Permanent afib, rate control only

March 12, 2006

That's my situation, and I'd like to know if anyone else is in the

same boat with me.

I have permanent afib and take 50 mg metoprolol (a beta blocker)

twice a day, plus 180 mg Cartia XT (diltiazim, a calcium-channel

blocker) once a day.

I am able to fitness walk more than an hour each day, plus I do

30 minutes of free weights with moderate to heavy weight. I also do

heavy physical labor in my regular jobs, working in warehouses and as

a janitor. I'm 54 years old, 6', 180 pounds, not overweight.

I've never had a cardioversion, nor have I been given any anti-

arrhythmic drugs. And no surgery done, of course. (I have an

underlying structural heart problem called HOCM or HCM which makes

surgery/cardioversion much less likely to be successful.)

I do seem to be tired a lot, and have to force myself to get out

of bed in the morning. But I'm still more active physically than --

I'm only estimating here -- 98% of my " healthy " peers.

So back to my question - anyone else in permanent afib taking rate

control drugs only? If so, how physically active are you able to be,

and how do you feel? And, what medications do you take, in what

dosages?

Thanks for your input.

Mike in Minnesota

March 13, 2006

My mother has been in permanent afib since about 1967 and has only ever

been on rate control (verapamil) and coumadin. She raised 4 kids during

this time, traveled the world, kept the house clean, gardened, played

tennis probably every day of my life, and still goes dancing, volunteers

at three different places per week, travels.. etc. She's finally given

up tennis because of a bum knee, and is unsure about traveling abroad

because my dad has had a few strage TIA like events (stroke, without

residual effects) over the past year.

It has only been in recent years that she has taken to resting in the

afternoon, and not overdoing things in general.

_____

From: AFIBsupport [mailto:AFIBsupport ]

On Behalf Of Sellon

Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 3:04 PM

To: AFIBsupport

Subject: Permanent afib, rate control only

That's my situation, and I'd like to know if anyone else is in the

same boat with me.

I have permanent afib and take 50 mg metoprolol (a beta blocker)

twice a day, plus 180 mg Cartia XT (diltiazim, a calcium-channel

blocker) once a day.

I am able to fitness walk more than an hour each day, plus I do

30 minutes of free weights with moderate to heavy weight. I also do

heavy physical labor in my regular jobs, working in warehouses and as

a janitor. I'm 54 years old, 6', 180 pounds, not overweight.

I've never had a cardioversion, nor have I been given any anti-

arrhythmic drugs. And no surgery done, of course. (I have an

underlying structural heart problem called HOCM or HCM which makes

surgery/cardioversion much less likely to be successful.)

I do seem to be tired a lot, and have to force myself to get out

of bed in the morning. But I'm still more active physically than --

I'm only estimating here -- 98% of my " healthy " peers.

So back to my question - anyone else in permanent afib taking rate

control drugs only? If so, how physically active are you able to be,

and how do you feel? And, what medications do you take, in what

dosages?

Thanks for your input.

Mike in Minnesota

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March 13, 2006

Mike, I have been in permanent AF for about 3 years, but my situation is very

different

from yours. I am much older (67), and do not do heavy physical work. I walk

very well on

the level, and walk a lot, but become fatigued when climbing any kind of hill.

Also, I have

no underlying heart issue, have done very well on stress ECG's and the like, and

have a

failed cardioversion and some other family factors that dictate against more

cardioversions. I'm also on beta blockers (atenolol) and CCB's (verapamil), and

the

combination seems to work well in keeping my HR at about 60 at rest. My

cardiologist

insists on periodic ecg's because the combination of these two medications runs

the risk

of triggering ventricular problems. So far (about 6 months on the combination),

no

problem.

I'm contemplating an ablation (I've been an avid reader for my 3 years, though

only a

lurker in chat rooms). I have appointments this summer with both Natale and in

Bordeaux,

and am currently weighing my options - which will be one of the reasons I " m

going to be

asking here whether anyone else has used BlueCross for coverage at Bordeaux, and

if so

how it went. I have heard that their non-specific billing system causes

problems for some

insurance companies.

Good luck to you, it's truly a messy illness. Lee

>

> That's my situation, and I'd like to know if anyone else is in the

> same boat with me.

>

> I have permanent afib and take 50 mg metoprolol (a beta blocker)

> twice a day, plus 180 mg Cartia XT (diltiazim, a calcium-channel

> blocker) once a day.

>

> I am able to fitness walk more than an hour each day, plus I do

> 30 minutes of free weights with moderate to heavy weight. I also do

> heavy physical labor in my regular jobs, working in warehouses and as

> a janitor. I'm 54 years old, 6', 180 pounds, not overweight.

>

> I've never had a cardioversion, nor have I been given any anti-

> arrhythmic drugs. And no surgery done, of course. (I have an

> underlying structural heart problem called HOCM or HCM which makes

> surgery/cardioversion much less likely to be successful.)

>

> I do seem to be tired a lot, and have to force myself to get out

> of bed in the morning. But I'm still more active physically than --

> I'm only estimating here -- 98% of my " healthy " peers.

>

> So back to my question - anyone else in permanent afib taking rate

> control drugs only? If so, how physically active are you able to be,

> and how do you feel? And, what medications do you take, in what

> dosages?

>

> Thanks for your input.

>

> Mike in Minnesota

>

March 13, 2006

Lee - Blue Cross of MA denied my initial PVI just a few days before the

actual procedure... it took alot of faxing and phone calling to get it

approved, but by that time I had lost my slot and had to reschedule.

Where ever you choose to go, I would recommend getting written approval

prior to actually going.. apparently my initial denial came from the

fact that BC of MA considers this an " outpatient " procedure, as well as

" investigational " .... just do yourself the favor of pre-approval. You

might not need it, but you'll be glad you have it if you do!

Stef

BlueCross for coverage at Bordeaux, and if so

how it went. I have heard that their non-specific billing system causes

problems for some

insurance companies.

March 13, 2006

Stef,

I haven't been following the group posts consistently lately - how are you

feeling? How did the procedure go?

You probably already answered these questions so my apologies for asking again.

Alyce

RE: Re: Permanent afib, rate control only