1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Feb 14, 2018

Welcome to the Heart Rhythm Conditions group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Did you know that the average heart beats 100,000 times a day? Millions of people live with heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) which occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don't work properly. Let's connect with each other; we can share stories and learn about coping with the challenges, and living well with abnormal heart rhythms. I invite you to follow the group. Simply click the +FOLLOW icon on the group landing page.

I'm Kanaaz (@kanaazpereira), and I'm the moderator of this group. When you post to this group, chances are you'll also be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

AFRobin | @afrobin | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @zollie "Hi, my name is Zollie, 63 years old sports man who never thought have an atrial..." + (show)
@zollie

Hi, my name is Zollie, 63 years old sports man who never thought have an atrial fibrillation problem. However when I was a kid in the community pools the older people warned us not to hand around deep in the hot water pool, cause its the source of the high heart beat. You think we listen? Here I am after 3 decades of excitement in a soccer goal, with a lots of stress some time, the diagnosis was devastating. I went for a simple upper reportorial track infection for about 2 years ago, than the doc wanted to check me in to the hospital, cause one of the peptide went ballistic. The doc said it's not your lung or a flu I think of, it's the heart. So it was. The docs knew it right away I was AFIB. Atrial Fibrillation the pulse was up and down. At sleep the heart beat pulse went to 160 or slowed down to 40, the blood pressure was up and down. Finding this out the docs suggested the ablation procedure. Before I tried to go through an electro pulse sync what some times controls the pulse. It did not work with me. Ablation procedure goes through the groin vanes up to the heart and like a tune up on cars, synchronize the heart beat.
Since that my pulse and pressure chart what I check every day with my MicroLife tester (Walmart) smooth and steady. I am still taking two meds recommended from hospital One Flecainide one Carvedilol morning and one each at night. So the pulse steady and this nightmare AFIB does not come back. I avoid stress and sleep well nothing jumps me out of the bed unexpectedly, turning off the phone too. So good so far a one and half year later of the ablation.

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Make sure to NEVER take any stimulants of any kind. They send my heart into AFib. Coffee, tea, coke, energy drinks, chocolate, alcohol, dental meds, cold remedies, cigarette smoke and...sugar! Except for sugar (which I succumb to on occasion in cookies or ice cream), I am very strict about keeping away from these things. And the older one gets, the more likely one is to flip back into AFib.
I have a friend who also suffers from AFib and he would rather be on drugs (beta blockers) and still drink wine etc.. That is NOT for me!...unless meds are necessary of course. I was on Sotacor for 2 years and with daily, aerobic exercise, I was able to slowly (always slowly) wean myself off them with the cardiologist's encouragement. Good luck!

REPLY
2 replies
TomR | @tomr | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @zollie "Hi, my name is Zollie, 63 years old sports man who never thought have an atrial..." + (show)
@zollie

Hi, my name is Zollie, 63 years old sports man who never thought have an atrial fibrillation problem. However when I was a kid in the community pools the older people warned us not to hand around deep in the hot water pool, cause its the source of the high heart beat. You think we listen? Here I am after 3 decades of excitement in a soccer goal, with a lots of stress some time, the diagnosis was devastating. I went for a simple upper reportorial track infection for about 2 years ago, than the doc wanted to check me in to the hospital, cause one of the peptide went ballistic. The doc said it's not your lung or a flu I think of, it's the heart. So it was. The docs knew it right away I was AFIB. Atrial Fibrillation the pulse was up and down. At sleep the heart beat pulse went to 160 or slowed down to 40, the blood pressure was up and down. Finding this out the docs suggested the ablation procedure. Before I tried to go through an electro pulse sync what some times controls the pulse. It did not work with me. Ablation procedure goes through the groin vanes up to the heart and like a tune up on cars, synchronize the heart beat.
Since that my pulse and pressure chart what I check every day with my MicroLife tester (Walmart) smooth and steady. I am still taking two meds recommended from hospital One Flecainide one Carvedilol morning and one each at night. So the pulse steady and this nightmare AFIB does not come back. I avoid stress and sleep well nothing jumps me out of the bed unexpectedly, turning off the phone too. So good so far a one and half year later of the ablation.

Jump to this post

@zollie thanks for your post it gives me hope. I am about to go through an ablation procedure and although my doctors are good they dont volunteer anything concerning what to expect. Similar to you i was (am) athletic. Blood Pressure fluctuates widely. Heart rate swings low to fast but usually for a reason. Noone called my condition afib. Mine is premature ventricular contractions. Thanks again for your post.

REPLY
ch665296f | @ch665296f | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @afrobin "Make sure to NEVER take any stimulants of any kind. They send my heart into AFib...." + (show)
@afrobin

Make sure to NEVER take any stimulants of any kind. They send my heart into AFib. Coffee, tea, coke, energy drinks, chocolate, alcohol, dental meds, cold remedies, cigarette smoke and...sugar! Except for sugar (which I succumb to on occasion in cookies or ice cream), I am very strict about keeping away from these things. And the older one gets, the more likely one is to flip back into AFib.
I have a friend who also suffers from AFib and he would rather be on drugs (beta blockers) and still drink wine etc.. That is NOT for me!...unless meds are necessary of course. I was on Sotacor for 2 years and with daily, aerobic exercise, I was able to slowly (always slowly) wean myself off them with the cardiologist's encouragement. Good luck!

