Chronic Afib

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I spent a few more hours today with my 5 pound dictionary at my side,

researching the Web. I came across an analysis from a Medical Center

of a University. This one made me laugh:

Cardioversion:

Cardioversion is >90 % successful at restoration of sinus rhythm.

It may last only a few minutes, days, months, or years.

That's the answer!!

/

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/12/2001 5:27:31 PM Pacific Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> Try a nice walk for 20-30 minutes late in the afternoon.

yes, I think this helps the blood circulate. I have to walk

the dogs morning and afternoon.......and then I have also

started to use our exercise bike..... just 10 minutes

yesterday and today, but want to work up to 30 if I can.

just spinning so very good exercise without straining.....

Seems like it helps the circulation.

Best wishes,

Bill Utterback

[Guest guest]

>Are you sure you aren't taking 0.25 mg vs. 250 mg? Perhaps your

>bottle says 250 mcg(?) which I think is micrograms or somesuch.

Trudy,

You're right, it is 250mcg of digoxin (0.25mg) (lanoxin) and 300mg of

metoprolol (betaloc). I will get my blood tested regularly to make

sure the level does not go too high.

warm regards,

Diann

[Guest guest]

Are you sure you aren't taking 0.25 mg vs. 250 mg?

Perhaps your bottle says 250 mcg(?) which I think is micrograms or

somesuch.

Trudy,

You're right. It is 250mcg of digoxin. but 300mg of metoprolol.

My mistake.

Warm regards,

Diann

(ps - I posted this message before, but it did not seem to reach the

list. If it appears later, my appologies for this second posting.)

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your answer

>Sometimes I splash cold water on my face

I have read about it, will give it a try.

> also I usually will sip just a little juice then some water....it

>seems Snapple Mango and Lemonade did pretty good so far. Last

couple nights I finally

> ate a piece of banana and I think that also helped.

Actually drinken juice/water during the day will calm me down too,

but at night won't that account for additional trips?

Having to get up, when I am finally sound asleep, yes that happens to

me too.

/

> A few times I finally start sleeping well and its time to get up!!!

> Then I also have a couple dogs and one loves to get attention

> in the middle of the night by scratching and moving around.....

> not good for my sleep, did I say stress.....LOL...

>

> I still have some abdominal discomfort too and may need to go

> get that checked out, it is part of the problem.

>

> Best wishes for a good night's sleep!

>

> Bill Utterback

[Guest guest]

Hi Willem,

Would be interested to know what you eat at night. This is something

I really never do and don't understand why my body is reacting this

way and needs something this late.

I enrolled in a computer course - 4 hours a day - don't have time to

nap but need my sleep.

When I wake up during the night I feel almost as if had had several

cups of coffee and I am wide awake. I have tried meditation then, but

am not very good at it. My mind keeps taking off on me. Will try

your meditation before bedtime, maybe that will get me through the

night.

Thanks.

/

> >Hi,

> >

> >A somewhat delicate subject, sorry folks.

> >I am trying to figure out what is going on with me. Have been on

> >a " healthy " diet now for a number of weeks.

> >Am familiar with the great P during fast heart rate - that's

> >controlled with meds. Still, have to get up a couple of times

during

> >the night and have trouble getting back to sleep - seem to feel

edgy

> >and restless - if I eat something - become more relaxed and easier

to

> >go back to sleep. I get similar edgy, restless feeling before

bowel

> >movements .

> >Anybody with similar experience, any suggestions??

> >/

>

>

> _________________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Diann

You asked if " Anyone else ever take such high doses of these meds for

any length of time? "

I do know that digoxin works from the liver. When you take digoxin

the liver percieves it as a poison and starts breaking it down

immediately. So if you have a super efficient liver it won't let much

digoxin through to do the work on the heart. That is why they check

the blood level and liver function tests every so often. In my case I

was on a 250mcg and a 125mcg tablet everyday. But as my liver broke

it down it was never in the therapeutic range. So my AF got little

benefit from it (which may be a good thing in hindsight)

I don't know if your other tablet works like this. But if it does

then the reason you take such high doses may be more of a reflection

on a good working liver, rather than the seriousness of the AF.

Hope that helps.

Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Diann,

I was told about a week ago that my Afib is Chronic, and found out

about 2 months ago, that I had Afib. So it has been coming down fast

and hard. Still struggling with all of it.

