| Name | John W. |
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| Location | Arlington, TX |
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| Age | 50 |
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| Diagnosed condition | Chronic Atrial Fibrillation |
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| Years with condition | 14 months |
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| Event preceding first AF | On vacation in Colorado - altitude above 10,000 feet |
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| General health | overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes |
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| Current state | No episodes since being put on Tikosyn |
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| Triggers | Altitude may have attributed to onset... Or could be stress of travel. I had some unexplained "illnesses" on two prior vacations. I was also on the diabetic drug that was taken off the market, Rezulin. I thought perhaps my "illnesses" were because I was on Rezulin at the time. After I was taken off Rezulin, I did not have any problems until four months later in Colorado. |
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| Preventions | None |
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| Current medications/side effects | I am currently on Coumadin 5 mg, Diltiazem 240 mg and Metoprolol 100 mg. The Metoprolol was just prescribed for a week prior to being placed in the hospital to receive Tikosyn therapy. The Metoprolol has slowed my heart rate considerably and makes me feel tired and listless. But what else is new!
January 2001 placed in hospital for tikosyn therapy. Converted on the third day and have remained in normal sinus rythm since that time. Thank God! |
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| Past medications/side effects | The whole medication thing has been such an up and down rollercoaster. It seems when I try a medicine that starts to help, it is only a matter of time before I suffer what the doctors here call a "breakthrough." I was first prescribed Coumadin, Amiodorone and Diltiazem. Felt okay the first time. Began feeling lousy and ill all the time. Unable to work, function normally. Medications changed to Lanoxin(digoxin)for a short period. Felt worse. Finally settled for several months on Coumadin, Covera HS (Verapamil). January 2001 on Tikosyn, coumadin,
altace 10 mg, Cartia ST 240 mg. |
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| History of surgery | First onset of AF was placed in the hospital three days on Coumadin, Amiodorone and Diltiazem. Did not convert. Went back to hospital approx 1 month later for cardioversion. Hit me three times, did not convert. Had heart catheterization for suspected blockage from nuclear stress test. No blockage found.
In hospital January 23 for Tikosyn therapy. converted third day. NSR since that time 6+ months |
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| Future plans | I have my fingers crossed that the Tikosyn will keep my heart rate normal. So far, so good. |
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| Personal comments | have not been able to "live" with this disease, although my cardiologist says that people can live a relatively normal life with it. This has affected me both physically and mentally. I have been unable to enjoy the things in life that I have always done. Every pain I feel in my chest (and I feel pains often) causes me to worry what permanent effect this is having. I was referred to an electro physiologist cardiologist that has given me more hope than a regular cardiologist. I suggest that anyone seeing a regular cardiologist get a referral |
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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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