Jump to this post

I am not sure who to ask this question, but has anyone gained a significant amount of weight while on heart medications. I, too, am/was a very active man of 71 years. Since I started taking metoprolol and verapamil, I have gained 7-8 lbs. in about a 7 month period of time. I have been told by my cardiologist not to do any strenuous exercise, snow removal, etc. So, my inactivity could be a part of the problem. Could the weight gain be contributed to a different issue? I don't see the heart specialist I have been referred to for another couple of weeks. To remind others, my problems include apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular tachycardia. I have had all the tests. Any thoughts?

REPLY
1 reply
healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @afrobin "Make sure to NEVER take any stimulants of any kind. They send my heart into AFib...." + (show)
@afrobin

Make sure to NEVER take any stimulants of any kind. They send my heart into AFib. Coffee, tea, coke, energy drinks, chocolate, alcohol, dental meds, cold remedies, cigarette smoke and...sugar! Except for sugar (which I succumb to on occasion in cookies or ice cream), I am very strict about keeping away from these things. And the older one gets, the more likely one is to flip back into AFib.
I have a friend who also suffers from AFib and he would rather be on drugs (beta blockers) and still drink wine etc.. That is NOT for me!...unless meds are necessary of course. I was on Sotacor for 2 years and with daily, aerobic exercise, I was able to slowly (always slowly) wean myself off them with the cardiologist's encouragement. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Sadly, I have dropped the last of my stimulants, chocolate. I tolerated it for a couple of years but no longer. I eat alittle sugar, maybe a teaspoon a day. Any natural ideas on lowering heart rate?

REPLY
1 reply
healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @ch665296f "I am not sure who to ask this question, but has anyone gained a significant amount..." + (show)
@ch665296f

I am not sure who to ask this question, but has anyone gained a significant amount of weight while on heart medications. I, too, am/was a very active man of 71 years. Since I started taking metoprolol and verapamil, I have gained 7-8 lbs. in about a 7 month period of time. I have been told by my cardiologist not to do any strenuous exercise, snow removal, etc. So, my inactivity could be a part of the problem. Could the weight gain be contributed to a different issue? I don't see the heart specialist I have been referred to for another couple of weeks. To remind others, my problems include apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular tachycardia. I have had all the tests. Any thoughts?

Jump to this post

One of my heart meds caused water retention which I treated with raw celery at bedtime, BugsBunny approach. After I was removed from it, I dropped water, probably a couple of pounds. If you take something to slow the heart rate, you are going to be less active it would seem. I think more weight means the heart has to work harder. ? Thanks for sharing. I use prayer and yoga stretches and meditation with beautiful music to practice calming methods. I'd check the local health food store to see if any heart support supplements would be helpful? Also, low sodium is important.

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scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 15, 2019

Recently put on.25 mg of metropol for Pacs, also ,25 if Zoloft to help with anxiety, I am experiencing debilitating fatigue, I’ve been on Zoloft before and doing ntvthink that’s the culprit, has anybody tried any other meds for these? I’m hoping the Zoloft will calm me down and they will stop I’m still having them break through on the metropolol, Thanks everyone.

REPLY
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jan 15, 2019

Hi @scardycat,

I moved your message about metoprolol and Zoloft back to this discussion, since you’ve posted in this thread and you can reconnect with fellow members.
It takes time to adjust to some beta-blockers and your doctor might have to adjust the dosage. Are you still experiencing fatigue?

REPLY
1 reply
scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @scardycat, I moved your message about metoprolol and Zoloft back to this discussion, since you’ve..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @scardycat,

I moved your message about metoprolol and Zoloft back to this discussion, since you’ve posted in this thread and you can reconnect with fellow members.
It takes time to adjust to some beta-blockers and your doctor might have to adjust the dosage. Are you still experiencing fatigue?

Jump to this post

Its actually getter no better but I still am having breakthrough pacs, Zoloft has helped tame the anxiety, thanks.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @scardycat "Its actually getter no better but I still am having breakthrough pacs, Zoloft has helped tame..." + (show)
@scardycat

Its actually getter no better but I still am having breakthrough pacs, Zoloft has helped tame the anxiety, thanks.

Jump to this post

Hello @scardycat

I also had problems with Metoprolol. My cardiologist switched me to another beta blocker. I take it mid-day. I feel much better. Lots of people have problems with Metoprolol. Have you discussed this with your doctor?

REPLY
2 replies
scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @scardycat I also had problems with Metoprolol. My cardiologist switched me to another beta blocker...." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @scardycat

I also had problems with Metoprolol. My cardiologist switched me to another beta blocker. I take it mid-day. I feel much better. Lots of people have problems with Metoprolol. Have you discussed this with your doctor?

Jump to this post

The fatigue is lessening, but I still have the pacs so freaked out that it will go to afib.

REPLY
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