From Steve’s Email Box: 3 A-Fib Patients in Need

Just like our ‘Personal A-Fib Stories of Hope‘, we can learn from each other, so I’m sharing a few of the emails I’ve received and my answers. One of the hardest emails to deal with often comes from outside the U.S.

Young A-Fib Patient: No EP Lab in Her Country

Had to give up college: One young person has such horrible A-Fib symptoms that she had to give up college. Upon investigation, I learned there’s no EP Lab in her country to treat her. My heart goes out to her, not only because she is so young to have A-Fib, but also because she’ll need to travel from her country for treatment, which her family can’t afford. (She’s too young to be on anti arrhythmic drugs for the rest of her life.)

How to help her? I’ve asked several EPs I know for ideas. Perhaps an EP will donate his services and a drug company or device manufacturer (with larger budgets) may offer a charitable donation to finance her travel and hospital stay. I hope someday that A-Fib.com can dedicate funds to help people like her. I’ll let you know what develops.

A-Fib Patients with Post-Ablation Challenges

I’ve received two emails I haven’t been able yet to address adequately.

HE STILL CAN’T EXERCISE
The first was from someone who had a successful catheter ablation a year ago, but still can’t exercise like he used to and suffers from lack of energy.

Steve, 76, masters meet

Post ablation: Usually after a successful catheter ablation, one feels better and has more energy or at least returns to the energy levels they had pre-A-Fib. I told him he should be feeling better, not worse. I shared my experience with being cured 18 years ago and participating in a Masters Track meet two days ago at age 76.

Get your O.R. report: I emailed back and asked him to get a copy of his O.R. (Operating Report) and send me a copy to review. It’s a very technical document not usually given to patients unless they ask for it (see How to Read Your Operating Room Report). When I get it, I’ll study it and email him my summary. It might explain why he is suffering from a lack of energy. I advised him, his doctor and EP may want tests to figure out what’s wrong.

SHE’S BEEN A-FIB FREE SINCE THE 90S
The second email was from someone who has been A-Fib free after surgery in the 90s. (She was probably one of the first!) Lately she has been experiencing bloating and intense pain in her legs. It’s possible that her A-Fib has returned, though her symptoms could come from other causes.

I emailed back asking where she lives so I can use our Directory of Doctors to find a good EP to refer her to.

I wrote her how monitoring devices have greatly improved over the years, like the Band-aid looking Zio Patch. She’d wear it for 1-2 weeks then her EP can analyze for any arrhythmia. But that may not be enough. Her doctor and EP may want to do more testing for a condition like congestive heart failure, or how to improve her circulation and relieve the swelling.

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