Comments on: The afib chronicles http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:34:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Peg T G http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-113859 Peg T G Sun, 20 Aug 2006 02:39:12 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-113859 Hi Jeff and friends: I'm curious about meds for A-fib. I was diagnosed Sept. 05. and put on blood thinner and Rhythmol. It didn't keep my heart in sinus rhythm and so I've had 3 cardioversions (mini shocks to heart). I remained "out of sync." They're talking about ablation but decided to try one more med - Tikosyn. This stuff is strong!!! I had to spend 3 days in hospital to begin it (drug loading is what they call it). There are so many very scary Warnings. It's taken 2x day and can cause a different, more dangerous arrithmia or even death. I don't know what they (or I for doing it - didn't see all the warnings until after) were thinking. This is too scary for me. I'm thinking of telling my docs to take me off and then leave me alone. I'm traveling to Ireland for vaca in a couple of months and don't know if I'll be safe. (This med is so new, the paperwork says if you go to hospital for some other reason, they may not have this med so take your own.) Does anyone have info on this? Hi Jeff and friends:
I’m curious about meds for A-fib. I was diagnosed Sept. 05. and put on blood thinner and Rhythmol. It didn’t keep my heart in sinus rhythm and so I’ve had 3 cardioversions (mini shocks to heart). I remained “out of sync.” They’re talking about ablation but decided to try one more med - Tikosyn. This stuff is strong!!! I had to spend 3 days in hospital to begin it (drug loading is what they call it). There are so many very scary Warnings. It’s taken 2x day and can cause a different, more dangerous arrithmia or even death.

I don’t know what they (or I for doing it - didn’t see all the warnings until after) were thinking. This is too scary for me. I’m thinking of telling my docs to take me off and then leave me alone. I’m traveling to Ireland for vaca in a couple of months and don’t know if I’ll be safe. (This med is so new, the paperwork says if you go to hospital for some other reason, they may not have this med so take your own.) Does anyone have info on this?

]]> By: MikeH http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29772 MikeH Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:14:36 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29772 Glad to hear they weren't actually staying at the Peninsula!!! Seriously, good luck with the heart stuff. If you ever are looking for another doc/2d opinion etc. let us know! Glad to hear they weren’t actually staying at the Peninsula!!!

Seriously, good luck with the heart stuff. If you ever are looking for another doc/2d opinion etc. let us know!

]]> By: jonny goldstein http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29546 jonny goldstein Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:46:06 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29546 That's cool you're blogging about this. Might help other people who are dealing w/similar stuff, and it's educational for folks who aren't. Keep us updated, and take care of yourself. That’s cool you’re blogging about this. Might help other people who are dealing w/similar stuff, and it’s educational for folks who aren’t.

Keep us updated, and take care of yourself.

]]> By: Trent http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29493 Trent Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:48:02 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29493 Hope everything goes well, Jeff. I'm a 27 year old male, and I've been having chest pains for the last week. It feels like someone is squeezing my heart. I went to the doctor today, and pretty much everything seemed normal....except my resting heart rate is 116. Doc seems to think it's probably some other cause (maybe thyroid acting up?) that will clear itself up with some meds. Chest XRays didn't show any blockages or problems. EKG was a little abnormal, but nothing too out there. I know how un-fun it can be to worry about your heart. Hope this turns out OK for you. Hope everything goes well, Jeff. I’m a 27 year old male, and I’ve been having chest pains for the last week. It feels like someone is squeezing my heart. I went to the doctor today, and pretty much everything seemed normal….except my resting heart rate is 116. Doc seems to think it’s probably some other cause (maybe thyroid acting up?) that will clear itself up with some meds. Chest XRays didn’t show any blockages or problems. EKG was a little abnormal, but nothing too out there.

I know how un-fun it can be to worry about your heart. Hope this turns out OK for you.

]]> By: John Fullerton http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29479 John Fullerton Wed, 15 Feb 2006 16:38:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29479 A-Fib ablation is what we do everyday. At Shands at U of Fla. in Gainesville. I work for and have the deepest respect for Dr. Mario Gonzalez who is a most caring, honest and accomplished electrophysiology practitioner. Go see him. JF A-Fib ablation is what we do everyday. At Shands at U of Fla. in Gainesville. I work for and have the deepest respect for Dr. Mario Gonzalez who is a most caring, honest and accomplished electrophysiology practitioner.
Go see him. JF

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29474 Jeff Jarvis Wed, 15 Feb 2006 15:15:36 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29474 Thanks, all. I'm fine. Just clumsy and embarrassed. Thanks, all. I’m fine. Just clumsy and embarrassed.

