A decision regarding heart surgery or percutaneous intervention (stent insertion) can only be made after evaluating her coronary arteries. This is possible by doing a test called coronary angiography. Also a test called echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart) would help your doctor assess the present condition (functional status) of her heart. Further management course can only be decided based on the results of above investigations.
I note that you have been suffering from ear pain for sometime prior present episode. It is possible to experience referred pain at sites distinct from area of actual problem (in your case head, neck and shoulder). However it is not possible to exclude a heart attack, although appears unlikely. It would be advisable to get yourself evaluated both from ENT and cardiac point of view.
It appears that your sister might have suffered a cerebro vascular accident (problems relating to the blood supply of brain). She needs further investigations with some brain scans (CT or MRI brain) to exactly diagnose her problem. Long-term outlook for your sister largely depends on the findings of above investigations.
Thanks and I would like to reassure you that Cardioversion is a safe procedure. Cardioversion is performed under sedation which means you should not experience any pain or discomfort. It has a success rate of well over 90 percent. However you need to be on blood thinning medication for few weeks prior cardioversion to avoid the risk of clot formation and dislodgement from the heart.
I note you are taking Coumadin which can increase the risk of bleeding. You also need to be monitored by having a regular blood test to check prothrombin time and INR whilst you are on Coumadin. Vitamin D or inhaled steroid should not increase the risk of bleeding. I would advise you to kindly consult your gynecologist regarding post menopausal bleeding.
I note that at the time of sending your question you are feeling poorly. It would be advisable for you to take some time of your work and get yourself medically evaluated. Yes it is possible for patients to have heart attack more than once. However your symptoms of nausea may be related to the medication you have been taking.
Delay in having lunch for few hours per say should not cause cardiac arrest. If your father did have cardiac arrest and has successfully been resuscitated, he needs thorough evaluation of his cardiac status which would include coronary angiography amongst other tests.
Thanks and I am glad to know that your diabetes is under control. As you rightly mentioned your problem appears to be addiction to benzodiazepines. This is not uncommon when these drugs are used longterm as in your case ( for anxiety). You need to consult a psychiatrist who will deal with both addiction problem as well as anxiety disorder.
Your husband should seek medical attention for this, rather than adjusting medications on your own. If the blistering is also accompanied by wheezing or allergic symptoms, I would go the to ER. If it is just blistering, it is possible that he has more fluid on his ankles, and he should see his heart failure specialist straight away. Thanks
This heart situation does sound like a possible heart rhythm irregularity, but it could still be very minor. The only way to tell is to see your doctor and have a series of tests including a heart monitor ("ambulatory ECG") that you will wear during your "palpitations" that can tell us what your palpitations are. Once that is diagnosed, then your team can determine the most effective therapy. In the meanwhile, try to stop things that are causing/precipitating events (such as excess alcohol). Thanks.
Dr. Andrea Natale
Dr. Andrea Natale is a board certified electrophysiology expert and practices at executive medical director of the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Dr. Natale also is the Senior Medical Director at Pacific Atrial Fib and Arrhythmia Center in San Francisco. He visits MetroHealth in Cleveland, and Akron General, Ohio. He has pioneered a new circumferential ultrasound vein-ablation system to correct atrial fibrillation and performed the procedure on the world's first five patients. For further details Please visit :Link
Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy
Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, F.A.C.C, FHRS. is a board certified electrophysiology expert and practices at Mid-America Cardiology and The University of Kansas Hospital Clinics in Kansas City, KS, USA. He has several distinctions in clinical and research career to his credit and serves as an associate editor for Journal of Atrial Fibrillation.For further details Please visit :Link
Dr. Dhanunjay Lakkireddy, MD, F.A.C.C, FHRS, The Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute (KCHRI), KS, USA.
Disclaimer
1. JAFIB and the invited expert reserve the right to decline any question. The question declined will not appear in the list of questions asked.
2. The questions or advice from the expert can not be considered as alternatives to your clinician's advice. This discussion is only for educational/informational use. Your EP doctor is THE person to advice you on treatment and management of your condition.
Feedback : Your suggestion on this new initiative are much appreciated. Please write to the managing editor(editor@jafib.com) about your feedback on "Meet the Expert".
