I don't know if this is the right place to put this.................

DH is being hospitalized Monday for cardiac tests and possible procedures. He is in A-Fib with rapid ventricular response. Potentially very serious, but that's one of the reasons for the tests.

He had this before, back in 2000. At that time there was nothing wrong with my mom, other than her long-standing emphysema. Her mind was whole. I would talk to her daily and update her on DH's condition and because she was a retired RN she understood everything and the ramifications. She played a major role in my sanity back then.

She's not here this time. I need her so much right now. Who am I going to turn to for a daily dose of common sense and sanity? How am I going to get through this without her?

Oh sweetie, I am so sorry. I will keep you DH in my prayers. I know it's not the same, but we are here for you.

Karenlee,
We're here for you. Please keep us informed and ask us and tell us anything you need too. When my husband had his heart attack last week, I felt the same way. Mom was here, but she really didn't understand how much I was hurting. You and everyone on the forum made me always feel so not alone. I don't think I could have handled it as well without all your prayers and support. We're not your Mom, but we will support and help you in anyway we can. I know you miss your Mom, but she's still there for you in your heart Karenlee to help you get through this. Talk to her, she'll be there for you. And we'll help her by being there too.

Keep us informed how your husband is doing after all the tests.

Love,
Jackie

Dear Karenlee,
I wish we could just come over and bring warm food and
real hugs and broad shoulders, but we have to settle for
our own version of cyber-comfort. Please don't hesitate
to vent, cry, and share your updates. You and your DH
will be in my prayers.
Carol

You will make it through Karenlee. We're all praying for you and DH.

I know exactly what you mean about needing your mom. I miss my mother sooo much and even more so when things aren't going right. She was always the one I could go to when I felt down or when I felt up and had no one to share with.

It's something about mothers that's above and beyond all the rest, they are always there with answers and if they don't have the answer, they are there to put their arms around you for comfort.
When they aren't there, there is no one who can take their place.

We will all be here to offer support and answers, but we can never replace your mother. I wish we could get them back, because I could sure use my mother's love and answers now , also.

We all love you, Karen and are doing all we can with prayers.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. It honestly does help.

I re-read what I wrote last night and even to myself I sounded a little whiny. That wasn't my intent.
It's like Joyce said, I find myself really missing her steadying comfort because things aren't going so smoothly right now. She was always so calm, and understood better than anyone my overly pessimistic nature and could always help me see things more objectively. I really miss that.

And dear Jackie, I was just thinking this morning how much harder and so much more painful it would be if mom WERE here but couldn't understand or remember why I am upset. In many ways I am thankful that this semi-crisis came to a head after her passing because now my loyalties need not be divided and I can give DH my full attention -- being sole caregiver to my mom it would not have been possible before. And I am free to come and go to the hospital as needed. Some silver lining, huh, but I guess we take what we can get.

Of course, what I really want is mom back whole and healthy. I can't have that but I can still speak to her, and I do feel confident that she will hear me and listen.

I just hope I don't hear her talking back! Feeling her love and comfort would be great, but I really don't want to start hearng voices -- they'd have to get a rubber room ready for me if that happened.

Dearest Karenlee,

I echo all that everyone has said. This disease has pulled us in every direction possible, and then some. I know your feeling about wanting your Mom. One thing you can be sure of is that in her spirit she will be right there with you. Just stay open to your special angel you will have looking over your shoulder that day. (And don't be too quick to put together "hearing voices" and "rubber rooms." Our Moms are with us, Karenlee, and I can attest they can speak to us in the strangest of ways.)

And you are not whining. We're here for you. Lean as often and as much as needed and wanted.

My love, thoughts and prayers to you and your DH,

Joyce

Karenlee, how is your DH doing? My grandfather has suffered from A-fib with RVR in the past. I've done 6 months of research on this condition and treatment outcomes with physicians in the University of South Florida medical school, so I am interested to know about his status. Please keep us posted on how he's doing.

