Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Does anyone else have " pauses " and, if so, how long are they? How do they feel? My doctor, or rather his nurse, says pauses are a very common way to convert out of a-fib or a-flutter but I didn't start having them until they started tinkering with my heart to get rid of my a-fib. ly, they scare the hell out of me and I'd rather undergo a cardioversion any day over the pauses I've had. I guess I'm terrified of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me about my condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Do you mean pvc's? Skipped beats? Is that what the pauses are for? They are very common. I get them frequently but only on occasion are the pauses really noticeable. Sometimes they feel extra long and I might feel slightly 'spacy' during a pause. I can assure you I have had them for 40 years and haven't awakened dead, although my ex husband might disagree with that. ;D Lil In a message dated 5/9/2006 7:40:39 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, garrett63376@... writes: ly, they scare the hell out of me and I'd rather undergo a cardioversion any day over the pauses I've had. I guess I'm terrified of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> .. I guess I'm terrified > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > about my condition. > Hi Garrett ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are good for a while yet. I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning and take in every night (etc). It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can relax better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I recommend that you have you provider place you on a 24 or 48 hour Holter monitor to see what is occuring when you feel these " pauses " . It's not possible to tell if it's serious or not without knowing your rhythm at those times. If it turns out to be nothing more than a PAC or PVC you'll have some peace of mind. .... billy171john billy171@...> wrote: > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> .. I guess I'm terrified > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > about my condition. > Hi Garrett ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are good for a while yet. I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning and take in every night (etc). It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can relax better. 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...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hi Garret, If it is any consolation, I have this worry too. Having another person around would be such a buffer to this worry, and to other worries too. Worry doesnt help the heart , but I find it impossible not to. I have a pendant thing which I wear round my neck and if I press it, it allerts an office where someone is on duty who can speak to me on a loudspeaker thing. Then you either have a key left with a friend, who's address they have, or it can be in a box which can be reached and opened with a pin no. by ambulance workers etc. It is called a lifeline pendant here in the UK. It is a lot better than nothing for me but doesnt dispel my worries, for one thing you obviously need to be conscious to press it. if pnly we could contact people telapathically! All the best Val L Re: Pauses > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> . I guess I'm terrified > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > about my condition. > Hi Garrett ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are good for a while yet. I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning and take in every night (etc). It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can relax better. 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...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I've done something pretty much like you described. My neighbor watches my house for signs of life and would undoubtedly become concerned if she saw papers collecting or no other signs that I was doing the routine stuff. Like I've said, the doctor seems decidedly nonchalant about my symptoms. One presumes that means they are scary but not life threatening. Then again, there is a reason the call it " practicing " medicine Garrett > > > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> > . I guess I'm terrified > > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > > about my condition. > > > Hi Garrett > ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are > good for a while yet. > > I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call > family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no > paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning > and take in every night (etc). > > It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can > relax better. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 The pauses that have been monitored are definately more than PACs or PVCs. I was asystole for 7 and 9 seconds in those two cases. The two I've had at home felt similar though maybe not quite as long. Probably in the 3 to 5 second range. The problem with the holter is that these pauses occur infrequenty so there is a good chance they wouldn't be caught. Garrett > > > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> > . I guess I'm terrified > > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > > about my condition. > > > Hi Garrett > ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are > good for a while yet. > > I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call > family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no > paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning > and take in every night (etc). > > It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can > relax better. > > > > > > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Thanks for the reply Val L. I'm trying to take my doctor's lack of concern to heart and not worry about this too much. When my anxiety gets up, I also have some Xanax XR that deadens it a bit. I hope the situation clarifies itself and that I'll either adjust to having the pauses or they will stop happening. Only time will tell. Garrett > > > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> > . I guess I'm terrified > > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > > about my condition. > > > Hi Garrett > ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are > good for a while yet. > > I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call > family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no > paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning > and take in every night (etc). > > It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can > relax better. > > > > > > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Yes, they can be " caught " . Ask for an " event monitor " also called a " King of Hearts " monitor. You wear this monitor for up to a month. When you have an event, (symptoms) you trigger the monitor and it records 10-15 seconds before the event (it has a memory) and for another similar period of time. Don't take no for an answer...these are common devices. garrett63376 garrett63376@...> wrote: The pauses that have been monitored are definately more than PACs or PVCs. I was asystole for 7 and 9 seconds in those two cases. The two I've had at home felt similar though maybe not quite as long. Probably in the 3 to 5 second range. The problem with the holter is that these pauses occur infrequenty so there is a good chance they wouldn't be caught. Garrett > > > > Does anyone else have " pauses " ....snip.......> > . I guess I'm terrified > > of waking up dead one morning. Especially since I live alone and it > > would probably be days before anyone thought to look for me. > > > > Sorry to be morbid but this, above everything else, is what scares me > > about my condition. > > > Hi Garrett > ask your Doc about how serious your condition is... I suspect you are > good for a while yet. > > I just wanted to suggest you develop a local contact who can call > family etc. if they don't see your paper take in every night; or if no > paper a little magnet on your mailbox that you put out ever morning > and take in every night (etc). > > It is a trade off on privacy but it may be made to work so you can > relax better. > > > > > > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Garret, what about being placed on a 30 day home monitor. The kind in which you transmit data over the phone. I found it to be very helpful. Try to avoid the kind in which you have to push a button when you feel an event is occuring because you will miss some of them and all during you sleep. Try to get one that records events automatically. If you do get a 30 day monitor, ask for hypoallegenic electrode patches, or you may well get an allergic reaction to the adhesive after a while- itchiness, etc. Good luck and please keep us posted. garrett63376 garrett63376@...> wrote: The pauses that have been monitored are definately more than PACs or PVCs. I was asystole for 7 and 9 seconds in those two cases. The two I've had at home felt similar though maybe not quite as long. Probably in the 3 to 5 second range. The problem with the holter is that these pauses occur infrequenty so there is a good chance they wouldn't be caught. Garrett >> > > > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 I'm familiar with those units; I was given one to confirm the A-Fib diagnosis a year ago. I was amazed by how primitive the technology was. Nevertheless, it did confirm that I was having fairly long bouts of A-Fib. In this case, though, I'm not sure how much utility they would have. All of the events I've had have happened while I was in bed either asleep or trying to sleep and the first indication I have is a profound sense of disorientation. I'm not sure I would remember to push the button under those circumstances or even if I could. At this point I haven't had a pause for over a week and I'm in NSR so maybe (fingers and toes crossed) I've seen the last of them… If I do continue to have pauses, I will talk to my cardiologist about a monitor that records continuously. Garrett The pauses that have been monitored are definately more than PACs or > PVCs. I was asystole for 7 and 9 seconds in those two cases. The two > I've had at home felt similar though maybe not quite as long. Probably > in the 3 to 5 second range. > > The problem with the holter is that these pauses occur infrequenty so > there is a good chance they wouldn't be caught. > > Garrett > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > 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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