Welcome to the Afibber’s Forum
Serving Afibbers worldwide since 1999
Moderated by Shannon and Carey
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Home
>
AFIBBERS FORUM
>
Topic
Cardio visit
Posted by Chris H
|
Chris H
Cardio visit October 18, 2003 12:54AM |
Greetings
Im sorry if this is long please tell me if it is - Im new!!
Recent trip see my Cardio- only second time since onset of condition (three years) apart from a surprise visit recently on admission to ER. He just happened to be on duty, he prescribed Bisoprolol beta-blocker which only made episodes every other day until I discontinued them (Vagal). Apprehensively I went armed with various print outs from the internet and of course a copy of Hans covering FAQ note. My main intension to find out how he viewed the condition and his intended future actions - it revealed a reassuring open mindedness.
Q. Following on from my last admission to hospital when I persuaded the duty cardio to give me Flecainide - to take on demand. (They used Flecainide to convert me on three previous visits). Was it ok to take on demand and how much to take. I explained my reaction to the Bisoprolol that he prescribed on my previous visit, how did he view Vagal and Adrenalin types of response. (i.e. Why did he give me beta- blocker)
A. Mainly he follows a set course of action Bisoprolol, if no go Sotalol then Flecainide. He seemed surprised that the duty Cardio agreed to Flecainide, he was reassuringly conscious of the adverse side affects on certain individuals. The on demand approach was ok - take 100mg at onset and another 50mg two hours later if unconverted. If rhythm still unrestored then to be admitted. If occurrences become more frequent than two weekly intervals then take 50mg twice a day but to ring him (very pleased direct access) then would check my reaction to Flecainide on a tread mill. (Again very reassuring.)
On the grounds of Vagal etc he said that if I had that specific type of reaction to Bisoprolol then he wouldnt have prescribed Sotalol (This was especially good to hear) Flecainide would then be the choice. Everyone was different and the trigger mechanisms differ, he didnt directly answer confirm or discount the specific types of response, although the action of Bisoprolol and that the majority of events happen whilst asleep seem to interest him. During initial diagnosis three years ago I had a 24 hour holter; he looked at the results - my pulse when in deep sleep was approx 45 per min.
He stated that was quite normal and not a cause for triggering however he will monitor it again although what we could glean from it he wasnt sure .My resting pulse is normally approx 73 per min and typically it speeds up and ectropics start before an attack obviously I can only observe this if I get one of the few ones late evening .This seems to contradict the me being Vagal,however I could be both and he seemed receptive to this. However he is exploring this avenue.
I do also suffer from varying degrees of ectopics some months 60 a day other months a few per day. I noted these on the holter results at the time. We investigated, he said most people wouldnt even feel them and I must be ultra sensitive to them. They were absolutely nothing to worry over.
Q. Will the condition worsen and what is the course of action for the future.
A. In the majority of cases yes, (I felt he didnt want to tell me that). However again everyone was different. He stated that it was best not to dwell on it as it wasnt definite. (My belief is as we take control, listen to our individual body reactions to mineral and nutritional deficiencies, take supplements and modify our nutrition to suit then we will either delay or prevent this happening) .He stated that AF begat AF due to remodelling however this tended to occur only after some time and a great deal of time in AF thus putting strain on the heart. However obviously it was best to prevent attacks. The future looked brighter however with Pulmonary Vein Ablation as a cure. Basically they werent sure of the cause and effect of AF and that he felt some frustration himself. It isnt a good medical condition no nice easy solutions a lot was trial and error, (again this frankness was great to hear no conceit here). At present the procedure was still new and the success rates in Europe at least werent that good with a few people having strokes.( Sadly I think we are lagging way behind the States here )He had sent a woman up to Newcastle for PV.however her condition was especially chronic and that he had to fight the local authority to agree it. (Great news for the future) Im afraid I didnt ask if it was a success.
There were two main centres which were experimenting in Europe one in France the other Italy.
Thus the course of action is to wait until this procedure becomes perfected. (Together we will find a cure probably before this happens)
He said that the AF in itself is not life threatening and the main danger of stroke was minimal given my heart condition and age. Aspirin was good though.
Q. Magnesium any good?
A. Magnesium is given to people after heart operations and the like; yes it has strong electrical effects. He didnt seem convinced as to the benefits on supplemtation.
Although, and this was funny, well we were both laughing when he told me. A patient of his with AF went up to see a Harley street specialist cost her £300 and all he told her to take was MAGNESIUM. La De Da.
