Guest guest Posted June 15, 2002 Report Share Posted June 15, 2002 Hello Diane, so glad you joined up! My name is Tina, and I live in FL. The next few weeks will fly by for you, and you'll be a LOSER before ya know it! This is a wonderful place for info, support, and warm fuzzies! :0) You can ask me anything, and I'll try to answer, if I don't know, someone on this site in all liklihood will! Best wishes to you! Tina in Dunedin, FL In GastricBypass-InfoCentral@y..., Dblonde58@a... wrote: > Hello everyone, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2003 Report Share Posted January 23, 2003 I'm wondering if anyone can talk about quality of life if you are permanently in afib. I've had 4 episodes of af over the last 3 years that have sent me to ER. But I have been having many minor episodes in the past few months that stop on their own. My doctor says I'm in the next stage and its just a matter of time before I will be permanently in afib.So I'm wondering about work,lifestyle etc..My doctor said he will put me on blood thinners and something that will slow my heartbeat. I asked him about work because I work in an Art & frame shop and am constantly working w/glass and razor blades and cut myself quite often..He said I should find a differnt job. Also I'm so tired all the time now I can't imagine how it will be when I'm in perm afib.I know this is a long question but I hope someone won't mind answering. I'm 53 so at least 12 years from retire- ment. thank you, wilograce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 In a message dated 1/24/2003 6:47:34 AM Central Standard Time, wilograce1@... writes: > Also I'm so > tired all the time now I can't imagine how it will be when I'm > in perm afib.I know this is a long question but I hope someone > won't mind answering. I'm 53 so at least 12 years from retire- > ment. > thank you, > wilograce > Are you tired from the afib or the drug to slow your heart rate? Is the drug a beta blocker like atenolol? I think you may eventually accommodate the drug and be OK with it, if you can, try it for a few months and see. The work issue of bleeding is another thing. Can you do your job wearing leather gloves? Also; there is another clotting mechanism called platelets that are thinned or suppressed by aspirin, maybe you would be lucky enough not to bleed to much if you had a high number of them, but I doubt it. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Wilograce, Listen to Rich, for he knows where he's coming from.. When I read your email I thought the same thing. GET another Doctor!! Life can be good with or without AF I also know, I've had Af for 6 years. Today I'm doing great on the meds the Doctor perscripted. The more you learn about AF the better you will be. Good luck to you. This is the best group of people. They are always here to hear you and to lend a helping hand. We are all in this together. love and God Bless. Tink Wilograce, Good day. Three words. Find another Doctor. I don't know your Doctor. If he/she is a cardiologist or electrophysiologist or a general practitioner. But I would get a second opinion from an EP. This site has names of various Doc's from the States and other places around the world. Stay with our site and learn and ask lot's of questions. Your not alone. You can lead a very active life style with AF. There are many options to dealing with AF. Drug therapy, diet, ablations and maze. Many doctors no little about Atrial Fibrillation. What they do know is old school. The advances in AF care and cure are incredible. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. At 53, you still have a lot to enjoy. I'm 53 and lead an active lifestyle as do many others. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 I third that. There are several of us who are diagnosed with permanent afib who live our lives in normal rhythm 100% of the time on meds. I am one of them. Re: new to group Wilograce, Good day. Three words. Find another Doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Hi, My advice is the same ... Find another doctor. There is no longer a hopeless, downward spiral to this condition, and in reality probably hasn't been for several years. I had a PVI ablation about a month and a half ago. Its still too early to tell with 100% certainty that I'm cured of a-fib, but I do know that I'm way better now than I was 2 months ago. Good luck to you. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Wilograce Again. Find another Dr. I went through all the so called stages of AF till I ended up permanent - as predicted by my Dr's. This was on meds, and my quality of life was zilch. I even gave up my job. Today I am AF free, take no meds and am out working again. If you want to change the so called predicted course of AF then there are certain life style changes you have to make. I did mine through natural ways, diet (no additives, preservatives, flavour enhancers, alcohol etc). Just read all you can and find a way to help yourself. We will all help with whichever way you choose to try and battle the beast. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 > > I'm wondering if anyone can talk about quality of life if you > are permanently in afib. I've had 4 episodes of af over the > last 3 years that have sent me to ER. But I have been having > many minor episodes in the past few months that stop on their > own. My doctor says I'm in the next stage and its just a matter > of time before I will be permanently in afib.So I'm wondering > about work,lifestyle etc..My doctor said he will put me on > blood thinners and something that will slow my heartbeat. I > asked him about work because I work in an Art & frame shop and > am constantly working w/glass and razor blades and cut myself > quite often..He said I should find a differnt job. Also I'm so > tired all the time now I can't imagine how it will be when I'm > in perm afib.I know this is a long question but I hope someone > won't mind answering. I'm 53 so at least 12 years from retire- > ment. > thank you, > wilograce Dear Wilograce, I'm 54 , and went into permanent/chronic afib on May 1st---my 1st (known) episode which sent me to Er and was diagnosed then. Ever since that day I have not been able to return to work. I had no idea it would be that way--my Dr had just said to just continue my lifestyle--I was started on coumadin, and rate/rhythm regulating drugs at that time. at first I just kept calling my job day by day that I couldn't work---eventually I just had to tell them to forget about it, that I would call them when I feel better. I had no idea that i would not feel better after a time. so, as the dr saw that my symptoms were really affecting my lifestyle, she decided that the plan would be to try to get me to NSR. Betapace didn't do it for me. so I had 2 cardioversions during the summer---no good---then had a RF catheter PVA in Sept---still in afib. anyway