Miriam's Posts

My situation is different but I was told by my surgeon that I might have to see an electrophysiologist or whatever they are called. Basically, they will go to your heart through a blood vessel and scare your heart to adjust the electrical path. It's about a 1.5h procedure and no open chest so a lot easier than OHS. The risk with afib is blood clots. Your heart has an "appendix" where blood clots can form. If you had that removed during your surgery then the risk is a lot less. I am not familiar with the medicine you are taking but in my case I am off blood thinner for now because I have a lesser risk of blood clots. Maybe less than "regular" people 😊❤️But Afib can still be a concern so make sure you follow up with your doctor.

Hi Miriam, I think you saw my post to Alex re: Amiodarone/Cardioversion - the only thing I would add to that is that I believe I did get a side effect, not dangerous but I woke up one morning with very blurry vision in one eye only. Eye Doctor said how strange, I had a cataract but the lens was clear, not cloudy, but thick. It happened overnight! My PCP and cardiologist didn't think it was an effect of Amiodarone but I researched it and easily found another case of sudden onset cataract in one eye in a female patient my same age in Australia, SO, I believe it was amiodarone related. Not tragic and I had no other effect. I will have the cataract removed in April.

Thanks, Robert. I had a stroke about two weeks after my surgery from the Afib and so I'm on Eliquis, which has, so far, worked well at preventing further clots. The electrophysiologist discussed the Watchman procedure with me, which involves putting a device into the atrial appendage that blocks any clots from getting into the circulation and up to the brain. He also suggested, as a more conservative approach, the amiodarone and cardioversion to shock my heart back into normal rhythm and I decided to start with that. You're so right about Afib being a problem and I appreciate your response.

Many thanks, Louise, and you are so correct about the sudden onset of cataracts as being a side effect. I've read that several places. I'll be extra vigilant about watching for that since you experienced it. I'm glad you didn't experience anything else. I've read horror stories about terrible nausea and development of hypothyroidism and other unpleasant side effects and I'm hoping those don't happen to me.

Dear Miriam, I have no experience in taking amiodarone, but I know it has some quite usual and significant side effects after longer taking, but I presume you won't be taking it long, especially if cardioversion is planned and it succeeds ... Anyway, they will monitor your thyroid etc during amiodarone taking to catch potential side effects and react on time, so don't worry. I believe it has more benefits for you at this moment. Silver lining: you don't feel your Afib that much. I had such unbearable symptoms of AFib when I had it, I don't think I could live a day with it.... Kudos to you! Hang in there and keep us posted. ❤️

Thanks, Klara! You're right, I'm hoping I won't be on it long. I was told it would be for about a month after the cardioversion. If neither works, I'll have the ablation procedure Robert mentioned. I'm so sorry you had such severe symptoms with Afib and you with young children! I hope you're doing okay with everything now, regarding the Afib.

Hi Miriam. I had Afib and Aflutter off and on after surgery for about six weeks. I was very symptomatic and ended up being hospitalized each time I went into it. I was on Amiodarone this whole time and on the final readmission, I refused it. They then put me on Multaq which interacts with lots of other meds. My eyesight was affected. I'm nearsighted and it got much worse. I have cataracts now but no mention that Amiodarone caused it.

I haven't read much about the "shock procedure" but from the very limited information I have the results are questionable (not long lasting). Again, I didn't research this so don't take my word for it. I could be completely off on this one. Seriously! I never heard of the watchman implant but googled it. It seems it basically prevents blood from accumulating in the heart's appendage. In my case, they cut off the appendage during the first surgery which I was told is a standard procedure. But in any case, the watchman procedure seems to be a way to do the same thing without open heart surgery. If I were in your situation I probably would move forward with the watchman implant. Blood clots that travel to your brain are scary. In my case, having the appendage removed (or doing the watchman implant) also helps me being off on blood thinner. You might want to talk to your surgeon about possible side effects of the watchman implant. It sounds like they insert that through a blood vessel. I imagine there is a chance of damaging the vessel, release some calcification, etc The risk is probably low but check with your surgeon. There is also the question of what is causing your afib. Would scarring your heart to reroute the electrical signal help? Maybe that would be a better solution. I don't know but I just mention it for things to ask you surgeon.

Thank you, Robert, those are very good thoughts. I didn't have Afib before surgery so they didn't remove the appendage while they were in there. As you know, Afib is common after valve surgery and often goes away on it's own with Metoprolol and they did try external pacing while I was in the ICU but none of this has worked. You're correct that the cardioversion is not long lasting, which is why they use the amiodarone to start and then cardioversion and more amiodarone to keep the rhythm stable. This is what Louise Moore had done and she has been stable since her procedure. The electrophysiologist wanted to do the cardioversion alone but my cardiologist thought I should get a second opinion and the second electrophysiologist was in your camp and thought the watchman is the way to go. He is okay with the more conservative approach but I do think the watchman is in my future. I really appreciate your input and value everyone's opinion that they've given. I had such a horrendous surgery and the stroke afterwards with a surgery to remove the clot from my brain, I'm a bit procedure shy right now.

Hi Louise, Thank you for your input. I'm hoping for the same outcome you had. I'm trying to be optimistic but I don't want to stay on the Amiodarone long term. As I mentioned to Robert, I'm trying to avoid a procedure that's complicated, such as the Watchman. I'm not sure it's even feasible with all of the calcification in my chest from the radiation and the damage to some of the large blood vessels from the port that was used for the chemotherapy. I'm really hoping for the best with the cardioversion and the Amiodarone.

Miriam, oh gosh, have you been "tested". Seems like the "drama" and unexpected turns are over and you can gain some strength, sleep and have your mind and heart more at ease. Enjoy cardiac rehab, when it does happen. I had my surgery in NYC at Sinai, but my cardiac rehab at Fairfax Inova and it was excellent. Godspeed.

What surgeon did you have at Cleveland? I was/am considering it for Dr. Gillinov. He does robotic surgery but someone else told me that because I had open heart surgery before robotic/minimal invasive surgery is not an option. I am glad things did go great! I wish you a great recovery! Go for walks. Wear the "heart hugger". Take it easy for a couple of months (not doing hard work but go out of the house).

Miriam, I am so very happy to see how well you are doing, and have gone through so much but come out strong! My last echo stress tect for my moderate to severe Tricuspid regurgitation showed it is staying the same, so stil in wait mode for now. It gives me hope for the future and bings my spirits up to see you are doing well and had Trisuspid as I do. Thank you so much for the update and for all the heart warriors on this site that keep me grounded and out of "freak out" mode :)