Atrial Fibrillation strikes again

[packitin]

deleted

[Patrick A]

Here's some pretty good news for those who suffer from this:

http://www.theheart.org/article/1048133.do

Interesting article Thank You for posting it.

[tonycog]

Interesting. From my research Sotalol is considered to be very effective in holding the heart in normal rhythm. Not as effective as Amioderone but Sotalol isn't as toxic as Amioderone so there are no issues with taking it for extended periods as long as you don't suffer from serious side-effects. My a-fib episodes were self-terminating without increasing the Sotalol dosage to restore normal rhythm. The longest episode was 48 hours and the other 2 were in the 12 hour range. All of my episodes before and since starting the Sotalol have self-converted. Of course I have no way of knowing how long the 3 episodes since starting Sotalol would have lasted had I not been taking the Sotalol; the really important thing is that I've only had 3 episodes since early July '09 and none since early September so the stuff is obviously effective, for me at least. One other thing - for me at least, the required dosage to control the condition is much lower than originally prescribed. I have cut my dosage in half to avoid the side-effects without compromising the therapy.

btw, I attribute my a-fib to my sleep apnea. I firmly believe that it was caused by the stress placed on my heart while I slept. Now that my OSA is controlled, I am seriously considering suspending my drug therapy to see if I still need it. I haven't discussed this with my Cardiologist yet - he may disagree - and I'm not looking forward to getting off the Sotalol as beta blockers can be hard to wean off of but I would love to be drug free again.

I'm glad Sotalol is working for you. I was reluctant to start taking it, but I decided to switch and have now been taking it for about 3 weeks. The PVC side effects from Flecainide have stopped almost completely. My cardiologist confirmed that Flecainide can cause PVCs, despite denying this last fall. Sotalol doesn't seem to cause PVC's as often, and it is also, apparently, an effective medication for preventing AF. So far, so good, at least for me. Sotalol does have some maddening side-effects of it's own, though. Because it slightly constricts blood vessels, it can cause cold fingers and toes at times. While this can be irritating, it is better than an A-Fib episode.

As a side note for anyone taking Sotalol - there are 2 different prescribed types of Sotalol; there is Sotalol and Sotalol AF. The AF version is considerably more expensive than the "regular" sotalol. The difference? The AF version has a big black warning box printed on the medication paperwork, with some medical warnings regarding Sotalol and Atrial Fibrillation. The actual medication is exactly the same. You've got to love the FDA and our prescription drug system.

Thanks,
Tony

[tonycog]

For those with atrial fibrillation issues, this may be of interest:

http://www.theheart.org/article/1063021.do

I just read this tonight, but I have been taking an Omeaga 3-6-9 supplement for about a month now.

Tony

[SleepyBobR]

Tony, is the Sotalol holding you?

[brhebert]

Tony,

I have not been able to find my own atrial fib triggers, but one thing I suspect is episodes following or during virus outbreaks, such as from herpes or colds. If this is the case isolating the exact cause might be tough as some viruses come and go either regularly or irregularly and may be difficult to pin down.

I have had some success using potassium (use caution, too much is fatal) about 800 mg in a quart of water or a pinch added to a large glass of juice.

BH

[tonycog]

So far, so good with the Sotalol. I've also been taking chelated magnesium and the Omega 3-6-9. I've been in normal sinus rhythm for the entire 7 weeks of Sotalol so far.

As for potassium, I've read that it can help some with AF issues, but I did not like the way I felt after taking it. I asked my doctors, both my cardiologist and my family practice doc, about it because I had the same concerns about potassium being potentially dangerous. My cardiologist doesn't think I should take any supplements, ever. He, of course, has no problem having me take prescription drugs but doesn't think I should take supplements. "Just eat enough bananas and tomatoes", he said, when I asked about magnesium and potassium. My family practice doctor said that it is very tough to overdose on potassium when taking it orally, but can cause the doctors trouble when administering it via IV. He told me he doesn't see a problem adding them as supplements, though.

I just realized that the link I posted last night had been posted here on this same thread a month earlier, so my apologies for that.

Tony

[Muse-Inc]

Heart rhythm is most vulnerable to flucuations following apneaic events.

Most of us are deficient in magnesium as it's no longer in our water as it once was. Magnesium ensures the integrity of our biochemical electrical system, esp the heart. That's why IV magnesium will often stabilize AF in the ER; if that's the cause of the AF, it will work within the first 30-45 secs of starting the drip, it's that fast. There is a blood test BUT it doesn't test magnesium ions, the critical to electrical rhythm component; far as I know, there's no test for the ionic component (maybe in a research lab). Without enough in our bloodstream, magnesium is robbed from our bones.

Potassium is also required for normal heart activity. Diuretics, as so many of us are on, wash it out of the body and we end up with low levels which in extreme triggers fatal heart attacks...dear friend of mine died from extremely low potassium levels. That's why monitoring potassium levels when on a diuretic is SO important. I am extremely sensitive to shifts in potassium and even slight drops initiate arthymias so I have 6 ozs of low-sodium V8 (570 mgm potassium) daily and eat lots of parsley (high in potassium).

