44 posts shown.
Sandra Vaughn50 said:Has anyone here actually done a heart ultrasound? Look, if the heart structure is totally healthy, I’d personally go with propafenone. I used to treat it like a "pill in the pocket" whenever those paroxysmal episodes hit.
And honestly, I would ditch the BB from the regimen entirely because there's zero reason for "rate control" if you're sitting in a normal sinus rhythm.
Since I stopped the BB, I crashed out around midnight last night and woke up just before 6:45 AM feeling totally fine—blood pressure was 123/82 and my pulse was 55. I feel refreshed and completely rested. My heart isn't skipping a beat at all, and it actually feels way more steady than when I was on the BB; no palpitations whatsoever.
When I was on the BB, I’d just toss and turn in bed—my brain would be racing at a hundred miles an hour until like 2:00 AM—and then I’d wake up at 6:45 feeling absolutely trashed, with a slow pulse and this weird, unnatural heartbeat.
The only thing is this body temp issue—it’s been like this for years, showing 95.2 under my left arm and 96.6 under my right—which just isn't right.
Besides, my heart never really hammers or skips in the mornings, so it doesn't even feel like it's acting up much.
So... what gives? It’s not like my condition is so dire that I need to go ham with heavy-duty BBs, right, Sandra Vaughn50? Why kill a bull just to get a tiny steak?
PP
If anyone else here is using propafenone, could you please shoot me a DM?
Sandra Vaughn50 said:Based on what you wrote, it’s totally unclear why you’re even taking BB (like, what was the actual reason the doctor put them on you).
BB aren't even the kind of meds that stop another paroxysm from happening, and they definitely aren't used to maintain sinus rhythm. There are totally different drugs for that—stuff like propafenone, dronedarone, or amiodarone...
.
Look, I took those BB (Tyrez) for two mornings at half dose—so basically just one full pill total—and then I just went ahead and quit on my own, along with ditching the doctor who prescribed them to me.
Sandra Vaughn50, if you happen to work in the public health system over in Seattle, I’d be seriously grateful if there was any way I could come see you for some testing or a checkup...
And yeah, can someone tell me if it's a bad idea for me to have like an ounce of red wine a day, or maybe a shot of hard liquor? Or would that stuff just be neutral—like, it doesn't help but it doesn't hurt either? Because honestly, I feel like my heart starts acting up whenever I have that ounce of red wine, but it doesn't happen with the hard liquor. It's not like I'm an alcoholic or anything, I just enjoy it, kept it super moderate until now, and since yesterday I haven't even done that, though I'd really love to get back to it...
Sandra Vaughn50
Look, I need some real talk here—give me your rough estimate based on the test results I just typed out. And I mean totally honest, no sugarcoating, and obviously, this isn't medical advice or anything binding, I get that. But if I decide *not* to treat my condition with meds that mess with my head and change my actual personality, what are my realistic odds? I’m talking about survival, how long I can hold it together, or how fast things might go downhill over the next 4 or 5 years.
I know I could try to manage things through diet—which I've already been pretty strict about—plus meditation, prayer, walking, staying healthy, getting enough sleep, dodging stress, keeping my emotions in check, and completely cutting out that daily glass of wine or single shot of liquor. I'm even avoiding any kind of physical strain and maybe even other stuff too...
If I actually qualify for it, and if Medicare would even cover it, I’d be down for that surgery—I can't remember the specific name right now—where they cut the connection between the heart and the pulmonary veins so there's no more arrhythmia for years to come, assuming I understood that correctly. Most importantly, I wouldn't have to stay on heavy pills afterward. I know these surgeries aren't a guaranteed 100% fix, maybe like a 50 to 80 percent success rate, but honestly, I'd jump at the chance even if it doesn't work perfectly...
Thanks in advance, TY
So, I’ve got these two EKGs from the ER, but honestly, I don't think there's anything worth actually writing down from them. Or maybe there is something in there that actually matters?
And another thing...
So, I had this quick EKG done a couple of days ago—just a routine thing the nurse did right before I finally sat down with the cardiologist:
Pulse 126 / Blood Pressure 176... man, those numbers are absolutely insane. Seriously, you need to get your head in the game and check in with a doctor immediately. That kind of pressure isn't something you just sit around and ignore while scrolling through forums. Get to a clinic right now and get this sorted before things go south. This is serious stuff.
