Sophia's Photos

Sophia Ridley  This is a picture that I hoped I never would be able to post. I'm feeling ok, just bitterly disappointed. I'm suspecting that it's an electrolyte imbalance but will chat with cardiologist.

W. Carter  Sorry to hear that after you were improving. Heres hoping and praying they get it under control ASAP.

Sophia Ridley  Thank you, I'm in need of prayers, was rather low yesterday evening. Had a response already from the Cardiologist, sounds pretty confident that it will revert without doing CardioVersion. My diet isn't good so I'm going to embrace all foods high in iron and magnesium... Spinach is my new best friend! I'm going to beat this !!

pino correale  Keep on trucking Sophia.......you seem to be a real fighter and a very positive person. Have faith and be strong!

Suzanne Moore   So sorry to hear! I know it's easy to say 'don't get discouraged' but I hope you won't allow yourself too much time in that state. I find taking control in areas that I can, helps. Sounds like you are doing just that with your diet. That is bound to help physically and emotionally. Prayers out for a quick turnaround.

  I'm so sorry, Sophia. My warmest thoughts for healing are with you. I hope this is temporary and that things even out soon for you. Thinking of you.

Wanda Mroz  Oh I'm sorry. Hoping it's only temporary. Did they happen to do a maze procedure during your surgery? I had one and it seems to have worked so far. Praying its only a temp thing.

Sophia Ridley  Thank you all. I'm so hoping this is temporary.

Hi Wanda - I really wish they had. I asked the surgeon about Maze and he said as I wasn't in AF prior to surgery then he didn't do it :( He did though fill the appendix in the left atrium where clots form. From my experience, if offered Maze I would take it!!

Emily Rowley  Fill the Appendix in the Left Atrium of the Heart?
I've seen new Smartphones with unbuilt finger scanner to detect heart rate/pulse!
I hope you're going to be okay :S Is there anything they can do since ongoing? I'm worried about you Sophia.

Sophia Ridley  Thanks Emily, really appreciate your thoughts.

There's a little pouch on the side of the atrium which is mostly missed out on diagrams (I only found out because of AF). It's where clots would form in AF if not on thinners, so the surgeon closed it as a precaution.

The cardiologist is renowned expect for arrhythmia so I just have to trust his judgement. I'm concerned that it will hamper me in the future but I'm having to put those thoughts to the back of my mind for now. Ablation is an option but hopefully we don't have to go there.

It's bouncing in and out today, I've also been put in iron tablets as haemoglobin low so hopefully that 'll help... Plus the huge bag of spinach I bought earlier!!!

Sophia Ridley  Yes, I climbed them pre-surgery for my lung function tests and took 5 minutes before I could give my name! Then I realised there was a lift...

Artie Rubin  Even funnier would be "(via stairs)" next to the Toilets listing. I think there'd be a lot of mopping up from that!

Emily Rowley  I get the irony of it now lol. Took awhile... It indicates you get your Lung Function tested by the stairs you walk up haha :P

Sophia Ridley  I am seeing cardiologist this week and so hopefully we can confirm on ECG/Echo that my badly dancing heart has learnt a regular step. I've send them this photo too!

If still in AF or they fancy fixing my skips/trips then it's TEE/CardioVersion for me on Monday. Gary, I'm rather scared about this and you're giving me great strength knowing that it's worked for you.

Emily Rowley  Just be careful because alot of the IPhone Apps similar to this came out as not true, unless they have sensors on them like some smart watches.
Hope all goes well.

Sophia Ridley  I'm so hoping it's true but good to bear in mind false positives. On Monday GP monitored my pulse manually whilst I used app and they were in synch. It's lovely to see the smooth trace, when had MVP I would have a distinct step in each wave. In AF, it looks like my daughter had drawn it!
I'm also wearing a Surge Fitbit but can't get a detailed level of accuracy on my pulse. Has amazed me though how far I walk just pottering about the house (must confess that I am purposely making multiple journeys!)

Emily Rowley  Wow they were in sync! Is this app receiving info from your Fitbit? That's great & so cool you have a Fitbit Surge. I do have a smart watch with training on it (cause I'm into running+cycling).

Does MVP stand for Mitral Valve Procedure?

Would A-Fib have more pointy or rounder tips?
Haha 😃 In Hospital they placed up Christmas tinsel in the shape of a heartbeat but it looks like the patient exp out of rhythm, high stress then didn't make it-because it started to fall down...

Good on you 👍

Sophia Ridley  The app is from Azumio and free! In independent trials it's the most accurate. You put index figure over camera lens. It's a bit shaky as it establishes the reading but it will let you know if reading not good. It's standalone not synched to Surge. The Surge data isn't detailed enough for my liking, I want to see a trace. I must confess I haven't look into it much as got it a few days before op (work offered good discount!)

MVP = mitral valve prolapse

A-Fib trace has spikes and troughs all random shapes and different heights, and there's varying distances between the beats. Looks like a toddler scribble! Basically if it was below 100 and not troubling me then manageable. I hope no one else goes through this.

Absolutely hilarious the decorations! There's a sign at the hospital I must photo next time I'm there. Makes me laugh every time!

Emily Rowley 
That's cool. I've seen those ones that use the camera.

I use Polar, it's very in-depth (I'm still trying to understand it all). Perhaps yours will have a software update on yours soon.

Thanks for that. I have cleft in leaflet and it's worn out of shape where the A Ring and blood isn't able to flow properly causing Regurgitation-would this be a Prolapse?

This tinsel had A-Fib than :P Does it depend on your heart rate?

Awesome, what's the sign say? 😅 At the Heart & Lung Clinic in the Hospital where I saw my Surgeon, there is a permanent colour changing tree on the wall that goes from green to red to yellow to orange to green again-so fascinating lol.

Sophia Ridley  Thanks, I'll have a look at Polar. Must confess that I didn't do a huge amount of research.

Prolapse - I'm not sure in your case, best check with surgeon. Mine was always described as a heart murmur until this year when it got a more technical term as I actually saw a cardiologist!

I think that a-fib is definitely through ECG. It does usually present with elevated heart beat but some people can have it for years and not realise. Anyone here would know as we're all scanned within an inch of our lives!

I'm there on Friday so hope to photo it. It's British irony at it's best!