Checking the database, we Chronic Afibbers seem to be somewhat in the

minority. My main med is cartizem with the addition of Lanoxin

(Digoxin) - the only problem I have with cartizem are cramps, which I

get during the day and at night - somewhat unnerving. When I

discussed it with my cardiologist, he suggested Cardioversion (he was

sure it would succeed, just not sure how long it would last). The

other option was Lopressor (I think that is more or less the same as

metoprolol what you are taking.) I am somewhat of a coward and made

a deal with the cardiologist - lower Cardizem and adding Magnesium -

if it works, I will not change. Have to see.

I am very glad that you are improving with your current meds. Hope it

will continue. With me, only time will tell.

Good luck

/

> Hi All,

>

> Just thought I would give you an update on my situation, now that I

> can report something positive. The Afib is still there but I feel

> almost normal for the first time ever while I have been in Afib.

>

> I have been taking a combination of 300mg of metoprolol and 250mg

of

> digoxin each day now for a week. And finally I am occasionally

> having a resting heart rate of 60 bpm, mostly still in the 70s and

> 80s. I can now walk for 10 minutes without my rate going over

130.

> A friend has loaned me a sports heart rate monitor, the type that

> uses a band around the chest and a watch. It is probably not

> completely accurate but I am not having chest pains and not

> breathless anymore.

>

> I saw the cardiologist last Thursday. He, too, pushed for me to go

> onto Amiodarone or have a pace maker. The MAZE option is now out

> because my valve does not need to be replaced. He didn't think

this

> combination of meds would work. He also expected my resting heart

> rate to go down below 50. But I considered the Amiodarone a short

> term measure that had too much risk. I pushed to try the

combination

> of meds anyway, and at the moment I am glad I did. I hope I have

> found a way of buying a bit of time until some new options are

> available.

>

> Anyone else ever take such high doses of these meds for any length

of

> time?

>

> Warmest regards,

> Diann in Sydney

[Guest guest]

,

Try a nice walk for 20-30 minutes late in the afternoon. You don't

have to even walk briskly (which I can't do, thanks to the toprol.)

I find this puts me out like a light later.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have no idea why my body needs it either.

In general i usually get anxious en edgy during the day aswell when

my stomach is empty.

I eat something every 3 hours, no huge meals but a sandwich here..banana

there..

I don't eat too much during the 'normal' feed times...a fairly light dinner..

I find this keeps my stomach more at rest and keeps my anxiety down.

And the more relaxed my stomach is the less likely i'm to go into AF

Same goes for bedtime.

From what i know it's not unhealthy, and you don't gain wait, from eating

something right before going to bed...the stomach keeps on digesting.

But off course stepping into bed after having eaten a load of lasagna

isn't very comphy.

As for what i eat...anything goes...a sandwich, a large egg, when i'm too

lazy i just grab a bag of chips(non spiced) and eat a few of those.

And whatever i eat i always have a glass of buttermilk or warm milk with it

I don't do it to satisfy my hunger....sometimes i'm really hungry and i could

eat more than i do...i eat just enough to get rid of that nagging feeling.

If i go to bed on an empty stomach i'll be twisting and turning untill

eventually i get out to do some munching.

Another thing...don't rush things till right before going to bed.

If you know you're going to bed in about 1 or 2 hours try to slow down...

read a relaxing book or something.

Everyone is different but i have a hard time slowing down my brain

once it's going.

If i study or do something with my brain like playing chess or programming

right before i step into bed i'm very restless...can't stop thinking...usually

takes me an hour of laying there just to get my thought processes to

slow down.

As for the meditation right before bed.

Try to do it during the day at least once.

Like at lunchtime...or before dinner...even if it's only 5 minutes..if you

keep it up you'll slowly get better at it.

take care,

Willem

At 21:28 12-12-2001 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi Willem,

>Would be interested to know what you eat at night. This is something

>I really never do and don't understand why my body is reacting this

>way and needs something this late.

>I enrolled in a computer course - 4 hours a day - don't have time to

>nap but need my sleep.

>

>When I wake up during the night I feel almost as if had had several

>cups of coffee and I am wide awake. I have tried meditation then, but

>am not very good at it. My mind keeps taking off on me. Will try

>your meditation before bedtime, maybe that will get me through the

>night.

>Thanks.

>/

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Thank you so much for your really good advise. It will take some time

to work through all the excellent recommendations.

Last night, I followed the easiest of all suggestions, and 'snacked'

on a boiled egg with a little toast at 10:30 pm. That night I was

able to sleep through until 5:50 am. Checking my log, the first time

in 2 1/2 weeks - either the food did it or sheer exhaustion. Whatever

it was, it felt really good.

/