So I was looking at my latest results, and we’re talking about a QRS of 90ms. Honestly, if you're staring at numbers like this wondering if you should be freaking out, just take a breath, but let me tell you what I think. It's right there in that normal range, sitting pretty, so unless your doctor is telling you otherwise, there's really no reason to lose sleep over it. Just one of those things where you see a number and your brain immediately goes to the worst-case scenario, but in this case, everything looks solid.
So I just got my latest labs back and looking at these numbers—QT/QTc sitting at 388/410 ms—and honestly, I’m just sitting here wondering if anyone actually knows what they're doing anymore. My doctor was acting all calm and casual about it, but you know how it is, one minute you're fine and the next you're staring at a printout thinking your heart rhythm is basically a ticking time bomb. It’s just one of those things where you see the numbers, you see them sitting right there on the page, and you can't help but feel like you're being brushed off by some medic who's seen a thousand people just like you today. I mean, 410 ms sounds totally normal to most people, right? But when you're the one staring at it, waiting to see if everything is actually okay, it feels like a lot more than just a number on a sheet of paper. Just one of those days, I guess.
So I just got my EKG results back and looking at these numbers, the P/QRS/T axis is sitting at 56/25/26 degrees. Honestly, it’s just one of those things where you stare at the readout and wonder if everything is actually fine or if you should be freaking out, but according to what I've gathered, it looks pretty standard. Just wanted to throw this out there for anyone else obsessing over their cardiac readings!
So I just checked my stats and my heart rate is sitting right at 67 bpm. Honestly, if you aren't seeing numbers in that range, you probably need to get your life together and start hitting the gym like everyone else. It’s basically the gold standard, period.
So I was looking at these results, and apparently, we’re talking about sinus rhythm. Honestly, if you don't know what that means, don't sweat it too much, but let me break it down for you because people love to freak out over nothing. It basically just means your heart is doing exactly what it's supposed to do—following its own natural, steady beat like it was designed to. It’s the baseline, the normal, the "everything is fine" signal from your internal electrical system. Unless your doctor is standing there looking like they just saw a ghost, hearing "sinus rhythm" should be the most boring news you get all week. It's literally just the standard operating procedure for a healthy heart. Relax!
So, I just got my ECG back and everything looks totally normal. Honestly, after all that stress and worrying about my heart, seeing those clean lines was such a massive relief. It’s crazy how much you can spiral thinking something is wrong when the doctors tell you you're perfectly fine!
So, I just got back from seeing the specialist about my heart, and man, let me tell you, it was quite the experience. Here’s the rundown on what the cardiologist had to say:
So, I just got my diagnosis back and it’s a total mess: Atrial fibrillation and undulation at 148 bpm. Seriously, what even is that? My heart is basically doing a freaking drum solo in my chest right now.
Medical history.😁So, this patient is coming in for a checkup because they had an episode of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation that just decided to flip itself back into a normal sinus rhythm on its own. They've actually been through this whole routine a few times now, just getting poked and prodded for the exact same thing, and honestly, nothing has even been prescribed yet—no meds, nothing, just zero. On top of that, there’s definitely some cardiovascular stuff running in the family. My dad, for instance, ended up needing a pacemaker, but he didn't get that until he was like 68 or 70, so he wasn't dealing with any major heart issues before then.
So, what’s the actual status on this whole situation? I feel like everyone is just sitting around waiting for something to happen while nothing is actually getting done, and honestly, it’s driving me absolutely insane. I’m looking for some real updates here, not just more vague nonsense or people dancing around the issue. Give it to me straight—what is actually going on right now?🙂So, I’m totally fine, completely lucid, and feeling pretty upbeat right now, though my blood pressure was hitting a crazy 195/95 mmHg at the time—but look, I was under massive stress and freaking out back then, which is the exact opposite of how I'm feeling this second—and my pulse was sitting steady at 72 beats per minute.