]]> By: Tish Grier http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29471 Tish Grier Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:21:09 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29471 Jeepers, Jeff! there'd be a huge sucking sound if you left the blogosphere (and teaching) now. and at a time like this, there's no such thing as being a "hypochondriac." Take good care of yourself--we don't want to have to say goodbye! Jeepers, Jeff! there’d be a huge sucking sound if you left the blogosphere (and teaching) now. and at a time like this, there’s no such thing as being a “hypochondriac.” Take good care of yourself–we don’t want to have to say goodbye!

]]> By: Gray http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29468 Gray Wed, 15 Feb 2006 13:38:34 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29468 Jeff, this sounds alarming. You really need to take better care of yourself. Doesn't sound like a good idea to do exhausting travels right now. And it's not your health alone that's at stake. I need your stories to keep my (normally too low) blood pressure up! I hope you get better soon. Jeff, this sounds alarming. You really need to take better care of yourself. Doesn’t sound like a good idea to do exhausting travels right now.

And it’s not your health alone that’s at stake. I need your stories to keep my (normally too low) blood pressure up! I hope you get better soon.

]]> By: Bill K. http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29466 Bill K. Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:11:02 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29466 Looks like you're getting good care. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Speaking of afib, GHW Bush was subsequently diagnosed with Graves' disease (autoimmune [a term considered inaccurate now] hyperthyroidism) after the discovery of his irregularly irregular heart rhythm. Last June, you mentioned that you were s/p 50% thyroidectomy. Just curious if there was a connection. Looks like you’re getting good care. I’m sure everything will turn out fine.

Speaking of afib, GHW Bush was subsequently diagnosed with Graves’ disease (autoimmune [a term considered inaccurate now] hyperthyroidism) after the discovery of his irregularly irregular heart rhythm.

Last June, you mentioned that you were s/p 50% thyroidectomy. Just curious if there was a connection.

]]> By: ruth http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29463 ruth Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:13:54 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29463 hope all goes well, Jeff, and be warned by Mumblix to put in your request for music worth listening to for a few hours well in advance. hope all goes well, Jeff, and be warned by Mumblix to put in your request for music worth listening to for a few hours well in advance.

]]> By: Mumblix Grumph http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29455 Mumblix Grumph Wed, 15 Feb 2006 06:42:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29455 Good luck. I've been there. When I had mine done, they didn't give me any sedative. They wanted me nice and nervous. More likely to have palapitations, I guess. The pre-operative groin shave was a suprise. I'm sure the bald six-foot four orderly was enjoying it as much as I was. (and rethinking his career choice) I was on the table in the <b>BRIGHT</b> operating room for about three hours. They had on an oldies radio station. During the procedure I started to wonder if I was going to die, and if I did, what would be the last song I ever heard. I prayed that it wouldn't be MACARTHUR PARK by Richard Harris. (it wasn't). While I was in the OR, looking at all the high-tech equipment including a real-time scan of my heart with 6 electrodes in it I had an epiphanic thought...Western Civilization KICKS ASS! Anyway...they took care of everything and after an overnight stay at the hospital I was sent home and that was the end of all that. No more meds, and no more stutter-step heartbeats. You'll be fine. Good luck. I’ve been there. When I had mine done, they didn’t give me any sedative. They wanted me nice and nervous. More likely to have palapitations, I guess.

The pre-operative groin shave was a suprise. I’m sure the bald six-foot four orderly was enjoying it as much as I was. (and rethinking his career choice)

I was on the table in the BRIGHT operating room for about three hours. They had on an oldies radio station. During the procedure I started to wonder if I was going to die, and if I did, what would be the last song I ever heard. I prayed that it wouldn’t be MACARTHUR PARK by Richard Harris. (it wasn’t).

While I was in the OR, looking at all the high-tech equipment including a real-time scan of my heart with 6 electrodes in it I had an epiphanic thought…Western Civilization KICKS ASS!

Anyway…they took care of everything and after an overnight stay at the hospital I was sent home and that was the end of all that. No more meds, and no more stutter-step heartbeats.

You’ll be fine.

]]> By: pcomeau http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29454 pcomeau Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:34:55 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29454 Good Luck... Post open heart surgery last year I got to go through an EP "study". Turns out I didn't need ablation. But, even with the sedative, it was a very boring 3 hours on the table. Hope all goes well for you! Good Luck… Post open heart surgery last year I got to go through an EP “study”. Turns out I didn’t need ablation. But, even with the sedative, it was a very boring 3 hours on the table.

Hope all goes well for you!

]]> By: Carson Fire http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29453 Carson Fire Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:31:38 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29453 Best wishes, good luck, and get well! I hope nobody really complains about you posting this stuff. Best wishes, good luck, and get well! I hope nobody really complains about you posting this stuff.

]]> By: EverKarl http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29451 EverKarl Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:05:55 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/14/the-afib-chronicles/#comment-29451 I guess I can't take another vacation without something bad happening to you! Sorry to hear about the afib; do what you need to do to get well! I guess I can’t take another vacation without something bad happening to you! Sorry to hear about the afib; do what you need to do to get well!

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