Re: trudyjh

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 12:38:27 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> Hi, Carol,

>

> I'm so sorry about your son. You sure do fit the profile for new

> afib - something very stressful having happened in your life.

> Hopefulyl if you have time to adjust and things calm down a little,

> your afib situation should improve also.

>

> I don't know how your other medical problems are involved with afib.

>

> The one suggestion I would make is to try to de-stress your life -

> get someone to help you with your son's care if possible, try making

> time to relax for at least 10-20 minutes twice a day, etc.

Trudy---are you saying that most A Fib is caused by stress? If that is

true--my son got hurt on 29 DEC last year---so I have had the most

unbelievable stress you can imagine for a year now.

I don't know how to change that right now. He is in the Hospital again and

he has very severe brain damage. He is 37 years old. What will this lead to

---is A Fib harmless or does it get worse ---and then what?

What about all the folks who mention they have problems with diet and all

kinds of things? Exercise? Seems like what I have read---many things can

bring this on. I must just be getting started---or maybe it was covered for

some time because I have been on Beta Blockers since 1987. It's all so

confusing for me right now. I'm just trying to learn --and I'm sure I don't

have enough information yet to give you. I was just diagnosed within the

past two months. Thanks so much for the info---I really do appreciate the

help. I'm thinking my best bet is to keep on reading and learning. " Carol " >

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 12:38:27 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> Hi, Carol,

>

> I'm so sorry about your son. You sure do fit the profile for new

> afib - something very stressful having happened in your life.

> Hopefulyl if you have time to adjust and things calm down a little,

> your afib situation should improve also.

>

> I don't know how your other medical problems are involved with afib.

>

> The one suggestion I would make is to try to de-stress your life -

> get someone to help you with your son's care if possible, try making

> time to relax for at least 10-20 minutes twice a day, etc.

Trudy---are you saying that most A Fib is caused by stress? If that is

true--my son got hurt on 29 DEC last year---so I have had the most

unbelievable stress you can imagine for a year now.

I don't know how to change that right now. He is in the Hospital again and

he has very severe brain damage. He is 37 years old. What will this lead to

---is A Fib harmless or does it get worse ---and then what?

What about all the folks who mention they have problems with diet and all

kinds of things? Exercise? Seems like what I have read---many things can

bring this on. I must just be getting started---or maybe it was covered for

some time because I have been on Beta Blockers since 1987. It's all so

confusing for me right now. I'm just trying to learn --and I'm sure I don't

have enough information yet to give you. I was just diagnosed within the

past two months. Thanks so much for the info---I really do appreciate the

help. I'm thinking my best bet is to keep on reading and learning. " Carol " >

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 12:38:27 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> Hi, Carol,

>

> I'm so sorry about your son. You sure do fit the profile for new

> afib - something very stressful having happened in your life.

> Hopefulyl if you have time to adjust and things calm down a little,

> your afib situation should improve also.

>

> I don't know how your other medical problems are involved with afib.

>

> The one suggestion I would make is to try to de-stress your life -

> get someone to help you with your son's care if possible, try making

> time to relax for at least 10-20 minutes twice a day, etc.

Trudy---are you saying that most A Fib is caused by stress? If that is

true--my son got hurt on 29 DEC last year---so I have had the most

unbelievable stress you can imagine for a year now.

I don't know how to change that right now. He is in the Hospital again and

he has very severe brain damage. He is 37 years old. What will this lead to

---is A Fib harmless or does it get worse ---and then what?

What about all the folks who mention they have problems with diet and all

kinds of things? Exercise? Seems like what I have read---many things can

bring this on. I must just be getting started---or maybe it was covered for

some time because I have been on Beta Blockers since 1987. It's all so

confusing for me right now. I'm just trying to learn --and I'm sure I don't

have enough information yet to give you. I was just diagnosed within the

past two months. Thanks so much for the info---I really do appreciate the

help. I'm thinking my best bet is to keep on reading and learning. " Carol " >

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 10:14:21 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> Hi, Carol,

>

> Yes, I can be in afib and not know it. But so far that has always

> happened when I had warning signs " around " it - like noticing an

> increase in skipped beats, etc. I used to know because I got short

> of breath even if I didn't feel my heart flopping around, but now the

> beta blocker I take causes shortness of breath :-( Typically this

> happens when I am in an overall fragile state with my heart, I slip

> in and out of stuff.

