Comments on: About http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com Alternative approaches to managing atrial fibrillaton and arrhythmias Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:53:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Don Wooldridge http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-709 Don Wooldridge Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:44:03 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-709 Agreed. My complaint is with PVS, but I've also had a-fib several times now, for the first time. It's frightening and disturbing, and it generates a feeling of high anxiety that prevents sleep or being able to relax. Only my cardiologist understands this fully, since he's 72 yrs old and suffers himself from daily PVC and PACs. What a downer this has become for me! Agreed. My complaint is with PVS, but I’ve also had a-fib several times now, for the first time. It’s frightening and disturbing, and it generates a feeling of high anxiety that prevents sleep or being able to relax. Only my cardiologist understands this fully, since he’s 72 yrs old and suffers himself from daily PVC and PACs.

What a downer this has become for me!

]]> By: Joy http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-676 Joy Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:51:44 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-676 Bill Yes it is a horrible condition. I once tried to explain this to my Cardiologist. I said it is probably the only condition that makes you so afraid of dying you wish you were dead :) and he got all tight lipped and red faced and said I was exaggerating. Well I would like him to try living with something that on a daily basis scares the p*** out of me. My heart can jump, skip flutter bounce, go so slow it feels like it's going to stop, be so soft I cant feel it and go so fast I can't distinguish between the beats. It also makes me dizzy , light headed, off balance, nauseous, depressed and extremely fatigued. I am afraid to do most of the things I love as they may bring on an attack. Note I said may, and that's the fear, the fear of starting an episode. I know my Vagal nerve has a huge bearing on my condition but try telling your specialist that. Eating can bring on an episode very quickly, but also eating (I think it's the swallowing reflex ) can help stop one if it is just threatening to start. When I fly, the minute we get up in the air I'm away. Afib for the whole journey, so now I limit those trips to see my Gran kids. By the way I am 70 yrs old still working full time but really, as my episodes are increasing, currently 2-3 a month I am finding difficult to say the least. I challenge any of the so called specialists out there to live with this for six months, they would quickly come to see the implications of this on a persons life. If there is a young researcher out there looking to make his name in finding a cure for this complaint he could do no better than gather the millions of comments from people who actually have the condition and see just what makes this condition tick. This information is all fact from people that have the problem and are not getting any relief from the drugs that usually stop working after time and are dangerous to say the least. Bill, the most important things you need to do are to be master of your own destiny, to keep your blood thin, to read what others have found helpful. You need to be in charge of your own health, it's your one and only life...be proactive, look after it, nurture it and be your own carer. Good Luck and Take Care Bill

Yes it is a horrible condition. I once tried to explain this to my Cardiologist. I said it is probably the only condition that makes you so afraid of dying you wish you were dead :) and he got all tight lipped and red faced and said I was exaggerating.

Well I would like him to try living with something that on a daily basis scares the p*** out of me. My heart can jump, skip flutter bounce, go so slow it feels like it’s going to stop, be so soft I cant feel it and go so fast I can’t distinguish between the beats. It also makes me dizzy , light headed, off balance, nauseous, depressed and extremely fatigued. I am afraid to do most of the things I love as they may bring on an attack. Note I said may, and that’s the fear, the fear of starting an episode.

I know my Vagal nerve has a huge bearing on my condition but try telling your specialist that. Eating can bring on an episode very quickly, but also eating (I think it’s the swallowing reflex ) can help stop one if it is just threatening to start.

When I fly, the minute we get up in the air I’m away. Afib for the whole journey, so now I limit those trips to see my Gran kids.

By the way I am 70 yrs old still working full time but really, as my episodes are increasing, currently 2-3 a month I am finding difficult to say the least.

I challenge any of the so called specialists out there to live with this for six months, they would quickly come to see the implications of this on a persons life.

If there is a young researcher out there looking to make his name in finding a cure for this complaint he could do no better than gather the millions of comments from people who actually have the condition and see just what makes this condition tick.
This information is all fact from people that have the problem and are not getting any relief from the drugs that usually stop working after time and are dangerous to say the least.
Bill, the most important things you need to do are to be master of your own destiny, to keep your blood thin, to read what others have found helpful.
You need to be in charge of your own health, it’s your one and only life…be proactive, look after it, nurture it and be your own carer.

