The hospital did their job. They normalized my heart beat. They performed a battery of tests to rule out electrolyte deficiency, thyroid imbalance and so on. They performed an echocardiogram to determine that my heart was structurally sound. They started me on a beta blocker and recommended follow-ups from my outpatient providers.
From The Mayo Clinic Website:
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. Atrial fibrillation symptoms often include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness.
Episodes of atrial fibrillation can come and go, or you may develop atrial fibrillation that doesn't go away and may require treatment. Although atrial fibrillation itself usually isn't life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment.
It may lead to complications. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots forming in the heart that may circulate to other organs and lead to blocked blood flow (ischemia).
Treatments for atrial fibrillation may include medications and other interventions to try to alter the heart's electrical system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being that there were neither excesses nor deficiencies of things that might cause atrial fibrillation detected in my blood, I was quizzed about my lifestyle. The usual suspects were rounded up: caffeine and alcohol.
I admitted that I drink caffeine in excess and it was recommended that I cut back to one cup of coffee per day. I was surprised that they thought that alcohol might also be a contributing factor.
My body and my mouth and my stomach have never handled ETOH very well. I drank sparingly for many a year primarily to avoid calories. On the Atkins diet, beer and wine are strictly prohibited. I thought hard liquor was too but I later learned that a certain amount is allowed after the induction phase is completed. So I started drinking gin.
I never drank a lot of gin but I came to enjoy a nightcap. As mentioned I never handled alcohol of any kind very well and I always stuck to beer and wine, usually beer. I would learn that gin hit a lot harder and a lot faster. It could sneak up on you.
So I bought a shot glass and started measuring my intake, trying to not exceed three ounces per night and limiting myself to nightcaps only. I would say that I would consume 3 Oz. on average about four times per week.
One reason I did not want to exceed 3 Oz. is because more than that would disrupt my sleep. In other words, I would awaken about four hours later with a racing heart. But if I limited myself to three ounces, things were always OK.
It seems that 3 oz. now did what used to require at least 4 or 5 or even more. An older body for certain. And I had lost about 15 % of my body weight since last May. So maybe 3 is the new 4. Or something like that.
It seems that I can get a hangover without even catching a buzz. I don't like to tell people I have been advised to stop drinking and all the stigma that goes with that recommendation. But that is clearly what is written on my discharge plan. Hey it might be the caffeine, OK?
So I have cut out alcohol completely for the time being and I am limiting myself to two cups of coffee, one in AM, one in PM. I have already exceeded that twice. On Monday (or was it Tuesday?) with two cups in the AM and today I had an AM coffee, a large Diet Coke at lunch as well as the PM coffee.
As this relates to weight loss.
I returned home March 16 weighing 218 lb. My appetite has decreased and I almost had to force myself to eat. As such, I have eaten a lot of sugary things (Easter candies, pastries, even a couple of doughnuts) and ate a corned beef dinner three days after St. Patrick's Day. There were a lot of leftovers and I ate the corned beef, cabbage, potatoes at least once/day for the next couple of days.
You have to listen to your body when you are sick and let it make dietary choices. My body craved potatoes and potato chips. I had a Double Whopper Dinner (big size!!!) on Wednesday and plenty of sweets. Today, March 24, 2016, I feel better than I have felt in a long time.My weight is 222 but I am not concerned with the four lb. weight gain. Sometime after the Easter treats are consumed, I will restart my diet.
Until then, Happy Easter!
During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. Atrial fibrillation symptoms often include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness.
Episodes of atrial fibrillation can come and go, or you may develop atrial fibrillation that doesn't go away and may require treatment. Although atrial fibrillation itself usually isn't life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment.
It may lead to complications. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots forming in the heart that may circulate to other organs and lead to blocked blood flow (ischemia).
Treatments for atrial fibrillation may include medications and other interventions to try to alter the heart's electrical system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being that there were neither excesses nor deficiencies of things that might cause atrial fibrillation detected in my blood, I was quizzed about my lifestyle. The usual suspects were rounded up: caffeine and alcohol.
I admitted that I drink caffeine in excess and it was recommended that I cut back to one cup of coffee per day. I was surprised that they thought that alcohol might also be a contributing factor.
My body and my mouth and my stomach have never handled ETOH very well. I drank sparingly for many a year primarily to avoid calories. On the Atkins diet, beer and wine are strictly prohibited. I thought hard liquor was too but I later learned that a certain amount is allowed after the induction phase is completed. So I started drinking gin.
I never drank a lot of gin but I came to enjoy a nightcap. As mentioned I never handled alcohol of any kind very well and I always stuck to beer and wine, usually beer. I would learn that gin hit a lot harder and a lot faster. It could sneak up on you.
So I bought a shot glass and started measuring my intake, trying to not exceed three ounces per night and limiting myself to nightcaps only. I would say that I would consume 3 Oz. on average about four times per week.
One reason I did not want to exceed 3 Oz. is because more than that would disrupt my sleep. In other words, I would awaken about four hours later with a racing heart. But if I limited myself to three ounces, things were always OK.
It seems that 3 oz. now did what used to require at least 4 or 5 or even more. An older body for certain. And I had lost about 15 % of my body weight since last May. So maybe 3 is the new 4. Or something like that.
It seems that I can get a hangover without even catching a buzz. I don't like to tell people I have been advised to stop drinking and all the stigma that goes with that recommendation. But that is clearly what is written on my discharge plan. Hey it might be the caffeine, OK?
So I have cut out alcohol completely for the time being and I am limiting myself to two cups of coffee, one in AM, one in PM. I have already exceeded that twice. On Monday (or was it Tuesday?) with two cups in the AM and today I had an AM coffee, a large Diet Coke at lunch as well as the PM coffee.
As this relates to weight loss.
I returned home March 16 weighing 218 lb. My appetite has decreased and I almost had to force myself to eat. As such, I have eaten a lot of sugary things (Easter candies, pastries, even a couple of doughnuts) and ate a corned beef dinner three days after St. Patrick's Day. There were a lot of leftovers and I ate the corned beef, cabbage, potatoes at least once/day for the next couple of days.
You have to listen to your body when you are sick and let it make dietary choices. My body craved potatoes and potato chips. I had a Double Whopper Dinner (big size!!!) on Wednesday and plenty of sweets. Today, March 24, 2016, I feel better than I have felt in a long time.My weight is 222 but I am not concerned with the four lb. weight gain. Sometime after the Easter treats are consumed, I will restart my diet.
Until then, Happy Easter!
No comments:
Post a Comment