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My Afib Story
Hi, I'm Chris and I'm 29 right now.
In May of 2006 I noticed my heart was pumping fast. I could feel it. Stupid me didn't do anything for 2 days until I started to get very cold and had a little trouble breathing. We went to the ER and my heart rate was almost 200 BPM and they said I have Afib. They were able to get the rate under 100 BPM while I was in the ER and then I was transferred to room to sleep. Sometime about 9am I reverted back to normal and went home. The chest xrays, EKG's and hear sonar thing (what's that called again?) were fine. The docs put me on 25mg of Toprol daily along with 325mg of aspirin. They told me to stay away from alcohol and anything with caffeine.
A week later I thought I had the same feeling in my chest and went to the ER but everything was fine. They upped me to 50mg of Toprol daily. About a month after my first Afib I wore a Holter and that was fine.
I was fine for the next 2 years and all my EKG's were fine. For the first 1.5 years I was great at staying away from the caffeine and alcohol but at the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 I felt comfortable to start having those things again. I started off with a piece of chocolate or beer here and there and slowly worked my way back to having those things on a normal basis. In May of 2008 I was at work and had a funny feeling in my chest and I thought my rate was jumping. Went to the ER and sure enough Afib came back. Again they got my rate under 100, transferred me to a room and when I woke the next morning my rate was normal again. Again, chest xrays, EKG's and the sonar were fine. At this point they upped my toprol to 75mg a day. I had another Holter that came back fine and had an exercise stress test I I aced it. No problems.
4 months later in September of 2008 I came home from work and was napping on my back on the couch. I woke up and went to use the bathroom. I was very light headed and a little dizzy but thought I maybe got up too fast after laying down. I then went to feel my pulse and could feel it jumping around. This was the first time I ever felt dizzy and or light headed with my Afib. Again, went to the ER and they got me under 100 BPM but I had to stay in the ER overnight because there were no rooms available. As a result, I didn't get much sleep and still had the Afib the next day. I finally got a room that day and got a much better sleep that night and I reverted back to normal the next morning.
It seems like I go the the ER and they get me somewhat under control at night and then after a good nights sleep I return to normal. That's been the process so far. Since my last stint in September they upped my toprol too 100mg of Toprol (50mg 2x daily).
My cardiologist also referred me to an electrical cardiologist who put me on Rythmol 225, 2X daily along with my aspirin. The only thing I can say is that I've had a bit of a headache off and on for the past few days and am wondering if it's a side effect of the Rythmol, a withdrawl symptom of the toprol or something else.
I've never had to get the shock treatment to get my heart back. The electrical cardiologist did mention the ablation procedure but wanted to see how the rythmol worked for now. They were a little concerned because my first occurance was in May of 2006 and then I went 2 years until my 2nd and then only 4 months until my 3rd.
Any thoughts?
In May of 2006 I noticed my heart was pumping fast. I could feel it. Stupid me didn't do anything for 2 days until I started to get very cold and had a little trouble breathing. We went to the ER and my heart rate was almost 200 BPM and they said I have Afib. They were able to get the rate under 100 BPM while I was in the ER and then I was transferred to room to sleep. Sometime about 9am I reverted back to normal and went home. The chest xrays, EKG's and hear sonar thing (what's that called again?) were fine. The docs put me on 25mg of Toprol daily along with 325mg of aspirin. They told me to stay away from alcohol and anything with caffeine.
A week later I thought I had the same feeling in my chest and went to the ER but everything was fine. They upped me to 50mg of Toprol daily. About a month after my first Afib I wore a Holter and that was fine.
I was fine for the next 2 years and all my EKG's were fine. For the first 1.5 years I was great at staying away from the caffeine and alcohol but at the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 I felt comfortable to start having those things again. I started off with a piece of chocolate or beer here and there and slowly worked my way back to having those things on a normal basis. In May of 2008 I was at work and had a funny feeling in my chest and I thought my rate was jumping. Went to the ER and sure enough Afib came back. Again they got my rate under 100, transferred me to a room and when I woke the next morning my rate was normal again. Again, chest xrays, EKG's and the sonar were fine. At this point they upped my toprol to 75mg a day. I had another Holter that came back fine and had an exercise stress test I I aced it. No problems.
4 months later in September of 2008 I came home from work and was napping on my back on the couch. I woke up and went to use the bathroom. I was very light headed and a little dizzy but thought I maybe got up too fast after laying down. I then went to feel my pulse and could feel it jumping around. This was the first time I ever felt dizzy and or light headed with my Afib. Again, went to the ER and they got me under 100 BPM but I had to stay in the ER overnight because there were no rooms available. As a result, I didn't get much sleep and still had the Afib the next day. I finally got a room that day and got a much better sleep that night and I reverted back to normal the next morning.
It seems like I go the the ER and they get me somewhat under control at night and then after a good nights sleep I return to normal. That's been the process so far. Since my last stint in September they upped my toprol too 100mg of Toprol (50mg 2x daily).
My cardiologist also referred me to an electrical cardiologist who put me on Rythmol 225, 2X daily along with my aspirin. The only thing I can say is that I've had a bit of a headache off and on for the past few days and am wondering if it's a side effect of the Rythmol, a withdrawl symptom of the toprol or something else.
I've never had to get the shock treatment to get my heart back. The electrical cardiologist did mention the ablation procedure but wanted to see how the rythmol worked for now. They were a little concerned because my first occurance was in May of 2006 and then I went 2 years until my 2nd and then only 4 months until my 3rd.
Any thoughts?
