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WELCOME
WELCOME TO THE HEART RHYTHM FORUM!
Were you recently diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder? Would you like more information on the heart’s electrical system? Are you feeling overwhelmed, frightened and/or confused? Are you scheduled for EP tests, procedures, and or surgery? Is your arrhythmia medication giving you trouble? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are in the right place!
The Heart Rhythm forum is comprised of a group of people who share an interest in learning more about arrhythmias. The forum covers an array of topics including: Afib, Aflutter, PVCs, PACs, SVT, WPW, palpitations, pacemakers, ICDs, procedures, tests, medications, post procedural/surgical expectations, and much more. If it is related to your heart’s rhythm, chances are we can help.
Some of us have been living with arrhythmias for years while others are new to the world of electrophysiology. Regardless of why YOU are here, welcome! Here are a few suggestions for making the most of the forum.
1) Check out the "Health Pages." The link can be found in the upper right hand corner of your screen. The “Health Pages” address topics relevant to cardiology. Among the pages is a great resource for common cardiology acronyms.
2) Please join the community. Once you have had a chance to look around, why not create a profile and tell us a little about yourself? Your profile can be as simple or as complex as you like. In any event, you will meet people from around the globe! You will have the opportunity to learn and share experiences with members who share your concerns.
3) Consider posting to a current discussion, or try staring one of your own. Don’t worry - you’ll get the hang of it very quickly. You’ll find that you will want to come back often to check up on your new friends. If you’ve got something on your mind, please don’t be shy. There are no dumb questions and we are all here to learn.**
4) Get acquainted with other members. There are several ways to “Add a friend” but one of the easiest is to scroll over the member’s name and click on “Add a friend”.
5) Consider keeping a journal. Your journal can be private, public, or available only to those people you have added as a friend. Journals are a great way to share your story, frustrations, experiences, history, etc. You will probably find there are others who can relate to your story.
6) Want to speak privately to another member? Send a private message (PM) by scrolling over the member’s name and clicking on “Send Message”.
7) Only have a minute and want to welcome a member, or send good luck wishes? Scroll over the member’s name and click on “send a note.” Unlike PMs, everyone can view “Notes”.
8) Once you’ve created a profile, click on “My MedHelp” (indicated by a little red heart at the top of your screen) and check out the many great features and setting options.
9) Lastly, we would like to point you to the TRACKERS!! There are a number of trackers available to our members, but we would especially like to point out the ‘Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Heart Rhythm trackers. You can add them to your profile by clicking on "My MedHelp" (top) and then go to the Tracker Widget -- At the bottom of the Tracker Panel click on "Add Tracker" which will take you to the tracker page, where you can select the BP, Cholesterol and/or Heart Rhythm tracker. You can begin using your trackers today! Keeping track of your cholesterol and blood pressure are great ways to do your part to manage your heart health!! The rhythm tracker is an excellent tool for you to document symptoms, frequency, treatments and procedures relevant to your heart rhythm!
**Please read the Terms of Use at the bottom of your screen. There are a few general posting guidelines that are for the benefit of all community members.
Please do not hijack another member’s thread. If your comments are relevant with the current discussion, post away. If you have a new topic of interest, please begin a new post.
We are so glad you found us! Please don't forget to join our community! We would love to have you! Pull up a chair, get comfortable and get ready to meet a great bunch of people!
If you are already a member, won't you please take a minute to welcome our new members as well as those who are lurking. Would you mind sharing your story to let others know how the forums have helped you.
Your Community Leaders
Were you recently diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder? Would you like more information on the heart’s electrical system? Are you feeling overwhelmed, frightened and/or confused? Are you scheduled for EP tests, procedures, and or surgery? Is your arrhythmia medication giving you trouble? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are in the right place!
The Heart Rhythm forum is comprised of a group of people who share an interest in learning more about arrhythmias. The forum covers an array of topics including: Afib, Aflutter, PVCs, PACs, SVT, WPW, palpitations, pacemakers, ICDs, procedures, tests, medications, post procedural/surgical expectations, and much more. If it is related to your heart’s rhythm, chances are we can help.
Some of us have been living with arrhythmias for years while others are new to the world of electrophysiology. Regardless of why YOU are here, welcome! Here are a few suggestions for making the most of the forum.
