Hi,
My Dad is a fit 63, non smoker, little alcohol and not overweight. He is active and eats healthily overall.
3 days ago, he complained that he was breathless when he walked anywhere and Mum took him to the GP when this continued to the next day.
GP did ECG and sent him direct to hospital.
Hospital has diagnosed atrial fibrillation and has him on warfarin and dioxlin. To date, 2 days later, heart rate down from 140 to 78 but beat still fibrillating.
We have been told that he needs an echocardiogram next, which I know is standard, as they look for any heart disease or other causes. However, the earliest he can have this is next week.
In the meantime, they are continuing with the medication and sat that cardio version is likely after the echocardiogram to try and restore the beat to normal.
My questions are
1. Is this life threatening for dad?
2. Should I advise my sister not to go on holiday next week for 1 week if it is so serious or not?
3. Is there anything I should be insisting on, (i.e. is a 1 week wait for the echocardiogram acceptable or safe?)
Thanks for your help
Hi Jellikins and welcome to Healthypages,
I think the best people to ask those questions to would be the doctors, as no non-medically qualified person could put forward any diagnosis or prognosis.
I would have thought that if the doctors considered it to be life threatening, then they would have already indicated this to you and they would not be waiting a week to get the appropriate tests done.
Hope everything goes ok.
All Love and Reiki Hugs