I also take Beta Blockers and have COPD---so shortness of breathe may or may

not be a clue for me. It seems I do notice a lot of change in the

palpitations.

>

> However, mostly I know when something starts going wrong. I am clued

> in by suddenly noticing more heart stuff in my neck, or I really am

> physically impacted.

Physically impacted???? When I get really bad events---they do go into my

throat and neck area and cause me to have to lay down. Is that what you

meant?

>

> Once you have more experience and learn to tell from your pulse what'

> s happening, you'll have a better feel for this.

Does your pulse sometimes get very slow also? and just very irregular? What

do you do to stop this---especially the bad events. The ones that go to my

throat cause angina. Thanks for your help--- " Carol "

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport

> FAQ -

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.htm

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 10:16:39 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> I am guessing so. I had really bad episodes when I was first

> diagnosed, but they weren't caught on an ekg. Now that I'm on meds

what kind of meds? May I ask your age group?

> and have learned to avoid my triggers (mostly),

triggers? like what?

and to not exert > myself when my heart starts acting up, I don't get into bad

> states

> (cross fingers.)

You mean like the bad events I have had? or some other kind of bad state?

Do you live a pretty normal life with the A Fib? or do you take precautions

because of this?

" Carol "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 10:16:39 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> I am guessing so. I had really bad episodes when I was first

> diagnosed, but they weren't caught on an ekg. Now that I'm on meds

what kind of meds? May I ask your age group?

> and have learned to avoid my triggers (mostly),

triggers? like what?

and to not exert > myself when my heart starts acting up, I don't get into bad

> states

> (cross fingers.)

You mean like the bad events I have had? or some other kind of bad state?

Do you live a pretty normal life with the A Fib? or do you take precautions

because of this?

" Carol "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/02 10:16:39 PM Central Standard Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

> I am guessing so. I had really bad episodes when I was first

> diagnosed, but they weren't caught on an ekg. Now that I'm on meds

what kind of meds? May I ask your age group?

> and have learned to avoid my triggers (mostly),

triggers? like what?

and to not exert > myself when my heart starts acting up, I don't get into bad

> states

> (cross fingers.)

You mean like the bad events I have had? or some other kind of bad state?

Do you live a pretty normal life with the A Fib? or do you take precautions

because of this?

" Carol "

[Guest guest]

> Trudy---are you saying that most A Fib is caused by stress...> I

don't know how to change that right now.

A lot of afib is caused by stress. I think many of us have had our

first diagnosed episode when we were in major stress. I think if you

can manage to find a couple of times a day (or more if you cn manage

it), when you can just lie down, try to relax, try to become calm,

and try relaxation breathing (be sure you're not holding your breath,

as people tend to do when stressed - take a deep breath slowly thru

your nose, breathing from the diaphram so that your chest expands,

then slowly let it out thru your mouth. repeat. it's important to

breath out thru your mouth as that relaxes a lot of muscles. This

will help.

> ---is A Fib harmless or does it get worse ---and then what?

You aren't going to die from an afib attack. The risk of afib is two

fold - one is the impact of it on you emotionally and on what you can

do, and the other is the long term risk of blood clotting. The

latter is why people are put on the blood thinners either aspirin or

coumadin/warfarin, to prevent that.

> What about all the folks who mention they have problems with diet

and all

> kinds of things? Exercise?

By observing what they are doing near an attack, people have

identified various triggers for themselves. I think your big trigger

now is stress. You will probably find that as time goes on and

things stabilize, and you try to de-stress, your afib lessens.

[Guest guest]

>

> Physically impacted???? When I get really bad events---they do go

into my

> throat and neck area and cause me to have to lay down. Is that

what you

> meant?

Yup.

