Posted by Harry Kruger on January 21, 2004 at 20:29:12:
In Reply to: The shakes posted by Glenn Camp on January 20, 2004 at 23:50:20:
Hi Glen-
Yes, my A-fib attacks were violent, same as John Behle described, i.e., shakes, sweating, chills, very rapid heart beat, tight chest. And the attacks always happened while I was sleeping and early in the morning. I don't remember the meds I was on at the time, but it was at least Warfarin and Lanoxin (there were several others too). And every time this violent A-fib attack occurred, I would wind up in the local hospital where they would load me up with Heprin and keep the paddles close by. I was back in NSR within 24 hours but the doctors monitoring my heart at the time would keep me in the hospital for 4 or 5 days to make sure I didn't slip back into A-fib, at least that's why I think they kept me there that long.....I started asking lots of questions and contacting doctors at Georgetown and Chicago about my heart problems. Then I would tell my cardio and internist what I had found out on the 'Net. That's when I got a registered letter in my mailbox from the internist that stated he didn't want me as a patient anymore, that I was a liability and had the potential for suing him.
But this "dismissal" was a blessing in disguise. I found an internist very close to where I live and he was the one that guided me to a good local cardiologist and a surgeon/professor at the University of Florida Shands hospital. And during my scanning of the 'Net (before my heart surgery and MAZE procedure), I was contacted by Carl Plaskett and told to stay close to this very special web site after my surgery (and a very special site it is indeed!). And again, as I have said before, the rest is history.
As of today, I am 11 months "after the MAZE" and feeling quite healthy. Recently my blood pressure has jumped 10 points, which kind of bothers me. My current internist (not my local guardian angel-he moved too far away from me) doesn't seem to be concerned. I am now watching it closely with my own monitor. Carl, John, got any info on why my BP took a rather sudden step upwards? Harry