Overall felt great coming out I have faith that he has his patients health at heart. Hes open to suggestions and is not conceited to know all the answers. He is also of a similar age, forty three and is keeping up with technology.
Sorry its long but hay we all like a good story. England plays South Africa World cup Rugby this afternoon and my wife is in Dublin . Ill be good, promise!!.
Chris H
Im sorry if this is long please tell me if it is - Im new!!
Recent trip see my Cardio- only second time since onset of condition (three years) apart from a surprise visit recently on admission to ER. He just happened to be on duty, he prescribed Bisoprolol beta-blocker which only made episodes every other day until I discontinued them (Vagal). Apprehensively I went armed with various print outs from the internet and of course a copy of Hans covering FAQ note. My main intension to find out how he viewed the condition and his intended future actions - it revealed a reassuring open mindedness.
Q. Following on from my last admission to hospital when I persuaded the duty cardio to give me Flecainide - to take on demand. (They used Flecainide to convert me on three previous visits). Was it ok to take on demand and how much to take. I explained my reaction to the Bisoprolol that he prescribed on my previous visit, how did he view Vagal and Adrenalin types of response. (i.e. Why did he give me beta- blocker)
A. Mainly he follows a set course of action Bisoprolol, if no go Sotalol then Flecainide. He seemed surprised that the duty Cardio agreed to Flecainide, he was reassuringly conscious of the adverse side affects on certain individuals. The on demand approach was ok - take 100mg at onset and another 50mg two hours later if unconverted. If rhythm still unrestored then to be admitted. If occurrences become more frequent than two weekly intervals then take 50mg twice a day but to ring him (very pleased direct access) then would check my reaction to Flecainide on a tread mill. (Again very reassuring.)
On the grounds of Vagal etc he said that if I had that specific type of reaction to Bisoprolol then he wouldnt have prescribed Sotalol (This was especially good to hear) Flecainide would then be the choice. Everyone was different and the trigger mechanisms differ, he didnt directly answer confirm or discount the specific types of response, although the action of Bisoprolol and that the majority of events happen whilst asleep seem to interest him. During initial diagnosis three years ago I had a 24 hour holter; he looked at the results - my pulse when in deep sleep was approx 45 per min.
He stated that was quite normal and not a cause for triggering however he will monitor it again although what we could glean from it he wasnt sure .My resting pulse is normally approx 73 per min and typically it speeds up and ectropics start before an attack obviously I can only observe this if I get one of the few ones late evening .This seems to contradict the me being Vagal,however I could be both and he seemed receptive to this. However he is exploring this avenue.
I do also suffer from varying degrees of ectopics some months 60 a day other months a few per day. I noted these on the holter results at the time. We investigated, he said most people wouldnt even feel them and I must be ultra sensitive to them. They were absolutely nothing to worry over.
Q. Will the condition worsen and what is the course of action for the future.
A. In the majority of cases yes, (I felt he didnt want to tell me that). However again everyone was different. He stated that it was best not to dwell on it as it wasnt definite. (My belief is as we take control, listen to our individual body reactions to mineral and nutritional deficiencies, take supplements and modify our nutrition to suit then we will either delay or prevent this happening) .He stated that AF begat AF due to remodelling however this tended to occur only after some time and a great deal of time in AF thus putting strain on the heart. However obviously it was best to prevent attacks. The future looked brighter however with Pulmonary Vein Ablation as a cure. Basically they werent sure of the cause and effect of AF and that he felt some frustration himself. It isnt a good medical condition no nice easy solutions a lot was trial and error, (again this frankness was great to hear no conceit here). At present the procedure was still new and the success rates in Europe at least werent that good with a few people having strokes.( Sadly I think we are lagging way behind the States here )He had sent a woman up to Newcastle for PV.however her condition was especially chronic and that he had to fight the local authority to agree it. (Great news for the future) Im afraid I didnt ask if it was a success.
There were two main centres which were experimenting in Europe one in France the other Italy.
Thus the course of action is to wait until this procedure becomes perfected. (Together we will find a cure probably before this happens)
He said that the AF in itself is not life threatening and the main danger of stroke was minimal given my heart condition and age. Aspirin was good though.
Q. Magnesium any good?
A. Magnesium is given to people after heart operations and the like; yes it has strong electrical effects. He didnt seem convinced as to the benefits on supplemtation.
Although, and this was funny, well we were both laughing when he told me. A patient of his with AF went up to see a Harley street specialist cost her £300 and all he told her to take was MAGNESIUM. La De Da.
Overall felt great coming out I have faith that he has his patients health at heart. Hes open to suggestions and is not conceited to know all the answers. He is also of a similar age, forty three and is keeping up with technology.
