Originally Posted by skydive69
I guess one thing I am not clear about is that you (I believe) indicate that the medication controls your heart rate, hence while controlled, is it still considered being in AFib? What is it controlled to?
I ask all of these questions hoping that my solo episode will remain a solo episode, but then again I am well aware of the non existence of Santa Claus.
Keep us in the loop as you progress through the system. BTW, I also assume from your post that electrical cardioversion is the first step in a try for a permanent cure. I wonder what percentage beat it at that stage?
Sorry, I see the confusion now.
It is the atrial (top and smaller) chambers that are in continuous fibrillation, even as I type.
The ventricles (lower and harder working chambers) take their cue from the atrial contractions. So, if my atrium is fibrillating at 300-400 times per minute, the ventricles attempt to do the same thing, but not all of the verntricular signals get through. So,
1. My artria are always in fibrillation.
2. My ventricles were ticking along about 158-160 BPM (resting - and that is a dangerous continuous rate) before the meds (digoxin and beta blockers), and the meds keep it as slow as I and the doc want, depending on the dosage. I no longer take digoxin, as my HR was too slow. Right now I keep the ventricles at about 65-72 BPM with the beta blocker. The rate increases some as I exercise.
3. The reduction in heart output comes from the fact that the atria are not pumping blood into the ventricles, giving less volume.
4. The fact that the atria are not pumping, but are instead in fibrillation, leads to the possibility (5% chance) that the blood will pool in the atria and coagulate and then be sent to the brain, causing a stroke. That is why I take a blood thinner to stop any coagulation.
Sorry I did not explain it more clearly earlier. There are a lot of good web site. Check out the Heart section of ClevelandClinic.org and they have a whole manual on AFib which can be downloaded.
And, I will keep posting, despite the naysayers!