Re: Urgent need for conversion - what am I missing?

[Guest guest]

I think Larry's advice is sound, especially if you are new to the afib arena or

are at all unsure... for all my ailments I have found that my own body will sort

of tell me when something is out of the ordinary, and I'm pretty quick to

investigate.. I have afib, and have had it for several years.. I know the feel

of it like an old shoe (although old shoes are much more comfortable) but I can

tell you that during my recent episode I had some " other " things going on that

made me seek immediate attention.. the afib simply felt " different " ... that's

the only way I can describe it.... I also seek attention if I know my heart rate

is too high, which is really obvious to me, and is not a good thing to let

continue for any length of time.

I'm not sure I agree with going to the ER each time an episode hits, especially

if you know how to control your heart rate, or pop out of them quickly, but I'd

high tail it in if anything felt even remotely different! Especially if you are

on any type of anti-arrythmic drugs... the Tikosyn I'm on has the potential for

some very bad ventricular rhythms, so there is no messing around.

Stef

regasega wrote:

If you are continuous Afib, then you are right. But if you are not,

and at some point an abnormal heart rhythm begins, you are taking big

chances with your life if you don't go straight to the ER ... and in

fact, just because you may have had AFib several or many times in

your life ... doesn't mean you've got it again. This does boil down

to self-diagnosis, IMHO. You can't possibly know for sure that the

irregularity that just began is AFib. You can do what you want ...

everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I will return to the

ER ... I will likely be told every time that it's AFib ... but I know

that I am doing the sensible thing ... just in case it's not.

Larry

> >

> > My 2 cents: If you determine that you are in an irregular heart

> > rhythm, how do you know it's AFib? What if it's something that is

> > potentially more serious ... or even if it is AFib, what if the

> Afib

> > is an indicator of something else going on with your heart? Make

> your

> > own diagnosis? Not me. I choose the let the docs make the

> diagnosis.

> > Sometimes time is precious when dealing with the heart.

> >

> > The other major reason to go right to the ER (from what I have

read

> > and heard) is that the sooner that anti-arythmic drugs are tried

> for

> > it, the better the chances are of converting back to NSR.

> >

> > Just my 2 cents.

> >

> > Larry

> >

> > > My question - I read here where folks go into afib and might

rush

> > off

> > > to the ER or have their cardio doc want to put them on

something

> in

> > > addition to an anti-coagulant immediately. Why? As I understand

> it

> > > afib is not life threatening if one can avoid a stroke. What am

I

> > > missing. Currently my intention, assuming my symptoms don't

> change,

> > > is to continue with warfarin (until and unless something better

> > comes

> > > on the scene) for the rest of my life and avoid surgery or

> > > pharmaceutical treatment. But then, maybe there is something

> about

> > > this condition that prompts such urgency that I am missing.

> > >

> > > I really appreciate the existence of this group and I welcome

> your

> > > comments.

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[Guest guest]

Larry, I agree completely. That's why doctors use EKG machines...to

confirm just what type of rhythm you're in. On the other hand if a

person goes in and out of afib several times a day or week then I can

understand not running to the ER. Every one's situation is

different.

On one of my ER visits for what I thought was AFIB turned out to

be " heart block " a potentially very serious condition. Now, I was in

persistent afib several times before that, confirmed by EKG's, and I

was sure that this was the same problem again. I walked into the ER

thinking I'd get a quick zap and be home in a few hours. No way. They

did an EKG and told me no afib...heart block. I said great, what the

hell is that and when can I go home. Needless to say, they got me a

room and I was put on constant monitoring. I needed an adjustment in

my anti arrhythmic medication, amiodorone, which was causing the

problem. When I go into afib I go the ER or at the very least I call

the doctor who always tell you what? Go to the ER!!!

HEART BLOCK:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4611

P <MI>

..............................................

> If you are continuous Afib, then you are right. But if you are not,

> and at some point an abnormal heart rhythm begins, you are taking

big

> chances with your life if you don't go straight to the ER ... and

in

> fact, just because you may have had AFib several or many times in

> your life ... doesn't mean you've got it again. >

Larry

>

[Guest guest]

great link on heart block.. I didn't know what it was, but for anyone medicated,

it's worth the read...

jpindorski wrote:Larry, I agree completely. That's why

doctors use EKG machines...to

confirm just what type of rhythm you're in. On the other hand if a

person goes in and out of afib several times a day or week then I can

understand not running to the ER. Every one's situation is

different.

On one of my ER visits for what I thought was AFIB turned out to

be " heart block " a potentially very serious condition. Now, I was in

persistent afib several times before that, confirmed by EKG's, and I

was sure that this was the same problem again. I walked into the ER

thinking I'd get a quick zap and be home in a few hours. No way. They

did an EKG and told me no afib...heart block. I said great, what the

hell is that and when can I go home. Needless to say, they got me a

room and I was put on constant monitoring. I needed an adjustment in

my anti arrhythmic medication, amiodorone, which was causing the

problem. When I go into afib I go the ER or at the very least I call

the doctor who always tell you what? Go to the ER!!!

