Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I remember the anxiety I'll feel if afib starts. I will try that the next time I am at the check out in the store and see that Hershey bar looking at me Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I remember the anxiety I'll feel if afib starts. I will try that the next time I am at the check out in the store and see that Hershey bar looking at me Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I remember the anxiety I'll feel if afib starts. I will try that the next time I am at the check out in the store and see that Hershey bar looking at me Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > In a message dated 8/4/2004 11:25:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > joscelynblack@h... writes: > > > > Got > > my mood back up and then my ankles swelled up (EP was unconcerned and > > it went away by lowering my Cardizem) which scared me a LOT. Now I > > sit here in a middling mood wondering 'what next'??? And wondering > > how horrible the next things will be... > > > > > > Joscelyn, > I understand how you feel, but I think it's all a matter of perspective. My > ankles have been swelling ever since I started Verapamil, but as in the case > of afib, I figure it won't kill me and I could have much worse problems. Also, > the depression situation is just the opposite for me. Whenever I have had > an afib episode that lasted more than a few hours, I would feel depressed at > times while in afib. Whenever I have converted to sinus, the depression has > vanished and I become ecstatic, singing " I Got Rhythm! " :-) I try to forget the > future and enjoy the moment. That attitude works for me, and it may be > helping to keep me out of afib. According to my cardiologist, hope and optimism are > very good for the heart, and pessimism has the opposite effect. So when I > start wondering how long my present freedom from afib will last and thinking > that I might wind up in permanent afib because it's in my genes, I try to put > those thoughts out of my mind and focus on how great it is to be in sinus. > Sometimes I take my pulse and just revel in the wonderful predictability of those > beats. I actually feel jubilant the day after an afib episode because I look > on my return to sinus as proof that it's hard for my heart to stay in afib and > that, therefore, it's unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib as my > older brother has done. I will treasure and savor all the sinus moments I can > hoard because I figure that their cumulative effect is prevention of remodeling > of the heart and, therefore, prevention of permanent afib, if there is any > truth in that old saying: afib begets afib. When you're in sinus, you are not > begetting afib, and that in itself is positive, in my opinion. So try to enjoy > every moment of sinus you can. Live for the moment! > Best wishes, > in sinus in Seattle > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > In a message dated 8/4/2004 11:25:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > joscelynblack@h... writes: > > > > Got > > my mood back up and then my ankles swelled up (EP was unconcerned and > > it went away by lowering my Cardizem) which scared me a LOT. Now I > > sit here in a middling mood wondering 'what next'??? And wondering > > how horrible the next things will be... > > > > > > Joscelyn, > I understand how you feel, but I think it's all a matter of perspective. My > ankles have been swelling ever since I started Verapamil, but as in the case > of afib, I figure it won't kill me and I could have much worse problems. Also, > the depression situation is just the opposite for me. Whenever I have had > an afib episode that lasted more than a few hours, I would feel depressed at > times while in afib. Whenever I have converted to sinus, the depression has > vanished and I become ecstatic, singing " I Got Rhythm! " :-) I try to forget the > future and enjoy the moment. That attitude works for me, and it may be > helping to keep me out of afib. According to my cardiologist, hope and optimism are > very good for the heart, and pessimism has the opposite effect. So when I > start wondering how long my present freedom from afib will last and thinking > that I might wind up in permanent afib because it's in my genes, I try to put > those thoughts out of my mind and focus on how great it is to be in sinus. > Sometimes I take my pulse and just revel in the wonderful predictability of those > beats. I actually feel jubilant the day after an afib episode because I look > on my return to sinus as proof that it's hard for my heart to stay in afib and > that, therefore, it's unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib as my > older brother has done. I will treasure and savor all the sinus moments I can > hoard because I figure that their cumulative effect is prevention of remodeling > of the heart and, therefore, prevention of permanent afib, if there is any > truth in that old saying: afib begets afib. When you're in sinus, you are not > begetting afib, and that in itself is positive, in my opinion. So try to enjoy > every moment of sinus you can. Live for the moment! > Best wishes, > in sinus in Seattle > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > In a message dated 8/4/2004 11:25:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > joscelynblack@h... writes: > > > > Got > > my mood back up and then my ankles swelled up (EP was unconcerned and > > it went away by lowering my Cardizem) which scared me a LOT. Now I > > sit here in a middling mood wondering 'what next'??? And wondering > > how horrible the next things will be... > > > > > > Joscelyn, > I understand how you feel, but I think it's all a matter of perspective. My > ankles have been swelling ever since I started Verapamil, but as in the case > of afib, I figure it won't kill me and I could have much worse problems. Also, > the depression situation is just the opposite for me. Whenever I have had > an afib episode that lasted more than a few hours, I would feel depressed at > times while in afib. Whenever I have converted to sinus, the depression has > vanished and I become ecstatic, singing " I Got Rhythm! " :-) I try to forget the > future and enjoy the moment. That attitude works for me, and it may be > helping to keep me out of afib. According to my cardiologist, hope and optimism are > very good for the heart, and pessimism has the opposite effect. So when I > start wondering how long my present freedom from afib will last and thinking > that I might wind up in permanent afib because it's in my genes, I try to put > those thoughts out of my mind and focus on how great it is to be in sinus. > Sometimes I take my pulse and just revel in the wonderful predictability of those > beats. I actually feel jubilant the day after an afib episode because I look > on my return to sinus as proof that it's hard for my heart to stay in afib and > that, therefore, it's unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib as my > older brother has done. I will treasure and savor all the sinus moments I can > hoard because I figure that their cumulative effect is prevention of remodeling > of the heart and, therefore, prevention of permanent afib, if there is any > truth in that old saying: afib begets afib. When you're in sinus, you are not > begetting afib, and that in itself is positive, in my opinion. So try to enjoy > every moment of sinus you can. Live for the moment! > Best wishes, > in sinus in Seattle > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, sellmak@... writes: > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > Kirk, Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in just six short years with many other options available. My current cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can-do attitude has been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber to some degree, some more than others. I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking can help in some measure. in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib 50 percent of the time three years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, sellmak@... writes: > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > Kirk, Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in just six short years with many other options available. My current cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can-do attitude has been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber to some degree, some more than others. I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking can help in some measure. in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib 50 percent of the time three years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, sellmak@... writes: > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > Kirk, Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in just six short years with many other options available. My current cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can-do attitude has been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber to some degree, some more than others. I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking can help in some measure. in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib 50 percent of the time three years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 It's great that your brother is a positive example for you. A positive attitude may not work all the time, but it makes life more enjoyable. > In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > sellmak@o... writes: > > > > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > > > > > Kirk, > Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or > in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy > for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is > paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib > freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and > gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation > and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first > cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. > He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get > older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother > has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at > that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a > pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was > state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in > just six short years with many other options available. My current > cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I > will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were > going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ > years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention > all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists > for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. > > That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but > even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He > has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him > that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or > remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can- do attitude has > been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to > stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but > when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit > easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad > days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly > outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent > afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder > and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his > huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was > worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no > challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " > I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted > firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the > third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type > of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal > heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically > challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying > to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber > to some degree, some more than others. > > I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, > even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier > for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to > distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother > exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he > is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can > see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That > really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked > at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it > has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my > brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his > positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that > monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself > from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and > crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard > to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking > can help in some measure. > > in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib > 50 percent of the time three years ago) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 It's great that your brother is a positive example for you. A positive attitude may not work all the time, but it makes life more enjoyable. > In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > sellmak@o... writes: > > > > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > > > > > Kirk, > Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or > in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy > for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is > paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib > freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and > gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation > and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first > cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. > He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get > older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother > has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at > that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a > pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was > state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in > just six short years with many other options available. My current > cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I > will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were > going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ > years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention > all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists > for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. > > That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but > even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He > has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him > that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or > remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can- do attitude has > been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to > stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but > when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit > easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad > days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly > outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent > afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder > and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his > huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was > worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no > challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " > I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted > firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the > third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type > of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal > heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically > challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying > to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber > to some degree, some more than others. > > I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, > even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier > for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to > distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother > exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he > is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can > see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That > really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked > at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it > has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my > brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his > positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that > monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself > from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and > crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard > to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking > can help in some measure. > > in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib > 50 percent of the time three years ago) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 It's great that your brother is a positive example for you. A positive attitude may not work all the time, but it makes life more enjoyable. > In a message dated 8/5/2004 7:43:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > sellmak@o... writes: > > > > I second 's suggestion of developing a positive attitude in > > dealing with a-fib. It would be easy to let it get me down, but I > > keep hope in front of me that I will become a-fib-free down the road. > > > > > > Kirk, > Yes, and I think that the positive attitude helps whether one is in sinus or > in permanent afib. Of course, a positive attitude probably isn't equally easy > for all because some feel afib symptoms more than others do. But if one is > paroxysmal, or even permanently in afib in some cases, the hope for afib > freedom in the future is very well-founded, I think. One hears so much doom and > gloom about the future for afibbers, but much of that is based on misinformation > and lack of real understanding of afib. For example, six years ago my first > cardiologist told me that ultimately there was nothing to be done for my afib. > He said, " No matter what we do, your afib will gradually worsen as you get > older, and you will definitely wind up in permanent afib as your older brother > has done. " In his " no matter what we do, " he included ablation for which at > that time the only option was burning out the sinus node and installing a > pacemaker, leaving one in afib but without symptoms. Just six years ago that was > state of the art, the best cure for afib. Now look at how far we have come in > just six short years with many other options available. My current > cardiologist, a purveyor of hope, tells me that he thinks it is extremely unlikely that I > will wind up in permanent afib because I would have done so by now if I were > going to do so. In fact, my afib has declined to almost no episodes (8 in 2+ > years) from being in afib 50 percent of the time three years ago. I mention > all of this again to remind everyone of the strong basis for hope that exists > for afibbers because of the great advances that are happening in medicine. > > That thought helps me to stay positive as I treasure every sinus moment, but > even my older brother who is in permanent afib manages to stay positive. He > has given up hope of converting to sinus, partially because his doctor told him > that he has been in afib too long and too much electrical rewiring or > remodeling has occurred. However, his example of a positive, can- do attitude has > been my main source of strength in the fight, and it is a fight sometimes, to > stay positive. Most of the time he doesn't even think about being in afib, but > when he has a bad day, he just goes on with his life, sometimes taking it a bit > easier, particularly if his arms and or legs feel weak. He thinks his bad > days are due to an inexplicably faster pulse, but the bad days are vastly > outnumbered by the good days. You wouldn't believe the things he does in permanent > afib. For example, he just finished spending a couple of weeks on a ladder > and scaffolding, sometimes in 90+ degree weather, painting the top story of his > huge old n house. I still can't believe he survived that. I was > worried to death about him the whole time, but he seemed to think it was no > challenge at all. I kept thinking, " What if he faints and falls off that ladder? " > I barely survived the 90 degree heat wave in Seattle with my feet planted > firmly on the solid earth, and it makes me dizzy just to look from a window on the > third story of his hilltop house. But this is just one example of the type > of activity in which he engages that might give pause to even the most normal > heart. I'm not advocating that everyone rush out and start doing drastically > challenging activities without first checking with your doctor, but I am trying > to illustrate the point that a positive, can-do attitude can help any afibber > to some degree, some more than others. > > I think the beginning of a positive attitude is trying to forget about afib, > even while experiencing it, as much as possible. Again, I know that is easier > for some than for others. When one focuses on afib and doesn't try to > distract one's thoughts from afib, afib worsens, I think. Again my brother > exemplifies that. The one time that he gets at all upset about his afib is when he > is hooked up to a heart monitor, for example, prior to surgery. Then he can > see the tracing of the erratic beats and hear the erratic beep signal. That > really gets to him, and invariably his pulse races. He says he is always shocked > at how erratic his heart is and wonders how it keeps ticking along. But it > has done so for at least thirty years in afib. My point here is that when my > brother focuses on afib because he is forced to confront that erratic beat, his > positive attitude is considerably weakened. When he gets away from that > monitor, he forgets he is in afib. That's why I have tried to distract myself > from afib since my early years when I at first used to sit around moping and > crying each time I had an episode. Even if one has the kind of afib that is hard > to forget, I think any degree of distraction and resultant positive thinking > can help in some measure. > > in afib in Seattle (my eighth episode in over two years, down from afib > 50 percent of the time three years ago) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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