The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 15, 2016, 05:14:03 pm

Title: Re heart op
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 15, 2016, 05:14:03 pm
Since last I posted about dads heart op no date has been set :( Dad had another ep last night of atril fibrilation and took his meds, but it never worked, so this morn mum took him into a&e. He is still there now and they are trying to get it back to normal, they are trying a new medication on him which is called  adenizine, well when I say new I mean new to him. Apparently it stops and starts the heart. If that doesnt work it will br electric shocks. He may have to stay in hospital tonight if it doesnt work :( trying to keep positive but it can be a little difficult. Barts hospital assessed him but they are dilly dallying, which is highly annoying. We are now looking at next year for his op, which id highly inconvenient for us and him as its mad from feb-october, what with milking, calving, lambing, shearing, hay. I dont know what next year holds but whatever it may be we will just have to manage. I am really sorry to be venting this, but I needed to be able to talk about it somewhere. I dont want to worry mum any more than she is.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: PK on November 15, 2016, 05:52:03 pm
I hope all goes well. Try not to worry too much about the future as the mind will work overtime on the worst case scenarios.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: sabrina on November 15, 2016, 06:42:16 pm
Hard time for you hope your dad gets well.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Bionic on November 15, 2016, 06:52:07 pm
I know it's easy to say don't worry but if you can channel your vibes on something else.


Let's hope the new meds do what they are supposed to for him until he can have his op.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: paddy1200 on November 15, 2016, 08:21:36 pm
Does your father have atrial fibrillation or SVT? adenizine is usually used to slow the heart rate in SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia) AF is usually treated with Warfarin and sometimes beta-blockers
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Black Sheep on November 15, 2016, 09:08:07 pm
Does your father have atrial fibrillation or SVT? adenizine is usually used to slow the heart rate in SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia) AF is usually treated with Warfarin and sometimes beta-blockers

Adenosine in AF sounds odd to me too - perhaps it is a more complex arrhythmia? If they're at this point then they must have exhausted beta blockers, amiodarone, flecainide and so on... you'd hope!

Warfarin is used in AF but has nothing to do with the rhythm itself - it is used to reduce the risk of stroke associated with the condition. [member=42855]waterbuffalofarmer[/member] I presume your dad is either a) under 65 and otherwise very healthy, b) on some form of anticoagulant or c) has decided against having one? If none of these this is a question he needs to ask.

Presume they are looking at an ablation procedure? Hope he's sorted soon.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 15, 2016, 09:38:04 pm
Yea he has AF according to his consultant. His brother had the other one, but was sorted ages ago. They managed to use that med to regulate it all and he is ok now, back home and having some rest. Yea he is only 51 and is very fit and healthy. He has had this for nearly 9-10 years and has been treated via meds for it. It only got worse after his first ablation procedure went wrong, the guy who is supposed to be doing it next time  professor schilling at barts, I think, will be a lot better.  He is currently on warfarin, bisoprelol and flecenaide, I think they gave this to him to help him as an emergency this time. Still worrying though and especially for him. Dad was in A&E all day today, until 1/2 past 6pm :o
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Fleecewife on November 15, 2016, 09:55:24 pm
If it's a cardioversion (electric shock) he's going for, then genuinely don't worry.  I have had 7 and all but one was successful, for a time at least.  The experience is a non-event as the patient is sedated so doesn't know or feel a thing until it's done. 
Many people live on meds only with AF, enough to bring the heart rate down somewhat, plus an anticoagulant.  Without knowing the details of your dad's condition, I would say place your confidence in the doctors, and don't try second guessing what's happening - every person with a heart condition is different and the treatment for each is tailor made for them.
Heading for surgery, your dad needs to be calm and relaxed and not have to even think about if things are hectic on the farm.  Is it possible for you to bring in hired help or HelpX students to tide you over until he has totally recovered?
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: paddy1200 on November 15, 2016, 09:58:41 pm
I don't think they cardio-vert AF patients. I may be wrong of course.
this is informative

