Re: In Defense of Rate Control

[Guest guest]

Hi Don,

Congrats on the meds working on rate control and keeping you out of a-

fib. I did that at first w/a-fib and then had to move to the Class 3

drugs. Fell out of the azimilide study cause I didn't cardiovert. I

think their study didn't have the right dosing for some people's

weights (like me). Then, tikosyn (dofetilide) has been good for me

except for the few bouts of a-fib from antibiotics and foods w/MSG.

I have a question for you... as you mentioned " the Big P " ... what is

that? And, why did you microwave your orange juice? And, what other

annoyances did you experience??

I'm with you, counting on the new technology that will make PVAs as

simple and safe as a catertization or something even less invasive.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Hi Don,

Congrats on the meds working on rate control and keeping you out of a-

fib. I did that at first w/a-fib and then had to move to the Class 3

drugs. Fell out of the azimilide study cause I didn't cardiovert. I

think their study didn't have the right dosing for some people's

weights (like me). Then, tikosyn (dofetilide) has been good for me

except for the few bouts of a-fib from antibiotics and foods w/MSG.

I have a question for you... as you mentioned " the Big P " ... what is

that? And, why did you microwave your orange juice? And, what other

annoyances did you experience??

I'm with you, counting on the new technology that will make PVAs as

simple and safe as a catertization or something even less invasive.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Hi Don,

Congrats on the meds working on rate control and keeping you out of a-

fib. I did that at first w/a-fib and then had to move to the Class 3

drugs. Fell out of the azimilide study cause I didn't cardiovert. I

think their study didn't have the right dosing for some people's

weights (like me). Then, tikosyn (dofetilide) has been good for me

except for the few bouts of a-fib from antibiotics and foods w/MSG.

I have a question for you... as you mentioned " the Big P " ... what is

that? And, why did you microwave your orange juice? And, what other

annoyances did you experience??

I'm with you, counting on the new technology that will make PVAs as

simple and safe as a catertization or something even less invasive.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/18/2002 9:29:28 PM Central Standard Time,

werdon@... writes:

> I have been in permanent atrial fibrillation for over a year and feel

> better now than I have in years. I'm finding that rate control is

> tailor-made for someone like me.

>

Don:

Your story is very encouraging to me. I am currently on amiodarone and am

considering dofetelide or rate control as the next step when amio quits

working or at the first sign of side effects. I have been experiencing afib

episodes about every week or 2 for the last month so the time to make the

decision may be near. Incidentally I am 67 and also very active. I wonder if

very active people are better candidates for rate control. I spent 6 mo's in

afib and remained very active before going to a Dr. about it the first time.

I did not have the same strength or stamina but did OK.

Guy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/18/2002 9:29:28 PM Central Standard Time,

werdon@... writes:

> I have been in permanent atrial fibrillation for over a year and feel

> better now than I have in years. I'm finding that rate control is

> tailor-made for someone like me.

>

Don:

Your story is very encouraging to me. I am currently on amiodarone and am

considering dofetelide or rate control as the next step when amio quits

working or at the first sign of side effects. I have been experiencing afib

episodes about every week or 2 for the last month so the time to make the

decision may be near. Incidentally I am 67 and also very active. I wonder if

very active people are better candidates for rate control. I spent 6 mo's in

afib and remained very active before going to a Dr. about it the first time.

I did not have the same strength or stamina but did OK.

Guy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/18/2002 9:29:28 PM Central Standard Time,

werdon@... writes:

> I have been in permanent atrial fibrillation for over a year and feel

> better now than I have in years. I'm finding that rate control is

> tailor-made for someone like me.

>

Don:

Your story is very encouraging to me. I am currently on amiodarone and am

considering dofetelide or rate control as the next step when amio quits

working or at the first sign of side effects. I have been experiencing afib

episodes about every week or 2 for the last month so the time to make the

decision may be near. Incidentally I am 67 and also very active. I wonder if

very active people are better candidates for rate control. I spent 6 mo's in

afib and remained very active before going to a Dr. about it the first time.

I did not have the same strength or stamina but did OK.

Guy

[Guest guest]

<<I have been in permanent atrial fibrillation for over a year and feel

better now than I have in years. I'm finding that rate control is

tailor-made for someone like me.

[snip]

In the meantime, rate control is a very

valid and useful option for many of us for whom nothing else works.

Don, Ontario>>

I entirely agree Don that rate control is a useful option for people who have

had no success with rhythm control.

(I'm in this group)

However if you were a person where EITHER rhythm OR rate control medication

worked, which would you choose to take?

If I found myself in that situation the rhythm control med would be higher on

my list (even if my long term prospects were worse than rate control).

There's a strange balancing act that goes on between quality of life and

longevity.

There are many good arguments for rate control when you are in AF (I can't

think of any reason why anyone shouldn't use it!). I believe the arguments

for rate control instead of rhythm control(that works) are less clear.