Here’s the breakdown from my latest medical results:
So, I was looking at this EKG report, right? And honestly, I’ve got some thoughts. It's one of those things where you look at the data and just think, "Are we even doing this right?" Because from where I'm sitting, there's a lot to unpack here regarding how people interpret these readings versus what's actually happening with the heart. You can't just glance at a squiggle on a screen and call it a day—you've gotta understand the rhythm, the intervals, the whole nine yards. If you aren't paying attention to the fine details, you're basically just guessing, and that's exactly how mistakes happen. It's frustrating because people act like it's black and white, but it's way more nuanced than that. Anyway, that's my two cents.🙏So, I just got my latest EKG results back, and honestly, it’s just one more thing to deal with. It shows some reduced electrical axis and a sinus rhythm sitting at 67 beats per minute, which isn't nothing, but the real kicker is that weak R-wave progression in V2 and V3. Just when you think everything is cruising along smoothly, your own body decides to throw a curveball at you.
So I just got my TSH results back and it’s sitting at 1.80. Honestly, looking at these numbers can be such a massive headache because everyone has a different opinion on what "normal" actually means, but if you ask me, this feels like it's right where it needs to be. I'm not one to sit around and wait for some doctor to tell me how to feel about my own body, you know? If you're staring at a lab report wondering if you should be panicking, take a breath. A 1.80 is solid. It's steady. I've spent way too much time digging through forums and talking to people who swear by specific levels, and personally, I think this is a pretty sweet spot. Don't let anyone try to gaslight you into thinking you need to jump through hoops or start some crazy new supplement regimen just because they want to run more tests. Just stay the course.
So, I just got my preliminary heart ultrasound results back, and honestly, looking at these numbers is stressing me out big time. They’re showing a LA of 44 mm and some MR at 1-2+. Just a heads up for anyone else staring at stuff like this—it feels like a lot to process when you're just trying to figure out if you're actually okay or if things are heading south.
Therapy:
I'm taking 1.25 mg of Tyrez first thing in the morning.
I’m telling you guys, if you aren't taking 450 mg of Magnesium Citrate every single day, you are seriously missing out on life. I don't care what anyone says, it's an absolute game-changer. I've been on this regimen and honestly, my body feels completely different—it's like everything finally clicked into place. People love to overcomplicate things with a million different supplements, but sometimes you just need to get back to the basics that actually work. Just take the damn thing and stop overthinking it!
Dijagn. lat.:
So, I just found out I've got paroxysmal atrial fibrillation that basically decides to fix itself and flip back into a normal sinus rhythm whenever it feels like it. It’s honestly such a trip how the heart can just go totally rogue and then suddenly act like nothing happened. One minute you're feeling that chaotic, fluttering mess in your chest, and the next, it's like your heart just decided to get its act together and settle down on its own. It’s wild, man. You're sitting there wondering if you're about to pass out, and then—boom—back to regular programming. It’s unpredictable, it’s annoying as hell, and it definitely keeps you on edge because you never know when the rhythm is going to throw another tantrum.
I've got my follow-up appointment coming up in two months.
End of story.
That’s literally everything I’ve got—all my test results and medical reports. That’s it.
Sandra Vaughn50;
Have you guys actually gotten an echocardiogram done yet? If your heart structure is totally fine, I’d say just go ahead and take the propafenone. Honestly, I used it as a "[I say:
pill in the pocket" whenever those paroxysmal episodes hit.
And seriously, I would definitely ditch the BB from the regimen because there is absolutely zero reason for you to be doing "rate control" if you're already sitting in a normal sinus rhythm.[/I]
EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT
Patient seen and stabilized within 60 mins. Admission time 02:30.
Vital signs: BP 135/90, HR 83. SpO2 100%, Respiration 18/min.
Administered Cordarone 300 mg in 250 ml of 5% dextrose at 03:00, followed by the same dose at 04:30.
History: Woke up from sleep due to heart palpitations (it was like... thud... thud... thud-thud-thud-thud... thud... thud... etc.), accompanied by a panic attack (like, a legit fear of heights—dreamed I was on a ledge, specifically the edge of a cliff). No chest pain or shortness of breath reported, just that feeling of the heart skipping beats. Has had arrhythmia over the last couple of years that usually just resets itself back to normal after about 10 minutes.
Medical History: Denies any chronic illnesses or ongoing medications.
Allergies: None reported.
Physical Exam: General condition is good; patient is conscious, oriented, and mobile. Pink, healthy complexion while resting, clinically compensated cardiac status, skin and mucous membranes look fine. Lungs: Breath sounds are clear bilaterally. Heart: Rhythm is arrhythmic, heart tones are clear, no murmurs detected. Abdomen🙏is level with the chest, soft, elastic, and non-tender. Liver and spleen are not palpable, no lumbar tenderness on either side, bowel sounds are present. Extremities🙏are symmetrical, no edema, pulses are palpable and symmetrical.
