Losing Weight rapidly. Attempting to continue shooting till The End.

My wife was having frequent episodes (twice a month, had to be cardioverted every time) of A-fib about 6 years ago. They did an ablation which worked for a couple of years. She started having them again, doctor put her on Flecainide which worked until about 6 months ago so docs upped dosage to maximum, so far so good. If she starts having them again it will probably mean another ablation or pacemaker.
 
I am truly humbled by the responses.
I wasn't even sure about posting. This a shooter site. It is incredibly gratifying to know that the gang I have hung out with a few years here aren't JUST shooters. Your stories and histories are encouraging to me to the extreme. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I've certainly felt like the Lone Ranger sitting at home without anyone to talk to about these cardiac issues. Now I discover that the monikers I have seen for years are caring sensitive people who have gone thru the same kind of thing; and, obviously several of you have gone through a lot worse. It made me feel guilty for whining.

I hope all of you and your family who are going through AFIB/Tachycardia find solutions. It seems like every case is different. The similarities of experience with blood thinners, rate control drugs, and ablation are sketchy at best. Talking to someone else who has gone through this is incredibly helpful. If any of you wish to discuss your own case, please send me a PM and I will call. I read abstracts and clinical studies in Cardiology every day.

I feel lucky. I smile before I get out of bed. I count my blessings; family, friends, and a lifetime of memories. I've had my turn at the wheel. Still, I have no intention to go quietly into the night.

thanks much,
Prescut
 
Jessie,

I'm working loads up for several different bullets for .32's - 32-20, 32 H&Rmag, 327 Fed Mag. Mostly 115gr and 135gr coated. Montana, Matts, GT, Acme, SNS and Quality Cartridge. Using vvN340, 4227, 2400, HS6, and 231 powders.
Just finished some 10mm/40SW as well.
I regularly load 357 Maximum , 44 mag, and 45 Colt.
Always loading 38 special and 357 mag.
Also some .455 Webley that are weird: short, fat cones.
I think I have a scoped Reference Revolver for each caliber. I use a bench and handgun rest to eliminate the shooter error as much as possible.

I am obsessive/compulsive when it comes to finding the exact powder, weight and bullet for a specific wheelgun to produce the best group accuracy. Slugging the barrel, and pin gauges for the cylinder throats are required. I'm also loving powder coating.

Handloading has been my one and only saving grace in keeping my mind active. I build 18 to 24 rounds of each combo and then move to the next weight or bullet. I have an ammo library of hundreds of my different recipes. I need about (7) 8hour days of shooting to catch up on testing.

In the past, I went solo summer camping for a week at a time west of Flagstaff in a beautiful forest meadow around 6000 ft elevation. Idyllic setting for shooting. Last winter, the family had an intervention with me and I agreed to stop the solo outings. The elevation was hard on the AFIB causing multiple cardiac events. Oxygenation suffered.

I'm now looking for a winter camping spot in the canyons east of Parker and the Colorado River. 70 degrees.
Awesome winter camping in the desert canyons. Critters everywhere.
I have a buddy retiring soon who I hope to partner with.

Life is about making friends and memories that are worth collecting.
Prescut
 
Sounds like you take your loading seriously! I'm an amateur compared to you, friend.
How did that 6000' altitude affect your numbers compared to sea level?
Glad to hear you've found a place that suits your heart better plus a friend to share it with.
Maybe in the summer months you can get a doc to prescribe some supplemental oxygen for you to take back up to the high country with your shooting buddy?
Whatever, I'm glad you're gettin' along and keeping up with your interests.
Adapt and overcome is what we do sometime.
 
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Jessie,
Adapt and overcome. Beautiful mantra.

With AFIB/Tach I'm as obsessive about keeping my numbers from my two oximeters, my two blood pressure monitors, and my own personal 2 lead ECG machine. I can now read the ECG graphs somewhat myself.

My event log is a comprehensive history of every event this year (90 of them). I'm capturing what I think are triggers like finance, politics, news media, caffeine, food, exercise, and weight.
Doctors love my Event Log Spreadsheet and my attempts to move the knowledge meter forward. I read cardiac medical journals daily.

My oxygenation number is usually around 98 to 99% at sea level. I was only getting around 89% at 6000 ft.
My old pulse rate was 75 bpm. The 160 mg sotalol I'm on has me around 57 bpm. 320mg had me around 51 bpm. When an event occurs my upper number average is 130 bpm at sea level if I sit when I get the aura; and meditate to find my heart. If I try to continue whatever I'm doing, the number goes much higher. At 6000feet, my upper number goes to over 155 bpm and is much harder to get under control with just meditation. Vegal techniques have never worked for me.

Compared to some AFIB/Tachycardia patients who can see 250bpm and require the paddles to convert, I'm a lucky ******* for now.

AFIB gets worse over time.
With AFIB/Tach, there is an anxiety problem with not knowing when and IF the event is going to stop. Anxiety is a killer. My cardiologist says I've able to convert myself now; right up to the time I can't and then it's paddle time.

The real danger I face is stroke. I'm a 5 out of 5 candidate for stroke. So any of these events could knock a floater loose and it could stick in the brain stem causing stroke. More than a little bit of stress comes with this.

I started bio-feedback and meditation during college days back in the 60's. I can't imagine how other sufferers handle the anxiety without a crutch like meditation. I would be a raving bloody maniac with the daily uncertainty of life.

Prescut
and my giant Medical bag contains an Oxygen tank now. Did you know that requires a prescription?
 
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oddshooter said:
Jessie,
Adapt and overcome. Beautiful mantra.

