Caridoversion : mission accomplished!

sunny · Post by **sunny** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:25 pm

Yesterday, everything was in place for the cardioversion, but the Cardiologist was hesitating as I was going in and out of Atrial flutter. ( Interestingly, I had read that the ER treatment of Atrial Flutter or Fibrillation is an IV infusion of magnesium. So I stepped up the Calm to 3 X daily and took more Calms Forte"and began to find some relief. On Christmas, I only drank the calm once in the morning and forgot the Calms Forte" and by evening the rhythm was crazy and fast again. So I got up at midnight and took another dose of Calm, plus a dose of Calms Forte". 30 minutes later, I was asleep with no pounding heart rate.)

He wondered if he should refer me to a Electro Physiologist for an ablation and included me in the decision whether to do the cardiovert or not. The EP in his group that he wanted to refer me to was the one who "forgot" I had a leaking mitral valve and just kept insisting on an ablation. When I asked for a referral to a surgeon, he told me that "they just want to do surgery!" I was able to get a second opinion and that cardiologist said we could ablate till we are both blue in the face and the Atrial Fibrillation will never stop till the valve is repaired. He said I was an "at risk " patient due to my advanced heart failure and sent me to OHSU, a teaching hospital in Portland. It took a week before my heart could beat on it's own... my ejection fraction was 10. All that to say, I don't trust this guy at all to turn my life over to him for a long invasive procedure. And I told him that.... he encouraged me to "let go of the past and just focus on going forward...." as if I were a cranky old lady with no basis to my fear.
So you're thinking, "Just find another EP!" Well....the previous one forgot to tell me about the IV antibiotic and ask if I was sensitive to antibiotics, forgot to connect me with Medtronics so I could send in alerts if my heart rhythm was too fast. They blamed me for "complaining " about getting Cdiff and circled the wagons around me... not returning calls, or delivering my messages to the doctor. Yesterday I learned he didn't set the button in my pacemaker that would allow my home monitor to send alerts to the new cardiology office (Or the old office ) if rhythm became irregular. ( I called the company to see why my monitor didn't pick up the A Flutter)....So I don't feel safe with him either.
If my heart stays in rhythm, I won't need to worry about it. I'm nervous about an ablation as it can mean a long time under anesthesia and after my open heart surgery, I lost much of my cognitive function, forgot how to knit ,for example, and I have been a knitter for over 50 years and had short term memory loss.

So my plan is to continue increasing my magnesium dosing till I get to 2 teaspoons a day.... I take 1/2 tsp. 3 times daily now... and hope this will help.thanks for listening... trying not to get upset about all this and remain....CALM!
Sunny

Post by **tex** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 3:27 pm

Wow! It sounds as though it's a miracle if any of their patients survive. Talk about malpractice issues.

One of the problems with magnesium is that it's a laxative. Is your MC cooperating? Of course that's a minor problem compared with heart issues. It's bad enough that we have to develop our own treatment program for MC, now you've had to add a heart problem to the self-treatment list. It sounds as though you're much better off, though. I hope you continue to improve.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 3:37 pm

Healing Hugs for your heart to stay in rhythm and your digestion continues to stay calm and support you

and thumbs up for having common sense in your approach to medical decisions...

DJ · Post by DJ » Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:38 pm

Hi Sunny,

Complex cardiac care is a pretty "fancy dance" and atrial fib/flutter can be tenacious. I hope you find the right people who will take the most prudent actions. It's good that you are doing your best to communicate with the doctors and keep an eye on things yourself. You are moving in the right direction.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 6:21 pm

Sunny, you have a lot of hard decisions to make. I hope you are able to find someone you can trust. It's an awful feeling when they turn the tables on you and make it your fault. Been there. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:16 pm

My goodness, Sunny, I can't believe what you have been through. I cannot believe how inept your doctors have been and how they blame it on you. This is infinitely frustrating and I'm mad as heck reading about it.

I pray this magnesium therapy will work and not aggravate your MC.

Have you been able to re-learn how to knit? I am a knitter and find its such a soothing activity when I'm at the doctors office or waiting around anywhere.

Best wishes,
Nancy

sunny · Post by **sunny** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:17 pm

Tex...I've been slowly increasing my dose of Calm for past 3 weeks...I learned that on a post you started about magnesium... So no reaction from M c at all.

Thanx Gabes, DJ, and Deb... It's nice to feel so supported by all of you!
I've decided to check out one other Cardiology group's EP and also some in Portland....just in case I am delusional and the Calm is just a placebo... And in the event I do need an ablationso, will enjoy the Calm I feel from the Calm....
Sunny

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:56 pm

Oh LAWD Sunny. I just saw this. It is awful when the people in whose hands you place your life are such incompetents!

I am glad you are so aware of what you need to do. And glad your MC is staying controlled through this.
I hope you feel better soon!!!