Harrowing Experience - Update On Palpitations
#1
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Some of you may have been following my palpitations experiences in the traiing and nutrition forum.
In summary, I have been having continuous palpitations, and have sent two separate Fax's to my supposed kAISER doc fully describing them - and they were continuous, with heart rate up to 155, and a very irregular heart rhythm. Then I talked with the doc on the phone, who said she saw "nothing remarkable" in what my heart was doing!!!
So, I received two posts on BFN a couple of days ago from folks in the medical field, strongly urging me to see someone about this problem. I got in yesterday pm with another doc at the Kaiser Clinc. In about 10 minutes he had ordered an ambulance, and in short order I was headed to the hospital.
It turns out I have been having continuous atrial fibrillation for 30+ days, which sort of means that the ventricles and atria aren't comminucating too well, and the atria is totally aflutter about this whole lack of communication. One way of looking at it is that I have been operating on 1/2 a heart (my words, not the docs). The two portions of the heart are out of sync.
What sort if amazed them is that I have been doing 20 and 25 mile bike rides, with no chest complaints, shortness of breath or any other symptoms except I just have not had quite the energy level I have had, and I noticed I was getting passed a little more than usual.
The danger here is that, since the atria is not pushing the blood out properly, the blood stagnates in certain portions of the atria and can clot. If my heart starts pumping real efficiently all of a sudden, and gets in sync, then blood clots can be pushed out into my brain (meaning stroke).
So, I am on blood thinners (warfarin and heparin initially), and a beta blocker to slow down my heart. Even with marked dosages of beta blocker, my heart is still beating at 120 bpm. I will go in for an EKG next week to see, but my heart already feels better in my chest. In about 3 weeks, I will likely get a "cardioversion (sp)" where they put me to sleep and shock the heart to get it back in rhythm. If this works (about 95% initial success rate and then 50% after a year) I can go off of the warfarin.
If not, I will be on the warfarin the rest of my life, or until there is another medical miracle cure.
The night in the CCU in the hospital was absolute heck! I didn't get out of the emergency room until 9:00 pm, then had to get something to eat and get hooked up to machines, and try to settle down. I asked for, and got, a sleeping pill and took it, but it didn't help. only made me groggy today.
People come and go in and out of your room constantly, and about 1:00 pm, another patient arrived, with obvious signs of heart distress - radiating pain, pressure, etc. They contiuously worked on him with nitroglycerin and other stuff, and finally transferred him to the coronary ICU unit in the morning. I slept about 1 hour from 4-5 am.
The good news is that the ticker, besides the electrical disturbances, is in great shape. No signs of coronary artery disease or anything like tha.
I need to lose weight, and I guess this is the final motivation to do that, but that was not the prime cause. In fact, they do not know the prime cause! May be hypertension or just getting older or genetic????
Anyway, I am switching Primary Care Doctors. By chance I had the copies of the faxes we had sent to my PCP about my condition, and you could see the looks of amazement on the other MD's that nothing had been done by my primary PCP!
My release says "physical activity as tolerated" so I can't wait to get a ride in soon.
Anyway, thanks to those folks who wrote telling me to get things checked out!
Darn you work so hard ot stay in shape, eat right, don't smoke, etc., amd you get caught by something like this.
The cardiologist stated:
"Think of this as only a minor annoyance, not as a major problem!"
Amen!
In summary, I have been having continuous palpitations, and have sent two separate Fax's to my supposed kAISER doc fully describing them - and they were continuous, with heart rate up to 155, and a very irregular heart rhythm. Then I talked with the doc on the phone, who said she saw "nothing remarkable" in what my heart was doing!!!
So, I received two posts on BFN a couple of days ago from folks in the medical field, strongly urging me to see someone about this problem. I got in yesterday pm with another doc at the Kaiser Clinc. In about 10 minutes he had ordered an ambulance, and in short order I was headed to the hospital.
