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AFibbers Database: Sue

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NameSue
LocationKent UK
Age54
Diagnosed conditionAtrial Fibrillation
Years with condition8
Frequency of episodesMany years with almost none with meds. More now.
Duration of episodesseconds to days
Event preceding first AFIllness/Death of Mother
General healthnon smoker, tea total (in last few months) bit overweight but was cycling and swimming until recently.
Current stateCondition worse in last few months. Drugs gradually increased but effectiveness waning. Quite ill now. Off work.
TriggersAlcohol, eating late, stress, digestive problems but don't know if this is result or cause, strenuous activity, tiredness.Vivid dreams. Seems fairly random sometimes.
The worst is in bed at night. When I lie down,heart beats so hard it vibrates whole body. I cannot get to sleep, which makes it worse too.
PreventionsThe holding your nose and breathing out thingy very effective sometimes. Rest. Meditation. Having a laugh. Anything that can get your mind off the bloody thing. I think listening to your own heartbeat makes it worse.
Avoiding alcohol. I used to smoke marijuana and that made it much worse.
Trying to lose weight with some success.
magnesium, potassium, cardioace, coenzyme Q10,
Current medications/side effectsFlecainide
Sotalol.
Doctors weren't struck on me taking both but they put me on Flecainide alone at first and although heart was regular, it was hard and fast which stopped me sleeping. So GP put me back on Sotalol as well. Worked well for 8 years then became shop steward. Mistake. Symptoms back with a vengeance. Increased meds but taking more and more with lessening effect.
Side effects not too bad. Tiredness but worth it to be free of AF.
Aspirin.
Past medications/side effectsNone
History of surgeryNone
Future plansInvestigating Ablation. Appointment with Cardiologist next week.
Personal commentsThis complaint has not been taken seriously by GP's. When I lived in London, my GP told me it was "my age" I was 46 at the time. He took notice though when I walked into his surgery a month later with a sitting heartbeat of 140.
I think things are a bit better now. I was treated at Harefield up until recently and they were very good.
When I first git it the registrar told me stright that it gets worse. I hated him for it at the time but am grateful in retrospect.I changed my life. Moved to the seaside, gave up my high stress job, focussed on things I wanted to do. Because of these things I can try and see a positive side to having it. I would not be living here by the lovely coast if I had not developed it. I would still be a work rat in London.
Check list
crossacebutololcrossamiodarone (cordarone,pacerone)crossanisindione (miradon)
crossatenolol (tenormin)tickaspirincrossazimilide
crossbepridilcrossbetaxololcrossbisoprolol (monocor,emconcor)
crossbretyliumcrossbucindololcrosscarvedilol
crosscibenzolinecrossdicumarolcrossdigitoxin
crossdigoxin (lanoxin)crossdiltiazem (cardizem)crossdiphenylhydantoin
crossdisopyramide (norpace)crossdofetilide (tikosyn)crossdronedarone
crossencainidecrossesmolol (brevibloc)crossersentilide
tickflecainide (tambocor)crossgallopamilcrossibutilide (corvert)
crosslidocainecrossmibefradilcrossmetoprolol (lopressor,toprol xl)
crossmexiletinecrossmoricizinecrossnadolol
crossphenytoincrossprocainamidecrosspropafanone (rythmol)
crosspropranolol (inderal)crossquinapril (accupril)crossquinidine (quinaglute)
ticksotalol (betapace)crosstedisamilcrosstimolol
crosstocainidecrosstrandolapril (mavik)crossvalsartan (diovan)
crossverapamil (calan,isoptin)crosswarfarin (coumadin)crossasthma
crossdiabetescrossGERD/acid refluxcrosshypertension
crosshypotensioncrosshyperthyroidismcrosshypothyroidism
crossadrenergiccrossvagalcrossfamilial
crossidiopathic/lonetickparoxysmalcrosspermanent/chronic
crossatrial fluttercrosscardiomyopathycrossCHF
crossPACcrossPVCcrossSVT
crosssyncopecrossbradycardiaticktachycardia
crossheart blockcrossmyocardial infarctioncrossrheumatic heart diease
crosssick sinus syndromecrossstrokecrossWPW
crosselectrical cardioversioncrossdefibrillatorcrosspacemaker
crossablationcrossbypasscrossmaze
crossMaletickFemale 

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