| Name | David Ruffino |
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| Location | Carmichael, California - USA |
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| Age | 42 |
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| Diagnosed condition | Vagally induced atrial fibrillation |
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| Years with condition | 10 |
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| Frequency of episodes | Varies - from 2 or 3 a year to once every two years |
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| Duration of episodes | From 5 seconds to 27 hours |
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| Event preceding first AF | Gallbladder Surgery (Cholcystectomy) |
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| General health | Quit smoking 22 years - Former drug abuser (speed and marijuana). NO drugs in 22 years. |
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| Current state | No A-fib in a year, very optimistic |
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| Triggers | Eating heavy meals seems to make my heart palpitate, and alcohol does the same. I've noticed that milk products seem to cause PVC's and have suspected for a time that I am lactose intolerant. A couple of times at the emergency room it has been reported to me that I had a low potassium level. I have suspected stress as being a factor for episodes. Strangely, indigestion seems to play a factor in the trigger mechanism. Because of this, I eat less, especially during dinner. Nearly all of my episodes have started at or around bedtime.
Two things that I attribute to the cause of the condition are that I was an abuser of stimulant drugs as a teenager and that I was exposed to a fairly large amount of DDT when I was a child. |
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| Preventions | Eureka, I have found it. I believe that the fibrillation was brought on by digestive problems. When I had my gallbladder out, the doc told me I could eat anything I wanted to. WRONG!! Recently, I have put myself on a low fat diet and a lot of things have started to resolve. The heart is beating fine with no PVC's. I'm losing weight and feeling better. I truly think that there was a correlation between a fatty diet and the fibrillation. Oh, and I can drink caffeine again, hallelujah! Finally, my faith in Jesus Christ has helped me greatly. He's the master physician. |
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| Current medications/side effects | A year ago, my new internist put took me off of the drugs below that I had been on for several years with little effect. He put me on sotalol 120mg twice daily. At first I had some transient PVC's but over time that has abated. I feel great and the heart is beating fine. Formally, I had been on Tambocor, digoxin and atenolol. Bad thing is that beta blockers cause easy weight gain which for me is hard to deal with as it makes it harder to lose. |
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| Past medications/side effects | Verapamil - Made me feel strange and dragged down.
Lanoxin - I believe this was the cause of many palpitations.
Quiniglute - Caused a feeling of muscle weakness and wasting.
Atenolol - Totally useless, never betablocked me like it was supposed to. |
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| History of surgery | As mentioned above, I believe that the gallbladder surgery in 1991 precipitated my atrial fibrillation. I have two other surgeries since and neither brought on another bout with fibrillation. I did notice however that after my eye surgery in 2001 that my heart rate was very low, I estimate in the 40's the night after the surgery. Again, it was fine when I was sitting, but upon laying down in bed it became very slow. This should be taken into account by anyone having surgery as bradycardia is common. |
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| Future plans | I plan to stay on the Betapace. Because I think there is a correlation between a fatty diet and a-fib I'm keeping on the low fat diet because it is helping. I'll keep trusting God of course.
I recently had a blood test where they found elevated liver enzymes. Tests have revealed a fatty liver. Many sources claim that this can be caused by medication. I would encourage any person taking medications to have a liver function test. |
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| Personal comments | When this all first started I was fearful and confused. I know that there is a lot to fear, like increased frequency of this condition and stroke is always a consideration.
I think what freaks most people out is the fact that there is a potential for death, although a small potential, it is still a clear and present danger. Of course, death scares people because what lies on the other side is uncertain for most. Many years ago I made a decision to follow Jesus Christ and to ask Him into my life. Because of this, I know what lies ahead and to put it frankly, if something were to cause me to leave this world for the next, it would without a doubt be better that what we have now. So, if God decides to let me stay here (even with A-fib) then I live here with God. If he decides to take me home, then I go home to eternal bliss. It's a win, win situation!
Now, this might have sounded like preaching and perhaps it was. I can say however that the knowledge of what I have said above helps me to live with and tolerate this condition each and every day.
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| Check list |  acebutolol | amiodarone (cordarone,pacerone) | anisindione (miradon) | | atenolol (tenormin) | aspirin | azimilide | | bepridil | betaxolol | bisoprolol (monocor,emconcor) | | bretylium | bucindolol | carvedilol | | cibenzoline | dicumarol | digitoxin | | digoxin (lanoxin) | diltiazem (cardizem) | diphenylhydantoin | | disopyramide (norpace) | dofetilide (tikosyn) | dronedarone | | encainide | esmolol (brevibloc) | ersentilide | | flecainide (tambocor) | gallopamil | ibutilide (corvert) | | lidocaine | mibefradil | metoprolol (lopressor,toprol xl) | | mexiletine | moricizine | nadolol | | phenytoin | procainamide | propafanone (rythmol) | | propranolol (inderal) | quinapril (accupril) | quinidine (quinaglute) |  sotalol (betapace) | tedisamil | timolol | | tocainide | trandolapril (mavik) | valsartan (diovan) | | verapamil (calan,isoptin) | warfarin (coumadin) | asthma | | diabetes | GERD/acid reflux | hypertension | | hypotension | hyperthyroidism | hypothyroidism | | adrenergic | vagal | familial | | idiopathic/lone | paroxysmal | permanent/chronic | | atrial flutter | cardiomyopathy | CHF | | PAC | PVC | SVT | | syncope | bradycardia | tachycardia | | heart block | myocardial infarction | rheumatic heart diease | | sick sinus syndrome | stroke | WPW | | electrical cardioversion | defibrillator | pacemaker | | ablation | bypass | maze | | Male | Female | |
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