Heart trouble

1: INRs would most likely be done every couple of weeks until the
correct dosages are found, and it's a moving target. Most clinics, I
think, will not be following other values, but I could be wrong about
that. Finger sticks are a lot better than getting stuck in a vein.

2. Warfarin is in fact a rat poison, it causes internal bleeding.
That's why the dosages must be carefully controlled. One would not
like to trade a block induced stroke for a bleeding one, would one?
Having said that, it is commonly used and very effective.,

3: Regarding ablation -- look up radio frequency ablation, you'll
discover it's a way of scarring those parts of the heart, or more
often the large vein leading into it, where the electrical impulses
that are triggering the a-fib are starting. Scars don't conduct the
impulses.

Finally, as I said several times, I am not an expert, he can, as can
you, treat this information as he or you chooses. It may lead to some
questions Chris would like to ask his MD.

Or not.

It's up to him.

RomeoMike wrote:



Whoa! Where's all this medical advice coming from? Also, it's quite
possible that tests other than an INR were ordered, requiring a
venipuncture as opposed to a finger stick. No point in making the guy
lose confidence in his facility without more reason.




Its highly unlikely that any other lab testing is being done on an
outpatient basis AT THIS POINT other than an INR. Thats my opinion based
on 18 years in the emergency and critical care fields of healthcare.

Also, for what its worth, I have not heard of any of the hospitals or
outpatient labs in the greater Houston area doing fingerstick INR's, nor
have I had a patient indicate or ask why we arent "pricking their
finger, like at the lab". 4th largest population center in the US, and
I've worked all over it.

Up to this point, I've agreed with everything Tina has said. Its pretty
much on the mark. Afib, when properly anticoagulated, has minimal risk
of sudden incapacitation. This may not be as big of a hindrance as CJ is
worried about.

Dave, RN

Have to agree with Tina- as a matter of my daily practice, I put hundreds of
people on coumadin every year. It does require careful monitoring,
particularly when first started.

Chemical (via drugs) and electrical (cardioversion) are still used to
convert new onset a-fib. There is probably a bigger risk from the chronic
coumadin usage than the underlying a-fib.

CJ

Warfarin is the name brand and more expensive. Coumadin is the generic
and much cheaper if you are paying out of pocket. Also most HMO's only
pay for the generic. Both seem to work OK.

Big John
************************************

On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:11:39 -0700, C J Campbell
wrote:

On 2007-07-13 07:46:03 -0700, Tina said:

Re a-fib, very very common. May not screw up your medical, There are
meds that work to control it, but ablation seems like a sure cure for
many. If it's serious you MUST get onto an aggressive anticoagulant,
check with your MD. Coumadin is most often used.


You'll be told a-fib is not life threatening, that no one dies of it.
That's true, BUT that turbulant blood flow can cause clots, and those
can cause strokes, that's why an anti coagulant is needed.

Hah! Not exactly comforting. I got extremely small veins, you know. It
takes 'em four or five tries to get a blood test. :-)

They gave me Warfarin, which is a coumadin derivative.

I think that is the main thing -- making sure that:
a) Whatever caused it is not life threatening, it coming on so suddenly and
b) Whatever medication they give me doesn't ground me.

Big John wrote:
CJ

Warfarin is the name brand and more expensive. Coumadin is the generic
and much cheaper if you are paying out of pocket. Also most HMO's only
pay for the generic. Both seem to work OK.
On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:11:39 -0700, C J Campbell
wrote:
They gave me Warfarin, which is a coumadin derivative.


Uh... I think you that backwards. Coumadin is the name brand for generic
Warfarin. It is NOT a derivitive... it is exactly the same thing. Some people
have noted the active ingedient is rat poison. G



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

Coumadin is the chemical name, while Warfarin was the trade name. It derived
from Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, where the drug was first
investigated.

("Tina" wrote)
Re a-fib, very very common. May not screw up your medical, There are meds
that work to control it, but ablation seems like a sure cure for many. If
it's serious you MUST get onto an aggressive anticoagulant, check with
your MD. Coumadin is most often used.


Ablation?

ab·la·tion (a-bla'sh?n) n.

1. Surgical excision or amputation of a body part or tissue.

2. The erosive processes by which a glacier is reduced.

(NAC) Necessary Aviation Content

3. Aerospace:
a.) The dissipation of heat generated by atmospheric friction, especially
in the atmospheric reentry of a spacecraft or missile, by means of a melting
heat shield.
b.) The reduction or removal of heat-protective surface material by
aerodynamic friction, as from a heat shield.

Whatever is wrong with you, good luck Mormie! g


Paul-Mont

In article 2007071307362816807-christophercampbell@hotmailcom,
C J Campbell wrote:

It appears that I am having a little bit of trouble with my heart. It
came on rather suddenly, as an EKG last December showed no problem at
all. But apparently I have developed something called an atrial
fibrillation. It doesn't look good for my flying status, but we shall
see.

BT,DT with the A-fib. A-fib is the most common arythmia...not a big
deal in most cases.

I had a bought of A-fib back in '03. I had to have several tests done.
One is the wearing of a 24 hour heart monitor (they'll want to know if
it happens a lot or if it was a one time deal). I had to have an
echocardiagram done (sonogram of the heart) to make sure the hearts
structure was good. In my case (I have very good insurance) we also did
a heart catherization. I did a stress EKG also.

In my case it was determined to be "lone a-fib" and the local head AME
signed me off to get back in the cockpit. A-fib is very common and even
guys with Class 1 medicals have it and are still flying.

My suggestions:

Find a GOOD cardiologist that specializes in electro physciology. A fib
is a wiring problem, it is not a plumbing problem.

Find an AME that specializes in working with the FAA on "problem"
medicals. These folks are worth their weight in gold.

For me things went south 18 months ago. I was diagnosed with Brugada
Syndrome and have been grounded. Supposedly my file is in DC being
reviewed but I don't have any hope of it being reinstated....I've
started looking at sailboats for sail. G

your condition and Brugada. If you haven't already, Google A-fib
and Brugada. A-fib is very common in Brugada folks. Brugada usually
kills you so make sure that isn't an issue.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
news:2007071307362816807-christophercampbell@hotmailcom...
It appears that I am having a little bit of trouble with my heart. It
came on rather suddenly, as an EKG last December showed no problem at
all. But apparently I have developed something called an atrial
fibrillation. It doesn't look good for my flying status, but we shall
see.

The exact same thing happened to me. Other responders discuss the
treatments, etc.
But, when I saw my AME, I told him the I had developed A-fib. He said, "You
didn't put it on your application for your Medical Certificate, did you?"
Well, I did. He explained that he wanted to work with me on the exact
wording as to not put up a red flag for the FAA.

The FAA has not asked me for any additional documentation, so I suppose I
passed. Also, because I don't notice any symptoms, I have not asked for a
"conversion" to get the rhythm back to normal -- too scary!

Sorry to hear it.

On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:36:28 -0700, C J Campbell
wrote in
2007071307362816807-christophercampbell@hotmailcom:

It came on rather suddenly, as an EKG last December showed no problem at
all.

What prompted the EKG last December?