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/atrial-fibrillation (https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/atrial-fibrillation)
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Fleecewife on November 15, 2016, 10:27:21 pm
I don't think they cardio-vert AF patients. I may be wrong of course.
this is informative

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/atrial-fibrillation (https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/atrial-fibrillation)




The cardioversions I had done were to correct AF.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: paddy1200 on November 15, 2016, 10:34:18 pm
As i said, i may be wrong.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Lesley Silvester on November 15, 2016, 11:19:13 pm
It's a very worrying time for you all. I do hope that he gets the treatment a lot sooner.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Black Sheep on November 16, 2016, 06:55:46 pm
He is currently on warfarin, bisoprelol and flecenaide

That sounds much more like it as a set of meds [member=42855]waterbuffalofarmer[/member]. Ablations are also tricky things - a decent proportion of people need a repeat procedure due to new electrical pathways firing up that weren't detectable at the time of the first procedure.

Cardioversions (both electrical and pharmacological) are definitely used for AF. The limitation of electrical ones, as inferred by [member=4333]Fleecewife[/member], is that unless they are done right at the onset of the first episode of AF then the success rate long-term often isn't great. Seven is quite a number!
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 16, 2016, 08:49:45 pm
Do you know why Barts are dilly-dallying?  Can you cut right down on stock numbers for next year to ease the work burden?
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 16, 2016, 11:08:40 pm
Do you know why Barts are dilly-dallying?  Can you cut right down on stock numbers for next year to ease the work burden?
Idk tbh. My eldest brother lives just up the road so he may be able to help out a bit, we also have a good farming friend nearby so he may be able to help us too. No not really, we are trying to build up genetic quality atm, but we may be selling some more in a year or 2, of the lower yielders. We'll just have to organise everything on a large chart. Hopefully if the op is early next year he may be fine for shearing and haymaking, but only helping that is. We have professionals come and do it for us, its just the lugging of the bags or hay bales after which is the problem. :) If push comes to shove we may hire someone as a temp help.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: harmony on November 17, 2016, 09:21:45 am
[member=42855]waterbuffalofarmer[/member]  that is very worrying for you all and as often as people tell you not to worry in reality that is very difficult especially when you have a farm. However, you must trust in the doctors and work with them. Sometimes it is easy to think they are being too slow because we want results now. Start planning for next year now. Unfortunately, the hospital can't be worried about your animals or indeed any of the problems anyone can face when they know they have surgery ahead.  :hug:
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 17, 2016, 06:25:33 pm
Hope your dad is OK WBF, maybe they may speed up a bit after this episode.
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 19, 2016, 01:18:32 pm
[member=42855]waterbuffalofarmer[/member] However, you must trust in the doctors and work with them. Sometimes it is easy to think they are being too slow because we want results now. Start planning for next year now. Unfortunately, the hospital can't be worried about your animals or indeed any of the problems anyone can face when they know they have surgery ahead.

.....although my builder needs his gall bladder removed and when the consultant told him the op. would be next Spring his wife immediately responded with "And why the ****** hell is that?!"  Op. now scheduled for next week .....
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: cans on November 19, 2016, 05:28:51 pm
[quote author=Marches Farmer link=topic=79183.msg623438#msg623438 date=1479561512

.....although my builder needs his gall bladder removed and when the consultant told him the op. would be next Spring his wife immediately responded with "And why the ****** hell is that?!"  Op. now scheduled for next week .....
[/quote]

I said something similar when OH needed op which was to be months away.   Op was done following week.  Must be a wife thing!!

WBF  hope your dad is ok.   Having a plan of what needs to be done when and by whom for the animals both for the short term while your dad is in hospital and then when he is back home is a good idea and will let you prioritise.  Shearing and hay making is a wee while away but thinking now about getting help in then will one less thing on the to do list.  What about a student in for over the summer?
One important thing though is to make sure you look after yourself and your mum.  The doctors are looking after your dad
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 20, 2016, 10:51:44 am
You could advertise on here for experienced help ....?
Title: Re: Re heart op
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 20, 2016, 03:15:31 pm
You could advertise on here for experienced help ....?
Maybe..... we will see how it starts to pan out first :)