Good Luck and Take Care

]]> By: Bill H. http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-668 Bill H. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:35:17 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-668 My a-fib started ten years ago after taking two SSRI drugs thanks to a less-than-knowledgeable phsyician. The beats were wild and irregular. I didn't have health insurance and I started taking olive leaf extract after reading it was used in Europe for arrythmia. I had only two or three mild episodes over a course of seven years. Fast forward. I didn't realize how much protection the herb was giving me, so I decided to get off the olive leaf for a few days. Big mistake. The a-fib came back immediately, with shortness of breath as well. I couldn't get back on the olive leaf because my body had suddenly grown allergic to it. For the next three years, I had infrequent moderate episodes, and then when my wife announced she was leaving me in January of 2011, my heart went haywire and the episodes grew painful and uncontrollable. I was finally officially diagnosed with a-fib and put on metoprolol, which helps only slightly. Rythmol and Multaq were nightmares. I talk to people all the time who have had ablation, and it never seems to have lasting effects, except for a new form called convergenet ex maze pioneered by Dr. Andy Kiser. Slound waves are used to immobilize the bad atrial spots instead of causing scars through burning or freezing. Too bad it is only available in a few states. It is highly effective and a virtuaL cure. In the meantime, I could kick myself for getting off the olive leaf--no I am not a health store salesman--but I am very disappointed that the drug therapies tend to be so ineffective. I have daily episodes, but I currently am refusinfg ablation since I do not see any studies showing long-term effectiveness. Many supplements I also used to take are now off limits because my cardiologist inserted a drug-eluting stent in my LAD artery, which mandates a blood thinner like Plavix, and many natural supplemebnets good for the heart, like garlic and hawthorne berry, cause me to start bruising very badly. The olive leaf took a few weeks to work and I had to take four caps a day, but it allowed me to lead a normal life and was superior to the drugs on the market today. Now, my family says "Just take your meds and be quiet." They have no idea how uncomfortable a-fib is or the risk it poses for congestive heart failure. I have also found that most cardiologists today don't want to really listen to my triggers or sit down and talk with me about supplements or my particular set of symptoms. For example, alcohol is indeed a trigger for most, but red wine shuts down my arrythmias in the evening. Every patient is different, but I get passed off to the Nurse Practioner, and when I have questions, I get called back by a nurse or tech. I have a certain amount of daily depression now, and sometimes envy people who can simply have a bypass and then return to regular life. This form of heart disease is awful. My a-fib started ten years ago after taking two SSRI drugs thanks to a less-than-knowledgeable phsyician. The beats were wild and irregular. I didn’t have health insurance and I started taking olive leaf extract after reading it was used in Europe for arrythmia. I had only two or three mild episodes over a course of seven years. Fast forward. I didn’t realize how much protection the herb was giving me, so I decided to get off the olive leaf for a few days. Big mistake. The a-fib came back immediately, with shortness of breath as well. I couldn’t get back on the olive leaf because my body had suddenly grown allergic to it. For the next three years, I had infrequent moderate episodes, and then when my wife announced she was leaving me in January of 2011, my heart went haywire and the episodes grew painful and uncontrollable. I was finally officially diagnosed with a-fib and put on metoprolol, which helps only slightly. Rythmol and Multaq were nightmares. I talk to people all the time who have had ablation, and it never seems to have lasting effects, except for a new form called convergenet ex maze pioneered by Dr. Andy Kiser. Slound waves are used to immobilize the bad atrial spots instead of causing scars through burning or freezing. Too bad it is only available in a few states. It is highly effective and a virtuaL cure. In the meantime, I could kick myself for getting off the olive leaf–no I am not a health store salesman–but I am very disappointed that the drug therapies tend to be so ineffective. I have daily episodes, but I currently am refusinfg ablation since I do not see any studies showing long-term effectiveness. Many supplements I also used to take are now off limits because my cardiologist inserted a drug-eluting stent in my LAD artery, which mandates a blood thinner like Plavix, and many natural supplemebnets good for the heart, like garlic and hawthorne berry, cause me to start bruising very badly. The olive leaf took a few weeks to work and I had to take four caps a day, but it allowed me to lead a normal life and was superior to the drugs on the market today. Now, my family says “Just take your meds and be quiet.” They have no idea how uncomfortable a-fib is or the risk it poses for congestive heart failure. I have also found that most cardiologists today don’t want to really listen to my triggers or sit down and talk with me about supplements or my particular set of symptoms. For example, alcohol is indeed a trigger for most, but red wine shuts down my arrythmias in the evening. Every patient is different, but I get passed off to the Nurse Practioner, and when I have questions, I get called back by a nurse or tech. I have a certain amount of daily depression now, and sometimes envy people who can simply have a bypass and then return to regular life. This form of heart disease is awful.

