| Name | Willie |
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| Location | Scottish Borders UK |
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| Age | 61 |
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| Diagnosed condition | paroxysmal a fib/dilated left atrium/left bundle branch block |
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| Years with condition | 36 |
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| Frequency of episodes | six or so annually |
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| Duration of episodes | one lasted forty days, most around 50 hours |
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| Event preceding first AF | suspected viral myocarditis (back in 1971) |
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| General health | non smoker, light drinker, good general health |
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| Current state | very symptomatic while in a fib- breathless and weak/ fit and active when not in a fib |
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| Triggers | Usually happens resting in bed.
Alcohol has almost certainly been a factor on one or two occasions. Very cold ice cream caused one episode, exercise caused one once years ago, suspect too much tea also on another occasion. And tiredness. Usually it's difficult to put the finger on exactly what the trigger is. |
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| Preventions | Holding my breath worked once. I've tried all the other tricks without success.
I avoid alcohol these days and take very little. |
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| Current medications/side effects | Bisoprolol 2.5mg daily, Aspirin 75mg, Warfarin if long episode experienced
Bloating, headache, feeling cold, insomnia |
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| Past medications/side effects | Procaineamide
Inderal/Eraldin
Sotalol (which I had to come off- it was like poison for me)
Rythmol
Digoxin
Bloating, tiredness, sleeplessness.
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| History of surgery | Had an ablation procedure at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in late November 2008. No problems whatsoever since. Now, eleven months later, appear to be cured after thirty eight years of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Stopped taking medications five months ago. Now in excellent health and enjoying the benefits of being free from the effects of both a-fib and its medications. |
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| Future plans | Hope to remain free of atrial fibrillation permanently. |
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| Personal comments | A very unpleasant and restricting condition. Don't feel much progress has been made in the past thirty odd years until fairly recently. I very much identify with sufferers and wish anyone going for an ablation the best of luck. It appears to have fixed me after almost forty years and, although I know it doesn't work for everyone, I hope it works for you too.
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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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