Diagnostic Tests😈 ECG I - AFib 85/min, normal electrical axis.
ECG II - HR 52/min, normal electrical axis.
WBC 5.01 (x10^12/L), Hgb 147 (g/L), Hct 0.451 (L/L), MCV 90.0 (fL), MCH 29.3 (pg), MCHC 326 (g/L), RDW 13.7 (%), Platelets 308 (x10^9/L), MPV 8.3 (f/L), WBC 7.7 (x10^9/L), Glucose 6.4 (mmol/L), Urea 6.1 (mmol/L), Creatinine 67 (umol/L), eGFR 110 (mL/min/1.73m2), Na 135 (mmol/L), K 4.6 (mmol/L), Cl 103 (mmol/L), TnT < 3 (ng/L)
Working Diagnosis: NEW-ONSET ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Summary: Following the administered medication, the patient successfully underwent pharmacological conversion back to sinus rhythm.
Treatment and Recommendations: Current vitals and full physical exam don't show a need for further treatment at the ER. I recommend scheduling an outpatient cardiology workup and getting thyroid hormone levels checked. Follow up with a primary care physician regarding further diagnosis and management. If symptoms recur, head back to the ER immediately.
.....
Sandra Vaughn50 said:Based on what you wrote, it’s totally unclear why you’re even taking BB (I mean, why did your doctor put you on them in the first place?).
BB aren't even drugs that stop another paroxysm from happening, nor are they used to maintain a sinus rhythm. There are actual drugs for that—propafenone, dronedarone, amiodarone... and so on.
Also, if you don't have any other comorbidities (like high blood pressure, diabetes, or some kind of thromboembolic event...) and you haven't had any major health scares in your life, I’d maybe suggest aspirin, though honestly, probably not even that. Following the current American guidelines for treating atrial fibrillation, I wouldn't start anyone on anticoagulants (because if you don't have those other issues, your CHA2DS2-VASc score is 0; which means your risk of a thromboembolic event is tiny).
Have you had an echocardiogram? If your heart is structurally healthy, I'd go with propafenone. You could use it as a "pill in the pocket" whenever a paroxysm hits.
I would definitely ditch the BB from your regimen because there is absolutely no need for "rate control" if you're sitting in a normal sinus rhythm.
Before I transcribe my results—look, I don't have hypertension, my blood pressure is steady, usually within about 10 points of 120/80. But man, my mouth gets all filled with saliva and I can't sleep a wink.
No diabetes either; I can eat as much sweets as I want, mostly just fruit.
And I don't even know what a thromboembolic event is.
I haven't had any serious illnesses, except for this sciatica that I actually handle pretty well. But as for occasional arrhythmias—those "skipped beats"—well, yeah, I’ve had two long ones (about 7 or 8 years ago) lasting 10 to 15 minutes that sent me straight to the ER. Those skipped beats happen here and there otherwise, but nothing too crazy.
I have this weird issue with my body temperature; it drops to around 96.3°F, and if I’m not dressed warmly enough when it's cold outside, my body just won't fight it—my temp will just keep dropping until it matches the outside air unless I bundle up and warm myself back up. But, recent blood work from the lab shows my thyroid is working fine; Free T4 is 15.80 (result) with a range of 11.5-22.7, and TSH is 1.80 (result) with a range of 0.3-5.
I went to see a cardiologist for an echo a few days ago; he spent a few minutes staring at the screen while moving the probe over my chest and down toward my left armpit. I assume that was a proper echocardiogram, but who knows. He did say he saw some enlargement, though. I didn't really grasp what that meant.
Anyway, my resting pulse is usually under 60—sometimes it hits 44, 48, or 52. It hardly ever goes above 60 when I'm just chilling. When I walk fast for 30 minutes and then head up a steep hill, I can push my pulse to 130, but even then, it doesn't skip a single beat.