HEART BLOCK:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4611

P <MI>

..............................................

> If you are continuous Afib, then you are right. But if you are not,

> and at some point an abnormal heart rhythm begins, you are taking

big

> chances with your life if you don't go straight to the ER ... and

in

> fact, just because you may have had AFib several or many times in

> your life ... doesn't mean you've got it again. >

Larry

>

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List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

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Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

That's all I am saying. When my Dad had his first heart attack, he

had discomfort in the chest (which the doc thought was indigestion),

and later on we discovered an irregular heartbeat. We all sat for

hours waiting for the " indigestion " to resolve. Turns out we should

have taken his pulse sooner, and that the doc gave bad advice by

telling us to wait it out. He should have told us to go straight to

the ER. His " new " cardiologist after that incident was quite

different. If my Dad feels even the slightest discomfort, dizziness,

heart rhythm irregularity, etc., my Dad calls the doc ... and the doc

almost always says " go straight to the ER " . 95% of the time, he's

been out within a few hours. But we learned our lesson. With today's

clot-busting drugs, time is of the essence.

Even if you have had repeated episodes of Afib, how do you know when

the next one is indicative of something else? Believe me, I just went

through two ER visits in the last week ... the 2nd one was while I

was in AFib and felt some numbness on the side of my head. Did I

throw a clot? Could I have poo-pooed it? Sure. But I called the

cardio ... told him I can eat, drink, walk, hear, see move just

fine ... just feels like the side of my head fell asleep. He told me

to go straight to the ER, and I did. What a pain in the butt. Sent

for CT ... waited for hours on the monitor for them to get past

the " urgent cases " in the ER and give me my negative results. I

apologized over and over to the nurses. But you know what? I think I

did the right thing and I'm glad I did it. And it had the extra added

benefit that I somehow converted back to NSR on my way over to the

ER :-)!

Larry

> > >

> > > My 2 cents: If you determine that you are in an irregular heart

> > > rhythm, how do you know it's AFib? What if it's something that

is

> > > potentially more serious ... or even if it is AFib, what if the

> > Afib

> > > is an indicator of something else going on with your heart?

Make

> > your

> > > own diagnosis? Not me. I choose the let the docs make the

> > diagnosis.

> > > Sometimes time is precious when dealing with the heart.

> > >

> > > The other major reason to go right to the ER (from what I have

> read

> > > and heard) is that the sooner that anti-arythmic drugs are

tried

> > for

> > > it, the better the chances are of converting back to NSR.

> > >

> > > Just my 2 cents.

> > >

> > > Larry

> > >

> > > > My question - I read here where folks go into afib and might

> rush

> > > off

> > > > to the ER or have their cardio doc want to put them on

> something

> > in

> > > > addition to an anti-coagulant immediately. Why? As I

understand

> > it

> > > > afib is not life threatening if one can avoid a stroke. What

am

> I

> > > > missing. Currently my intention, assuming my symptoms don't

> > change,

> > > > is to continue with warfarin (until and unless something

better

> > > comes

> > > > on the scene) for the rest of my life and avoid surgery or

> > > > pharmaceutical treatment. But then, maybe there is something

> > about

> > > > this condition that prompts such urgency that I am missing.

> > > >

> > > > I really appreciate the existence of this group and I welcome

> > your

> > > > comments.

>

>

>

> Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via

email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

P:

Thanks for alerting us on heart block: I take digoxin and didn't

realize this could happen. I, for one have been putting off going to

ER because of the wait time (of course) and because so many on this

board and others suggest " waiting " . But now I'm wondering if this is

wise. Last time I waited, I was diagnosed with pneumonia which was

causing the chest discomfort, not afib!

" Type I second-degree heart block, or Molitz Type I, or Wenckebach's

AV block. Electrical impulses are delayed more and more with each

heartbeat until a beat is skipped. This condition is not too serious

but sometimes causes dizziness and/or other symptoms.

Type II second-degree heart block, or Molitz Type II. This is less

common than Type I but generally more serious. Because electrical

impulses can't reach the ventricles, an abnormally slow heartbeat may

result. In some cases a pacemaker is needed. "

Thanks again for the link.

Debbi, OU Alum in OKC

*****************************************************************

> On one of my ER visits for what I thought was AFIB turned out to

> be " heart block " a potentially very serious condition. Now, I was

in

> persistent afib several times before that, confirmed by EKG's, and

I

> was sure that this was the same problem again. I walked into the

ER

> thinking I'd get a quick zap and be home in a few hours. No way.