]]> By: Ian A http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-495 Ian A Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:50:35 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-495 Thanks for creating this site! It's great to be able to exchange information and understand atrial fibrillation better. In my case it was mostly about potassium, and when I was taken to hospital with AFib they immediately gave me some potassium to drink. (must have been strong because it tasted terrible!). There is a particular disease process which causes high blood pressure and low potassium levels (Conn's Syndrome). Combine these two factors and you have a strong potential for Afib. So there's one more potential solution to consider - eat potassium-rich foods like vegetables (chard, potato, tomato) or tropical fruit (banana, mango, papaya). Not a substitute for surgery, but it could help in some cases. Thanks for creating this site! It’s great to be able to exchange information and understand atrial fibrillation better.
In my case it was mostly about potassium, and when I was taken to hospital with AFib they immediately gave me some potassium to drink. (must have been strong because it tasted terrible!).
There is a particular disease process which causes high blood pressure and low potassium levels (Conn’s Syndrome). Combine these two factors and you have a strong potential for Afib.
So there’s one more potential solution to consider – eat potassium-rich foods like vegetables (chard, potato, tomato) or tropical fruit (banana, mango, papaya). Not a substitute for surgery, but it could help in some cases.

]]> By: Cathy Henry http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-456 Cathy Henry Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:19:35 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-456 Hi nice to know that their are people who are going though the same thing. I had an abalstion 2 yrs ago for svt, now Iam going for another one on July 5th so scared they dont know if its the svt or A-fib probably both. three weeks ago when this started I had to be cardio verted it hurt so bad I was so scared now Iam on meds but am very depressed and my anxiety is making me crazy,I read that metropalol can have these side affects drs. say no I just want to feel normal again.I prayer for my saviors help,Dear Lord Jesus be with all these people give them rest and peace In Jesus name Amen Hi nice to know that their are people who are going though the same thing. I had an abalstion 2 yrs ago for svt, now Iam going for another one on July 5th so scared they dont know if its the svt or A-fib probably both. three weeks ago when this started I had to be cardio verted it hurt so bad I was so scared now Iam on meds but am very depressed and my anxiety is making me crazy,I read that metropalol can have these side affects drs. say no I just want to feel normal again.I prayer for my saviors help,Dear Lord Jesus be with all these people give them rest and peace In Jesus name Amen

]]> By: Mike Lipp http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-438 Mike Lipp Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:23:25 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-438 A-Fib is considered a beat without a P wave. I had cardioversion and went into A-Fib again when I was going in for Hernia surgery. Correct me if I am wrong, but A-Fib is a heart beat without a P wave. even if the pulse rate is in the eighties or low nineties, you could still be in A-Fib? Also, like everyone, I am constantly trying alternative herbs, etc. However, not sure if they are working, since A-Fib cannot be diagnosed without an EKG. Checking the pulse does not show a P wave, etc. It only can tell you if your beats are under a 100, etc. A-Fib is considered a beat without a P wave. I had cardioversion and went into A-Fib again when I was going in for Hernia surgery. Correct me if I am wrong, but A-Fib is a heart beat without a P wave. even if the pulse rate is in the eighties or low nineties, you could still be in A-Fib? Also, like everyone, I am constantly trying alternative herbs, etc. However, not sure if they are working, since A-Fib cannot be diagnosed without an EKG. Checking the pulse does not show a P wave, etc. It only can tell you if your beats are under a 100, etc.

]]> By: John Bedson http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-427 John Bedson Sat, 28 May 2011 11:15:57 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-427 A lot of you seem to be suffering from vagally mediated afib. See how I control mine at: http://beatloneafib.blogspot.com/ Also see a novel way to track your afib and ectopic heart actvity using a sports heart monitor at: http://www.network54.com/Forum/669782/ A lot of you seem to be suffering from vagally mediated afib. See how I control mine at: http://beatloneafib.blogspot.com/

Also see a novel way to track your afib and ectopic heart actvity using a sports heart monitor at: http://www.network54.com/Forum/669782/