> Does your pulse sometimes get very slow also? and just very

irregular?

That can be how afib presents itself. Your pulse probably isn't

actually slow, it just feels that way because some multiple beats

feel like one beat because they are close together.

>What

> do you do to stop this---especially the bad events. The ones that

go to my

> throat cause angina.

I have the type of afib made worse by stress, so I hole up on the

sofa, do as little as possible, and take more beta blocker because

that's what my cardiologist told me to do (check with your doc before

changing a med dose.) Fortunately, as I have gotten out of my very

stressful period and started on the beta blocker, I no logner have

the bad events that cause chest pain. (cross fingers.)

[Guest guest]

> what kind of meds? May I ask your age group?

I take a beta blocker and aspirin. My cardiologist says the beta

blocker is for rate control when I'm in afib and to suppress extra

beats which can lead to afib. I'm 59.

> triggers? like what?

stress, weight lifting type exercise like heavy gardening work and

strenuous working out with 5 pound weights (walking is okay unless I

am in an afib attack, when any exercise makes it worse), indigestion,

overeating, eating very sour stuff like lemon meringue pie, some

medications like cipro and detrol.

> Do you live a pretty normal life with the A Fib? or do you take

precautions

> because of this?

Yes and no. Mostly I do what I want. However, I have had to give up

working out with my small weights and heavy gardening because that

inevitably starts to bring on extra beats, if not then then within a

few hours. I also am very aware of what my heart is doing through

out the day, I notice all the extra beats that are perfectly normal

for anyone to have. So some degree of mild anxiety is not unusual

for me unless I am in a particularly good period. That's why I have

thought of an ablation from time to time, esp. when things are

kicking up. I can suppress the extra beats to the point where I

don't notice them if I take more beta blocker, but I hate doing that

as it makes me so lethargic. A less anxious person than myself would

certainly handle this better.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/02 6:09:47 AM Central Standard Time, trudyjh@...

writes:

>

> >Trudy---are you saying that most A Fib is caused by stress...> I

> don't know how to change that right now.

>

> >---is A Fib harmless or does it get worse ---and then what?

>

> You aren't going to die from an afib attack.

>

Well that certainly gives me some relief.

> . I think your big trigger now is stress.

It has to be the stress. I've always been a very hyper person anyway---you

know the " type A personality " ---that's me. And one of the best worriers

you'll ever find. Is this typical with folks with A fib. ? Thanks for

your help. BTW---I'm sorry I messed up the titles---I'm not that great on

computers and I thought it would help. I see the logic in following a string

now. Thanks again and I apologize to everyone fo my goof. " Carol "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/02 6:12:27 AM Central Standard Time, trudyjh@...

writes:

> >What

> >do you do to stop this---especially the bad events. The ones that

> go to my

> >throat cause angina.

>

> I have the type of afib made worse by stress, so I hole up on the

> sofa, do as little as possible, and take more beta blocker because

> that's what my cardiologist told me to do (check with your doc before

> changing a med dose.) Fortunately, as I have gotten out of my very

> stressful period and started on the beta blocker, I no logner have

> the bad events that cause chest pain. (cross fingers.)

When I have had the bad events---I have taken my Beta Blockers when they

start---even if it's earlier than scheduled dosing time. It's been taking

maybe 1/2 hour to 45 min to stop the event. I also stop what I'm doing and

lay on the couch and call a friend to help me remain calm. . I was so

frightened a few times ---I almost called 911.

I'm happy for you that you are no longer experiencing these bad events. Do

the Beta Blockers work for quite a while to control A Fib---or do we advance

to other meds at pretty much the same pace? Do some folks never have to go

past the Beta Blocker routine? " Carol " >

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/02 6:22:59 AM Central Standard Time, trudyjh@...

writes:

> In AFIBsupport , carolbrokenwing@a... wrote:

> >what kind of meds? May I ask your age group?

>

> I take a beta blocker and aspirin. My cardiologist says the beta

> blocker is for rate control when I'm in afib and to suppress extra

> beats which can lead to afib. I'm 59.

