Guest guest Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I have managed to go AF-free for long periods but when I do have an event I invariably have a number in quick succession. One cardio has suggested the atria remain hyper-sensitive for a number of weeks following an event making recurrences more likely. Is this `cluster' effect experienced by fellow AF sufferers? AG in Wales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 > In the past two months my pattern has been similar to yours. Hope it is " clustering " and not a deterioration in the effctiveness of the med and/or the condition. What meds do you take? > > Joe Y Hi Joe, All I'm taking now is Enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and Cardizem (a calcium channel blocker). Also, I tried Toprol XL (a beta blocker) but it seemed to make me worse, so I only use it occasionally if I have a longish period of rapid heart rate (150+) during an event. My Dr. would want to hospitalize me to start Flecainide and my insurance stinks, so I'm willing to try a while longer to get a handle on things with less drastic measures. I'm doing 's healthy foods diet (very limited animal protein, only healthy fats in moderation, and lots and lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains. I'll give it a few more months to see if it helps things improve. I think it's a diet that makes sense even if it doesn't help this problem in my case. I just ordered Hans Larsen's book " LONE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, TOWARDS A CURE " and want to become better versed in the subtleties of the condition before committing to an antiarryhmic with even the remote potential to accidentally induce a fatal arrythmia. I'm also thinking an ablation or mini-maze surgery may be my best long-term solution, but would like to delay facing that until the techniques are more refined, risks lower and results more predictable. With over 2 million US AFers there's lots of incentive for this area to develop pretty fast and at age 61 I think I can afford to wait a while just so long as I don't become chronic. I'm learning to avoid some episodes, reverse some more quickly and ride out the rest with less discomfort. Since this is my first New England Winter with AF I'm hoping there's a seasonal pattern. Perhaps there will be a bit of a lull when it starts to warm up. Hartshorn PS In my last message I meant to say that serotonin peaks in the AM and melatonin at Night, and I said the opposite. Sorry if I misled anyone. < Is this `cluster' effect experienced by fellow AF sufferers?> > AG in Wales > That is certainly the case with me, although in recent months going > more than a few days without an episode has been problematic. My pattern > for the 10 months since my lone AF was diagnosed has been > to have clusters of more or less daily or every-other-day episodes > for a week or two, and then to go for up to a month with nothing but > an occasional PVC. > > My episodes happen mostly between 9 PM and 8 AM, though I've had a > few at other times that seem to convert more easily. Typically I > convert after 2-8 hours either spontaneously or when I start moving > around after a period of inactivity. Sometimes if I catch it when > it's starting I can walk it off, but it will frequently recur within > a few hours when I'm quiet again. > > There are daily tides of many hormones and associated factors which > ebb and flow in regular patterns in response to activity levels, > eating, emotional states, etc. I've been thinking about how these > may affect AF. One big daily fluctuation is in the adrenal hormones, > especially cortisol which has a big surge around the time of > awakening and then successively smaller pulses throughout the day. > The periods of lower cortisol levels seem to be when I am most > vulnerable. I'm more likely to have problems when I'm over tired, > which probably coincides with periods of cortisol depletion. There > are many other biochemicals fluctutating in similar rhythms > (melatonin and serotonin for example, which peak in the morning and > night respectively, and contribute to alertness and sleepiness). > This area seems worth investigating though I've had no great insights > so far. > > Hartshorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 > In the past two months my pattern has been similar to yours. Hope it is " clustering " and not a deterioration in the effctiveness of the med and/or the condition. What meds do you take? > > Joe Y Hi Joe, All I'm taking now is Enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and Cardizem (a calcium channel blocker). Also, I tried Toprol XL (a beta blocker) but it seemed to make me worse, so I only use it occasionally if I have a longish period of rapid heart rate (150+) during an event. My Dr. would want to hospitalize me to start Flecainide and my insurance stinks, so I'm willing to try a while longer to get a handle on things with less drastic measures. I'm doing 's healthy foods diet (very limited animal protein, only healthy fats in moderation, and lots and lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains. I'll give it a few more months to see if it helps things improve. I think it's a diet that makes sense even if it doesn't help this problem in my case. I just ordered Hans Larsen's book " LONE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, TOWARDS A CURE " and want to become better versed in the subtleties of the condition before committing to an antiarryhmic with even the remote potential to accidentally induce a fatal arrythmia. I'm also thinking an ablation or mini-maze surgery may be my best long-term solution, but would like to delay facing that until the techniques are more refined, risks lower and results more predictable. With over 2 million US AFers there's lots of incentive for this area to develop pretty fast and at age 61 I think I can afford to wait a while just so long as I don't become chronic. I'm learning to avoid some episodes, reverse some more quickly and ride out the rest with less discomfort. Since this is my first New England Winter with AF I'm hoping there's a seasonal pattern. Perhaps there will be a bit of a lull when it starts to warm up. Hartshorn PS In my last message I meant to say that serotonin peaks in the AM and melatonin at Night, and I said the opposite. Sorry if I misled anyone. < Is this `cluster' effect experienced by fellow AF sufferers?