]]> By: Ida Blalock http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-421 Ida Blalock Fri, 27 May 2011 21:35:36 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-421 Hi all, I am very happy to read all of these comments. I am 67 and have been diagnosed with afib. I have had episodes about once a year since 2004. At which time I was placed on Toporal 25 mg. at first and then 50 mg. I recently had several episodes right together and my cardiologist doubled by blood pressure medicine (100 mg). My episodes seen to occur when my BP is high. My cardiologist also wants me to take Pradaxa. I am having a problem with this because of the risks. I don't want to have a stroke, but am really afraid of the blood thinner. I have read and cried for several days trying to decide what to do. There are no orther issues with my heart. I have been doing weight watchers for 3 months and have lost 30 lbs. I was hoping this would improve my chances for afib. Please keep the comments coming. It helps to know I am not alone. I wish I could find a support group meeting for people with afib. Ida Hi all,
I am very happy to read all of these comments. I am 67 and have been diagnosed with afib. I have had episodes about once a year since 2004. At which time I was placed on Toporal 25 mg. at first and then 50 mg. I recently had several episodes right together and my cardiologist doubled by blood pressure medicine (100 mg). My episodes seen to occur when my BP is high. My cardiologist also wants me to take Pradaxa. I am having a problem with this because of the risks. I don’t want to have a stroke, but am really afraid of the blood thinner. I have read and cried for several days trying to decide what to do. There are no orther issues with my heart. I have been doing weight watchers for 3 months and have lost 30 lbs. I was hoping this would improve my chances for afib. Please keep the comments coming. It helps to know I am not alone. I wish I could find a support group meeting for people with afib.

Ida

]]> By: Ann Wyatt http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-402 Ann Wyatt Mon, 16 May 2011 06:21:24 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-402 Hi everyone. It is distressing to me to read about so many people experiencing A-fib. Even though the cardiologist told me it would get worse as I get older, I continued to take my magnesium orotate and I haven't had an episode now for a year. In fact, I don't even think about it any more. I used to go to bed at night, fearful of having an attack during the night. I am 70 years old and am lucky to enjoy excellent health. Since New Year I have lost 16 kilos (35pounds) and I am convinced that this has helped me to get rid of my A-fib.Weight gain has been cited as a possible contributor to A-fib. I wonder if the "cocktail" of medication is sometimes too much for the heart but of course you should always be guided by your doctor. It wouldn't hurt them to look at more natural alternatives as much of today's medication is based around natural ingredients. I wish you all well. Ann Hi everyone.
It is distressing to me to read about so many people experiencing A-fib. Even though the cardiologist told me it would get worse as I get older, I continued to take my magnesium orotate and I haven’t had an episode now for a year. In fact, I don’t even think about it any more. I used to go to bed at night, fearful of having an attack during the night. I am 70 years old and am lucky to enjoy excellent health. Since New Year I have lost 16 kilos (35pounds) and I am convinced that this has helped me to get rid of my A-fib.Weight gain has been cited as a possible contributor to A-fib. I wonder if the “cocktail” of medication is sometimes too much for the heart but of course you should always be guided by your doctor. It wouldn’t hurt them to look at more natural alternatives as much of today’s medication is based around natural ingredients. I wish you all well.

Ann

]]> By: Norma http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/about/comment-page-1#comment-401 Norma Sun, 15 May 2011 23:37:52 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/wordpress/?page_id=2#comment-401 I am 72 years old and have just been diagnosed with AF. I have a stent and a pacemaker. I take meds for high blood pressure. I also take calcium, vitamin D, Potassium, Atenolol, Plavix, Aspirin, Simvastatin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Amlodipine, Lisinopril, a multi vitamin, and Fish oil. Seems like a lot to me, but I have been doing fine up until now. My cardiologist immediately put me on Coumadin. I am scheduled for a blood check in a week and also have an appointment with an Electrohysiologist in about a week. I am scared! I don't know much about AF and how it will affect my life. I and my son have been on the internet looking for ways to deal with this and we are finding lots of information. A lot of it seems to be around diet, so I will focus on that as well as the medication I need to take. This is a very scary thing for me. I don't want to have a stroke. I understand that the coumidan is a very good medication for stroke prevention, so I will be deligent about taking it. However, I don't know exactly how to recognize the episodes everyone talks about. Any help for me would be so appreciated! I am 72 years old and have just been diagnosed with AF. I have a stent and a pacemaker. I take meds for high blood pressure. I also take calcium, vitamin D, Potassium, Atenolol, Plavix, Aspirin, Simvastatin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Amlodipine, Lisinopril, a multi vitamin, and Fish oil. Seems like a lot to me, but I have been doing fine up until now. My cardiologist immediately put me on Coumadin. I am scheduled for a blood check in a week and also have an appointment with an Electrohysiologist in about a week. I am scared! I don’t know much about AF and how it will affect my life. I and my son have been on the internet looking for ways to deal with this and we are finding lots of information. A lot of it seems to be around diet, so I will focus on that as well as the medication I need to take. This is a very scary thing for me. I don’t want to have a stroke. I understand that the coumidan is a very good medication for stroke prevention, so I will be deligent about taking it. However, I don’t know exactly how to recognize the episodes everyone talks about. Any help for me would be so appreciated!

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