Your the same age I am. I was on Atenalol---but I have COPD and the Doc said

it was increasing my lung problems so they put me on Metoprolol 50 mg AM and

PM

Dilitiazem 360 mg AM and Nitro paste 2 X a day. I also use 2 diffferent

inhalers and a stomach med for GERD and erosive eosophigitis and my new one

is Coumidin 2 mg. at night.

Thanks for the list of triggers. I will have to be super vigilant and see

what my triggers are.

>

> Yes and no. Mostly I do what I want.

Unfortunately--I have a long history of this type of behavior. I am very

impatient and I can't seem to wait for help. I'd rather do it myself. Last

bad attack was last week when I was going up and down a ladder painting my

kitchen walls. It happened that night. I have tried to limit my

impulsiveness---but it is a life long habit and hard to break.

> I also am very aware of what my heart is doing through

> out the day, I notice all the extra beats that are perfectly normal

> for anyone to have.

I seem to be more aware of them at night or early evening when I settle down.

I am aware of chest tightness during the day---but the difference in beats

usually gets my attention later in the day.

> A less anxious person than myself would

> certainly handle this better.

Well---that sure wouldn't be me. LOL Thanks again--- " Carol "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2002 5:14:10 PM Pacific Standard Time,

carolbrokenwing@... writes:

<< I also stop what I'm doing and

lay on the couch and call a friend to help me remain calm. . I was so

frightened a few times ---I almost called 911.

I'm happy for you that you are no longer experiencing these bad events. Do

the Beta Blockers work for quite a while to control A Fib---or do we advance

to other meds at pretty much the same pace? Do some folks never have to go

past the Beta Blocker routine? " Carol " >

> >>

Carol,

Nineteen years ago when my afib started I would do what you do: stop my life,

lie down, and call my brother for comfort and calming. I didn't know what

the problem was, but I knew it was my heart. My brother also had an

unidentified (at the time) heart problem. The fact that he had experienced

the same symptoms for years as I was experiencing and had managed to survive

comforted me. Little did we know that we both had afib, but he was permanent

by the time I started as a paroxysmal afibber. I never called 911, never was

cardioverted, and took no medication for six years. My brother's support was

my only " treatment " for the first six years of my afib. He was always there

for me and willing to talk to me as long as I needed comfort, but we had

always been close friends even before afib struck.

Because my heart rate was very fast at that time during an afib episode, I

began taking Atenolol finally after six years of these episodes. My doctor

could never catch the afib episodes on EKG or Holter monitor (I think she

thought the whole thing was psychosomatic.) , but the Holter monitor did show

sinus tachycardia pulse rates as high as 240. My doctor prescribed Atenolol

(beta blocker) for me fourteen years ago because she was afraid that I might

faint while driving with that fast pulse rate. I have taken Atenolol ever

since, and Verapamil was added four years ago when I began having more

problems and more frequent afib. My afib was not diagnosed until six years

ago, after thirteen years of episodes. The Atenolol has controlled my afib

so that I could go on with my life and function normally with few symptoms;

however, I started out at 25 m.g. daily and now am taking 150 m.g. daily.

I'm not sure I need that much now because I haven't had more than 15 minutes

of afib in the past seven months. The Atenolol may be helping to prevent the

afib, but it certainly didn't prevent afib episodes before I gave up dairy

products over a year ago. That's when my afib virtually stopped. Anyway, I

am an example of a person who has taken a beta blocker for a long time and

hasn't required a different medication other than a calcium channel blocker.

Without any heavy duty drugs or sophisticated procedures, my afib frequency

has lessened. I think this more natural approach to controlling afib may

work for some people, but they often never get to try it before they are

caught up in cardioversions, ablations, and even surgery. Of course, for

many ablations and surgery offer the miracle that they are seeking in the

cure they could find no other way. Maybe I will be at the point of

considering an ablation someday, but at the moment my afib trend seems to

have halted because of natural intervention.