1) Check out the "Health Pages." The link can be found in the upper right hand corner of your screen. The “Health Pages” address topics relevant to cardiology. Among the pages is a great resource for common cardiology acronyms.
2) Please join the community. Once you have had a chance to look around, why not create a profile and tell us a little about yourself? Your profile can be as simple or as complex as you like. In any event, you will meet people from around the globe! You will have the opportunity to learn and share experiences with members who share your concerns.
3) Consider posting to a current discussion, or try staring one of your own. Don’t worry - you’ll get the hang of it very quickly. You’ll find that you will want to come back often to check up on your new friends. If you’ve got something on your mind, please don’t be shy. There are no dumb questions and we are all here to learn.**
4) Get acquainted with other members. There are several ways to “Add a friend” but one of the easiest is to scroll over the member’s name and click on “Add a friend”.
5) Consider keeping a journal. Your journal can be private, public, or available only to those people you have added as a friend. Journals are a great way to share your story, frustrations, experiences, history, etc. You will probably find there are others who can relate to your story.
6) Want to speak privately to another member? Send a private message (PM) by scrolling over the member’s name and clicking on “Send Message”.
7) Only have a minute and want to welcome a member, or send good luck wishes? Scroll over the member’s name and click on “send a note.” Unlike PMs, everyone can view “Notes”.
8) Once you’ve created a profile, click on “My MedHelp” (indicated by a little red heart at the top of your screen) and check out the many great features and setting options.
9) Lastly, we would like to point you to the TRACKERS!! There are a number of trackers available to our members, but we would especially like to point out the ‘Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Heart Rhythm trackers. You can add them to your profile by clicking on "My MedHelp" (top) and then go to the Tracker Widget -- At the bottom of the Tracker Panel click on "Add Tracker" which will take you to the tracker page, where you can select the BP, Cholesterol and/or Heart Rhythm tracker. You can begin using your trackers today! Keeping track of your cholesterol and blood pressure are great ways to do your part to manage your heart health!! The rhythm tracker is an excellent tool for you to document symptoms, frequency, treatments and procedures relevant to your heart rhythm!
**Please read the Terms of Use at the bottom of your screen. There are a few general posting guidelines that are for the benefit of all community members.
Please do not hijack another member’s thread. If your comments are relevant with the current discussion, post away. If you have a new topic of interest, please begin a new post.
We are so glad you found us! Please don't forget to join our community! We would love to have you! Pull up a chair, get comfortable and get ready to meet a great bunch of people!
If you are already a member, won't you please take a minute to welcome our new members as well as those who are lurking. Would you mind sharing your story to let others know how the forums have helped you.
Your Community Leaders
Oh, meant to say I am scheduling to have the hernia repaired. I am also six pounds lost in my quest to stabilize at a normal weight (I am 181 now, and 5 foot 6, ought to be about 140). I have a feeling that with less belly fat to push the hernia up into my heart, and with the hernia hole sealed off, the heart might settle down. If not, I am all for the ablation. I have thousands of these suckers a day, and can't see spending the rest of my life like this. It is a battle, and I intend to win.
Can you get your dr. to prescribe some ativan to have on hand if the pvc's really get you down. I had 32,000 on a 24 hr monitor - and they will drive you crazy - i'm on toprol but doesn't seem to help - taking an ativan and lying down helps more than anything when I am feeling them alot. I am going for an ablation - scheduled feb 9 at cleveland clinic.
Say a prayer for me. I will keep everyone informed on my progress.
Say a prayer for me. I will keep everyone informed on my progress.
Bubee said a prayer and will keep praying for you till we hear back from you God has you in his hands you will be ok.
