Update

[twinmaker]

I got a call yesterday from my cardio's nurse and after he saw the results of my Holter, he wanted me to start on Toprol. I told the nurse that I had used that and just about every other antirhyth. drug and they hadn't worked or I had bad side effects from them...hence the reason for the A-V node ablation. I had been on these drugs for years for A-fib. I told her that if the almost constant PVC's weren't doing any damage, then I would rather try to live with them than go on more medication. She said she didn't want me making that decision without seeing the doctor. So, I have an appointment with him next Tuesday. I'd still like to know why these have started all of a sudden. Will keep you posted. Oh, and if anyone can think of any questions that I should be asking, please let me know. LINDA

 

[Marguerite53]

Gosh, Linda. Mine just started up with a vengeance after an 8 month hiatus, too!! Were the moon and the planets in a bad spot??

I've switched from Atenolol to ToprolXL (had to up the Atenolol back to 50mg....switched to Toprol XL last saturday night). I was tired of the larger dose of Atenolol making me tired, making my boobs hurt (like pre-period stuff), puffy hands and then, the dreams!! The cardio said the dreams would be worse with the Toprol, but they don't seem any worse yet, to me. My dreams aren't bad....just so very detailed it's annoying close to real life, but with the twist that dreams always have on perceptions. Wierd! So far my hands are just cold (not puffy...much better) and I'm peeing like no other! Makes you wonder what they cut these things with that make them all so different. I may ask a pharmacist about that. They seem to always be a great source of info that you'd least expect to get from them since they know the chemicals and they hear from so many patients.

What problems have you had? I was thinking the same thing....trying to live with the PVC's and PAC's.....my doctor didn't like that idea either. Curious to know why since they are "benign". Please keep me posted on what you discover.

Thanks for the thread.

Marguerite

 

[Susan BAV]

I've noticed that I tend to be more aware of [innocuous] extra beats when I haven't been getting regular exercise. I think my heart just needs some regular exercise to be firm and work at its best. Being wintertime with some of the weather we're dealing with, I'm wondering if maybe you two just aren't quite as active as you usually are? I hope the solution can be that simple for you.

(edit - assuming you're both cleared by your doctors for some regular exercise)

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Linda,

Have you tried eliminating all the TRIGGERS for arrhythmias such as Stress, Alcohol, Nicotine, Caffeine (you know, Coffee, Tea, CHOCOLATE was my downfall).

When I went from PAC's to exercise induced A-Fib I had to switch to Sotalol (generic form of BetaPace) which did the trick. Eventually those episodes became less frequent and I'm getting by with a VERY LOW DOSE once a day (normally recommended twice a day since it's not time released).

Hope you find a 'fix'.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Karlynn]

Linda, I hope you and your doctor are able to come up with a plan of attack that will bring you comfort in all areas.

 

[tobagotwo]

Umm - hoo boy - uh -

PACs/PVCs are very strongly tied to the, ah...tides...remember, and especially when a woman becomes d'un certain âge, there can be a lot of physically minor, but certainly annoying arrhythmias, valves replaced or not.

Hormonal changes are one causation Al didn't mention in his triggers. Another is that some people have responses to winter because of cold, dryness, or reduced natural light. These show up in a variety of ways, including psoriasis, irritability, insomnia, digestive issues, stress, and psychological dysfunctions.

Although extremely serious, either of these causations (hormonal or winterborne) can be rapidly improved by a thorough application of warm, sunshiney, Mexican beaches.

Best wishes,

 

[twinmaker]

Bob, can I show this to my husband so he can book a flight for me to somewhere warm and sunny? Don't know that we can do much about the menopause although as you said the beach would certainly help. I had wondered about hormones or the lack thereof playing a part in all this. I will certainly speak with the cardio about that. I don't think I have too many other triggers that Al mentioned. I don't smoke, drink alcohol, have any stress that I'm aware of, and I don't consume a lot of caffeine. I don't drink coffee or eat chocolate (strange but true). I do drink soda with caffeine, but I have for years and the amount hasn't changed. We'll see what he says, I guess and go from there. LINDA

 

[ALCapshaw2]

SNIP

I don't drink coffee or eat chocolate (strange but true). I do drink soda with caffeine, but I have for years and the amount hasn't changed. LINDA

tsk...tsk...tsk

Time to give up those Cokes!

The Sandy Beaches sound good.
Is that a "covered benefit" with BCBS ?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[twinmaker]

Al, I must admit...to give up those cokes, they'd have to send me to the Betty Ford clinic. It's my one real vice! LINDA

 

[Karlynn]

Caffiene always had a big impact on me. Hate to say this, but weaning off the caffiene could help you out quite a bit.

 

[twinmaker]

It's funny how this caffeine thing has or hasn't affected me. I went off caffeine for over two years and there was no difference with my heart arrhythmias. Still had them. I went back to drinking sodas and didn't have any arrhythmias after my A-V node ablation. I haven't really had any problems (except here and there) while on the caffeine in the last several years. This latest problem just started before Christmas. I have not upped the amount of caffeine. LINDA

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I had to give up Cokes due to GERD issues. I LOVED Cokes but it was that or Fundoplycation which didn't sound like a 'FUN' operation to me.

I also LOVE Chocolate but I went through a period when I developed exercise induced A-Fib. Then it got to where if I even took ONE BITE of Chocolate, I would develop an arrhythmia sometime after. I had to TOTALLY eliminate ALL sources of Caffeine for several months. Sotalol got me under control and eventually I was able to cut back of the dose and even indulge in some chocolate. Nobody ever gave me any clue as to what was changing that made me more sensitive to caffeine. OR what changed to allow me to again eat moderate amounts of chocolate again.

Bottom Line: Even though you may not be changing your CONSUMPTION, SOMETHING in your body / system is reacting differently than before. I KNOW it's hard, but it may help to stop the Cokes for a few weeks to see how your body reacts. Just a thought.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Karlynn]

Bottom Line: Even though you may not be changing your CONSUMPTION, SOMETHING in your body / system is reacting differently than before. I KNOW it's hard, but it may help to stop the Cokes for a few weeks to see how your body reacts. Just a thought.

'AL Capshaw'

Not trying to gang up on you Linda, but I agree that you might want to do your own experiment and see what happens. How much Coke do you drink a day? If it's one - we'll stop picking on you. With Coke - its not just the caffeine but the 1-2 punch of caffeine and sugar.

 

[twinmaker]

Actually, it's not COKE that I drink but diet orange (Sunkist). I usually have two per day. So at least, I don't have the sugar to worry about. Of course, I'm not sure how much caffeine is in diet Sunkist vs Coke. Karlynn, don't worry, I don't feel ganged up on. I appreciate everyone's imput about what could be going on here, and if it means going off the caffeine, then I will. I don't really like chocolate, so at least I don't have to give that up. Isn't there a small amount of chocolate in Coke? Not sure. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and ideas. I really do appreciate you all trying to help. LINDA