It turns out I have been having continuous atrial fibrillation for 30+ days, which sort of means that the ventricles and atria aren't comminucating too well, and the atria is totally aflutter about this whole lack of communication. One way of looking at it is that I have been operating on 1/2 a heart (my words, not the docs). The two portions of the heart are out of sync.
What sort if amazed them is that I have been doing 20 and 25 mile bike rides, with no chest complaints, shortness of breath or any other symptoms except I just have not had quite the energy level I have had, and I noticed I was getting passed a little more than usual.
The danger here is that, since the atria is not pushing the blood out properly, the blood stagnates in certain portions of the atria and can clot. If my heart starts pumping real efficiently all of a sudden, and gets in sync, then blood clots can be pushed out into my brain (meaning stroke).
So, I am on blood thinners (warfarin and heparin initially), and a beta blocker to slow down my heart. Even with marked dosages of beta blocker, my heart is still beating at 120 bpm. I will go in for an EKG next week to see, but my heart already feels better in my chest. In about 3 weeks, I will likely get a "cardioversion (sp)" where they put me to sleep and shock the heart to get it back in rhythm. If this works (about 95% initial success rate and then 50% after a year) I can go off of the warfarin.
If not, I will be on the warfarin the rest of my life, or until there is another medical miracle cure.
The night in the CCU in the hospital was absolute heck! I didn't get out of the emergency room until 9:00 pm, then had to get something to eat and get hooked up to machines, and try to settle down. I asked for, and got, a sleeping pill and took it, but it didn't help. only made me groggy today.
People come and go in and out of your room constantly, and about 1:00 pm, another patient arrived, with obvious signs of heart distress - radiating pain, pressure, etc. They contiuously worked on him with nitroglycerin and other stuff, and finally transferred him to the coronary ICU unit in the morning. I slept about 1 hour from 4-5 am.
The good news is that the ticker, besides the electrical disturbances, is in great shape. No signs of coronary artery disease or anything like tha.
I need to lose weight, and I guess this is the final motivation to do that, but that was not the prime cause. In fact, they do not know the prime cause! May be hypertension or just getting older or genetic????
Anyway, I am switching Primary Care Doctors. By chance I had the copies of the faxes we had sent to my PCP about my condition, and you could see the looks of amazement on the other MD's that nothing had been done by my primary PCP!
My release says "physical activity as tolerated" so I can't wait to get a ride in soon.
Anyway, thanks to those folks who wrote telling me to get things checked out!
Darn you work so hard ot stay in shape, eat right, don't smoke, etc., amd you get caught by something like this.
The cardiologist stated:
"Think of this as only a minor annoyance, not as a major problem!"
Amen!
Last edited by DnvrFox; 09-29-04 at 07:34 PM.
#2
The Iceman cometh!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Welcome to the world of HMO's!!! And people wonder why patients want to sue their HMO's.
Hope you get better fast. Here's to your first ride back!!!
Hope you get better fast. Here's to your first ride back!!!
#3
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by Bop Bop
Welcome to the world of HMO's!!! And people wonder why patients want to sue their HMO's.
Hope you get better fast. Here's to your first ride back!!!
Hope you get better fast. Here's to your first ride back!!!
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: n.w. superdrome
Posts: 17,687
Bikes: 1 trek, serotta, rih, de Reus, Pogliaghi and finally a Zieleman! and got a DeRosa
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
9 Posts
Dnvr,
Whoa, missed all that in the T&N forum (where I haven't been in a while).
Glad you're doing ok, and that someone finally took notice of the abnormal
EKG.
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Again, glad you are doing well, hang in there and you'll be climbing
passes out of denver soon enough.
Marty
Whoa, missed all that in the T&N forum (where I haven't been in a while).
Glad you're doing ok, and that someone finally took notice of the abnormal
EKG.
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Again, glad you are doing well, hang in there and you'll be climbing
passes out of denver soon enough.
Marty
__________________
Sono più lento di quel che sembra.
Odio la gente, tutti.
Want to upgrade your membership? Click Here.
Sono più lento di quel che sembra.
Odio la gente, tutti.
Want to upgrade your membership? Click Here.
