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.

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!

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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?

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1 reply
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.

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@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.

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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.

Jump to this post

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
eileena | @eileena | 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.

Jump to this post

Zollie,
Welcome. Glad you found this board. Some have your same problem. Some docs are great, aren't they.

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zollie | @zollie | Jan 14, 2019

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.

REPLY
3 replies
bjanderson | @bjanderson | Jan 11, 2019
In reply to @dfelix "Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve..." + (show)
@dfelix

Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve operation. I'm also taking elyguis. Had to pay over $400 for a month. Does anyone know how to get cheaper? @dennisfelix

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I take Xarelto and they have a website that enables you to sign up for prescription help. I presume Eliquis has the same. Good luck.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 11, 2019
In reply to @dfelix "Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve..." + (show)
@dfelix

Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve operation. I'm also taking elyguis. Had to pay over $400 for a month. Does anyone know how to get cheaper? @dennisfelix

Jump to this post

Ask your cardiologist for free samples. It's an important med to prevent stroke.

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scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 11, 2019
In reply to @dfelix "Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve..." + (show)
@dfelix

Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve operation. I'm also taking elyguis. Had to pay over $400 for a month. Does anyone know how to get cheaper? @dennisfelix

Jump to this post

Yes, my mom was on Medicare and a supplement and her Elouise was $400, we switched her to United Healthcare AARP, her Eliquis was $40 at Walgreens, good luck it’s a sin what Big Pharma is doing.

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dfelix | @dfelix | Jan 11, 2019

Diagnosed with A fib 21 Dec. Also have Aortic regurgitation. On metrpolol 25mg. Might need valve operation. I'm also taking elyguis. Had to pay over $400 for a month. Does anyone know how to get cheaper? @dennisfelix

REPLY
3 replies
dothag | @dothag | Jan 10, 2019

Hi, my name is Dot and I have afib. I had a cardio version which helped for about six months. Recently I changed cardiologist and my new doctor has me doing a life style change. He wants me to lose 10 lbs. lost 6 pounds so far. My prior doctor was talking ablation, watchman or another cardio version. He put me on heart rhythm drugs which made me feel very weak, like my body was jelly. Hoping this life style change helps. Hate the fatigue and weak feelings.

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