AFibbers Database: OK

Name	OK
Location	Boston & Los Angeles
Age	63
Diagnosed condition	A-Fib (new), MVP, MR, HCM, VT's, BP Borderline High
Years with condition	Permanent A-Fib, 6 months; other, 15 years
Frequency of episodes	2 episodes in four months
Duration of episodes	48 hours
Event preceding first AF	Jet Lag
General health	Good, non-drinker, non-smoker
Current state	Unpredictable
Triggers	MSG, food additives; over-eating; frequent post-prandial symptoms; alcohol; sleep depravation; stress.
Preventions	Good night's sleep; eating very little; empty stomach; pure food; weight loss.
Current medications/side effects	ICD Gem III AT with Amiodarone, Warfarin, Atenolol; So far, so good. Side effects from Amiodarone only: eyes very sensitive to light; some problems with balance; appetite less and no tolerance for salt. Atenolol: bradycardic but it was meant to relax heart and keep rate safe; A-Fib developed when MVP and MR worsened thus making Atenolol unsafe without pacemaking back-up. 2006 Update: Amiodarone is finally causing Thyroid problems which have contributed to 2 A-Fib episodes in 6 months. Not happy with Norpace and not sure what to do.
Past medications/side effects	Mexiletine for earlier VT's along with Cardizem; Cardizem caused shortness of breath, did not tolerate well. Before that Lopressor for hypertension made me bradycardic and may have contributed to VT's; Propafenol caused VT runs; Aspirin, okay but changed to Warfarin. Have learned to love my ACE inhibitor (Lisinopril). It's saved my life, helping me breathe.
History of surgery	ICD implant, February 19, 2003; Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles.
Future plans	May try to lower paceing rate since 98% of heart is being paced; need for Atenolol has increased from 25-75 mg. Will try to hold off on surgery as long as possible. Eventually Mitral Valve will probably need repair or replacing along with other procedures such as ablation. Hoping for new and magical techhnologies in the future. 2006 Update: Just returned to Boston where I am being followed at MGH. Care is not as good as Cedars and no one can compare with Dr. Cannon who kept me A-Fib free for 3 years!!!
Personal comments	Suffered with undiagnosed paroxysmal A-Fib for years; only two episodes of sustained A-Fib ever but first was Sept 2002, second, February 2003. ICD was put in (to prevent further damage to heart) and, since then, have been very fearful of mechanical unknown in control of my life. Good support group in L.A. that meets quarterly run by Dr. David S. Cannom. Found it very helpful and am changing my PCP to Good Samaritan to be followed by him. Site here is very informative and helpful. Thanks.
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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