#5
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by lotek
Dnvr,
Whoa, missed all that in the T&N forum (where I haven't been in a while).
Glad you're doing ok, and that someone finally took notice of the abnormal
EKG.
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Again, glad you are doing well, hang in there and you'll be climbing
passes out of denver soon enough.
Marty
Whoa, missed all that in the T&N forum (where I haven't been in a while).
Glad you're doing ok, and that someone finally took notice of the abnormal
EKG.
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Again, glad you are doing well, hang in there and you'll be climbing
passes out of denver soon enough.
Marty
Just don't know enough yet to be sure about anything!
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 117
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by lotek
Dnvr,
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Arrythmias in and of themselves are not major (when compared to say an infarction)
I would venture to say that your overall cardiac health (due to biking?) played
a major roll in this not being a major event.
Dnvr, I'm glad to see everything is working out for you and best of luck with the cardioversion. I wouldn't be too worried about being on the extra meds. I see 1000's of patients every year who are on beta blockers. Although you can have side effects to just about any med, most do not have problems with them. Maybe just a little fatigue. Feel free to PM me.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: North Central Massachusetts
Posts: 1,281
Bikes: Cannondale R600
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hang in there, DF!
I have some small insight into what you're going through. About 6-7 years ago, I was doing a lot of cardio stuff, in particular a lot on the stair climber. I felt good, but once in a while I got some palpitations where I got that "flutter" going. It probably wasn't a big deal, but the more you start thinking about how vulnerable you are and how your heart has been beating for decades... well, it just starts to cause more anxiety which in turn aggravates the situation. Although my situation was not as severe as yours, I got the same response from the medical establishment - as though I were wasting their time. In my case, because it was intermittent, it would be fine at the doctor's office, then driving home... (the broken TV syndrome). It settled down eventually after a year or two (knock on wood), but "harrowing" wasn't a strong enough word.
Good luck and try to relax!
-Jim
I have some small insight into what you're going through. About 6-7 years ago, I was doing a lot of cardio stuff, in particular a lot on the stair climber. I felt good, but once in a while I got some palpitations where I got that "flutter" going. It probably wasn't a big deal, but the more you start thinking about how vulnerable you are and how your heart has been beating for decades... well, it just starts to cause more anxiety which in turn aggravates the situation. Although my situation was not as severe as yours, I got the same response from the medical establishment - as though I were wasting their time. In my case, because it was intermittent, it would be fine at the doctor's office, then driving home... (the broken TV syndrome). It settled down eventually after a year or two (knock on wood), but "harrowing" wasn't a strong enough word.
Good luck and try to relax!
-Jim
#8
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
They should have put you on a Holter monitor, to record 24 hours.
In my case, it is there constantly - I mean ALL THE TIME.
Thanks for your input.
The heart rate has slowed today.
In my case, it is there constantly - I mean ALL THE TIME.
Thanks for your input.
The heart rate has slowed today.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: n.w. superdrome
Posts: 17,687
Bikes: 1 trek, serotta, rih, de Reus, Pogliaghi and finally a Zieleman! and got a DeRosa
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
9 Posts
Hlweyl
I probably misspoke when I said arrythmias, I should have been more
specific and said Atrial arrythmias.
That said, I'm not a physician, cardiologist and I don't play one on television.
I didn't even stay at holiday in last night. . . .
Marty
I probably misspoke when I said arrythmias, I should have been more
specific and said Atrial arrythmias.
That said, I'm not a physician, cardiologist and I don't play one on television.
I didn't even stay at holiday in last night. . . .
Marty
__________________
Sono più lento di quel che sembra.
Odio la gente, tutti.
Want to upgrade your membership? Click Here.
Sono più lento di quel che sembra.
Odio la gente, tutti.
Want to upgrade your membership? Click Here.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 117
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No problem lotek. I thought you might have even meant sinus arrhythmias which are quite common. I knew you were trying to give sound advice and I hope that people venturing to forums to try and find their diagnosis take all the advice with a grain of salt.
