Comments on: Recommendations for Atrial Fibrillation

By: Judi Neto

Judi Neto — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:40:16 +0000

My original post is being moderated but I forgot to mention: I cant sleep on my left side! I will usually go in to A Fib if I do. But you cant know what you will do when you are sleeping.!! Sleeping elevated helps too.

By: Judi Neto

Judi Neto — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:32:02 +0000

Hello, I’m not sure have any recomendations, since everyone is unique.
All I can do is share my experience. I’m sure there is someone who can relate. I have more questions then answers.
I am currently a 69 year old lady. I’m not like any 69 yr old you have ever met. I don’t look act or feel 69. More like 45 or 50. It’s just genetics I guess or attitude. But the A Fib reminds me of my real age and I hate it. My first episode I was on a cruise ship 2008. Prior to getting to the cruise I had to jet off to N Carolina to arrange a funeral for my aunt, get rid of all her belongings and find a home for her dog in one week in order to not forfeit the $10K for the cruise. That may sound shallow, but that is a lot of money and I needed the vacation. I adored my aunt. The stress was too much and I was in the infirmary the first day if the cruise. When I got home another relative had died. We were very close. That was 2008
The next time was from caffeine, I’m sure of it. You ask for decalf but you don”t always get it. I had to give up Starbucks and coffee all together because you cant trust you will get decalf. Then I gave up chocolate, another trigger. Just shoot me! So at that point I am only on BP meds and a anti anxiety med when needed (Klonopin) No episodes until late 2009 . I left my husband of 28 years. The first year 2010, I went to Pharmacy school and the divorce and “finals” for class had me in ICU for 2 hours in January 2011. That was the worst. They started me on Flecinide. I am terrified of drugs especially new drugs. To this day I am only on 50 mg once a day along with only 50 mg of Atenolol .
I just moved 16 days ago to be closer to the kids. I lived upstairs then and I do now. The trips up and down the stairs in both places carrying boxes did me in. I had A Fib every other day AFTER the move, I have learned to deal with it so I dont go to emergancy unless my BP and heart rate are high. Like 150/110 heart rate over 100. I just stop what ever I am doing and take half Klonopin (0.5mg) which makes me sleep.
I tried to get a Long Term Care Policy and did not want every episode reported. They turned me down anyway. So now I am taking it easy but still having episodes once a week since the move. I’m still not unpacked because I don’t know how much my body can take. Tomorrow I have a flight to LA to see my BFF and I am worried. Last night I had a 3 hr episode. Last week anywhere from 4 hrs to 24 hrs. I’m watching the dehydration. I don’t know how much magnesium to take, and taking potassium can be dangerous, so I get it from foods, I eat very healthy. If I am tired now I take a nap. When I did my inturn ship for Pharmacy I was on my feet 7 hours a day and the stress of learning a new skill put me in the hospital too. So what to do, can I exercise? I used to do water aerobics 3 times a week, but that came with the house I left. So I try to walk to get my heart happy again. I am on weight watchers and have met my goal. I am 5’4 145 lbs, so its not my weight problem.
But it seems like since “the move” I’m never going to get better. In other words go back to only once a year episodes. Oh and someone mentioned abilation (Harry?) My cardiologist said that is reserved for patients who do not tolerate the top 5 medications. That is BS. I have 100 % insurance why can”t I have a proceedure that actually works? The success rates are way up there now. I don’t get it.
FRUSTRATED IN CALIFORNIA

By: Anne Bauman

Anne Bauman — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:09:48 +0000

Thanks for this excellent site, Robert; I’ve learned a lot from your experience and those of your readers. Just yesterday I came across some information about cayenne pepper and its use as an emergency treatment for congestive heart failure. Apparently it’s also used to stop AF quickly, and I couldn’t find a reference to it on your site, so thought you might like to hear. I’ve started to supplement daily with cayenne and am weaning myself off low-dose aspirin; also looking into hawthorn, which sounds like a wonderful alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.

I used your information about entrainment just recently, when my heart was beating very fast but hadn’t gone into full AF. I splashed cold water on my face and went back to bed, held onto my husband’s wrist where I could feel his regular pulse and held it against my chest for awhile. This did the trick – I still have lots to learn and your site has been so helpful. Thanks for doing this in the midst of your own busy life.

