Atrial Fib

G,Day everyone, I have a question about Afib, I have bradicardia, SSS and atrial fib, I have a St Jude pacer (1 year now) with an algorithm which controls the afib by speeding the heart up then slowing down again once the fib is stopped. I get the afib every time I lie down , It is worse when I first go to bed and also when I wake up. I have been woken up occasionally in the early hours with mild discomfort and afib .
I am not on any medication. The Afib seems to be getting worse but this might just be my imagination.
Does anyone have the same or similar symptoms, Will drugs help me or make things complicated, I don't want to start a roller coaster ride of experimenting with different drugs if I can help it. Last but not least, will the afib kill me or cause me to have a stroke? Cheerfull subject !!!
Thanks , Take care all, Ian.

3 Comments

snap me too!

by allanrogers - 2007-11-16 09:11:12

Hi iain

I AM ALAN 41 AND I LIVE IN EDINBURGH

I have exactly the same symptoms as you
sinus bycardia(slow heart beat) and a- fib episodes which where mostly prevailing when i would try to relax and go to sleep and again be awoken in the early hours
of the morning .They are to say the least un settling.but iam told mostly harmless if you take an asprirn or warafin.I had my pacemaker put in four weeks ago and i was happy with the results and then totally depressed by my episodes of afib. I was under the mis guided conclusion that my dual lead pace maker with atrial suppresssor would cure my afib it didnt i was still having afib attacks only 1% but still scary as they could last over 30 mins-so after week i went one i went back and they turned something on to try and help suppress it that only made it worst and my attacks went up to 3% so i went back to my heart specialist he said that not many pacemakers help fix afib and that in his opinion a beta blocker at night (aethenol-i think that is how you spell it ) would help protect your heart by slowing down the heart beat when you are sleeping when it is most vulnerable,and i have to say i have been on them for a week now and touch wood they seem to be helping i dont regognise my afib anymore but of course whrn i go back for my one month check up on the 13th of december that will reveal the truth.

It seems to make sense though if the electrical system in our hearts is to put it bluntly is faulty the logical thing to do is to control the lower end with a pace maker and control the top end with a medication which also protects you from blood pressure.
I like you am not happy that i have a pace maker at 41 and need to take drugs to cotrol my afib but the alternative is uncomfrtable and scary so.

So my advise is go ahead and protect your heart and make yourself feel more relaxed and try to do whatever is needed to make your heart comfortable

kind regards

allan

ps let me know how you get on

? Ian

by bowlrbob - 2007-11-16 10:11:21

I went on your bowling group site. I could not find where you have individule results. I saw team names and results. I was looking for you specifically. Tell me where I look this up.
I saw what you wrote as a problem, I don't have that problem but the atenolol idea from the other post sounds like it could be good. I am also on atenolol and as long as you don't get to high a dose it is not bad to take. My Dov put me on 50 ml. and I could hardley function. So it was cut back to 25 that doesn't bother me at all but still keeps my blood pressure under control.
Now the two places on the web you can get results for my bowling antics are www.soallstars.com this is an any age group. And www.srbowling.com this is a senior group 50 and over. I am the director of the SOS stands for Southern Oregon Seniors. Or we seniors all need help. Ha,Ha. My name is Bob Korth when you are looking. Hope to catch you on the Chat again sometime. Bowlrbob

Thanks Allan and Bob

by IanMcC - 2007-11-17 09:11:27

Thanks for the comments guys, It looks like I will have to go see my doc next week and enquire about atenolol or something similar, I'm sorry Bob but you must have me confused with someone else regarding the bowling, I don't know anything about it other than playing a few games with my parents before they passed away.
All the best, Ian.

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The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.