There is no substitute for seeing a good physician.
There is no substitute for seeing a good physician.
#11
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,800
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,331 Times
in
837 Posts
There are plenty of readily available effective nonprescription blood thinners, including garlic and aspirin.
I pay extra health insurance premiums to be on a PPO, which gives me direct access to any G.P. or specialist I choose, without some bloody gatekeeper intervening. Don't get me started on HMOs, as I detest and reject the entire paternalistic premise on which they are based.
I pay extra health insurance premiums to be on a PPO, which gives me direct access to any G.P. or specialist I choose, without some bloody gatekeeper intervening. Don't get me started on HMOs, as I detest and reject the entire paternalistic premise on which they are based.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#12
Are we having fun yet?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Posts: 930
Bikes: Fuji Roubaix, Trek 7200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm glad you're feeling better now. I'll keep you in my thoughts. Sometimes I think the best we can hope for as we get older is that whatever parts of us break can be fixed so we can, in effect, continue our lives with the help of the pharmacalogical and surgical equivalents of baling wire and duct tape.
__________________
You're east of East St. Louis
And the wind is making speeches.
You're east of East St. Louis
And the wind is making speeches.
#13
aka old dog
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: tauranga New Zealand
Posts: 1,173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't undersrand all the jargon Denver but I can understand that you may have a heart prob. glad you are feeling better & hope its nothing serious
all the best with it anyway .
all the best with it anyway .
#14
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by John E
There are plenty of readily available effective nonprescription blood thinners, including garlic and aspirin.
I pay extra health insurance premiums to be on a PPO, which gives me direct access to any G.P. or specialist I choose, without some bloody gatekeeper intervening. Don't get me started on HMOs, as I detest and reject the entire paternalistic premise on which they are based.
I pay extra health insurance premiums to be on a PPO, which gives me direct access to any G.P. or specialist I choose, without some bloody gatekeeper intervening. Don't get me started on HMOs, as I detest and reject the entire paternalistic premise on which they are based.
#15
'Bent Brian
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Wellington Ohio
Posts: 560
Bikes: Trek 1000, Rans Tailwind
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hang in there Dnvrfox. Listen to the doc (find one that will listen to YOU). It's hard to keep a good rider down.
'bent Brian
'bent Brian
#16
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Have officially changed my Doc. Took a fax to the president of Kaiser, but I got it done.
Am now on Warfarin (rat poison, literally) therapy - which means if I have a crash and have internal head bleeding I am literally done for, as the bleeding in the head will not coagulate!
Must be very careful where I ride, and wear that helmet!
Am now on Warfarin (rat poison, literally) therapy - which means if I have a crash and have internal head bleeding I am literally done for, as the bleeding in the head will not coagulate!
Must be very careful where I ride, and wear that helmet!
#17
Senior Member
I sincerely Wish You Well DF. Hang in there. (I know I don't have to say that, I KNOW you will!!)
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Tichborne, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 324
Bikes: Trek 5200, Giant Rainier, Devinci Destination,Motobecane CF, Bike Friday family tandem, Bike Friday NWT
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Any chance you were taking VIOXX?
Hockey
Hockey
#20
The Iceman cometh!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Dnvr,
Two things:
1. Thank the politians for not being able to sue your HMO. The HMO put so much pressure on Congress, they just buckled. The HMO's say they can not provide care or compete if people can sue. Of course the fact they keep denying life sustaining procedures and improper care all in the name of the buck has nothing to do with it.
2. Since you are riding while using Cumidin you show have some sort of a medical ID alert on your wrist or some other very visible place. If you should require emergency medical care and can not respond to the EMT's questions, you will be long gone before they figure out why they can not stop the bleeding. Without a blood test, which they will not be able to do on the road there is no other way for them to know your on Cumidin!!! Even if you have to make one up or pin a tag to your bike riding outfit you should not be riding without it.