So far so good with the Rythmol. Haven't had any health issues and have been living a normal life. I've even taken to enjoying a few beers a week and some chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ice cream from time to time. (Who can resist a soft serve chocolate Mister Softee cone when he comes around?) I don't over indulge, but I do have some.
I feel that my afib is not related to alcohol and or caffeine. I've been in afib 3 times so far. The first time I don't even remember when it started because I wasn't looking out for anything. The second time was at work, about an hour after I woke up. The third time was after work. I came home andlaid on my couch on my back to nap. When I woke up I had afib.
I'm thinking it's all caused by sleep apnea. I've been avoiding sleeping on my back and my wife says she doesn't hear me snore anymore. I going for a sleep study soon, just have to make an appointment.
On a side note, I got a 102+ fever yesterday out of the blue. That was my only problem, a fever. I took an Advil and about 2 hours later I was around nornal temp again. When I got to work and was talking to people they said I shouldn't take Advil with Rythmol. Anyone have info on that?>
I feel that my afib is not related to alcohol and or caffeine. I've been in afib 3 times so far. The first time I don't even remember when it started because I wasn't looking out for anything. The second time was at work, about an hour after I woke up. The third time was after work. I came home andlaid on my couch on my back to nap. When I woke up I had afib.
I'm thinking it's all caused by sleep apnea. I've been avoiding sleeping on my back and my wife says she doesn't hear me snore anymore. I going for a sleep study soon, just have to make an appointment.
On a side note, I got a 102+ fever yesterday out of the blue. That was my only problem, a fever. I took an Advil and about 2 hours later I was around nornal temp again. When I got to work and was talking to people they said I shouldn't take Advil with Rythmol. Anyone have info on that?>
Hello...
Sounds like a smart decision to avoid any and all caffeine...I'll keep my fringers crossed for you too!
>< <--------- crossed fingers :)
Sounds like a smart decision to avoid any and all caffeine...I'll keep my fringers crossed for you too!
>< <--------- crossed fingers :)
Yes, I've read head aches as a side effect of Rythmol. I've been on the Rythmol for about a week and a half and can't say I feel any different as to when I was on Toprol. I feel the same.
I don't have a headache now so I'm hoping my problem is gone. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
I've also noticed a slight increase in my heart rate. While under Toprol and sitting down my rate was around 70. Now that I've switched to Rythmol my rate seems to be about 85 when seated.
Decaf coffee and caffeine free soda for me.
Just keeping my fingers crossed for the future.
I don't have a headache now so I'm hoping my problem is gone. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
I've also noticed a slight increase in my heart rate. While under Toprol and sitting down my rate was around 70. Now that I've switched to Rythmol my rate seems to be about 85 when seated.
Decaf coffee and caffeine free soda for me.
Just keeping my fingers crossed for the future.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I drink a beer (sometimes a glass of wine) most weeks, sometimes three or four in a week, then several days with none. This had never given me any problems I am aware of, but we are all different.
I also avoid caffeine, e.g., chocolate and regular coffee, but I do eat some chocolate and do drink a big cup of regular tea (black tea) and it has caffeine, still I don't take in much.
I have taken as much as two 425 mg Rythmol SR a day and no headaches ... but again we are all different. Is headache listed as a possible side effect?
I'm off or Rythmol as it didn't help my AFib problem. I'm still using Metroprolol to hold down my HR.
I also avoid caffeine, e.g., chocolate and regular coffee, but I do eat some chocolate and do drink a big cup of regular tea (black tea) and it has caffeine, still I don't take in much.
I have taken as much as two 425 mg Rythmol SR a day and no headaches ... but again we are all different. Is headache listed as a possible side effect?
I'm off or Rythmol as it didn't help my AFib problem. I'm still using Metroprolol to hold down my HR.
Thanks. Yes, it's an Echo. I forgot the name, lol
I was never a big drinker but liked to have some beers every now and then. O'Doul's is my beer of choice now.
The hard part for me is chocolate. There's just SO MANY things that have chocolate in them, especially the dessert menus. You don't realise these things until you can't have them anymore. Better safe then sorry. Since my last occurance 4 months ago I think I've had 2-3 beers and a chocolate candy maybe 3 times. Nothing crazy, just bites.
Once I began taking the Rythmol last week I stopped the Toprol but am now having daily headaches. If they don't clear up by next week then I'll put in a call to the cardiologist.
I was never a big drinker but liked to have some beers every now and then. O'Doul's is my beer of choice now.
The hard part for me is chocolate. There's just SO MANY things that have chocolate in them, especially the dessert menus. You don't realise these things until you can't have them anymore. Better safe then sorry. Since my last occurance 4 months ago I think I've had 2-3 beers and a chocolate candy maybe 3 times. Nothing crazy, just bites.
Once I began taking the Rythmol last week I stopped the Toprol but am now having daily headaches. If they don't clear up by next week then I'll put in a call to the cardiologist.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sounds like you're on a good run....but stay away from the chocolate and beer+++ harder stuff, sounds like that is a trigger. Still I'd think a beer or one glass of wine with a meal once a week or so shouldn't cause any problems. I think Rythmol calls for avoiding alcohol.
Getting of Toprol (Metoprolol) may make you feel better too.
I assume your "sonar" test was a echocardiogram. This is the "gold standard" for measuring the physical condition of the heart, including valve and pumping efficiency.
Getting of Toprol (Metoprolol) may make you feel better too.
I assume your "sonar" test was a echocardiogram. This is the "gold standard" for measuring the physical condition of the heart, including valve and pumping efficiency.
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