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AFibbers Database: Betty Jansen

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NameBetty Jansen
LocationLeiden, The Netherlands
AgeBorn 1962
Diagnosed conditionAF & AVNRT
Years with conditionsince 1988 AVNRT/ since 1998 AF
Frequency of episodesAVNRT 2 or 3 times a year / AF also
Duration of episodesAVNRT less than a day / AF sometimes needs cardioversion
Event preceding first AFCardiac surgery in 1972 due to congenital heart disease
General healthGood
Current stateAfter MVR & MAZE still paroxysmal boosts of AF
TriggersAV-nodal reentry tachycardy (AVNRT),infection or flu (propbably higher CRP-level than normal), overactive exertion especially after meals, fatigue.
PreventionsStaying calm after meals, no bike riding in stormy weather after meal with alcohol. I need to prevent getting ill or cathing a cold. I need enough rest and sleep at night.
Current medications/side effectsFlecainide and metoprolol if needed. No noticable side effects.

Coumadin (in Dutch: Marcoumar)for anti-coagulation. I am managing the whole thing myself at home. Things are going very smoothly.
Past medications/side effectsI tried all sorts of anti arrhytmica. In the end none of them stopped AF from reoccuring. With verapamil ( calcium antagonist)I had thick legs and feet during high temperatures.
History of surgery1972: ASD I & II
VSD
cleft mitral valve.
After this operation I could lead a perfectly normal life.

2003:
2 ablations of the AVNRT, both without success.

2004:
Mitral valve replacement & Maze surgery on left atrium (the maze was not possible on the right atrium due to the many adhesions I had after the first operation).
Since this operation I have had 3 cardioversions but AF episodes are much milder and shorter. My left atrium is enlarged and that is probably why the maze did not completely worked out for me.
Future plansSince 99% of my AF episodes are triggered by the AVNRT, my EP will probably later this year try to ablate the extra bundle near my AV-node again.
Personal commentsAlthough the maze surgery was not completely succesful for me, due to my congenital heart disease history, I recommend all people to consider this operation. Quality of life certainly increases and risk for complications, like stroke or heart failure decreases.
Check list
crossacebutololcrossamiodarone (cordarone,pacerone)crossanisindione (miradon)
crossatenolol (tenormin)crossaspirincrossazimilide
crossbepridilcrossbetaxololtickbisoprolol (monocor,emconcor)
crossbretyliumcrossbucindololcrosscarvedilol
crosscibenzolinecrossdicumarolcrossdigitoxin
crossdigoxin (lanoxin)crossdiltiazem (cardizem)crossdiphenylhydantoin
crossdisopyramide (norpace)crossdofetilide (tikosyn)crossdronedarone
crossencainidecrossesmolol (brevibloc)crossersentilide
tickflecainide (tambocor)crossgallopamilcrossibutilide (corvert)
crosslidocainecrossmibefradiltickmetoprolol (lopressor,toprol xl)
crossmexiletinecrossmoricizinecrossnadolol
crossphenytoincrossprocainamidecrosspropafanone (rythmol)
crosspropranolol (inderal)crossquinapril (accupril)tickquinidine (quinaglute)
crosssotalol (betapace)crosstedisamilcrosstimolol
crosstocainidecrosstrandolapril (mavik)crossvalsartan (diovan)
tickverapamil (calan,isoptin)tickwarfarin (coumadin)crossasthma
crossdiabetescrossGERD/acid refluxcrosshypertension
crosshypotensioncrosshyperthyroidismcrosshypothyroidism
crossadrenergictickvagaltickfamilial
crossidiopathic/lonetickparoxysmalcrosspermanent/chronic
crossatrial fluttertickcardiomyopathycrossCHF
tickPACcrossPVCtickSVT
crosssyncopecrossbradycardiaticktachycardia
crossheart blockcrossmyocardial infarctioncrossrheumatic heart diease
crosssick sinus syndromecrossstrokecrossWPW
tickelectrical cardioversioncrossdefibrillatorcrosspacemaker
tickablationcrossbypasstickmaze
crossMaletickFemale 

Statistics for the first 161 entries.

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