Two things:
1. Thank the politians for not being able to sue your HMO. The HMO put so much pressure on Congress, they just buckled. The HMO's say they can not provide care or compete if people can sue. Of course the fact they keep denying life sustaining procedures and improper care all in the name of the buck has nothing to do with it.
2. Since you are riding while using Cumidin you show have some sort of a medical ID alert on your wrist or some other very visible place. If you should require emergency medical care and can not respond to the EMT's questions, you will be long gone before they figure out why they can not stop the bleeding. Without a blood test, which they will not be able to do on the road there is no other way for them to know your on Cumidin!!! Even if you have to make one up or pin a tag to your bike riding outfit you should not be riding without it.
#21
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by Bop Bop
Dnvr,
2. Since you are riding while using Cumidin you show have some sort of a medical ID alert on your wrist or some other very visible place. If you should require emergency medical care and can not respond to the EMT's questions, you will be long gone before they figure out why they can not stop the bleeding. Without a blood test, which they will not be able to do on the road there is no other way for them to know your on Cumidin!!! Even if you have to make one up or pin a tag to your bike riding outfit you should not be riding without it.
2. Since you are riding while using Cumidin you show have some sort of a medical ID alert on your wrist or some other very visible place. If you should require emergency medical care and can not respond to the EMT's questions, you will be long gone before they figure out why they can not stop the bleeding. Without a blood test, which they will not be able to do on the road there is no other way for them to know your on Cumidin!!! Even if you have to make one up or pin a tag to your bike riding outfit you should not be riding without it.
Thanks for the reminder.
I HAVE gotten a couple of nice bike rides in, and many long walks.
Today -
2.5 mile walk,
Also, did an hour at the gym - bike, elliptical and treadmill.
#22
The Iceman cometh!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fox,
You are more than welcome.
Hope things work well for you and you get off Cumidin ASAP. Do not forget about the monthly Cumidin Level Monitoring Blood Tests. They are very important, especially in the being to establish the correct levels.
You are more than welcome.
Hope things work well for you and you get off Cumidin ASAP. Do not forget about the monthly Cumidin Level Monitoring Blood Tests. They are very important, especially in the being to establish the correct levels.
#23
Banned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally Posted by Bop Bop
Fox,
You are more than welcome.
Hope things work well for you and you get off Cumidin ASAP. Do not forget about the monthly Cumidin Level Monitoring Blood Tests. They are very important, especially in the being to establish the correct levels.
You are more than welcome.
Hope things work well for you and you get off Cumidin ASAP. Do not forget about the monthly Cumidin Level Monitoring Blood Tests. They are very important, especially in the being to establish the correct levels.
#24
GiantOldGuy
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pulaski, TN
Posts: 29
Bikes: Merckx Mx Leader, Trek Singletrack 800, 87 Santana Elan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Then I talked with the doc on the phone, who said she saw "nothing remarkable" in what my heart was doing!!!
That's why they call it practicing medicine.
So, I am on blood thinners (warfarin and heparin initially), and a beta blocker to slow down my heart. Even with marked dosages of beta blocker, my heart is still beating at 120 bpm. I will go in for an EKG next week to see, but my heart already feels better in my chest. In about 3 weeks, I will likely get a "cardioversion (sp)" where they put me to sleep and shock the heart to get it back in rhythm.
If this works (about 95% initial success rate and then 50% after a year) I can go off of the warfarin.
Ha! Your doctors are blowing large puffs of smoke up your posterior about the year. As for the rat poison, you can use other treatments to stop the arrhythmia. None of them are risk free. There is the RF ablation (they run a catheter up your femoral artery(vein?) and burn the electrical connections in the atrium.) There is also other anti arrhythmic medications that if you read the warnings will scare you into rhythm.
If not, I will be on the warfarin the rest of my life, or until there is another medical miracle cure.
There are other meds for thinning the blood that are not as dangerous as warfarin. It nearly killed my father-in-law. He started bleeding on the brain. He only lost a few months out of his life.
The good news is that the ticker, besides the electrical disturbances, is in great shape. No signs of coronary artery disease or anything like tha(t).
It's the riding.