I can really sympathize with you. Your description of how you respond to

afib brought it all back to me: the four hour night time phone conversations

with my brother in the beginning when I was terrified that I was about to

die. However, I didn't die, and you won't either. Try not to worry because

if afib were a killer, my brother and I would be dead by now. The strategy

you are using to cope is the same as the one I used. I think the comfort and

calming words from my brother in those phone conversations did far more to

help me cope with afib in the beginning than any help my doctor had to offer.

But I definitely would recommend seeking a doctor's care. Rely on your

friends as I relied on my brother, my best friend, but get a professional

medical opinion, too. Good luck!

in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 206 days of straight sinus)

[Guest guest]

> Do

> the Beta Blockers work for quite a while to control A Fib---or do

we advance

> to other meds at pretty much the same pace? Do some folks never

have to go

> past the Beta Blocker routine?

Carol, I recently asked my doc that, because I had heard that afib

always advances. She said no, it doesn't. Also, is a case

where she has improved drastically after years of afib.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2002 11:10:56 PM Central Standard Time,

carolbrokenwing@... writes:

> Does A Fib have a tendency to run in familys? I think my Dad may have had

> this---don't know for sure because he is gone now. He did complain about

> getting up and having to sit on the side of the bed till his heart slowed

> down.

>

It may run in families. I have 6 cousins on my fathers side of the family and

5 have afib. My sister does not and I have no knowledge of afib in my father

or his 4 siblings.

Guy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2002 9:10:55 PM Pacific Standard Time,

carolbrokenwing@... writes:

<< That certainly gives hope to me--although I think I have a few other

cardiac

problems involved in this. Do you have CAD? along with your A Fib?

>>

Hi, Carol,

I don't have any other heart problems, so my afib is called lone, paroxysmal

afib. The same is true of my much older brother in permanent afib. Every

time we have EKG's or Echoes, our hearts are proclaimed to be perfectly

healthy, structurally sound, and disease free. Of course, that could change,

because our father had severe heart problems throughout his life, including

afib. However, my father's lifestyle was considerably less healthy than mine

or my brother's. We eat a diet that is nearly devoid of animal fats but

contains healthy omega three fats. My brother tried giving up dairy, but

resumed using small amounts of low-fat dairy after he developed a vitamin B12

deficiency. Eating more fish and some dairy solved that problem. Also,

since he has been in permanent afib so long, we decided that the dairy

experiment didn't seem to be working for him. Anyway, we are both close to

being vegetarians, but my father ate an extremely high fat diet and smoked.

He had three heart attacks and finally died of cardiac arrest. My brother

and I are trying to defy our genes and avoid this scenario by eating more

healthily.

I do believe that afib can be genetic because it certainly seems so in my

family, and I have read of other families with a history of afib. My mother

also had afib most of her life although it wasn't documented until she was

hospitalized for kidney disease. By then the afib was the least of her

problems. Since kidney disease and diabetes are genetic on her side of the

family, I also plan my eating to avoid those two diseases. Oh well, at least

no one in the family has had cancer! :-)

An interesting side note is that both my brother and I experienced increased

afib problems after caring for my mother for a year while she was dying of

kidney disease. It was a very stressful, heartbreaking, physically demanding

experience, and we have both experienced increased health problems after

devoting our lives, except for working, to our mother's care for a year. In

my brother's case, that year was the first time he began to notice weakness

and dizziness from afib although he didn't know it was afib at the time. At

the time, her doctor warned both of us that we were working too hard and that

we would probably pay with our health. Of course, I would do it all over

again if the need arose, but this time I would make more provisions for

breaks and forget the attitude that no one else could adequately care for my

mother for even a short time. I have many times written to warn others in

the situation of watching a loved one die to watch out for their own health.

This seems to be the kind of situation that can breed afib. I think any

situation of this kind of extreme stress and grief is a potential afib

trigger. It's more than coincidental that it was in the 80's when I had one

major life crisis after another that my afib developed. The 80's were the

decade from hell for me.