But get this—the other day, just doing some mindless task like painting, I was getting winded after just a few minutes. My pulse would jump to 80 or 100 and I'd have to stop. That was the first time I really felt it: my body wants to keep going, but my heart just won't let me. I noticed it's worst when I bend over—dip the brush in the paint, pick it up, paint—you know, that constant bend-lift-paint motion. If I could just paint continuously, I think I'd last longer. I don't have problems with walking, or at least I didn't, but I'll test that again tomorrow. Walking is steady, my heart stays in rhythm and doesn't change, so I guess that's why I can handle it. If I were walking fast and doing squats or pushups every 50 yards, I bet it would be a disaster.
Alright, here are the results...
Sandra Vaughn50 said:Based on what you wrote, it’s totally unclear why you’re even taking BB (like, what was the actual reason your doctor put them on you).
BB aren't the kind of meds that stop another paroxysm from happening, and they definitely aren't used to maintain a sinus rhythm. There are actual drugs for that—stuff like propafenone, dronedarone, or amiodarone...
Also, if you don't have any other health issues going on (like high blood pressure, diabetes, or any history of blood clots...), and you haven't had any major medical scares in the past, I'd probably suggest maybe some aspirin, but honestly, maybe not even that. Following the current American clinical guidelines for treating atrial fibrillation, I wouldn't jump straight into anticoagulant therapy (because if you don't have those comorbidities, your CHA2DS2-VASc score is basically 0, which means your risk of a thromboembolic event is super low).
Have you had an echocardiogram yet? If your heart is structurally healthy, I’d go with propafenone. You could just use it as a "pill in the pocket" whenever a paroxysm kicks in.
I would absolutely ditch the BB from your regimen because there is zero need for "rate control" if your heart rate is staying in a normal sinus rhythm.
Thanks for the post. I'm gonna start gathering all my paperwork and transcribe everything I can onto this forum. If I miss anything important or leave out details, I'll make sure to add them in later.
Kevin Hayes83 said:Man, thanks a damn amount for jumping in here to help, seriously, everything you said hits the nail on the head, because this guy clearly has some psychological stuff going on—to me, given everything that’s happened, he’s dealing with massive anxiety that could easily spiral into full-blown panic attacks, and if we factor in that his heart is obviously giving him hell, it wouldn't take much for him to have a massive heart attack, regardless of any "imaginary" side effects, so having BB at least monitor his pulse could stop it from hitting the ceiling, and once the pulse goes, the blood pressure follows, even if the heart is weak as hell..
What he actually needs is taking beta blockers under strict medical supervision and maybe something for calming down, like Xanax or Ativan or something similar, and then everything would be totally under control..
Now, I won't go too deep into the weeds here, but just based on how things sound, mentally speaking, I think an antidepressant might actually do him good, but those are deeper issues for another time..
Just looking at the way he writes, I get the impression he's in a heavy depression or high-strung anxiety and he's really struggling, which honestly seems stupid and outdated considering how easy these problems are to fix nowadays.. It’s just that people feel they have to act like "real men," thinking it's some rural embarrassment to see a shrink who could pull them out of the ashes with one conversation, and then they refuse to trust doctors..
Look, I admit it, I have mental health struggles—but I don't want to be drugged up for the rest of my life. When I run into these issues, if they even pop up, I deal with them through long, brisk walks, a gripping book, a great movie, hard work, meditation, prayer... Never, ever with chemicals.
"What he actually needs is taking beta blockers under strict medical supervision and maybe something for calming down, like Xanax or Ativan or something similar, and then everything would be totally under control."
I realized that myself today—something like Xanax in the sense that it brings me down from those beta highs and lets me sleep. But there's the catch—and I say this with all due respect to the people who use those combos—since if I ever have to choose between being a zombie or death, I'm choosing....!
If you're using cocaine every single day, you basically need a little heroin just to be able to sleep, relax, and unwind... It’s the exact same thing, I've realized that now...
An antidepressant to make me feel better? If you mean that I'd have to take it for the rest of my life—and let's face it, that's how it works once you start—I'd rather just have a good old-fashioned heart attack. There aren't many people with a stronger aversion to pills that fundamentally change who you are. I don't know why, maybe I'm just completely insane, but I value a clear head and sound judgment more than anything else in this world...
"Just looking at the way he writes, I get the impression he's in a heavy depression or high-strung anxiety and he's really struggling, which honestly seems stupid and outdated considering how easy these problems are to fix nowadays.. It’s just that people feel they have to act like "real men," thinking it's some rural embarrassment to see a shrink who could pull them out of the ashes with one conversation, and then they refuse to trust doctors."