I need to lose weight, and I guess this is the final motivation to do that, but that was not the prime cause. In fact, they do not know the prime cause! May be hypertension or just getting older or genetic????
I go back to the practicing theory.
My release says "physical activity as tolerated" so I can't wait to get a ride in soon.
Do be careful about crashes. I got off the rat poison after three months of a class three anti arrythic med. I had the ablation and the beta blockers. All the beta bolcker did was make me tired. The anti arrhythmic (arrhythmetic - who knows) med is scary in its own right. Thirty percent of the people cannot tolerate it.
Darn you work so hard ot stay in shape, eat right, don't smoke, etc., amd you get caught by something like this.
Stress and alcohol did it to me. Quit the alcohol and still had the problem. Ended up retiring to relieve the stress.
The cardiologist stated:
"Think of this as only a minor annoyance, not as a major problem!"
That's because it's not him with the problem.
That's why they call it practicing medicine.
So, I am on blood thinners (warfarin and heparin initially), and a beta blocker to slow down my heart. Even with marked dosages of beta blocker, my heart is still beating at 120 bpm. I will go in for an EKG next week to see, but my heart already feels better in my chest. In about 3 weeks, I will likely get a "cardioversion (sp)" where they put me to sleep and shock the heart to get it back in rhythm.
If this works (about 95% initial success rate and then 50% after a year) I can go off of the warfarin.
Ha! Your doctors are blowing large puffs of smoke up your posterior about the year. As for the rat poison, you can use other treatments to stop the arrhythmia. None of them are risk free. There is the RF ablation (they run a catheter up your femoral artery(vein?) and burn the electrical connections in the atrium.) There is also other anti arrhythmic medications that if you read the warnings will scare you into rhythm.
If not, I will be on the warfarin the rest of my life, or until there is another medical miracle cure.
There are other meds for thinning the blood that are not as dangerous as warfarin. It nearly killed my father-in-law. He started bleeding on the brain. He only lost a few months out of his life.
The good news is that the ticker, besides the electrical disturbances, is in great shape. No signs of coronary artery disease or anything like tha(t).
It's the riding.
I need to lose weight, and I guess this is the final motivation to do that, but that was not the prime cause. In fact, they do not know the prime cause! May be hypertension or just getting older or genetic????
I go back to the practicing theory.
My release says "physical activity as tolerated" so I can't wait to get a ride in soon.
Do be careful about crashes. I got off the rat poison after three months of a class three anti arrythic med. I had the ablation and the beta blockers. All the beta bolcker did was make me tired. The anti arrhythmic (arrhythmetic - who knows) med is scary in its own right. Thirty percent of the people cannot tolerate it.
Darn you work so hard ot stay in shape, eat right, don't smoke, etc., amd you get caught by something like this.
Stress and alcohol did it to me. Quit the alcohol and still had the problem. Ended up retiring to relieve the stress.
The cardiologist stated:
"Think of this as only a minor annoyance, not as a major problem!"
That's because it's not him with the problem.
#25
The Iceman cometh!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As a member of the "Heart Med" club for some 15 years I know what you guys are going through. My problem is not the heart itself but my pressure, which is causing everything to go crazy.
I'm currently on 3 meds as previously stated and have started to notice something. On the days I ride for at least an 1 1/2 hours my pressure drops. Without riding and taking my meds, my pressure at it's best is around 130/90. When I ride and take my meds before I ride, my pressure some two hours or more after the ride is around 115/70. Big difference!!!
I think I'm going to start tracking it so I can talk to the cardiologist about it during my next visit.
Has anyone else noticed this type of drop?
I'm currently on 3 meds as previously stated and have started to notice something. On the days I ride for at least an 1 1/2 hours my pressure drops. Without riding and taking my meds, my pressure at it's best is around 130/90. When I ride and take my meds before I ride, my pressure some two hours or more after the ride is around 115/70. Big difference!!!
I think I'm going to start tracking it so I can talk to the cardiologist about it during my next visit.
Has anyone else noticed this type of drop?