By: DonnaH

DonnaH — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:21:17 +0000

Lyle, do you know what brought your A-Fib on? I think I have figured out what I did….I got dehydrated and I believe that was the trigger for it. I was using my chi machine, hot house and FIR pad every night for relaxation..the only thing that was wrong was I did NOT drink water before and after the treatment.

I hope you consulted with your Dr. regarding stopping the Cardizem. I went to my acupuncturist yesterday and he looked at my lab report and saw that I was anemic and something else was off…the Dr. did not pick this up…sometimes we have to do what we feel is the right thing and ask more questions and listen to our body.

Have only taken the Metoprolol for about six days and I was really tired today, hate that feeling so now have to figure out what to do next.

Good luck and God bless you.

By: Lyle Gentry

Lyle Gentry — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:31:42 +0000

I’m 48 and about 10 months ago I spent a night in the hospital with AFIB–it took me around 5 hours to convert back to normal sinus rythym. My cardiologist originally put me on metropolol but it gave me diahrea and made me depressed. He then switched me to a calcium channel blocker (Cardizem) which I seemed to tolerate better. The main side-effects were lethargy and constipation.

I haven’t been in AFIB since then that I know of and I think I would know because when I was in AFIB I was not able to function (I don’t know how people do it). For one thing, I had to urinate every 10 minutes. I’ve recently stopped taking the Cardizem because I just couldn’t take feeling like a zombie anymore. I’m taking fish oil capsules along with a low-dose asprin every day and now I’m taking a magnesium supplement. If this doesn’t work I guess I’ll have to look into cardio-ablation because I don’t think I can stand being on the drugs anymore. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

By: DonnaH

DonnaH — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:27:28 +0000

I experienced A-Fib on Dec. 5th, 2011. What a frightening feeling! Have been in ER three times since. I have been learning to use Qi Gong for relaxing, however it isn’t the easiest thing to do when experiencing this.
I was put on Metoprolol and will try everything in my power to get something that is nature and not a drug! It appears that Dr. Seedman has some excellent information above and I feel very it would be very worthwhile to check it out!

I have had some bouts of indigestion (and dont feel well until I can release that full feeling) tried bromelain, but I think it makes it worse! Any suggestions for this? Shortness of breath is not one that I experience but I think one of the best things to do is try yoga or Qi Gong, it helps you to take deep breaths….

I have had anxiety most of my adult life and this is not helping. I appreciate all the sharing and information that is given here.

By: wendy

wendy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:40:00 +0000

Hi Harry,

I am 54 and was just diagnosed with AFIB 3 weeks ago…. it is a scary thing… I had to go to the ER and given meds to control my hearttbeat,,,, i m now on Toprol, Pradaxa and Lisinopril…. All of my labs and chest x ray were ok.. now i need to have and echo stress test in 2 weeks….. i have had anxiety and panic attacks for over 20 years,,, the shortness of breath is really scary,,,, i hate it… Any suggestions would be very appreciated!

By: Harry

Harry — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:40:05 +0000

I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation 5 years ago. Although my cardiologist is taking good care of me, he can’t seem to control my sudden attacks which takes my breath away and scares me to death. He just says relax and it will pass. That maybe OK for him to say but what about us? He ought to try AFIB himself for awhile. I love this site and have learned a great deal about how to handle AFIB when it starts. I feel like a little cry baby I’m 68 and don’t want to live the rest of my life in this misery. Anybody out there want to share their “out of breath” experience so I don’t feel so all alone? What can I do to get back into good rythum? I’ve tried everything I read here.

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:14:06 +0000

Just off Multaq about a week. Electro Physiologist would like me to consider Tikosyn as a med. Has anyone had any experience with this drug? I understand you have to go into the hospital for three days to be monitored when beginning this drug.

By: John

John — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:26:55 +0000

I am a 54 yr. old otherwise healthy male and was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) 27 yrs. ago. I am on medication and had been asymptomatic until January, 2011. While I have had some episodes of AF during my life, I was always able to regain a normal rhythm on my own. I was diagnosed with continuous AF in January and have had four cardioversions since. I was placed on Multaq and Pradaxa. The Pradaxa is effective, but the Multaq has not helped. I am seen at JH Hospital for the HCM and after an upcoming catheterization, an ablation is planned depending on the results of the cath. My local cardiologist wants to put me on Amiodarone for the short term until the ablation. I have read about the very negative side effects of Amiodarone. I am going to contact my cardiologist at JH to get his opinion on Amiodarone and magnesium. Has anyone else had experiences with Amiodarone?