> > AG in Wales > That is certainly the case with me, although in recent months going > more than a few days without an episode has been problematic. My pattern > for the 10 months since my lone AF was diagnosed has been > to have clusters of more or less daily or every-other-day episodes > for a week or two, and then to go for up to a month with nothing but > an occasional PVC. > > My episodes happen mostly between 9 PM and 8 AM, though I've had a > few at other times that seem to convert more easily. Typically I > convert after 2-8 hours either spontaneously or when I start moving > around after a period of inactivity. Sometimes if I catch it when > it's starting I can walk it off, but it will frequently recur within > a few hours when I'm quiet again. > > There are daily tides of many hormones and associated factors which > ebb and flow in regular patterns in response to activity levels, > eating, emotional states, etc. I've been thinking about how these > may affect AF. One big daily fluctuation is in the adrenal hormones, > especially cortisol which has a big surge around the time of > awakening and then successively smaller pulses throughout the day. > The periods of lower cortisol levels seem to be when I am most > vulnerable. I'm more likely to have problems when I'm over tired, > which probably coincides with periods of cortisol depletion. There > are many other biochemicals fluctutating in similar rhythms > (melatonin and serotonin for example, which peak in the morning and > night respectively, and contribute to alertness and sleepiness). > This area seems worth investigating though I've had no great insights > so far. > > Hartshorn ------- End of forwarded message ------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hi : It seems that you know you want. Hope your clusters diminish in frequency and load, so that you can wait avoid use of antiarrhythmic drugs and afford the docs more time to learn their ablation. All the best Joe Y. RE: AF clusters > In the past two months my pattern has been similar to yours. Hope it is " clustering " and not a deterioration in the effctiveness of the med and/or the condition. What meds do you take? > > Joe Y Hi Joe, All I'm taking now is Enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and Cardizem (a calcium channel blocker). Also, I tried Toprol XL (a beta blocker) but it seemed to make me worse, so I only use it occasionally if I have a longish period of rapid heart rate (150+) during an event. My Dr. would want to hospitalize me to start Flecainide and my insurance stinks, so I'm willing to try a while longer to get a handle on things with less drastic measures. I'm doing 's healthy foods diet (very limited animal protein, only healthy fats in moderation, and lots and lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains. I'll give it a few more months to see if it helps things improve. I think it's a diet that makes sense even if it doesn't help this problem in my case. I just ordered Hans Larsen's book " LONE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, TOWARDS A CURE " and want to become better versed in the subtleties of the condition before committing to an antiarryhmic with even the remote potential to accidentally induce a fatal arrythmia. I'm also thinking an ablation or mini-maze surgery may be my best long-term solution, but would like to delay facing that until the techniques are more refined, risks lower and results more predictable. With over 2 million US AFers there's lots of incentive for this area to develop pretty fast and at age 61 I think I can afford to wait a while just so long as I don't become chronic. I'm learning to avoid some episodes, reverse some more quickly and ride out the rest with less discomfort. Since this is my first New England Winter with AF I'm hoping there's a seasonal pattern. Perhaps there will be a bit of a lull when it starts to warm up. Hartshorn PS In my last message I meant to say that serotonin peaks in the AM and melatonin at Night, and I said the opposite. Sorry if I misled anyone. < Is this `cluster' effect experienced by fellow AF sufferers?> > AG in Wales > That is certainly the case with me, although in recent months going > more than a few days without an episode has been problematic. My pattern > for the 10 months since my lone AF was diagnosed has been > to have clusters of more or less daily or every-other-day episodes > for a week or two, and then to go for up to a month with nothing but > an occasional PVC. > > My episodes happen mostly between 9 PM and 8 AM, though I've had a > few at other times that seem to convert more easily. Typically I > convert after 2-8 hours either spontaneously or when I start moving > around after a period of inactivity. Sometimes if I catch it when > it's starting I can walk it off, but it will frequently recur within > a few hours when I'm quiet again. > > There are daily tides of many hormones and associated factors which > ebb and flow in regular patterns in response to activity levels, > eating, emotional states, etc. I've been thinking about how these > may affect AF. One big daily fluctuation is in the adrenal hormones, > especially cortisol which has a big surge around the time of > awakening and then successively smaller pulses throughout the day. > The periods of lower cortisol levels seem to be when I am most > vulnerable. I'm more likely to have problems when I'm over tired, > which probably coincides with periods of cortisol depletion. There > are many other biochemicals fluctutating in similar rhythms > (melatonin and serotonin for example, which peak in the morning and > night respectively, and contribute to alertness and sleepiness). > This area seems worth investigating though I've had no great insights > so far. > > Hartshorn ------- End of forwarded message ------- Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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