All the best

--

D

[Guest guest]

> > I have a question for you... as you mentioned " the Big P " ... what

is

> that? And, why did you microwave your orange juice? And, what other

> annoyances did you experience??

>

>Hi Cheryl: In answer to your questions:

1. " The Big P " is a term coined by one of our members - Lawrence, I

believe. It refers to the urge some of us have to (blush) urinate

every 15 minutes or so, at the onset of a bout of atrial fib. I found

it to be increasingly frustrating, especially when it hit at an

inopportune time. I remember once being invited to dinner and having

to leave the table four times before we hit dessert. I finally told

them what was happening. They thought it was hilarious. I didn't!

2. I used to microwave my orange juice because cold drinks were a

potential trigger for me. My wife thought I had taken leave of my

senses the first time I did it.

3. The other annoyances, I guess, would include side effects from

the various medications. I thought I handled amiodarone pretty well

but months after I discontinued it, symptoms that I didn't attribute

to it began to disappear. For example, sleep was a problem and I had

some symptoms that were similar to sleep apnia. I was referred to a

sleep lab to have it checked out. The only problem was, with all the

wires and the uncomfortable cot I didn't sleep a wink and almost

drove off the road on the way home. The sleep doctor was very

kind: " It happens " , he sighed, " not very often but it happens " . The

next appointment I slept. My wife said she's kill me if I didn't.

Turns out I don't have sleep apnia and all the symptoms have long

since disappeared. Take care.

Don, Ontario

[Guest guest]

> > I have a question for you... as you mentioned " the Big P " ... what

is

> that? And, why did you microwave your orange juice? And, what other

> annoyances did you experience??

>

>Hi Cheryl: In answer to your questions:

1. " The Big P " is a term coined by one of our members - Lawrence, I

believe. It refers to the urge some of us have to (blush) urinate

every 15 minutes or so, at the onset of a bout of atrial fib. I found

it to be increasingly frustrating, especially when it hit at an

inopportune time. I remember once being invited to dinner and having

to leave the table four times before we hit dessert. I finally told

them what was happening. They thought it was hilarious. I didn't!

2. I used to microwave my orange juice because cold drinks were a

potential trigger for me. My wife thought I had taken leave of my

senses the first time I did it.

3. The other annoyances, I guess, would include side effects from

the various medications. I thought I handled amiodarone pretty well

but months after I discontinued it, symptoms that I didn't attribute

to it began to disappear. For example, sleep was a problem and I had

some symptoms that were similar to sleep apnia. I was referred to a

sleep lab to have it checked out. The only problem was, with all the

wires and the uncomfortable cot I didn't sleep a wink and almost

drove off the road on the way home. The sleep doctor was very

kind: " It happens " , he sighed, " not very often but it happens " . The

next appointment I slept. My wife said she's kill me if I didn't.

Turns out I don't have sleep apnia and all the symptoms have long

since disappeared. Take care.

Don, Ontario

[Guest guest]

>

>>>

> However if you were a person where EITHER rhythm OR rate control

medication

> worked, which would you choose to take?

> If I found myself in that situation the rhythm control med would be

higher on

> my list (even if my long term prospects were worse than rate

control).

> There's a strange balancing act that goes on between quality of

life and

> longevity.

>

>> D

Hi . You pose a good question. I don't think I'd go back to

amiodarone even if it worked. Certainly my quality of life now is

much better than the latter months of amiodarone when I was going

into afib every couple of days for several hours at a time. But

having said that, if there was a medication that worked and had very

minimal, or better yet, no side effects - sure, I'd take it. I guess

it comes down to side effects: I'm not inclined to trade what I have

now for a whole host of side effects even if sinus rhythm accompanies

them. I'm all for sinus but not at any price. I suppose I sound

like I'm rationalizing, and probably am a bit, but I want to

emphasize I'm speaking only for myself. I'm not an advocate for rate

over rhythm control. I'm just happy rate works for me -- so far.

Don, Ontario

[Guest guest]

>

>>>

> However if you were a person where EITHER rhythm OR rate control

medication

> worked, which would you choose to take?

> If I found myself in that situation the rhythm control med would be

higher on

> my list (even if my long term prospects were worse than rate

control).

> There's a strange balancing act that goes on between quality of

life and

> longevity.

>

>> D

Hi . You pose a good question. I don't think I'd go back to

amiodarone even if it worked. Certainly my quality of life now is

much better than the latter months of amiodarone when I was going

into afib every couple of days for several hours at a time. But

having said that, if there was a medication that worked and had very

minimal, or better yet, no side effects - sure, I'd take it. I guess

it comes down to side effects: I'm not inclined to trade what I have

now for a whole host of side effects even if sinus rhythm accompanies

them. I'm all for sinus but not at any price. I suppose I sound

like I'm rationalizing, and probably am a bit, but I want to

emphasize I'm speaking only for myself. I'm not an advocate for rate

over rhythm control. I'm just happy rate works for me -- so far.

Don, Ontario