Hubby in Hospital

[Dobie]

Marilyn,

Do you mind me asking what type of symptoms he feels? Does it just feel like his heart is racing or does he also feel some other symptoms?

[gja1000]

I'm sure Marilyn will reply to you also and symptoms can vary from person to person - but in general, people may have these symptoms: racing heart, lightheaded, dizzy, falling (from dizziness), fatigue to extreme tiredness, and like "something is wrong" - or a feeling of dread.

It also makes some people cough - seems silly, I know, but coughing evokes the valsalva maneuver which is the body's own way of correcting the problem. Of course, it doesn't work sometimes, but when this fast heart rate first starts, it makes some people cough which then may change the fast rhythm to a slower one.

[Forgivenmom5]

sorry you and your husband are going through this. Hopefully the procedure will help him to feel better and able to enjoy life more.

[Marilyn]

Gayle, they can't get his rate to stay below 120 to 130, so they are going to shock him on Monday. The first cardiologist, who is now on vacation, told us that they need him in a-fib in Houston to do the mapping. Now the cardiologists are saying that they need to get him out of a-fib, and it won't affect the mapping. Houston can still do it. Hubby very much wants a cure so he doen't have to live with the possiblility of this happening again at any time. Just think if this had happened in June right before Melissa's wedding. Do you know if bringing him out of a-fib will affect the accuracy of the mapping?

He's taking the max of the drugs and they can't give him any more. His blood pressure is dropping too low.

I'm always afraid when they shock him. A friend of our almost died. Her heart stopped and they almost didn't get it restarted. Hubby did fine when they shocked him last year. I'll be a basket case while they are doing it though. He's just got too much living left to do!! He has to be here for his grandkids. He just can't miss that!!!! And I need him, not good alone and girls are gone.

[Dobie]

You and your husband will be in my thoughts tomorrow, I pray that all goes well.

[Marilyn]

Thank you all for your very kind thoughts and prayers. I ran home for lunch after church and am taking our furkid, Zoe, back up to visit her daddy. I'm sure everything will be fine. Just something we have to get through.

I learned today that one of my dear friends is going through the same thing. She went to the emergency room last week with her rate at 230. They couldn't get it down and shocked her. She is going to Austin for, we think, the same procedure that hubby is to have. She's in her late 60's but you would never know it by looking at her. She looks maybe 48 to 50. Slim and very active. Guess it can happen to anyone.

[Janet]

I'll be keeping you and your husband in my thoughs and prayers tomorrow Marilyn. Please keep us updated as you have.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Gayle, they can't get his rate to stay below 120 to 130, so they are going to shock him on Monday. Do you know if bringing him out of a-fib will affect the accuracy of the mapping?

Marilyn,
There are a couple of ways of treating this - one way is to map the bad cells and then ablate them - but in persistent a-fib (like your husband has), they may ablate in areas that are known to cause a-fib to try to stop it. Almost all persistent atrial fibrillation signals come from the four pulmonary veins (which are in the heart) so they just ablate these area. In this case, you don't need to map first.

I don't know which they will use with your husband, but I would guess they will ablate in the areas known to cause a-fib since his a fib is persistent. The procedure may take several hours - so don't be concerned if it does.

Yes, I hate it when they deliberately put my husband's heart into a fatal arrythmia to see if his defibrillator will fire - but I've finally resolved myself to be happy that they check it periodically to be sure it is working properly - but it still makes me very nervous.

[teri88]

Hi Marilyn, I haven't been on for a few days and just saw this thread. Praying that all goes well today.

[DianaB]

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers today.