AFibbers Database: Todd Pearson

Name	Todd Pearson
Location	Vashon Island, WA
Age	57
Diagnosed condition	Refractory atrial fibrillation
Years with condition	20
Frequency of episodes	8-10 per month
Duration of episodes	12-40 hours
Event preceding first AF	None
General health	Very good. I run 25-30 miles per week. Resting HR low 40's
Current state	Living with it. Continue to run and exercise and pretend that it is not there.
Triggers	Lack of Sleep.
Preventions	None.
Current medications/side effects	Coumadin. Nexium. Simvastatin.
Past medications/side effects	Atenelol. Propafanone. Flecainide. All pretty ineffective - continued episodes in spite of taking the damn drugs for 15 years. Amiodarone. After my first ablation procedure I was given Amiodarone for a very short time. I had what doctors have called an allergic reaction, which threw my thyroid way out of whack. I know from my own experience and my mom's toxic reaction to it late in her life that it is a dangerous and excessively aggressive drug. Avoid it at all costs.
History of surgery	I've had 2 ablation procedures, each performed by my cardiologist. He is an excellent doctor, the head of Electrophysiology Services at a major hospital in Seattle. The first surgery was ineffective, but the second one gave me nearly 2 years of symptom-free living. Gradually, however, the symptoms returned, though they are not as severe or debilitating as they were prior to surgery. Having tasted the magnificence of living without afib, I will not stop trying for a cure, and to that end have decided to have another procedure. My cardiologist agrees that my third (and hopefully final) procedure ought to be done by another doctor. I'm currently trying to convince my insurance company that the best, most effective clinic (ergo, ultimately the least expensive) is the Haut Leveque Hospital in Bordeaux, France. The father of the catheter ablation procedure, and the most consistent innovator in heart rhythm technique is Dr.Michel Haissaguerre. I think this clinic presents the best chance in the world for a cure, and I'll be going there soon, I hope.
Future plans	Live a healthy, active life that is free of the cursed atrial fibrillation.
Personal comments	Unfortunately, most of us live acutely aware of our symptoms. It's hard to avoid feeling the slightest rhythm variation, and to feel the disappointment, anger and sometimes fear as another episode bears down on you. I have trouble differentiating between PAC's and afib, and for my money PAC's are nearly as insidious. I feel them almost as strongly as afib, and if I don't push myself they will keep me from living the life I want to lead. I want a life free from all arrhythmias, and I won't quit till I get there!! You have to fight the bastard.
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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