Introduction

March 10, 2006

Hello everyone. My name is Mark. I am 54, live in NH and I was

diagnosed with Lone Afib in late August of `05. Since then I have

had two other occurrences. With the first two incidences I was

hospitalize. The third I just said the heck with it and rolled over

being able to slip in and out of sleep until the episode passed - in

about 5 hours. All three Afib episodes occurred while sleeping. As

I am sure you can all imagine, I am not happy about any of this. Of

course, I have been doing quite a lot of reading about Afib, and

unfortunately, my head is spinning from it all. (Or is it from the

medication?) There is so much written, so much unknown, so much

uncertainty that it really is rather difficult to get a handle on

this thing.

At present I am seeing a cardiologist that I am not yet fully

confident in. However, the cardiologist was referred to me by my

PCP, and I have much confidence in him. Treatment so far consists of

12.5 mg of Toprol XL once in the A.M. and once again in the P.M. In

addition, one aspirin accompanies the A.M. dose of Toprol. Apart

from the two cardiologists I saw during my two stays in the hospital,

I have seen a third cardiologist in way of a second opinion to my

present cardiologist. My primary cardiologist, if I may refer to him

that way, and the secondary cardiologist both seem to make light of

this condition - so far anyway. They have both described it as just

a " nuisance " , nothing life threatening, just a lifestyle changing,

pain-in-the-butt. Of course, I on the other hand, don't quite see it

as just a nuisance.

On the bright side of this, if one can be so bright, all the tests I

underwent while hospitalized indicated that I am in excellent cardiac

health. (Seems odd, no?) There is no indication of any heart

disease, no valve problems, no clogged arteries, BP is well were it

should be. The heart seems to be strong and in great shape.

Ahhhhhh....well, except that it seems to have developed this

intermittent timing problem. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; I

have lousy rhythm, never was much of a dancer. Anyway, I am

certainly not happy with having to take medication, this Beta-

Blocker, this Toprol XL Even though I watch my diet closely and

exercise frequently, and have for years, swimming more or less a mile

3-4 times a week, I am gaining weight. I understand that Beta-

Blockers can do that, inducing weight gain by stimulating insulin

resistance. (Lovely! Just what I need. Although I am not diabetic,

I come from a family rife with diabetes.) In addition to the weight

gain, the Toprol, its function to slow the heart rate and lower BP,

has done just that. Where my normal resting HR was around 80 bpm, it

is now 60 bpm. I'm not overly keen on that. While resting, I need

to frequently reach for my breath. I guess it is safe to say I am

short of breath on occasion. And, there is this frequent but rather

minor " feeling " in my chest while at rest. (Pressure it is not.)

But once again, on the other hand, while exercising, there is no

problem with breathing in the least and I have to work very hard to

get my HR anywhere near or over 125 bpm. That's supposed to be a

good thing - I guess. However, it is a little unnerving that such is

drug induced and not a natural state of affairs. One more side

effect of the Toprol that I am not keen on is the dizziness I

sometimes experience during sudden moves from rest. To remedy that,

I am told to drink lots and lots of water. Yes, doing so works

pretty much to damped the incidences of dizziness. But the frequent

trips to the bathroom, now that IS a nuisance.

Well, it would appear I am rambling pretty much here in my self-

introduction. But I must admit, it feels nice to get some of this

off my chest (pun intended.) Also, I am quite pleased to have found

this support group. To be sure, it's a bit of a comfort to have a

resource other than that of just medical professionals who might, or

might not, suffer from tunnel vision from time to time regards

treatments and/or cures regards Afib. Perhaps I am a naive newcomer,

but I want to be rid of this condition and the need for life-long

medication. I am told such might not be possible, and in fact, there

is a real possibility that as time goes on, the condition may well

advance. Hearing such does not give me that most desirable, warm and

fuzzy feeling. And, of course, the static I get from my better-

half! " Did you take your medication? How are you feeling? (And 30

minutes later.) How are you feeling now? Why did you make that

face? Are you alright?! When is your next doctor`s appointment?

Don`t forget your next doctor`s appointment. " I don't think want

that to go on for the next 30 years either.

Once again, I am glad I have found this site and the hope and

information it provides. I am looking forward to learning much and

sharing what I can. Maybe this thing I am experiencing is just a

nuisance and maybe it`s not; but for sure, it is a nuisance I want to

understand and be free of.

Mark

Salem, NH

March 10, 2006

In a message dated 3/10/2006 5:03:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mark@... writes:

am also 54 (though from the uk) and have similar symptoms to you.

I too have no heart problems other than the arrythmia, as do

probably about 30% of people with AF (hence Lone AF). Typically we

tend to be sporty types. The good thing is that according to the

latest research, we have half the chance of dying compared

with " normal " people!