They

> did an EKG and told me no afib...heart block. I said great, what

the

> hell is that and when can I go home. Needless to say, they got me

a

> room and I was put on constant monitoring. I needed an adjustment

in

> my anti arrhythmic medication, amiodorone, which was causing the

> problem. When I go into afib I go the ER or at the very least I

call

> the doctor who always tell you what? Go to the ER!!!

> HEART BLOCK:

> http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4611

>

> P <MI>

[Guest guest]

It is not my intent to be critical of anyone who goes to ER - I

posted for info and folks have provided it. In my case, thus far, I

would see myself in the ER every other day or so. If one is inclined

to do that then I can see also why they would chose to take an anti-

arrythmic, at least I would if for no other reason than to avoid 10-

15 days a month in the ER.

Like you when this body goes in and out of fib I know the feel of it

like " an old shoe " . Granted, when something " different " strikes me,

apparently heart related or otherwise possibly serious I'm off to

have it diagnosed by a professional, that day.

> > >

> > > My 2 cents: If you determine that you are in an irregular heart

> > > rhythm, how do you know it's AFib? What if it's something that

is

> > > potentially more serious ... or even if it is AFib, what if the

> > Afib

> > > is an indicator of something else going on with your heart?

Make

> > your

> > > own diagnosis? Not me. I choose the let the docs make the

> > diagnosis.

> > > Sometimes time is precious when dealing with the heart.

> > >

> > > The other major reason to go right to the ER (from what I have

> read

> > > and heard) is that the sooner that anti-arythmic drugs are

tried

> > for

> > > it, the better the chances are of converting back to NSR.

> > >

> > > Just my 2 cents.

> > >

> > > Larry

> > >

> > > > My question - I read here where folks go into afib and might

> rush

> > > off

> > > > to the ER or have their cardio doc want to put them on

> something

> > in

> > > > addition to an anti-coagulant immediately. Why? As I

understand

> > it

> > > > afib is not life threatening if one can avoid a stroke. What

am

> I

> > > > missing. Currently my intention, assuming my symptoms don't

> > change,

> > > > is to continue with warfarin (until and unless something

better

> > > comes

> > > > on the scene) for the rest of my life and avoid surgery or

> > > > pharmaceutical treatment. But then, maybe there is something

> > about

> > > > this condition that prompts such urgency that I am missing.

> > > >

> > > > I really appreciate the existence of this group and I welcome

> > your

> > > > comments.

>

>

>

> Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via

email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

colonel Blip,

I think it depends on each person. Some people experience wwII in

their chests while in afib others are non symtomatic like you and me.

Also afib can get worse over the years. For about a year I've been

persistent afib never converting without electro so the doctors feel

I need to convert right away now so to allow the sinus to get ahead

of the afib and poss. stay in sinus permanently. Especicially, since

I was hyperthryoid to begin with and that is now fixed so the major

cause is gone.

Colonel Blip, Do you know what is the cause of your afib?

> In a message dated 3/19/04 11:15:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> ColonelBlip@b... writes:

> Snip

> My question - I read here where folks go into afib and might rush

off

> to the ER or have their cardio doc want to put them on something in

> addition to an anti-coagulant immediately. Why? As I understand it

> afib is not life threatening if one can avoid a stroke. What am I

> missing. Currently my intention, assuming my symptoms don't change,

> is to continue with warfarin (until and unless something better

comes

> on the scene) for the rest of my life and avoid surgery or

> pharmaceutical treatment. But then, maybe there is something about

> this condition that prompts such urgency that I am missing.

>

> I really appreciate the existence of this group and I welcome your

> comments.

> ******************

> I think its a matter of personal preference weather to go to the ER

or not.

> My longest afib attack has been 9 hours. I have had afib since my

early 20's

> but just diagnosed at 47 almost 3 years ago. Since then I have

gone into afib

> around 10 times and had many medication changes. I have not gone

to the ER

> on all occasions but have on several. I go in the hopes of a

faster conversion

> with the meds. I have had a problem just recently with an embolism

to my

> eye. The tests all came back good and they can't say it was from

the afib but

> they said IM an afib patient and they are leaning that way. The

theory is 48

> hours before you produce a clot but that is not in stone so I tend

to take more

> precaution now.

> a in Massachusetts 49 NSR Sotolol 85 x 2 Adult Aspirin

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

No I don't. All of my blood chemistry is good. I was on lipitor, then

baycol, then zocor for cholestrol but I am off all of those now (diet

and exercise) and cholestrol is in control. Baycol was withdrawn

because of heart induced problems but I've not researched to see if

it may have been a culprit in all of this.

I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome maybe 10 years

ago. I was able to get off of caffiene and do a very mild amount of

excercise and all symptoms left. I no longer have that problem but

would take it back in an instant in a trade for the afib. <g>

I'm still in the 'trigger' identification mode right now and I am not

even positive I can be sure that the things I am testing as triggers

will turn out to be so.

> colonel Blip,

>

> Colonel Blip, Do you know what is the cause of your afib?

>