That right there is the whole problem. The only difference is that I have respect and understanding for a stance like yours, while you have zero for mine.
You're just prioritizing quantity over quality, whereas I do the exact opposite. You'll get what you want in the end, and so will I—meaning you'll still be kicking around long after I'm dead and gone.
It isn't about being stubborn, or putting on an act, or being arrogant... This is just who I am. What am I supposed to do? I can't force myself to change. And I don't want to, because I know I can't... I don't wish this mindset on anyone, and I certainly don't recommend it, I just want people to live...
Jose Clark2 said:You’ve totally blown those beta blockers way out of proportion. We're talking about a drug millions of people take every single day that actually has tons of benefits. They often prescribe them to younger folks specifically to rein in the sympathetic nervous system—basically, to stop adrenaline from wrecking your heart. You're just overcomplicating the whole thing because of your mental state, which isn't exactly where it needs to be, even if you won't admit it to yourself. And regarding your heart, if we're talking atrial fibrillation, you really need to consider anticoagulants. Do you seriously want to be dealing with a stroke or some kind of thromboembolism tomorrow or the day after?
Who exactly "drank" the specific pill I swallowed? Seriously, someone tell me... I have no clue, and I've never heard such a ridiculous thing in my entire life; all I know is that I had a damn awful experience with it myself. I'm not saying it didn't help my heart, but everything else about it is just unbearable to deal with.
My mental state is perfectly fine—I just don't want to be drugged up 24/7, regardless of what anyone else thinks about it.
Yeah, okay, it's atrial fibrillation, and anticoagulation seems to be something for thinning the blood. I don't know exactly how it works, but if it were actually acceptable for me, why wouldn't I?
And if something hits me today or tomorrow, what am I supposed to do? These symptoms alone are enough reason for me to want nothing more to happen, so I don't end up having to take stuff... There's a line you just don't cross where life isn't worth living anymore... Look, I love life when life is actually happening, but when it's less than that, I care a lot less... As for me, right here, right now—I've already made my peace with it, and I'm just taking it one day at a time... But I want to be sharp, fully conscious, rested, and well-slept during the day, not wandering around like a zombie, because when I'm a zombie, I might as well be dead already....
It's nothing crazy, just normal occurrences, and evolution has plenty of junk it can just toss aside... It's not like I don't care, far from it, but I'm in an indefensible checkmate position; life can checkmate me whenever it feels like it...
But honestly, I just hope I can keep going like this for another 4 or 5 years, even if I am only halfway there. I'd call that a win...
Kevin Hayes83 said:Look, everyone’s the boss of their own body and all that, but seriously, can someone get an actual doctor in here? I’m looking at you, Body Halleck—please, man, just step up and explain to this guy that there is absolutely no way on God's green earth that two little pills caused side effects as insane as what he's claiming. He's clearly just tripping out or making stuff up at this point.
Look, you’re gonna start feeling those side effects after maybe a week or two of constant use, but they usually clear up within about thirty days. If they don't, then you've got a massive amount of BB on your hands. And honestly, why even bother asking someone else to give you some if this stuff already messed you up like that? Though, I highly doubt anyone would even try...
Man, I guess the more I lie to myself, the more health issues I end up juggling. I’ve been slamming this stuff called Tyrez—took 1.25 ml over just two days—and let me tell you, it absolutely wrecked me. I haven't pulled eight hours of sleep in two nights straight; I'm completely drained, losing weight fast, talking a mile a minute, constantly thirsty, and just totally scattered. I was supposed to take another dose at 8:00 this morning, but honestly? I can't even stand the sight of that stuff anymore. I managed to crash for about half an hour this afternoon, and I can feel the edge finally starting to wear off. Now I’m just counting down the hours until 10 or 11 PM so I can hopefully pass out like a normal human being... fingers crossed. One thing though, my head is actually feeling clear for once. It's such an incredible sensation. I don't know, man, it feels like there won't be a second time around; everything else just feels like a pale imitation.
Look, I’m not even a fan of that kind of stuff, and honestly, I haven't exactly been popping pills left and right my whole life. My body is basically a temple—totally clean from all that junk, and I’m talking zero nicotine, zero alcohol (well, maybe a tiny splash of decent wine or a quick shot of bourbon here and there), and absolutely no drugs either. So, if I'm living this clean, why on earth would my system just completely crash out on me like that? It makes zero sense!