I just had a crazy thought I would like to share. Whenever I read an email

from our brethren in the UK, I read it with a UK accent in my mind. Weird!

Rich O

March 10, 2006

Hello Mark,

Welcome Aboard. You have found the right group.

What you are describing is " Lone Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation " .

Lone meaning there is no underlying heart disease or structral

problem, and paroxysmal meaning your afib starts/stops by itself.

Also the fact that your episodes start at rest (or even asleep), and

the fact thet you are a frequent exerciser may put you in

the " vagally mediated " afib class.

You might want to look in the " Files " section (on the left hand side

of this page) and search the " Vagal AF " folder (or do your own google

search for vagally mediated afib).

Some doctors feel a beta blocker is NOT recommended for vagal afib,

particularly if you have a low resting heart rate. You may want to

discuss this with your doctor.

, Charlotte NC

Lone PAF, mostly vagal, resting heart rate in mid-50s.

>

> Hello everyone. My name is Mark. I am 54, live in NH and I was

> diagnosed with Lone Afib in late August of `05. Since then I have

> had two other occurrences. With the first two incidences I was

> hospitalize. The third I just said the heck with it and rolled

over

> being able to slip in and out of sleep until the episode passed -

in

> about 5 hours. All three Afib episodes occurred while sleeping.

As

> I am sure you can all imagine, I am not happy about any of this.

Of

> course, I have been doing quite a lot of reading about Afib, and

> unfortunately, my head is spinning from it all. (Or is it from the

> medication?) There is so much written, so much unknown, so much

> uncertainty that it really is rather difficult to get a handle on

> this thing.

>

> At present I am seeing a cardiologist that I am not yet fully

> confident in. However, the cardiologist was referred to me by my

> PCP, and I have much confidence in him. Treatment so far consists

of

> 12.5 mg of Toprol XL once in the A.M. and once again in the P.M.

In

> addition, one aspirin accompanies the A.M. dose of Toprol. Apart

> from the two cardiologists I saw during my two stays in the

hospital,

> I have seen a third cardiologist in way of a second opinion to my

> present cardiologist. My primary cardiologist, if I may refer to

him

> that way, and the secondary cardiologist both seem to make light of

> this condition - so far anyway. They have both described it as

just

> a " nuisance " , nothing life threatening, just a lifestyle changing,

> pain-in-the-butt. Of course, I on the other hand, don't quite see

it

> as just a nuisance.

>

> On the bright side of this, if one can be so bright, all the tests

I

> underwent while hospitalized indicated that I am in excellent

cardiac

> health. (Seems odd, no?) There is no indication of any heart

> disease, no valve problems, no clogged arteries, BP is well were it

> should be. The heart seems to be strong and in great shape.

> Ahhhhhh....well, except that it seems to have developed this

> intermittent timing problem. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; I

> have lousy rhythm, never was much of a dancer. Anyway, I am

> certainly not happy with having to take medication, this Beta-

> Blocker, this Toprol XL Even though I watch my diet closely and

> exercise frequently, and have for years, swimming more or less a

mile

> 3-4 times a week, I am gaining weight. I understand that Beta-

> Blockers can do that, inducing weight gain by stimulating insulin

> resistance. (Lovely! Just what I need. Although I am not

diabetic,

> I come from a family rife with diabetes.) In addition to the

weight

> gain, the Toprol, its function to slow the heart rate and lower BP,

> has done just that. Where my normal resting HR was around 80 bpm,

it

> is now 60 bpm. I'm not overly keen on that. While resting, I need

> to frequently reach for my breath. I guess it is safe to say I am

> short of breath on occasion. And, there is this frequent but

rather

> minor " feeling " in my chest while at rest. (Pressure it is not.)

> But once again, on the other hand, while exercising, there is no

> problem with breathing in the least and I have to work very hard to

> get my HR anywhere near or over 125 bpm. That's supposed to be a

> good thing - I guess. However, it is a little unnerving that such

is

> drug induced and not a natural state of affairs. One more side

> effect of the Toprol that I am not keen on is the dizziness I

> sometimes experience during sudden moves from rest. To remedy

that,

> I am told to drink lots and lots of water. Yes, doing so works

> pretty much to damped the incidences of dizziness. But the

frequent

> trips to the bathroom, now that IS a nuisance.