[Country4ever]

This is a very interesting thread. I wasn't sure if I should start a new one or not.
This isn't about atrial fib, but ectopy (irregular heartbeats) in general.
I'm in a bout of it now and its extremely disconcerting. My cpap numbers have been going down hill since January, and I finally decided to use a FFM (Hybrid).
I'm thinking the ectopy might be from sleep deprivation........but it also could be from other issues.
Several of you have mentioned having bouts of ectopy with IBS or GERD flare-ups. In the past several years, I've had episodes of ectopy lasting several weeks, after I've spent a day or 2 bending over, working in the yard. I've been wondering about a sliding hiatal hernia, but my doc just doesn't believe in that. He's a great doc.......but he doesn't believe in some of the most simple things! .........like magnesium playing a role in ectopy! Even after I told him that once I went to the ER with tons of PVCs, and they gave me IV magnesium, and I didn't have a PVC for 2 weeks after that. He still wouldn't believe that it could help.
What's with these guys???
anyhow........I do have GERD (which hasn't been a problem for several years), and IBS, which I control with Calcium. I've been taking magnesium oxide for several months, and it does worsen my diarrhea (which probably lowers my magnesium), so I've switched to Calcium Citrate. I've taken a fairly good amount in the past 2 days, and hopefully it will work soon.

I know PVC's can be "normal" and not dangerous at all........but dang, are they scary! Seems like my entire body goes into "red alert" when they start happening.
I can't take PPIs for my GERD, since they cause me terrible headaches. H2 blockers don't seem to work, but I have some Pepcid I think I'll try.......but I would like to wait a couple days and see if this magnesium helps.

I've talked to some people with GERD who do get alot of PVCs, and I've been told that the vagus nerve that runs alongside the esophagus also goes to the heart, and when it gets irritated in the esophagus, it can cause PVCs. I definitely believe that.

Every time I get these episodes of tons of PVCs, I start burping alot and get terribly bloated.........so it definitely seems to be related to my GI tract.
It makes me crazy, so I wish it would stop.
I take low dose Toprol (beta blocker) for my over-active sympathetic system, but I swear that sometimes it actually causes PVCs, rather than helps them. Maybe its because it slows my heart down and I start getting some escape beats.

Anyhow.........even if we have to start a new thread, lets keep talking about GI problems and PVCs. I'm very interested in this.
I just don't know how its related to my recent bad cpap numbers. My husband thinks my PVCs are from sleep apnea (which is possible), but all these PVCs started up last weekend, when I worked outside, leaning over. Sure seems like a hiatal hernia to me.........or maybe when I'm leaning over, stomach acid washes up into my esophagus, and the vagus nerve gets irritated.
I had never thought of it being from a food, except caffeine. Interesting idea. I'll keep tract of that. But gee.......a life without cheese???
Sorry to ramble.........all these PVCs make me a little crazy too!

[Country4ever]

I responded to this and it stayed 3 pages back, so I'm going to try to bump it up.

[packitin]

deleted

[srwesely]

I have a rapid heart beat from time to time--290-300 beats a minute--not sure if that's the same as AF. I have to go to the hosp. when it starts, and usually have to be shocked to get back into rhythm. For some reason, I occasionally drop potassium levels, which seems to be the main culprit, as the first thing they do when I get to the hosp. and they've checked blood, is to get potassium intervenously, so along with a couple heart rhythm meds, I take a daily postassium pill which seems to be helping (knock on wood). I still get the little extra beats once in awhile, but they seem to quit on their own so that is good. If you ask me, my issue is hormonal/menopausal but I can't get anyone to take me seriously. Just started CPAP. Hoping that is extra insurance against it happening again.

[Muse-Inc]

...For some reason, I occasionally drop potassium levels...

I drink 5.5-6 ozs of low-sodium V8 (570 mgms potassium) daily to maintain my potassium levels. I also take 800 mgs magnesium (more than twice the RDA) to maintain normal electrical activity throughout my body and to fight inflammation esp in the brain; ck with your doc if ya wanna try. If my potassium flucuates even slightly, I get cramps, tingling, shaking, and a sick feeling. I hate having to still take a diuretic .

[neverbetter]

Splenda the sweetener causes heart palps. Thyroid, too high or too low causes heart palps and thyroid meds can , too. Don't take calcium with the magnesium.
Hormone changes cause heart palps....darn, you name it.

[jane jump]

I think I discovered that my premature ventricular contractions are in response to foods containing tyramine. They stopped completely, then returned after aged cheese and red wine. This seems to bring them on. I also realized that I usually have an avocado for lunch, but when i was out of avocados, the PVCs stopped. Avocado contains tyramine. The cardiologist, of course, knew nothing about this. (I myself am an MD)