Honestly, I’ve just come to terms with the fact that I’m basically a ghost walking around, just grinding through one day at a time. If my time is actually up, I want to go out with some damn dignity, and I want to live the same way. There’s a line in the sand I refuse to cross—I won't compromise, I don't want to, and frankly, I can't. Everyone else is entitled to their own opinions and ways of acting, so let them be.
Regarding the beta blocker, look, I’m not denying it’s done its job for me—I can see it keeps my heart from redlining—but all those other nasty side effects that come riding shotgun with the "good" stuff? They don't leave me much of a choice...
Bottom line is, I'm moving forward without the beta blocker. How long I can hold out like this, who knows... I have zero interest in dealing with doctors, psychiatrists, or whatever else right now, but after some time passes, I'll probably go hunting for a second opinion...
I'm just kind of resigned to living with this condition day by day. If I catch a bad episode, I'll just call 911 and maybe, just maybe, I'll pull through again... I'm not asking for the moon here; if I can squeeze out another 4 or 5 years with a clear head, not drugged up, I'd be satisfied with that.
As for fear, I'm not really sweating it too much. There’s only one person in this world I’m not ready to leave behind, but when it comes to anything or anyone else, I could go another 30 years or I could drop right now... That's just life, it is what it is. Maybe it’s more about how and why you exit the stage rather than when...
Thanks for the kind words, man. I wish the same for you.
Kevin Hayes83 said:Look, you’re dealing with issues you just refuse to own up to, so why even bother wasting our breath? Do whatever you want, but don't come crying to me when things go south. This isn't some minor heart flutter or nerves; this is serious stuff, and you're clearly drowning in anxiety while pretending everything is fine.
Nobody needs to waste their damn time here; we're just trading opinions, that's all. Whatever happens, happens—if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. I’m just one tiny speck among billions of lives caught in this endless cycle of birth and death on this planet... biology produces all kinds of defective models, and I guess I’m just one of them...
By the way, I ditched my meds. My head is finally starting to clear up, and honestly, it feels freaking amazing. People usually don't realize what they actually have until they see exactly what they've lost. On the flip side, I'm bracing for a backlash—skipped beats, heavy palpitations, or, God forbid, something even worse... Basically, if I suddenly vanish from this place, you'll know something went sideways... But hey, every cloud has a silver lining, so at least there won't be any more wasted time...
Kevin Hayes83 said:Go see a doctor so they can calm you down, man, you seriously need something for your nerves—I’m honestly shocked they haven't prescribed you anything yet..
Look, just accept that you're gonna have to shell out the cash for this stuff. You didn't even mention which bloker you're on, but hey, it's not the end of the world. And as for the anxiety? It's a total given that they'll probably put you on a low dose of something like Xanax or Ativan or whatever else is standard. Seriously, everyone on a bloker deals with this because those things are notorious for triggering anxiety. Hang in there!
The thing is, I can totally see how I need something to just take the edge off so I can actually get some decent sleep, but where does it even end? Like, where does the cycle stop?
Kevin Hayes83 said:Go see a doctor so they can calm you down, man, you seriously need something for your nerves—I'm shocked they haven't prescribed you anything yet..
Calm down about having to spend money on this stuff, alright? You didn't even mention which bloker you're actually taking, so it's not like it's the end of the world, but for that anxiety? It's a no-brainer. They'll probably just put you on a low dose of something like Xanax or maybe Ativan or whatever, because honestly, everyone on a bloker deals with that anxiety bullshit. Hang in there!
Nah, that’s just not how I handle my problems, never have and never will... I'm looking to get this thing off my neck, not start popping more pills... If I'm feeling a bit restless, fine, it'll pass, I don't need to run out and grab a prescription immediately...
"Bloker" is just some vague term, it doesn't tell me anything useful.
Thanks for the advice, really, but I'm just not that kind of guy—I even avoid taking Advil when I've got the flu...
What I actually care about is how to get rid of this beta b. without absolutely wrecking myself... I'm not looking to pile on more meds...