I think you mentioned stress as a potential trigger for you. It's impossible

to avoid stress, but we can do things to promote intervals of relaxation that

will help us deal with stress more effectively. I wish I had realized that.

in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 207 days of sinus)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am in complete agreement here. For me, it was a decade later. I

went through a number of years in the 90's experiencing unrelenting

stress, watching a loved one deteriorate and feeling helpless in the

process. That's when I first noticed what I thought were

palpitations, but taking care of myself was the last thing on my

mind.

/

> An interesting side note is that both my brother and I experienced

increased

> afib problems after caring for my mother for a year while she was

dying of

> kidney disease. It was a very stressful, heartbreaking, physically

demanding

> experience, and we have both experienced increased health problems

after

> devoting our lives, except for working, to our mother's care for a

year. . The 80's were the

> decade from hell for me.

>

> I think you mentioned stress as a potential trigger for you. It's

impossible

> to avoid stress, but we can do things to promote intervals of

relaxation that

> will help us deal with stress more effectively. I wish I had

realized that.

> in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 207 days of sinus)

[Guest guest]

.. I have many times written to warn others in

> the situation of watching a loved one die to watch out for their own

health.

> This seems to be the kind of situation that can breed afib. I think any

> situation of this kind of extreme stress and grief is a potential afib

> trigger. It's more than coincidental that it was in the 80's when I had

one

> major life crisis after another that my afib developed. The 80's were the

> decade from hell for me.

It was only in the final 5 years of my AF that AF became unbearable. At that

time my father had been diagnosed with an unknown dementia. I moved him to

be near me so I could look after him. Things went from bad to worse and the

stress was awful, mostly because he did not seem to know me, he was another

person and not even remotely like my Dad, and even the nursing staff in the

home were unable to care for him, meaning I had to bathe him (I used to find

him with his underpant leg round his waist), cut his hair chasing him around

as he went to do things as he could not sit still etc etc. It was awful and

sometimes I wonder, as he died very unexpectedly, if he took his own life as

he was continually trying to eat and drink anything he could get his hands

on. No-one checked and one part of me wanted them to post mortem him, but

what would that gain. No -one was equipped to make his qualtity of life

better. It was literally heart wrenching to sit and watch and not to be able

to do anything. I was left alone to deal with this as even the healthy

siblings could not cope. It gave rise to a lot of bad feeling in me but in

hindsight what they did was wise. Hope no-one else has to go through such

things.

Fran

> I think you mentioned stress as a potential trigger for you. It's

impossible

> to avoid stress, but we can do things to promote intervals of relaxation

that

> will help us deal with stress more effectively. I wish I had realized

that.

> in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 207 days of sinus)

>

> Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport

> FAQ -

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.htm

> For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af

> Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/02 4:11:51 PM Central Standard Time,

Frances@... writes:

> It was only in the final 5 years of my AF that AF became unbearable. At that

> time my father had been diagnosed with an unknown dementia. I moved him to

> be near me so I could look after him. Things went from bad to worse and the

> stress was awful, mostly because he did not seem to know me, he was another

> person and not even remotely like my Dad, and even the nursing staff in the

> home were unable to care for him, meaning I had to bathe him (I used to

> find

> him with his underpant leg round his waist),

Fran---my son lives with me and he is 37 and had part of his brain removed. I

have found him the same way---and his clothes are always put on inside out or

backwards. My son knows me--but is very confused most of the time---he

thinks it is 1993 and he is still a Green Beret---which he was for 13 years.

He thinks he is going on a mission and he is so impatient and gets ready

several hours before we have to go somewhere. Then--he can't stay and wants

to come home. I can't leave him because he is too confused to stay by

himself. My son is also another person---but he is still my only son and I

just want him to be ok. My heart aches for him.

>

> he was continually trying to eat and drink anything he could get his hands

> on.

This is typical of a brain injury---I think my son would be happier to see

the Pizza delivery man at the Hospital to visit him. I don't use a slow

cooker anymore---I use a pressure cooker because he can't wait for the food

to be ready.

> . It was literally heart wrenching to sit and watch and not to be able

> to do anything. I was left alone to deal with this as even the healthy

> siblings could not cope.

