| Name | DaveMH |
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| Location | Eastern Penn. |
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| Age | 61 |
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| Diagnosed condition | lone afib |
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| Years with condition | Diagnosed 8 years ago: probably had symptoms for many years. |
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| Frequency of episodes | 2 or 3 per year; When medicated no symptoms for 6 years; now more frequent |
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| Duration of episodes | usually self converted within 36 hours |
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| Event preceding first AF | None |
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| General health | Quit smoking on first diagnosis. 20 pounds too heavy. Active lifestyle - paddle kayak, garden, raise trees. |
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| Current state | 6 Years controlled with Rythmol; Now controlled by lopressor, I hope. |
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| Triggers | Wish I knew!
First awareness was a high adrenaline situation (watching daughter in rowing regatta)at the same time I was using Sudafed (pseudo ephedrine).
Another simply at work.
Another simply driving to the airport to pick up sister.
Another chain sawing a tree in mid Aug.
Many just happened when they wanted to. But you know that.
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| Preventions | Rythmol used to do it.
Before dx I used to lie down and wait a few hours for it to go away. |
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| Current medications/side effects | Lopressor 100mg 2x Side effect -when dosage changed, lethargy for 2 weeks.
Coumadin 5mg 1x no side effects. I initially worried about bleeding from all areas but have experienced no problems at therapeutic level - INR 2.3 to 2.6 with 5mg nightly.
Pepcid 20mg 2x
Asacol 800 mg 2x both for past ulcer condition
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| Past medications/side effects | Rythmol: eliminated episodes for 6 years; gradually became ineffective over the last year - dosage increased gradually. Last June had 3 weeks of fib; started and increasing coumadin but did not reach therapeutic level fast enough; Stroke occurred after stressful day. I noticed visual deficits/ called cardio/ went to ER and treated. Now have minimal visual cut in left field and tingling in left pinky. Fortunately no significant functional impact. |
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| History of surgery | None
My heart is actually healthy other than this. All the tests, echos, stress, MRIs, etc show good size, shape, no blockages, low cholesterol etc. But this is enough! You know that.
Two basic forms: infrequently it's like a squirrel trying to escape from inside my chest. Usually a fuzzy vibration. Many times it's hard to tell whether I'm in fib or out. (I guess that's nice?)
My most reliable symptom is when Im worn out and out of breath. |
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| Future plans | Continue rate control strategy. If/when that stops working try other rhythm meds. Postpone ablation until meds don't help or af becomes more disruptive. Allow ablation techniques to evolve. |
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| Personal comments | DON'T DELAY THERAPEUTIC LEVEL OF BLOOD THINNER WHEN IN/OUT OF AFIB FOR ANY LONG PERIOD. |
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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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