>

> Well, it would appear I am rambling pretty much here in my self-

> introduction. But I must admit, it feels nice to get some of this

> off my chest (pun intended.) Also, I am quite pleased to have

found

> this support group. To be sure, it's a bit of a comfort to have a

> resource other than that of just medical professionals who might,

or

> might not, suffer from tunnel vision from time to time regards

> treatments and/or cures regards Afib. Perhaps I am a naive

newcomer,

> but I want to be rid of this condition and the need for life-long

> medication. I am told such might not be possible, and in fact,

there

> is a real possibility that as time goes on, the condition may well

> advance. Hearing such does not give me that most desirable, warm

and

> fuzzy feeling. And, of course, the static I get from my better-

> half! " Did you take your medication? How are you feeling? (And 30

> minutes later.) How are you feeling now? Why did you make that

> face? Are you alright?! When is your next doctor`s appointment?

> Don`t forget your next doctor`s appointment. " I don't think want

> that to go on for the next 30 years either.

>

> Once again, I am glad I have found this site and the hope and

> information it provides. I am looking forward to learning much and

> sharing what I can. Maybe this thing I am experiencing is just a

> nuisance and maybe it`s not; but for sure, it is a nuisance I want

to

> understand and be free of.

>

> Mark

> Salem, NH

>

March 10, 2006

Mark: Welcome to the group.

Certainly afib is not something to make light of, as your

cardiologists did; but, considering what they see day in and day out,

it's one of those things that if you have to have a heart problem,

this is the one to have. It won't be what kills you if you're

properly medicated.

Hopefully the beta blockers will work for you. If not, there are

other less desirable drugs that might work instead.

The rule of thumb, my cardiologist said, is to try at least two

different drug treatments. If neither of them work, consult with an

EP about an ablation. It sounds like you would be an excellent

ablation candidate but if you can handle the afib otherwise for some

time who knows what improvements in ablations or new drugs might come

about.

Gordon

March 10, 2006

Hi Mark

Welcome to the club!

I am also 54 (though from the uk) and have similar symptoms to you.

I too have no heart problems other than the arrythmia, as do

probably about 30% of people with AF (hence Lone AF). Typically we

tend to be sporty types. The good thing is that according to the

latest research, we have half the chance of dying compared

with " normal " people!

My resting HR is about 50 bpm. I can get it up to a max of 125-130

if I really push it up hills on my bike, but that's beta blockers

for you. I am partially controlled with sotalol.

As a lone af-er you may be interested in Hans Larsen's site at

http://www.afibbers.org/ - the current issue of his monthly

newsletter is worth reading.

Otherwise just try and relax into it. I try to ignore my AF sessions

now, and it does work quite well. If your wife is anything like

mine, she'll get bored soon and go back to worrying about everything

else!

Cheers

Mark

>

> Hello everyone. My name is Mark. I am 54, live in NH and I was

> diagnosed with Lone Afib in late August of `05. Since then I have

> had two other occurrences. With the first two incidences I was

> hospitalize. The third I just said the heck with it and rolled

over

> being able to slip in and out of sleep until the episode passed -

in

> about 5 hours. All three Afib episodes occurred while sleeping.

As

> I am sure you can all imagine, I am not happy about any of this.

Of

> course, I have been doing quite a lot of reading about Afib, and

> unfortunately, my head is spinning from it all. (Or is it from

the

> medication?) There is so much written, so much unknown, so much

> uncertainty that it really is rather difficult to get a handle on

> this thing.

>

March 10, 2006

> I just had a crazy thought I would like to share. Whenever I read an

email

> from our brethren in the UK, I read it with a UK accent in my mind.

Weird!

Rich: I think there are probably more than 50 UK accents. I have a

friend who once said he could tell where someone in the UK was from

within 50 miles by talking with him for 5 minutes. I've yet to hear

one that I didn't like.

Although I understand now they have schools to take the regional

accent out of their speech; for celebrities, politicians, etc.

Gordon

March 10, 2006

Hey Mark,

My reccomendation is to get an appointment with the best EP in you area or go

out of the area if need be. I had the same experience you had as far as my

episodes were all at night when I was a sleep. I am 40 years old and very

active. I tried lots of different medication none of which worked. Rythmal

actually made my episodes more frequent and made my heart beat hard and feel

bad. Anyway long story short get an ablasion. Of course you should discuss this

with your EP but I have a feeling he is going to say the same thing. I got an

ablasion two months ago and had some problems at first. I had two episodes of

a-fib in the first two weeks but now nothing for about five weeks. I was also

having lots of PACs but they seem to be going away also. I feel very good. I am

back to running four times a week and I just played my first game of hockey

since my procedure. I highly reccommend and I don't think that I am alone in

saying this that you go to an experienced EP for the ablasion. You

need someone that does and has done many of them. The procedure is very doctor

intensive. The better the doctor the higher chance of success. I went to the

doctor yesterday and he said that a person in my situation, healthy heart and

good overall health, should have close to 100% success rate. I hope this info is

a help.

Steve Clancy

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