Whee, irregular heartbeats!

[seebs]

Actually, the heartbeat as such (the thing you can hear or feel as a pulse) is pretty stable, but according to my blood pressure monitor, it's "irregular". Which fits, since I got hospitalized for atrial fibrillation once. For now, drinking plenty of non-caffeinated stuff and reading up on it. What I've seen so far suggests that this is not an emergency room kind of thing, in general. That, and they seemed pretty mellow about it at the hospital last time, and that was a LOT more severe.

[Ymir's blood]

Here's hoping it's nothing to worry about.

[Crumb]

:yeahthat:

Take care of yourself, seebs.

[Sauron]

My brother and I have a similar condition. PVC - pre-ventricular contraction. Our father had it as well, so it's inherited in our male line.

It's a four-beat rhythm where one of the beats occurs off-cycle. Basically it feels like your heart goes da-THOWMP and skips a beat. It's annoying and there's a strange kind of mini-pain associated with it. Usually only lasts a few minutes.

I have, however, noticed extended periods of it (2 hours or more) after eating large amounts of certain foods like white pasta and white rice.

On the other hand caffeine and alcohol don't seem to affect it, at least not in my case.

[seebs]

Background: A year and a half or so back, when I was on methylphenidate for my ADHD, I went to the hospital 'cuz of a severe episode of this, and they ended up keeping me for three days. However, I'm not on nearly that much in the way of stimulants now... But I have been gradually increasing my pop consumption, which I'm suspicious could be a factor. I think I've had a couple of hiccups of this in the last couple of weeks.

When I was at the hospital, there was a sort of disconnect, in that they were telling me it was no big deal but they wanted to keep me around. It was more severe then, for one thing, and they also hadn't seen it in me before, and wanted to have a chance to do ultrasounds and the like. Now they've done all that and they think my heart is in okay condition, so I believe I'm supposed to not worry about it unless it goes on for a long time. So, say, if it's still going on tomorrow, I should probably head in quickly, otherwise I should probably just schedule with the doc.

[Doctor X]

Go . . . to . . . doc.

Most heart rates and rhythms are irregular at a snap shot from such things as simple breathing. But what you need is a trace. This should be simple to obtain and simple to figure out. Call your doctor, explain the issue, move forward . . . profit.







Unless you wish to risk giving me your stereo. . . .

--J.D.

[curses]

I sympathize, seebs. I had the same thing happen with Wellbutrin. I second the doc, only because you really ought to have it checked out again. Never hurts to have them say "No big deal" for peace of mind.

[Doctor X]

Unless you have a fucking awesome stereo. . . .

--J.D.

[seebs]

Yeah, I already made an appointment. I may end up trying to get the ablative surgery for this. Atrial Fibrillation can be mostly-cured by zapping away a small bit of the heart tissue that's doing the signal processing so the signals are a little clearer or something.

[Doctor X]

Essentially you have what is known as a "re-entry loop" which is sort of a basic short circuit.

BUT YOU HAVE A-FIB?!!!11!!

I am going to love your stereo . . . does it play the new fangled 8-track?


Here is why you pay attention to atrial fibrillation--most people tolerate it because they do not need the "kick" from the atria--that chamber above the ventricle-thingies--because the ventricles are powerful enough to maintain perfusion.

But . . . an essentially non-pumping atria gathers clot like a rolling stone gathers drug convictions. Where do these clot go? To your lungs. If you have what is known as a patent semi ovale--a passage between both sides that is open when you were simmering in . . . Your Mom! but usually closes after birth--the clot can be sent to the right side then to . . . your BRAIN!!!!

So if you have atrial fibrillation, you have to be anti-coagulated. Which means, some day, one of your kids leaves his roller skate around, and you hit yourself in the face with a garlic press, and you BLEED INTO YOUR BRAIN :freakout:



And I am trying my latest Slim Whitman--"sold more records than Elvis and the Beatles in Saigon!"--on your stereo!

There are many reasons for A-fib but if in your case it is what you suggest--recognizable "loop" that can be ablated, that is the way to go. Then you can have many years of listening to those John Denver and Jim Croche tapes and, mayhaps, consider this thing the kids have been talking about: "digital audio tape."

Profit.

--J.D.

[seebs]

Yup, a-fib. They kept me in the hospital for about 2 1/2 days when I had a big episode of it, because it took about a day for it to stop, and then they wanted to keep an eye on me for a bit. Ultrasound and such were done, nothing obviously wrong except I'm apparently sensitive to stimulants. So they told me it was probably no big deal.

But if it's happening again, I figure that makes it a bigger deal, so I'll talk to the doctor again. If they can identify that it's the kind they've got easy fixes for, well, easy fixes are win.

[Doctor X]

Good. Because I would much prefer Mulebear's stereo . . . it is FABULOUS!

--J.D.