| Name | Jeff Rushton |
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| Location | Derby UK |
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| Age | 59 |
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| Diagnosed condition | Paroxsymal AF |
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| Years with condition | c. 8 years diagnosed but a long time undiagnosed |
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| Frequency of episodes | irregular, maybe 3 times a month |
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| Duration of episodes | 12 hours or linger; 1 episode lasted 2 days; 1 episode caused serious chest pain and shortness of breath |
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| Event preceding first AF | none that I am aware of |
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| General health | stopped smoking >30 years ago (ran 2hr 44 marathon since); drink immoderately |
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| Triggers | None that I am aware of but occasionally episodes are triggered by a cough. Have had a number of high stress incidents in recent years and am convinced that stress doesn't trigger an episode. |
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| Preventions | none that I am aware of |
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| Current medications/side effects | Propafenone (Arrythmol) 300mg 3 times per day; reasonably effective but doesn't stop episodes.
Bisoprolol during an episode
Aspirin |
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| Past medications/side effects | various beta blockers (no effect);disopyramide; rythmodan (worked for a long time)
Don't want to 'progress' to anioderone
warfarin |
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| History of surgery | nothing relevant |
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| Future plans | Am considering PVI
Update 24/10/06: Underwent PVI on 7th at Glenfields Hospital (Dr. Stafford). Quite a daunting procedure but certainly didn't hurt as much as I was led to expect. Will have a good idea after three months if it's been successful. It may be of interest to others that I exercise really hard on a bike (though not when I have the symptoms). I can cycle at 75% of max heart rate for quite a while and can work my heart rate up to 90% max on a climb (I have a polar heart rate monitor). I'm convinced that exercise isn't a trigger. |
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| Personal comments | When I'm not having an 'attack' I wonder what I'm worrying about, then I have an attack.......... Don't want to exaggerate the effects, but during an attack it's really unpleasant. Think its probably worth trying PVI as I don't want to deteriorate or have to start on warfarin again.
HAD PVI PROCEDURE OCTOBER '06; NOW DOWN TO ONE 6TH OF ORIGINAL DOSAGE OF PROPAFENONE AND INTEND STOPPING IT ALTOGETHER IN TWO WEEKS. NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL SINCE HAVING THE PROCEDURE. VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS. THE PROCEDURE IS UNCOMFORTABLE BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE, AND ONLY INVOLVED AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN HOSPITAL. |
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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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