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That is good news, Kevin! The known is a lot easier to deal with than the unknown. Have a great day and welcome home.
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04-17-2010, 05:06 AM
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#3
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Salem
Posts: 64
M.O.C. #7971
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Glad you are doing better!
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04-17-2010, 05:07 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
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Sending good thoughts your way, good luck with the rest of your healing process.
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04-17-2010, 05:12 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lake George
Posts: 1,078
M.O.C. #3847
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Here's hoping you will soon be on the mend and "out and about"!
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04-17-2010, 05:18 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
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Glad to hear you are doing well.
I don't remember what mine is called (if I ever knew), but I also had an occasional flutter. Sometimes several times in a day. Never lasting more than a few seconds. Sometimes go for months without any. Funny feeling that would make me want to cough. But after coughing, it would usually go away. I learned that if I felt one starting, I would just cough fairly hard and it would quit. Am taking 25mg of Attenolol daily now and the flutters have all but been eliminated.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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04-17-2010, 05:27 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Apache Junction
Posts: 1,726
M.O.C. #7487
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Kevin, welcome to recovery and take it easy for awhile. It is a slower process than I thought after having surgery a week ago myself. Time will heal everything and have a great summer. Rich
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04-17-2010, 05:53 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Windsor
Posts: 462
M.O.C. #8057
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Glad to hear you are on the mend. Our close friend has been going through this same thing for the past several months. He is doing fine and back in the swing of things. I know things will be good for you as well. Welcome to retirement!!! Enjoy the world of seven day weekends!!! Ken and Marilyn Brenk
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04-17-2010, 10:28 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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I'm sure glad to hear you came through this ok and that likely medication treatment will keep you functioning properly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
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04-17-2010, 02:19 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 2,351
M.O.C. #6831
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Kevin, welcome home. Rest easy for a while. Glad to hear you are on the mend.
George
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04-17-2010, 04:19 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leona
Posts: 6,382
M.O.C. #2059
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Hey Kevin,
You have my empathy. I have had 4 episodes since 2005. One required hospitalization to get me back to a normal heart rate. I take Sotalol daily. It is a beta blocker with the side effect of controlling heart rate. I also am on daily aspirin to help prevent clots.
I discovered something interesting when I thought about the circumstances surrounding my episodes. In every case, it occurred during heavy consumption of caffeine, either coffee or cola. I have not had an additional episode since I cut to one cup a day or 1 cola a day.
I am sure it is not true of every case, but for me, it was a contributing factor. When we discussed it, my doctor confirmed the high probability that my analysis was correct.
So glad you are getting a handle on the problem. Hope things turn out for you as well as they seem to have for me.
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04-17-2010, 04:53 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,369
M.O.C. #8728
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Glad to hear that you're on the mend.
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04-18-2010, 01:58 AM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Warwick
Posts: 172
M.O.C. #10211
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Kevin, I know what you are going through. I also have Atrial Fibrillation. I was diagnosed about ten years ago. It is now well controlled by meds. At first I was put on Coumadin (blood thinner), but I was taken off after about 6 months. The medicine controlling the atrial fibrillation (Cardizem) has worked well. I take a daily low dose aspirin also.
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04-18-2010, 03:41 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location:
Posts: 2,156
M.O.C. #6920
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Kevin, best wishes and hope for a good retirement. Glad you were able to pinpoint your health issue.
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04-18-2010, 11:51 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bangor
Posts: 770
M.O.C. #8816
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I would like to say, THANK YOU ALL. The support and well wishes are a big help in recovery. My nurse, (DW), is keeping a real close eye on me. I got yelled at a couple times today.
Thanks again, Kevin
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04-18-2010, 12:48 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vermontville
Posts: 1,129
M.O.C. #9045
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Welcome home Kevin and take it easy and get ready for a great summer.
Dave & Linda
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04-20-2010, 03:45 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Grove City
Posts: 1,357
M.O.C. #5192
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Good news!
From what I can tell from your posts, you have a great, positive attitude. That (and doing what Kathy tells you to do ) will get you through.
We look forward to meeting you on the road someday.
Larry
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04-21-2010, 03:15 AM
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#18
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Syracuse
Posts: 80
M.O.C. #7109
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Kevin,
I know exactlty what you are going through. # years ago I went through the same procedure and due to complications with my Lupus, I was on the table for 10 hours. Over all, the Ablation has been a success as I'm sure you are aware that the procedure doesn't always "cure" the A-Fibs.....Recently, (2 months ago) I had 3 stents put in and still have 2 blockages that will most likely require bypass surgery. All of this is due to the Lupus. It has made me be very aware about eating healthy and doing what ever I can to help myself.
Stay healthy Kevin,
Tim
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04-21-2010, 03:18 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Concord
Posts: 575
M.O.C. #3543
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It sounds like your on the road to getting your heart under control. My wife has A-Fib and has had it under control for quite awhile now with meds. The hard part may be following the doctors orders..:-)
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04-22-2010, 05:29 PM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Milford
Posts: 434
M.O.C. #8202
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Kev,
Prayers on their way. Take care of yourself. This is a good time to plan your next trip!
John
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