Vagal AF

[Guest guest]

I have a number of things to throw out in this post.

(1) Dorean, you wrote in a recent post of your Doc. Marody having

identified you as having vagally-mediated AF as a result of " extensive

testing " .....Can you give some idea of how this is determined? Do they

identify Vagal as opposed to Adrenergic AF by means other than

anecdotal evidence? Could you elucidate? It is my understanding that a

fair proportion of cardiologists don't even agree that there ARE the

both forms of AF. This is very important to me, because I will be

seeing a different cardio soon, and I am VERY much concerned that he

RECOGNIZES this difference. I seem to be one of those that are

affected by both trigger families, making prescribing MUCH more

difficult.

(2)I wonder how many of us actually have both types, and how many

started with one type, but as they become more vulnerable through

whatever process, find themselves unhappy prisoners in both camps?

Maybe another poll? We need some numbers for our arsenal.

(3)In preparing myself to be more knowledgeable about my options,

I would like to see some input by anyone who has had positive

responses by being treated with a med for the adrenergic AF, and using

Norpace (dispryomide ??) on occasions of vagal AF.

(4), I think you're on the right track with the plan to have

a series of blood tests documenting the situation in various stages of

AF. But how does one convince the POWERS THAT BE ? to actually do

that? I can't conceive of our Medicare System in Canada " wasting

money " on approaches that have great longterm impact. Much favored are

stopgap short term bandaids. I am more and more convinced that the

entire approach to AF has to change. Why not pay more attention to

CONDITIONS THAT EXIST AT THE MOMENT AN AF EPISODE CEASES, COMPARING

THOSE CONDITIONS TO THE ONES THAT EXIST DURING THAT IMPENDING PERIOD

THAT MOST OF US RECOGNIZE ?? Again, I add here that the positive

feeling of wellbeing most of us seem to experience immediately after a

return to Sinus, as opposed to the feeling that exists while we are

yet in Sinus but on the way to AF, IS EXTREMELY RELEVANT, AND HOLDS

THE ANSWERS. BUT HOW TO GET THE MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THOSE IN

CONTROL ?

(5)Is there anyone out there who can say their doctors listen to

what their patients say, and show a willingness to use innovative

approaches to the individual situations, instead of throwing us all in

the same box? Maybe STILL ANOTHER POLL???

I really believe the answer to AF is so elusive because the

patients aren't considered qualified as sources of reliable info. We

only know what we feel and what we've observed. Irrelevan stuff.

Sound a little bitter? Sorry. It's my experience talking.

My 2 cents worth. 2 cents Candian = zippo US. A good day to

all. Hope to hear some input. Lawrence.