| Name | Tom |
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| Location | Arizona USA |
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| Age | 56 |
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| Diagnosed condition | A-Fib, A-Flutter, SVT & Bradycardia |
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| Years with condition | 1 month, I'm new at this |
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| Frequency of episodes | 3 - 4 + times a week |
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| Duration of episodes | 2 - 48 + hours |
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| Event preceding first AF | none, never been in the hospital before |
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| General health | Excellent health, non smoker, non drinker, I used to swim a mile and hike several miles a week. |
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| Current state | struggeling with frequent and long lasting episodes, frustrated, scared, trying to get a handle on what's going on |
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| Triggers | I haven't been able to figure out what the triggers are. I seem to notice the A-Fib more often when in bed. Maybe lying down is a trigger. I suspect exercise and stress... but the jury is still out on those. |
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| Preventions | I have no clue. |
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| Current medications/side effects | Propafenone (Arythmol) 225mg every 8 hours - this causes me to have a metallic taste, Metoprolil 25mg every 12 hours, Aspirin 81 mg daily, Lescol 80mg once a day. I've been on various doses of Warfarin but the doctors have not been able to control it's effects on me yet. My blood keeps getting too thin. |
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| Past medications/side effects | Lescol for controlling my cholesterol. And occasional ibuprofen for joint pain. |
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| History of surgery | I've had 4 arthroscopic surgeries on my knees. Sports injuries involving cartilage repair. These were all done in out-patient. Atrial Flutter Ablation 12/14/07. NSR for about 1 week and then A-Fib and Flutter reoccurred. Electro Physiologist said the Flutter Ablation targeted the right Atrium. The new flutter appears to be in the left Atrium. Bummer. |
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| Future plans | Resume normal active life style. Return to teaching, high school science, with some new colorful stories for my students.
Researching the pros and cons of various A-Fib treatments. Thinking about going to the University of Arizona Medical Center, in Tucson, to consult with Electro physiologists there. |
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| Personal comments | I'm very frustrated. It seems like the more I learn about the treatment options for A-Fib and Flutter, the more confusing it becomes. Is Ablation a good option or is treating the "beast" with drugs the best way to go? At this point I can argue both ways. It is scary. It can't be good to have my heart racing at 160 + beats a minute for 2 days. And a day later it may drop to 35 - 40 beats a minute (which is what it's doing right now as I write this). It's comforting to know I'm not the "lone ranger" with this. Thanks for your entries! |
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| Check list |  acebutolol | amiodarone (cordarone,pacerone) | anisindione (miradon) | | atenolol (tenormin) |  aspirin | azimilide | | bepridil | betaxolol | bisoprolol (monocor,emconcor) | | bretylium | bucindolol | carvedilol | | cibenzoline | dicumarol | digitoxin | | digoxin (lanoxin) | diltiazem (cardizem) | diphenylhydantoin | | disopyramide (norpace) | dofetilide (tikosyn) | dronedarone | | encainide | esmolol (brevibloc) | ersentilide | | flecainide (tambocor) | gallopamil | ibutilide (corvert) | | lidocaine | mibefradil | metoprolol (lopressor,toprol xl) | | mexiletine | moricizine | nadolol | | phenytoin | procainamide | propafanone (rythmol) | | propranolol (inderal) | quinapril (accupril) | quinidine (quinaglute) | | sotalol (betapace) | tedisamil | timolol | | tocainide | trandolapril (mavik) | valsartan (diovan) | | verapamil (calan,isoptin) | warfarin (coumadin) | asthma | | diabetes | GERD/acid reflux | hypertension | | hypotension | hyperthyroidism | hypothyroidism | | adrenergic | vagal | familial | | idiopathic/lone | paroxysmal | permanent/chronic | | atrial flutter | cardiomyopathy | CHF | | PAC | PVC | SVT | | syncope | bradycardia | tachycardia | | heart block | myocardial infarction | rheumatic heart diease | | sick sinus syndrome | stroke | WPW | | electrical cardioversion | defibrillator | pacemaker | | ablation | bypass | maze | | Male | Female | |
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