Anyway, to continue our discussion, after coming off flecanide (since it was not necessary to take anymore because of my fix, I discovered that my 16,000 pvc had increased to 32,000. Dr. Saliba at CCF agreed to try and go after them, although he warned me that they appeared to be coming from an epicard focus and since I had an VSD repair in 1984 (open heart) I had adhesions that they were not sure they could get around - well, it was a miracle, Dr. Saliba went in a vein on the outside of my heart, then went in my heart and outside again into another vein that was right where he needed to be. It was a miracle. The GOD put that vein right where I would need it 65 years later for Dr. Saliba's talented hands to fix it. Veins I understand are very personal and unique, and could be anywhere, not like arteries that need to be in a certain spot. I am in NSR - I have not had a 24 hr monitor on again - will do that in a couple weeks, but I could feel almost every one of those 32,000 I was having, and I am doing great now, just like to listen to the NSR - it is like music. CCF is the best and so is Dr. Saliba. If you have any questions for me I would be more than happy to answer. These forums were such a GOD send to me when I was struggling on what to do. Blessing, Emilyrae (Bubee)
Hi everyone.
I've been feeling exceptionally bad lately and have come online for answers, since noone has been able to really help me. I've gotten to the point where any time I have a palpitation I have to hold back the tears.
The first time it happened I was in second grade. I was playing hand ball at school when my heart started racing and my vision seemed black and spotty. It stopped after about 20 seconds and I returned to class. I never told anyone and this continued for the next 11 years of my life along with palpitations. I got to a point where I wouldn't even get in a car or an elevator because I was so worried that my heart would start racing and noone would be able to help me if I passed out.
By 20, I began talking about what was happening to me. I was seeing a therapist and a cardiologist. The cardiologist thought it was anxiety and gave metoprolol to help with the palpitations. I decided to go to another cardiologist who ran some tests and confirmed that I was not crazy and that I was experiancing an arrhythmia. Unfortunately, after wearing an event monitor for 60 days, we were never able to catch an "episode" where my heart would race ( which only happens maybe 10 times a year). He was only able to see the palpitations. From the palpitations he told me it wasn't WPW. He told me it was not life threatening and that with medication I would be fine. I'm not convinced.
I still feel like something just isn't right even with the medication. I just get so sad and frustrated that I have these symptoms but there isn't anything I can do about them.
I'm thinking about seeing a new cardiologist but I don't even know if its worth it. Was I missed diagnosed or am I over exaggeratting?
By joining this group I hope to gain insight on the different tests, procedures and diagnosis'. I also want to hear what others are feeling and going through....I want to know I'm not the only one who feels so helpless.
Anyways, Thanks for reading my story and I really look forward to hearing what everyone has to say.
Thanks!!
Savannah
I've been feeling exceptionally bad lately and have come online for answers, since noone has been able to really help me. I've gotten to the point where any time I have a palpitation I have to hold back the tears.
The first time it happened I was in second grade. I was playing hand ball at school when my heart started racing and my vision seemed black and spotty. It stopped after about 20 seconds and I returned to class. I never told anyone and this continued for the next 11 years of my life along with palpitations. I got to a point where I wouldn't even get in a car or an elevator because I was so worried that my heart would start racing and noone would be able to help me if I passed out.
By 20, I began talking about what was happening to me. I was seeing a therapist and a cardiologist. The cardiologist thought it was anxiety and gave metoprolol to help with the palpitations. I decided to go to another cardiologist who ran some tests and confirmed that I was not crazy and that I was experiancing an arrhythmia. Unfortunately, after wearing an event monitor for 60 days, we were never able to catch an "episode" where my heart would race ( which only happens maybe 10 times a year). He was only able to see the palpitations. From the palpitations he told me it wasn't WPW. He told me it was not life threatening and that with medication I would be fine. I'm not convinced.
I still feel like something just isn't right even with the medication. I just get so sad and frustrated that I have these symptoms but there isn't anything I can do about them.
I'm thinking about seeing a new cardiologist but I don't even know if its worth it. Was I missed diagnosed or am I over exaggeratting?
By joining this group I hope to gain insight on the different tests, procedures and diagnosis'. I also want to hear what others are feeling and going through....I want to know I'm not the only one who feels so helpless.
Anyways, Thanks for reading my story and I really look forward to hearing what everyone has to say.
Thanks!!
Savannah
Hope everything works out on your medications. I am still on atenolol and see my cardiologist in August 2009. Take for fast heart rate. Working out seems to help with lowering my heart rate and BP. I just tweaked my left hamstring and hope it heals fast, as I have to work out or my HR and BP increase. Currently, I don't have palpitations, PVC's or other heart issues, but I do have to deal with atenolol. Can be difficult. Best wishes.
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