Sorry its long but hay we all like a good story. England plays South Africa World cup Rugby this afternoon and my wife is in Dublin . Ill be good, promise!!.
Chris H
|
Mike F. V42
Re: Cardio visit October 18, 2003 01:18AM |
Chris H.,
Thanks very much for the cardio visit report - particularly interesting to me because you, like myself, live here in the UK. My own cardiologist (and EP) - Dr Linker (based at the James Cook University Hospital in northeast England) - informed me that Newcastle Freeman Hospital does indeed - as you mention - do ablations. However, your paragraph:
"(Sadly I think we are lagging way behind the States here) He had sent a woman up to Newcastle for PV.however her condition was especially chronic and that he had to fight the local authority to agree it. (Great news for the future) Im afraid I didnt ask if it was a success."
isn't particularly reassuring for anyone here in the UK wanting/needing an ablation performed here in the UK. I imagine that the NHS here would be most reluctant to do ablations unless the patient was, as you say, "especially chronic"......... (by which time the chances of success are surely lower). Furthermore, given the state of the art here in the UK - i.e. relatively undeveloped/unevolved at present - I guess an individual here in the UK requiring an ablation ought to perhaps consider a £20K trip to the US...... at least for the next few years?? So what to do in the meantime? GET TO IT with the stress reduction, hydration, paleo-diet, supplements where required, excercise, and little or no alchohol.
Mike F.
Thanks very much for the cardio visit report - particularly interesting to me because you, like myself, live here in the UK. My own cardiologist (and EP) - Dr Linker (based at the James Cook University Hospital in northeast England) - informed me that Newcastle Freeman Hospital does indeed - as you mention - do ablations. However, your paragraph:
"(Sadly I think we are lagging way behind the States here) He had sent a woman up to Newcastle for PV.however her condition was especially chronic and that he had to fight the local authority to agree it. (Great news for the future) Im afraid I didnt ask if it was a success."
isn't particularly reassuring for anyone here in the UK wanting/needing an ablation performed here in the UK. I imagine that the NHS here would be most reluctant to do ablations unless the patient was, as you say, "especially chronic"......... (by which time the chances of success are surely lower). Furthermore, given the state of the art here in the UK - i.e. relatively undeveloped/unevolved at present - I guess an individual here in the UK requiring an ablation ought to perhaps consider a £20K trip to the US...... at least for the next few years?? So what to do in the meantime? GET TO IT with the stress reduction, hydration, paleo-diet, supplements where required, excercise, and little or no alchohol.
Mike F.
|
Hans Larsen
Re: Cardio visit October 18, 2003 07:40AM |
|
Richard
Re: Cardio visit October 18, 2003 08:22AM |
|
njb
Re: Cardio visit October 18, 2003 11:19AM |
|
Fran
Re: Cardio visit October 18, 2003 12:17PM |
Mike
With the governments promise to reduce waiting list times and tha lack of Dr's in the UK it seems it is now acceptable for us to have operations etc done abroad. France being one of the major players - and the NHS pays.
Has anyone in the UK thought about this as a way of getting an ablation by Dr. Haissaguerre. Or would ablation not count. Worth looking into though.
Chris your cardio sounds good. Are you in London? Its always a battle to get a referal outwith your own health district. It took me a year to get the OK to go to Edinburgh - from Highland Region. And it was a waste of time
Fran
With the governments promise to reduce waiting list times and tha lack of Dr's in the UK it seems it is now acceptable for us to have operations etc done abroad. France being one of the major players - and the NHS pays.
Has anyone in the UK thought about this as a way of getting an ablation by Dr. Haissaguerre. Or would ablation not count. Worth looking into though.
Chris your cardio sounds good. Are you in London? Its always a battle to get a referal outwith your own health district. It took me a year to get the OK to go to Edinburgh - from Highland Region. And it was a waste of time
Fran
|
Chris H
Re: Cardio visit October 19, 2003 08:53AM |
Greetings Fran
I live in Newport S.Wales . Many thanks for all your help on this forum.
Ablation seems to be gaining momentum . I am sure we will get it perfected on this side of the pond . I wish all the people planning to or have recently had an Ablation every joy in the world. They are helping progress and in tern are helping us all.
Chris H
I live in Newport S.Wales . Many thanks for all your help on this forum.
Ablation seems to be gaining momentum . I am sure we will get it perfected on this side of the pond . I wish all the people planning to or have recently had an Ablation every joy in the world. They are helping progress and in tern are helping us all.
Chris H
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.