Posted by Carl Plaskett on August 15, 2002 at 14:39:00:
In Reply to: New Involuntary Member of AF Club posted by Mike Ware on August 15, 2002 at 07:35:06:
Mike: Like Ed, I experienced a real drop in the quality of my life because of afib and the drugs. He had the benefit of being able to continue to exercise with afib, but since I was primarily a cyclist, I gave it up since I could not keep up with my cycling friends because of the low HR caused by the drugs and the concern of having a crash while taking coumadin. So, I just got fat and depressed about my lot in life.
Since finding this site, almost simultaneous with Ed, I also went to the CC for the Maze, 6 days after Ed's. I have never looked back, take no drugs, have lost over 35 lbs, and feel like I could do anything.
As to your questions, I will try to be brief in my layman's opinion:
1)Episodes, particularly among steady-state exercisers, seem to increase in frequency and duration. They also seem to increase as the various drugs lose their controlling effect, which usually means more, or different drugs.
2)Afib is NOT going to go away on it's own. You MAY be able to eliminate enough "triggers" to be comfortable, but that is a subjective state, which only YOU can answer. Like Ed, I wish I had done it sooner, but I didn't know of any "mazers" until Jack started this site! Now, at 61, it is difficult to think about how much work it would take to become a competitive swimmer/cyclist/triathlete again, after 10 years of not competing, but it IS in the back of my mind, because I would LIKE to make a "comeback" statement of sorts.
3)As to drugs, I would read as much as you can find about any of the drugs prescribed and insist upon any baseline and periodic lab work recommended in the literature. It sounds as though you have a good physician since he recognizes the downside of most of these drugs. PVAs done at a few centers, such as the CC are not as risky as they were only a short time ago.
4)There may be someone at Georgetown who has replaced Dr. Cox, and perhaps someone will post a response of whomever might be in that area. I am obviously partial to the CC and Dr. McCarthy(maze) and the entire afib ablation team under Dr. Natale.
5)As to other "Maze Centers", see the list at the "Maze Surgeons" button at the top of the page. There are some great maze surgeons besides the ones at the CC.
6)The things used to arrest afib are as varied as those which "tigger" it. Some have reported success with exercise, others, like me, had exercise induced afib. Some get it when they lie down, others find lying down helps. Etc, etc,.
7)I would really look at MSG and things containing it (go to www.nomsg.com). There are MSG containing additives in a lot of prepared foods, and I was surprised at how some of these other sources of MSG seemed to trigger afib. I would also try to keep from getting dehydrated (drink MORE water than you think you can, and try to stop a couple of hours before bedtime).
8)As to exercise, that is up to you. Once I started a drug regimen, my HR would not get above 115-120, even during a treadmill EKG. I quickly would get a lactic acid build-up and either cramp or my muscles couldn't keep up with the demand. If your drugs change either in dosage or type, you may start to notice the side effects will affect your exercise ability, but then again, YOU may not!Finally, should you go for the Maze or for an ablation (the CC would be my choice for that), do NOT be concerned if you do not have instant NSR. Some people have had to go back for touch-up ablations, and now, 19 months after mine, I may be one of them, since I went into aflutter last night while reading, and vicariously thinking of Steve Giddings at the Masters Rowing Meet. I have yet to convert with atenolol, so I am scheduled for a cardioversion in the AM. My EP, who I just left, says that he thinks I have an "incisional" arrhythmia, where cells have realigned along some scar tissue from the maze and that he can readily ablate this area if this aflutter returns. I am NOT worried! The months of NSR have been a blessing, and without the Maze I just would not have still been here. A simple touch-up ablation seems to have been required in a number of now happy mazers, so I just look at it as part of the process for me.
- Re: New Involuntary Member of AF Club Ed Wehan 16:40:16 8/15/2002 (1)
- Re: New Involuntary Member of AF Club steve giddings 07:52:27 8/16/2002 (0)