I am his only caretaker--his girlfriend couldn't deal with this. His three

sisters have very busy lives of thieir own. They are here to help---only if

I make prior arrangements or it's an emergency. His friends are all

gone----his brother-in -laws don't even have the patience to take him

anywhere. He has anger outburst and aggression---which is why he is in the

hospital now---to adjust his meds. I guess this could be considered stress

related. What did you do when your A Fib became unbearable---those last 5

years? " Carol "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/02 11:08:41 AM Central Standard Time,

guygooch@... writes:

> It may run in families. I have 6 cousins on my fathers side of the family

> and

> 5 have afib. My sister does not and I have no knowledge of afib in my

> father

> or his 4 siblings.

> Guy

>

> That is some pretty strong statistics. It may be like diabetis or other

> inherited tendencys. My Mom has a pace maker and I'm not sure if it was A

> Fib or not. She is 81 and wouldn't know as she has problems with

> Alzheimers. My Dad probably had A Fib from the things I am learning on

> this group. He had a lot of problems with his heart " racing away with

> itself. " We lost him at age 67. Thanks for the reply. " Carol "

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/02 2:17:59 PM Central Standard Time,

Starfi6314@... writes:

> Hi, Carol,

> I don't have any other heart problems, so my afib is called lone,

> paroxysmal

> afib. The same is true of my much older brother in permanent afib.

Wow---that seems so strange to me-. I have CAD and CVD (carotid artery

blockages) and Subclavian Steal Syndrome---Hypertension---and COPD. I also

have tachycardia without Beta Blockers, mitral valve prolapse with

regurgitation and I think they said left ventricular hypertrophy. (not

positive on that one yet.) Will have to get back to you. My arteries and

veins are all messed up. I guess the A- Fib doesn't care if you have a good

heart. I think many of the problems I have already had probably predisposes

me to A Fib???? Whoa---I shoudn't guess---I can see everyone correcting me

on that statement. lol

> We eat a diet that is nearly devoid of animal fats but

> contains healthy omega three fats.

> Anyway, we are both close to

> being vegetarians, My brother and I are trying to defy our genes and

> avoid this scenario by eating more healthily.

---do you and your brother live together and help each other with your

diets?

I found it very hard after Donis came home to stick with my food regime. I

also became a vegetarian about two years ago---but do eat eggs and fish and

few choice morsals of cheese and butter. No milk tho. I even bought a soy

milk maker and made my own tofu---and soy milk--sounds yukky---but it's not

bad with chocolate added to it--kind of a nutty flavor. I also steam all my

foods or bake ---never fry anything. Donis, on the other hand---loves to

eat---and veggies don't appeal to him at all. Makes it kind of tough---but I

decided I do need to revert to my healthier eating habits. It may rub off on

him too---you never know.

> I do believe that afib can be genetic because it certainly seems so in my

> family, and I have read of other families with a history of afib. My

> mother

> also had afib most of her life although it wasn't documented until she was

> hospitalized for kidney disease.

This is what I am finding. I'm not sure our folks were even aware of A Fib.

Or that may not have been what it was called.

Since kidney disease and diabetes are genetic on her side of the >

> family, I also plan my eating to avoid those two diseases. Oh well, at

> least

> no one in the family has had cancer! :-)

Thats interesting---my Moms family is heavily diabetic and heart disease runs

in my fathers side. No cancer in detected in the family anywhere either.

>

> An interesting side note is that both my brother and I experienced

> increased

> afib problems after caring for my mother for a year while she was dying of

> kidney disease. It was a very stressful, heartbreaking, physically

> demanding

> experience, and we have both experienced increased health problems after

> devoting our lives, except for working, to our mother's care for a year.

This is the story of my life at present ---with my son. He has become my

life---everything revolves around his care.

> Of course, I would do it all over again if the need arose, but this time I

> would make more provisions for breaks and forget the attitude that no one

> else could adequately care for my mother for even a short time.

>

> I have a problem with that " attitude " you mentioned here. I have seen so

> many mistakes in his care and I'm frightened to leave him with someone else

> for very long.

I have many times written to warn others in >

> the situation of watching a loved one die to watch out for their own

> health.