as far as symptoms, I feel VERY fatigued, weak, legs ache a lot and are weak, can't bend over to do anything or reach or do much of anything without feeling totally weak and short of breath, lightheaded, and have to sit. Also, I can't seem to use all this time home to catch up on any reading. I just feel like I can't concentrate on anything.sometimes when I have REALLY bad days I feel like I have the most terrible flu where it's even an effort to lift a cup of anything to drink. And if I cook a meal---really simple---then i feel too pooped to eat it---no appetite for it, even slightly nauseous at the the thought of eating. So we mostly eat out, bring home " doggie " bags which serve a s a meal another night, prepared foods that just need heating up, etc. So as far as work is concerned, I have no idea what the future will bring. if I can't even do ordinary things at home, then how can i possibly go back to work? on really bad days I can't even take a shower and wash my legs/feet--get too short of breath. I keep a log and see no " reason " for days that I feel different. I'm always in afib, and yet most days are what I call bad, some are really bad, and some are good---but very few! even on the good days I " feel " like almost normal that I can do things, but then when I try, I get really short of breath---but it is on those " good " days that I get anything done. a load of laundry can take me a week between washing, hanging to dry, folding, and putting away. on my bad days (which is the majority)I spend most of the day in lounge chair watching TV.I've learned to do important things like tending to medical bills on the " good " days. Sorry to ramble. I hope others will do the same, because I'm also anxious to hear if other people feel this bad---actually I have heard that some have gotten over these symptoms. so far, not me, but maybe you will! Especially since you're not in chronic yet. I must say that on hindsight I know thatI was going in & out for past couple of yrs, because I can remember all the days I felt SO tired at work, and was just pooped and had to sit if I had to bend over to do something. In fact last Jan i thought I had the flu and didn't work for 4-5 weeks! somehow it went away by itself because I did go back to work when i felt better! Good luck to you! you may be one of the luckier ones! Marcelle in FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Marcelle, Have you sought second opinions on your condition? In this day and age of AF, you shouldn't have to suffer like you say. If I'm not mistaken, the Cleveland Clinic has a location in Florida somewhere. When and where did you have your ablation? Maybe Steve can chime in with some suggestions, having just attended the Boston AF Conference. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 wilograce Sorry about your diagnosis, but for me it has not been a work stoppage. I was diagnosed at a routine physical about 2 years ago and my GP sent me off to a Cardio. No underlying heart problems were found and I was prescribed Toporol and Aspirin. The Toporol made me crash, no energy. I auto converted to NSR by the next visit and the Cardio said I could stop taking the Toporol which I did. I had been in and out of AFib on a fairly regular basis, but went permanent about 9 months ago. Right after my GP prescribed Digoxin, go figure. Bottom line, don't swallow any meds before YOU research them. Your Doctor has the best intentions but probably doesn't have AFib. I have been managing my AFIb using diet and supplements and I feel the best I have felt in years. My heart rate is lumpy, but normal, seldom over 90bpm. I have never experienced the high racing rates some folks report (180+). I still take aspirin, and cuts seem to take a little longer to heal, but nothing unlivable. Most things my GP and Cardio told me made me worse. Most things my Naturopath and related web resources have told me have made me feel better. If it is placebo effect, I'll take it. I am male, (47) so I am sure denial and avoidance enter into my approach to this condition <g>. Don't panic. ALL the horrible things that can happen, don't happen to everyone. So don't start imagining symptoms just because someone else reports them. You have a lot of options and you are your own best friend in this deal. At any rate, read the archives for this list and check out http://www.afibbers.org I wish you well and keep praying. Tom C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2003 Report Share Posted January 29, 2003 >Is Rhythmol considered an anti-arrythmic drug? >thanks, Ken yes Ken, it's an antiarrhythmic med (class Ic - inhibits the fast sodium channels ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2003 Report Share Posted January 29, 2003 > >Is Rhythmol considered an anti-arrythmic drug? Thanks, Ken Ken, Rythmol worked great for me for a couple of years and I had no side effects. But it stopped working as well as it had been and I was changed to Amiodarone and it hasn't worked for me. I take that back, the afib isn't as intense as it was before but I am having afib ever 2 to 4 days. Tomorrow I have an appointment with an EP and hope this one goes better than the last one. The last EP just wanted to ablate my AV node and slap in a pacemaker. Nellie Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2003 Report Share Posted February 16, 2003 > > >Is Rhythmol considered an anti-arrythmic drug? > Dear Ken, Propafenone (brand name Rythmol) is an antiarrhythmic drug is the same general family (class 1C) as flecainide (Tambocor). A-FibFriendSteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 Hi Lin, I too live in CA. I am also new to the group, and am 63 yrs old. I've had a-fib for 15 yrs and it was kept under control with calcium channel blocker called verapamil and lanoxin, just recently I was switched to amiodarone which is a very toxic anti arry drug and am seeking a second opionion about it. My a-fibs are very seldom and usually come in the middle of the night. They can be controled withmeds and have never had to be shocked to convert back to NSR. Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 < I read quite a bit of it last night and loved how simple it sounded and am encouraged that if I can stick it out for 14 days I will find some of my cravings disapear and hopfully a few inches and lbs gone as well. > > Elaine Welcome Elaine! I think you " GOT " the main jist of SB Phase 1: IT'S ONLY 14 DAYS! We certainly can do something for only 14 days. If you prepare, and stick with it for 14 DAYS, you will be amazed at the pounds lost, and inches off your tum-tum! Be prepared for the 3rd day BLAHS (carb withdrawals) - just tough it out, and by around day 5, you'll notice those pesky cravings are GONE and you feel GREAT! Kaynella 154/140/135 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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