AFibbers Database: Camille

Name	Camille
Location	Florida
Age	71
Diagnosed condition	Paroxsymal AF/AFlutter/Tachycardia; HBP, thyroid removal (benign) age 57; some problems dosing thyroid meds.
Years with condition	4
Frequency of episodes	usually, every year or two, while at rest each time
Duration of episodes	12-16 hours
Event preceding first AF	root canal using epinepherine and later codeine
General health	overweight but fit; ride recumbent bicycles daily; 2 hr workout min.
Current state	last episode 3 weeks ago was the first time Dr. tried to convert with 225mg 3x's daily propafenone; added metaprolol to slow HR; HR for last 3 weeks is 100+ instead of usual 68-74; BP also increased.
Triggers	Thyroid hormone replacement being off-kilter all but the last time. Converted twice chemically IV in emerg.room. Latest episode while driving, increased propafenone, then, went into tachycardia which continues with high HR. 2 Scotch drinks was a trigger once. For nearly a month since last episode, I finally converted with drugs but I believe the propafenone is causing the runaway pulse. For the first time, I can't feel that inside my chest. I usually know when I'm in AF or AFlutter. This time, I can't tell unless I take my BP and get a pulse reading. My BP machine detects irregular pulse and that icon usually shows up. Docs don't seem overly concerned. Went to emergency room yesterday with BP of 190/110 and pulse of 130. Did nothing but monitor me and ekg plus usual bloodwork to rule out any cardiac difficulties. No pain; released me after 2 hours. Thyroid normal. Today, Thanksgiving Day, I feel pretty normal. It's amazing what relief can do for your head and cause calm.
Preventions	I've tried it all; every single thing I can find. Thought I'd found a good combo with magnesium (Peter Gillham's Natural Calm), rx Potassium, 10meg every other day, COQ10, Vit C, Calcium, etc., but maybe because I dropped the Hawthorne Berry. Will go back on that. Open for any and all natural solutions. Bike riding also seems to help me the most!
Current medications/side effects	Resisted coumadin until this last episode. Then, I was ready. It almost killed my mother, so I've always been afraid of it. My INR was 2.7 in emergency room yesterday. That's about where I'd like to keep it, although at that rate, I have a little problem with minor bloody nose. Propafenone was increased with last episode and metaprolol was added, 50mg twice daily. I am convinced that this drug is causing my rapid heart rate. I just am afraid of this drug, but the doc says it's best in the absence of structural heart disease. Have hiatal hernia 22 yrs. Have insomnia the worst. Sometimes GERD. Have rx for amitriptyline, for sleep, but don't take it very often.
Past medications/side effects	Cardizem 240 mg did not help blood pressure or arrhythmias, so I had to return to beta blocker. When I tried to wean myself off propafenone, had major AF episode which required chemical conversion in emergency room in 2008.
History of surgery	Thyroidectomy (benign).. Had small tumors all over both sides, so thyroid was removed in its' entirety. I moved away from my original EP, so I plan to get a new one after the Holidays. I am not, at all, impressed with current cardiology group where I live. There is no rhythm specialist in the group, so I will have to go out of town.
Future plans	Possible procedure that will get me off these meds after meeting with a new EP in Ocala, FL, where an AF Lab is scheduled to open the first of 2010. Keeping my fingers crossed for this pursuit. Continue to lose weight. Keep up exercise. Try to stay positive and keep stress at bay.
Personal comments	These groups provide invaluable help. I have found several people in this database who could be me, exactly. I plan to call one person who left a telephone number for people who want to know more about iodine's effect on AFib. I went to a Wellness group in Central Florida who also were proponents of iodine, but I never got that far. That group started me on Armour thyroid and I was WAY overdosed which caused my AF episode in 2008, so I never returned. Her med changes for me really messed up a perfectly good blood work panel, and my regular physician had a "fit." Oh, well...but I'm surely curious about the iodine theory! Hope to find others who have tried it.
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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