AFibbers Database: Michael

Name	Michael
Location	Maputo, Mozambique (American abroad)
Age	40
Diagnosed condition	atrial fibrillation
Years with condition	newly diagnosed/possibly one year
Frequency of episodes	have only had three known episodes over a month.
Duration of episodes	1-4 hours
Event preceding first AF	none known
General health	Very good health: non-smoker, occasional social drinker, exercise regularly, eat well.
Current state	Just released from 4-day hospital stay and under treatment in Pretoria, ZA.
Triggers	First episode was exhaustion before a run unable to continue exercise. Other were after very late night working in home office and waking up to feeling of nausea and lightheadedness. Passed out briefly once.
Preventions	Still too new to really know, but after looking at suggestions here, I think I'll work on lowering stress, improving my sleep habits, cutting caffine, losing a few pounds and adding a couple of vitamins like magnesium and B-10.
Current medications/side effects	Heparin (temporary, 7-days); Tambocor (100 mg) twice daily; Concor: 1/2 tablet (2.5 mg) daily; 1 apirin daily.
Past medications/side effects	None known
History of surgery	No history of surgery.
Future plans	I'm overwhelmed by this relatively new bombshell being diagnosed with AF. I've been on a binge of learning as much as I can since being released from the hospital yesterday(6.11.09). My doctors are baffled and still trying to determine why someone young, with no family history of AF, and in good health has atrial fibrillation. I will continue with the drugs for at least 6 months as advised by my doctor until evaluation. I am troubled by the idea that I am not cured, even under medication, until what seems an inevitable surgery takes place sometime in the future. My doctor says that technology has been improving at a rapid pace and thinks I should hold off as long as possible. Still, should I have a stroke or simply just another episode, that advice seems awfully foolish. Meanwhile, I hate the idea of being on medication (being American, I am not a fan of big pharma and our horribly expensive and inadequate medical industry, even though I am insured and can afford my treatment). I am a photojournalist and processing the idea of being limited in where I can visit and travel too based on my recent medical advice/warnings. However, being the father of two incredible boys (2 and 4), I am thankful that treatment exists and that there are others whose experience with AF I can learn from.
Personal comments	One of my doctor has caused me much stress by mentioning a pacemaker on more than one occasion as in the cards for me.
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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