With AFIB/Tach I'm as obsessive about keeping my numbers from my two oximeters, my two blood pressure monitors, and my own personal 2 lead ECG machine. I can now read the ECG graphs somewhat myself.

My event log is a comprehensive history of every event this year (90 of them). I'm capturing what I think are triggers like finance, politics, news media, caffeine, food, exercise, and weight.
Doctors love my Event Log Spreadsheet and my attempts to move the knowledge meter forward. I read cardiac medical journals daily.

My oxygenation number is usually around 98 to 99% at sea level. I was only getting around 89% at 6000 ft.
My old pulse rate was 75 bpm. The 160 mg sotalol I'm on has me around 57 bpm. 320mg had me around 51 bpm. When an event occurs my upper number average is 130 bpm at sea level if I sit when I get the aura; and meditate to find my heart. If I try to continue whatever I'm doing, the number goes much higher. At 6000feet, my upper number goes to over 155 bpm and is much harder to get under control with just meditation. Vegal techniques have never worked for me.

Compared to some AFIB/Tachycardia patients who can see 250bpm and require the paddles to convert, I'm a lucky ******* for now.

AFIB gets worse over time.
With AFIB/Tach, there is an anxiety problem with not knowing when and IF the event is going to stop. Anxiety is a killer. My cardiologist says I've able to convert myself now; right up to the time I can't and then it's paddle time.

The real danger I face is stroke. I'm a 5 out of 5 candidate for stroke. So any of these events could knock a floater loose and it could stick in the brain stem causing stroke. More than a little bit of stress comes with this.

I started bio-feedback and meditation during college days back in the 60's. I can't imagine how other sufferers handle the anxiety without a crutch like meditation. I would be a raving bloody maniac with the daily uncertainty of life.

Prescut
and my giant Medical bag contains an Oxygen tank now. Did you know that requires a prescription?
Click to expand...

Have you asked your Doctor about Flecainide, as I posted above my wife has had good luck with it.
 
Prescut, it sounds like you're about as on top of this as anyone. Knowledge is a good thing when it comes to your health although knowing some things can cause the stress and anxiety that triggers events in the first place!
Ironic, huh?
Your reloading and shooting probably does much to keep the stress down.
Keep doing what you're doing.
And yes, it's also ironic that you need a prescription to breath oxygen isn't it?
 
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A very different situation. Osteopenia=="Brittle Bones". Just retired but I've been laid up 10 months out of the last year==3-4 months with a triple fracture of the humerus and 7 months with a shattered kneecap (second time) and upper shinbone. Two months in hospital & a rehab center with no weight on it (wheel chair & walker) then 2 more months transitioning.

Anyway, hospital food sucks! Could only stand grilled cheese, fruit, and biscuits and gravy when they had it. Brought my own iced tea. Anyway, lost my appetite. Now retired but still in rehab and just weaning from a cane. Anyway, before the knee accident, I weighed 326==this week went to the Dr and I'm at 289. Just smaller portions and a long "Honey Do" list for starting retirement.

Good luck with the surgery and keep your spirits up. Hope you get pretty nurses (I did and it sure helped!)
 
hey chuckie,

Yes. I have definitely considered it.

Here is a comment form HealthRisk.
"Abnormal heart rhythm risk. Flecainide can cause new or worsened abnormal heart rhythms. Depending on your condition, your doctor may first give you this medication in the hospital so that your heart rhythms can be closely monitored."

My cardiologist suggested this as a possible option. Flecainide has a Black Box warning from the FDA which requires the 3 day Hospital stay to even start it. I've worked in a couple of dozen hospitals over the years; as a result, I am Hospital Averse. I know too much.

I have always held it as an option if things get much worse. The risks associated with trying it have definitely slowed my acceptance.

Thanks for the recommendation. It's great hearing that it worked for your lady. No recurrences?

Prescut
 
oddshooter said:
hey chuckie,

Yes. I have definitely considered it.

Here is a comment form HealthRisk.
"Abnormal heart rhythm risk. Flecainide can cause new or worsened abnormal heart rhythms. Depending on your condition, your doctor may first give you this medication in the hospital so that your heart rhythms can be closely monitored."

My cardiologist suggested this as a possible option. Flecainide has a Black Box warning from the FDA which requires the 3 day Hospital stay to even start it. I've worked in a couple of dozen hospitals over the years; as a result, I am Hospital Averse. I know too much.

I have always held it as an option if things get much worse. The risks associated with trying it have definitely slowed my acceptance.

Thanks for the recommendation. It's great hearing that it worked for your lady. No recurrences?

Prescut
Click to expand...

No recurrences since he upped the dosage but if she starts having them, it will most likely mean another ablation.
 
BearBio,
Bud, you are one of the folks that keep me humble.

When I read your story and journey, it makes me feel like a sissy. You are going through more than me. I have an impossible time imagining myself in a hospital for that long. I wish to send you some of my own "good luck" if I have accumulated any.
You sound like you're still smiling and giving em hell. Keep it up, bud.

Prescut

Chuckie,
Glad to hear about the no recurrences. Reading the literature, that seems to be the hardest goal of all.

Can you tell me a little more about the Flecainide side effects if any?
What did the hospital do to monitor reactions? Any confidentiality problems, we can go PM if you like.

It's always smart to get the dosage right !!! That's tough sometimes, and not all doctors even try it. I'm a fanatic about it.
 
Didn't have AFIB> The Dr's called it A flutter. Only one ventricle going crazy. Did a cardiac version. Like getting zapped by Para's, only in an ICU. Worked for 3 months and came back. Did an Ablation in March 2017 and it's still OK. I'm sure You'll be shooting within no time. I was out the following weekend shooting. I will also say a prayer for You.
 
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