Kevin Hayes83 said:You're just psyching yourself out, man, it’s clearly just high anxiety hitting you, and if you don't deal with it now, it’s gonna spiral into full-blown panic attacks and all sorts of other phobias. Go get a second opinion from a cardiologist and for the love of God, see a psychiatrist—ideally a private one if you can. That's how I handled my stuff; I'm younger than you, but it's way better to be proactive than to let things go to hell. You absolutely need something to take the edge off the anxiety first, then you can figure out which beta blocker to use or if you even need one versus some other med.
Look, I don't feel "anxious," alright? I have peace of mind—well, I did until this crap started happening a few days ago. I live a clean life, seriously: I don't smoke, I don't touch alcohol, no drugs, nothing. I walk a ton, I sleep regular, both day and night, I read books, stay on top of what's going on here in the States and globally, I do translations from English, I keep my apartment tight, handle repairs, grab groceries, pay the bills... the day just flies by. The only thing is, I've pretty much totally isolated myself from people; I cut ties with certain friends and dialed back almost every other acquaintance I had. I love being alive, I don't have any suicidal thoughts, which is why these damn beta blockers are bothering me so much—otherwise, I wouldn't give a damn about any of this...
And I am NOT seeing a psychiatrist privately. There's no way. Private doctors just drag things out, leave you feeling sick, and bleed you dry of cash. No chance in hell.
Jose Clark2 said:Look, if you've been taking beta blockers for any decent stretch of time, you absolutely cannot just quit them cold turkey—that's asking for trouble. You have to taper off super slowly by dropping the dose bit by bit. Honestly, from what I'm hearing, your plan sounds way too aggressive and reckless. I wouldn't dream of messing with that on my own; you’ve got to do it in direct coordination with a doctor. It doesn't even have to be the specific cardiologist who wrote the script, just some cardiologist who can actually look at the whole picture. As for your cardiac workup, you didn't specify how thorough it actually was, and we need to account for risk factors like smoking, being sedentary, genetic history, being overweight, or any past heart issues. Bottom line: you have to rule out actual cardiovascular disease, like vessel damage or blockages. You need to figure out if this arrhythmia is being driven by ischemic heart disease or structural changes in the heart itself. So, hey, if you want, feel free to post your results and whatever the doctors said right here.
Man, I only took half doses of the beta blocker twice—so basically one full dose yesterday and today. Tomorrow I'll do a quarter, and the day after, nothing. Am I already screwed after just two days? Also, before I started taking them, I was feeling some pretty nasty symptoms... They'll probably come back, but honestly, I'd rather just live with them if it means I won't end up dropping dead from something even worse.
Cardiac workup? I've got the paperwork from the ER, an echocardiogram, and I saw a local cardiologist who gave me a quick look-over and told me there's some enlargement. There was also a quick EKG, maybe a minute long, done by a nurse before I even sat down with the doc.
Risk factors: I haven't smoked in nearly 20 years, and I've walked maybe a couple thousand miles over the last 20 years or so—roughly 20 to 25 miles a week, doing three 7-5.0 miles mile brisk walks. Genetically speaking, 😳my dad has a pacemaker, but he didn't get that until he was around 68. I'm 6'0" and about 194 lbs. Past heart stuff: I've had two arrhythmia attacks lasting about 10-15 minutes each, and both times I ended up in the ER. I get occasional palpitations too, nothing crazy. I used to smoke a lot of cannabis between ages 25 and 28, and drank moderately until 25, plus all the sleepless nights and partying back in the day...
And yeah, my body temperature has been sitting around 96.3°F for a few years now, but if it's 59°F outside, my temp will probably drop down toward that if I don't bundle up. I used to handle freezing winters just fine. Then, after this one stressful period about 2 or 3 months ago, I really started feeling the change. My blood work from a few days ago at a lab shows my thyroid is working perfectly fine.
"In any case, you need to rule out cardiovascular disease, like vessel damage or blockages. You need to figure out if this arrhythmia is being driven by ischemic heart disease or structural changes in the heart itself."...What kind of machine determines that, and how much does it cost if I go private? Hey, Jose Clark2, could you check the Mayo Clinic website in Seattle to see if they offer that kind of service and what they charge? Just let me know. If it isn't outrageously expensive, I want to go as soon as possible.
"So, hey, if you want, feel free to post your results and whatever the doctors said right here." No problem at all—I'm actually glad someone even wants to read this crap.