Aitan,

Thank you for asking. I've posted updates on the QM & FT thread for January, but I'll summarize for you here:

He was Dx "Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy", cause unknown, in Jan. 2000. After several months of amiodarone he had a cardioversion and reverted to a normal sinus rhythm. He also lost about 70 lbs. and looked and felt great.

Between then and now he had sporadic follow-up with cardiologist (due to retiring and insurance problems.) He also has amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism. This is treated with medication (propylthiouracil) and regular bloodwork and visits to an endocrinologist.

This past summer his ankles and feet became quite swollen and on a regular visit to his PCP he was referred back to the cardio and we discovered he was back in A-Fib. Doc told him to lose weight (and stop smoking), scheduled regular visits, did an echocardiogram, Rx zaroxolyn (diuretic), Rx warfarin, and after 2 months dc'd the amiodarone. He wanted him to see an electrocardiology specialist at a major hospital in Detroit.

In the meantime, my mom died from the effects of emphysema and AD (she lived with us), then there were the holidays, and finally the new year.

He was able to get an appointment 1/31. Another EKG showed A-Fib with RVR. The doc suggested putting him in the hospital to do another echo, a trans-esophageal echo, a possible MUGA, possible cardioversion -- and at the same time start him back on a weight-loss diet and the initial nicotine withdrawal.

He started taking amiodarone at home, 800mg to start the build-up in his system. He was admitted Mon. 2/4, hooked up to a monitor, and given IV amiodarone (1200mg.) Did a CXR (clear), a lung function test (mod. COPD), an echo (52-55% heart function) then after IV heparin the TEE to check for bloodclots in the heart, then a cardioversion, successful on the first try. He was released Thur. 2/7, and has so far remained in normal rhythm. He follows up with PCP Mon 2/11 for a pro-time, 2/14 with nurse practioner in Detroit, then Det. cardio doc in a month.

His current meds include: amiodarone 800mg/day; warfarin 1mg/day-2mg./day (every other); spironolactone 50mg/day; Tricor 145mg/day; metolazone 2.5mg/day; Benicar 40mg/day; pravastatin 20 mg/day; carvedilol 25mg -2/day; aspirin 81mg/day; Effexor XR 75mg/day; PTU 50mg EOD.

My husband (Tony) is 57 yo, caucasian, obese, smoker, family history of heart trouble (father multiple MI, bypass surgery, and fatal MI at age 67.) His symptoms included shortness of breath, edema, fatigue. Since the cardioversion he is noticeably less SOB and able to stay awake without frequent naps.

I'll update after his visit on 2/14.

I look forward to hearing what you have learned in your study of this condition. The more knowledge I have, the better able I am to help him learn to live with this.

Hi Kareenlee, after reading about his your husband's family history of heart disease I can only ask myself why he wouldn't give his heart every chance to stay healthy and quit smoking!! I bet you ask him that too. Anyways, the research I did was on treatment of symptomatic A-fib in the emergency department. To sum it up the findings were that initial treatment with digoxin (lanoxin) in the ED led to a faster discharge from the hospital. It wasn't a very in-depth study as my principal investigator was leaving to a cardiology fellowship out of state, so we didn't have time to look at more. I can tell you though that my grandfather (praise the L-rd) has been healthy ever since he underwent DC cardioversion a few years ago. By healthy I mean he keeps up with his beta-blockers and blood thinners, but hasn't had a recurring episode. He also isn't obese, or a smoker, and there's no familial history of heart disease, so I'm sure that has a factor. Weight loss plays a major, major role in heart disease, which makes sense if you think about. The the heart has to work much harder to pump against all those thickening arteries to supply blood to a body that normally should be sustained by a larger heart. Anyways, I'm happy to hear Tony is doing better, and I wish I could just tell him to exercise moderately, eat well, stop smoking and his problems would start disappearing, but I know that is easier said that done. Keep us posted.

Oh and btw, thank you for summarizing that for me. I could have just looked on the Jan. post, but this was helpful.