> This seems to be the kind of situation that can breed afib. I think any

> situation of this kind of extreme stress and grief is a potential afib

> trigger. It's more than coincidental that it was in the 80's when I had

> one

> major life crisis after another that my afib developed. The 80's were the

> decade from hell for me.

The last year has been my downfall. And I see no end in sight.

>

> I think you mentioned stress as a potential trigger for you. It's

> impossible

> to avoid stress, but we can do things to promote intervals of relaxation

> that

> will help us deal with stress more effectively. I wish I had realized

> that.

> in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 207 days of sinus)

Thanks for caring ------- " Carol "

[Guest guest]

> I have many times written to warn others in

the situation of watching a loved one die to watch out for their own

health.

This seems to be the kind of situation that can breed afib. I think

any

situation of this kind of extreme stress and grief is a potential

afib

trigger.

I can't emphasize enough how much I agree with this. Anyone who is

in a major stress situation, please be good to yourself and schedule

some help so you can have some respite time. I really trashed my own

health because I thought I could just plow thru things.

[Guest guest]

Carol

My heart reaches out to you. It was hard with my dad, but with your own

child it puts another aspect on it. The only words of wisdom I have are to

get yourself regular restbite. And don't feel guilty for doing it. I

developed a rather surreal sense of humour during my time with dad.

I actually tried to see the world through his eyes and it just about killed

me. My world was full of injustice by watching the injustice of others. I

wanted so bad to make it all better. I tried to fight the system to make it

better for him. But I could not do it. So please don't do this. You only

have one life, as does your son. Somehow find yourselves a happier medium. I

wish I had a magic wand.

I went with the AF during this time and actually thought I had got off

lightly. My sister also has RA and I spent a lot of time caring for her too

as she is 80% disabled bringing up a wee boy on her own. I am now quite

hard. I make myself my no1 priority. IF I have time left then I help her

out. But she does not want to take responsability for herself or her son and

wants someone to blame when things go wrong. She make unreasonable demands

on me because she does not want to spend her disability money on home help.

So in my mind now she has to learn how to cope. I spent the last two years

trying to find out the cause of my AF. I did. Afer 20 years of AF I have now

been AF free for a year. MAybe my learned hardness has a bearing but I also

learnt that food additives can cause the same stress on a body. So I now

only eat whole fresh foods, make sure I don't over do it and try not to let

my sister get to me. We had a bad falling out to day as she told me that the

coal I bring in for her, her dog I walk four times a week are nothing. She

counts the times I do not help her rather than the times I do. And it made

me mad. Now I feel guilty but this is what she wants. She has learned how to

get something for nothing and thinks the world is owe her a living.

I apologise in advance if this is percieved as off topic.

Fran

Re: Re: trudyjh

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/16/02 6:29:13 PM Central Standard Time,

Frances@... writes:

> . I

> wanted so bad to make it all better. I tried to fight the system to make it

> better for him. But I could not do it. So please don't do this. You only

> have one life, as does your son.

I am in a constant battle with " The System " ---it seems the world has become

very hard---and people don't really care anymore. I feel I'm beating my

head against the wall..Makes you feel kind of like Road Rage. A knot in the

pit of your stomach and there comes the irregular heart rate.

> But she does not want to take responsability for herself or her son and

> wants someone to blame when things go wrong.

>

> My son can't take responsibility for himself and there is no one to blame.

>

> Afer 20 years of AF I have now been AF free for a year.

Wow---that is great for you.

> We had a bad falling out to day as she told me that the

> coal I bring in for her, her dog I walk four times a week are nothing.

Did this bring on any symptoms for you? I don't handle emotional turmoils

very well.

> I apologise in advance if this is percieved as off topic.

I think sometimes we all have to vent. I appreciate you being so open. It

seems a lot of us have had lives filled with enormous amounts of stress and I

sure think it contributes to the A Fib. I have no doubt that it has played a

huge role in my A Fib.

" Carol "

>

> Fran

> Re: Re: trudyjh

>

>

>

>

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