Re: irregular pulse due to pressure and my husb. deer/car a...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/2002 4:28:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

forestbedell@... writes:

<< Maybe I should stay in bed until Wed. at 1 PM

when I am scheduled to see him again, but he says that I should

work it would be better for my heart. What do you think?

>>

Isabel,

I have found during my nineteen year afib career that going to bed with afib

doesn't help. Everyone is different though, and I know that some in this

group have no choice but to go to bed. However, if you are not extremely

dizzy or otherwise in danger of fainting, it might be a good idea to follow

your doctor's advice. In deciding whether to go to work with afib, I assess

how I am feeling. If my symproms are low key, I go to work. If I am feeling

faint or dizzy, I stay home. Sometimes going to work can take your mind off

of problems that might prolong the afib by stressing you. Unfortunately work

can be stressful, too, so it depends on the person and situation. However, I

don't think that staying bed will necessarily help to convert to sinus.

in sinus in Seattle (96th day)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/2002 6:25:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

forestbedell@... writes:

<< Should I or shouldnt I go to the

er? Isabelle >>

Isabelle,

I have never gone to the E.R. for afib, but again everyone is different. I

always felt that the frenetic activity and generally upsetting ambiance of an

E.R. would make the situation worse. In the beginning I always converted

within 24 hours in the peace and quiet of my own home or at work. I

frequently questioned, like you, whether I should go to the hospital, but

when afib hadn't killed me after about four years, I stopped considering a

trip to the hospital.

However, if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, you definitely should

go and have your heart checked out. If you have breathlessness along with

pain in the jaw, neck, arms, or chest, or even nausea it probably would be

wise to check it out. I have never had pain or breathlessness with afib, but

some people do. Such symptoms would make the decision harder.

Regarding your question about ectopic beats, they are beats that are out of

rhythm but not consistently so as afib is. For example, when a beat appears

to happen either too late or too soon (premature) it is ectopic.

Relax in your chaise lounge and try not to worry!

[Guest guest]

Hi : Thanks for your reply. So glad you are in nsr. Isabelle--

- In AFIBsupport@y..., Starfi6314@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 8/26/2002 6:25:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> forestbedell@h... writes:

>

> << Should I or shouldnt I go to the

> er? Isabelle >>

> Isabelle,

> I have never gone to the E.R. for afib, but again everyone is

different. I

> always felt that the frenetic activity and generally upsetting

ambiance of an

> E.R. would make the situation worse. In the beginning I always

converted

> within 24 hours in the peace and quiet of my own home or at work.

I

> frequently questioned, like you, whether I should go to the

hospital, but

> when afib hadn't killed me after about four years, I stopped

considering a

> trip to the hospital.

>

> However, if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, you

definitely should

> go and have your heart checked out. If you have breathlessness

along with

> pain in the jaw, neck, arms, or chest, or even nausea it probably

would be

> wise to check it out. I have never had pain or breathlessness

with afib, but

> some people do. Such symptoms would make the decision harder.

>

> Regarding your question about ectopic beats, they are beats that

are out of

> rhythm but not consistently so as afib is. For example, when a

beat appears

> to happen either too late or too soon (premature) it is ectopic.

>

> Relax in your chaise lounge and try not to worry!

>

[Guest guest]

> ...Sometimes going to work can take your mind off

> of problems that might prolong the afib by stressing you.

Unfortunately work

> can be stressful, too, so it depends on the person and situation.

However, I

> don't think that staying bed will necessarily help to convert to

sinus.

> in sinus in Seattle (96th day)

There we see the difference between folks with vagal, like , and

folks with adrenergic, like me :-)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2002 1:00:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

<< There we see the difference between folks with vagal, like , and

folks with adrenergic, like me :-)

>>

Trudy,

Unfortunately I also have had adrenergic afib, although you would be right in

saying that my afib has been mostly vagal. (Notice that I have

optimistically expressed that in the past tense, hoping that afib is a thing

of the past for me but knowing that it probably isn't.) However, my very

first afib episode of which I was aware was definitely an adrenergic episode,

which I have described here before as the result of being attacked by a dog

and his owner. The first two vagal episodes I can remember occurred after I

ate not very ripe wild blackberries while hiking in the woods and on another

occasion when I drank a cup of coffee immediately before exercising. I have

learned a lot since those days which were nineteen, fifteen and fourteen

years ago respectively. You wouldn't catch me eating any kind of

blackberries or drinking coffee now! Stress which can cause adrenergic afib

is harder to avoid although I have taken steps to cut the stress in my life,

also.

in sinus in Seattle (97th day)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2002 1:00:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

<< There we see the difference between folks with vagal, like , and

folks with adrenergic, like me :-)

>>

Trudy,

Unfortunately I also have had adrenergic afib, although you would be right in

saying that my afib has been mostly vagal. (Notice that I have

optimistically expressed that in the past tense, hoping that afib is a thing

of the past for me but knowing that it probably isn't.) However, my very

first afib episode of which I was aware was definitely an adrenergic episode,

which I have described here before as the result of being attacked by a dog

and his owner. The first two vagal episodes I can remember occurred after I

ate not very ripe wild blackberries while hiking in the woods and on another

occasion when I drank a cup of coffee immediately before exercising. I have

learned a lot since those days which were nineteen, fifteen and fourteen

years ago respectively. You wouldn't catch me eating any kind of

blackberries or drinking coffee now! Stress which can cause adrenergic afib

is harder to avoid although I have taken steps to cut the stress in my life,

also.

in sinus in Seattle (97th day)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2002 6:52:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

kenshireen@... writes:

<< How do you measure your heart rate at 170. What do you use? Do you get

light headed?

>>

Ken,

I take my pulse by placing my finger on my wrist and counting the beats for

10 seconds. I then multiply by six for the total per minute. This works

accurately only in sinus because in afib the pulse may be varying every ten

seconds, and it is necessary to take the pulse for a full minute for

accuracy. You can also use the jugular vein in the neck which offers a much

more pronounced pulse which is easier to feel. In fact, my older brother in

permanent afib was diagnosed by his doctor from the door of the examining

room with no pulse taking involved because the doctor could see my brother's

jugular vein pulsating wildly at what turned out to be 170 at rest. My

brother was feeling lightheaded at that rate, but I don't usually feel dizzy

or lightheaded until my pulse reaches 240 or higher.

in sinus in Seattle (97th day)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2002 6:52:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

kenshireen@... writes:

<< How do you measure your heart rate at 170. What do you use? Do you get

light headed?

>>

Ken,

I take my pulse by placing my finger on my wrist and counting the beats for

10 seconds. I then multiply by six for the total per minute. This works

accurately only in sinus because in afib the pulse may be varying every ten

seconds, and it is necessary to take the pulse for a full minute for

accuracy. You can also use the jugular vein in the neck which offers a much

more pronounced pulse which is easier to feel. In fact, my older brother in

permanent afib was diagnosed by his doctor from the door of the examining

room with no pulse taking involved because the doctor could see my brother's

jugular vein pulsating wildly at what turned out to be 170 at rest. My

brother was feeling lightheaded at that rate, but I don't usually feel dizzy

or lightheaded until my pulse reaches 240 or higher.

in sinus in Seattle (97th day)