| Name | Lisa |
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| Location | Stone Mtn., GA |
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| Age | 54 |
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| Diagnosed condition | Atrial Fibrillation (rate up to 350 bpm) + arrhythmia |
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| Years with condition | 20 mild & infrequent / 10 months SEVERE |
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| Frequency of episodes | every 3 -5 days |
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| Duration of episodes | 30 mins to 38 hours |
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| Event preceding first AF | none known; do get pain/pressure/swelling in upper abdomen - just below sternum, prior to attack & during |
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| General health | obese; minor heart murmur (aortic valve leak); ex-smoker quit 1980; 1 kidney; previous endometriosis; menopausal; arthritis & bursitis; July2008 Sarcoidosis diagnosis |
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| Current state | very ill some days; some mildly ill & in between |
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| Triggers | anything & everything....Stress; bending; strenuos activity; eating heavy; going too long between eating; dehydration; lack of and/or poor sleep; hurrying; walking too much - too fast; becoming emotional; HORMONAL!; keeping eyes focused in one direction too long; changing head/neck position; etc.. |
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| Preventions | stay hydrated; eat small frequient meals; avoid heavy meals, esp. fried food; destress (trying); get plenty of good quality sleep; avoid emotional issues/ stress induc-
ing people & situations.
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| Current medications/side effects | -Accupril 10 mg daily (BP) : "ticky" cough, mostly dry
-Toprol XL 50 mg twice daily (afib)
-325 mg Enteric coated Aspirin
-1 multi vitamin/mineral
-CoQ10 50 mg daily *had quit 9 months, just restarted
-Prilosec 40 mg daily
-turmeric 450 - 1500 mcg daily *by pill or powder is
sprinkled on food |
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| Past medications/side effects | Levaquin : severe allergic reaction
Macrobid : moderate allergic reaction
Tetanus (both LIVE & Killed virus): severe allergic reactio
Benadryl: caused mental/nervous problems
*Take 2000mg Amoxicillin pre-meds before dental & medical
procedures: I feel better for 1 to 7 days after taking it
but none of the drs will consider a prophylactic course
of antibiotics. UPDATE: per cardiac dr, do NOT take pre- meds in the future. |
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| History of surgery | -several D & Cs
-left ovary removal 04/1994
-hysterectomy 12/1994 *dr left the other ovary
-mediastinoscopy 07/2008 biopsy of chest lymph(s) |
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| Future plans | -continue seeking solution for A fib.
-Trying to lose weight...haven't had much luck over the years. Tried numerous diets & exercise regimens. Eat a very healthy diet, so I'm trying to eat less of it.
-Work in construction, so was very active prior to 1st major Afib attack 10/2007....can't do much anymore.
-Also, a CT shows I have enlarged lymph nodes in chest area...had subsequent bronchoscopy with biopsy(s). Showed lymphs are "stained black"...usually only seen in coal miners or their family (exposure thru dust on clothing). Now, I'm to see Thoracic surgeon in 10 days for consult on surgical biopsy of lymphs in chest. Dr. doesn't think it has anything to do w/Afib. Who knows?!
July 29,2008: had mediastinoscopy for biopsy of chest lymph
glands....results show no lymphoma (praise God!). Cardiac/Thoracic surgeon and pulmonary dr say it is Sarcoidosis. They believe the a-fib is due to it. Only treatment really is prednisone (steroids). As I'm already obese and have only 1 kidney, I won't be taking steroids at this time. Should symptoms get worse, then I may have to reconsider.
The a-fib is better recently...still have "hard" palpitations sometines, but the rate problems are mostly under control. Do have mild to moderate palpitations fairly often, but it is tolerable. Most of the many other symptoms that I have of sarcoidosis are mild to moderate and fairly tolerable at this time. (to see the list of symptoms go to: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_signsandsymptoms.html |
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| Personal comments | I'm a 54 year old female who is used to rushing around all the time. Doing a very physical job climbing ladders, carrying up to 110 lbs. @ the time, walking many miles on concrete floors every day, moving constantly while working out in the field and coming in to do all the paperwork in the office. Handling all the communications for both our personal & business and for a few family members.
Since this severe Afib has started, I'm almost unable to function most of the time. I'm praying for a miracle. Based on everything I can find, many people are living with this condition. I'll keep you all in my prayers. |
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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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