I was having PVCs for several months ...non stop....and I was taking magnesium taurate consistently . I could not feel the premature heart beats, but they showed up constantly on my blood pressure machine and in my cardiologist's office. He ordered an echo which showed no other problem, but confirmed the constant PVCs. I was reading in another a-fib forum about someone who had solvedby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris, if you decide on an ablation, be sure to be in the care of an experienced EP in a facility where a lot of ablations are performed. As mentioned, Dr. Natale in Austin is one of the best among the best and many people travel to have him do the procedure. There is some thought that having an ablation done sooner rather than later increases the chances of it being successful. Since you haveby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
It is true that intestinal bleeds while taking an anticoagulant should be investigated by a gastroenterologist. However, it is good to keep in mind that there are many other causes of lower intestinal bleeds that are not caused by cancer.....diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, internal hemorrhoids, etc., etc. When such a bleed occurs,, tests such as CT scans or MRIs can help to determine theby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I often have a glass of wine ( 4 oz.) in the evening when my husband has a cocktail. Since I limit it to 4 oz., I have had no ill effects as a result. Maybe I could have another glass....but I don't want to risk it in case it could trigger my a-fib. I 've had 3 ablations and have been in NSR for more than 4 years following the last one. I think there are quite a few people who findby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
My doctors suggested that the plaque was the likely cause...but the exact cause is still a mystery. My blood pressure was not an issue.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a stroke while taking Eliquis. The doctors assumed that my stroke was a result of a clot caused by a-fib because of my history. (3 ablations). I have a pacemaker....and when it was checked, it showed that I had been in normal sinus rhythm with NO a-fib for many weeks before the stroke, during the stroke, or after the stroke. So it appears that my stroke likely occurred from plaque that hby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I understand your feelings of anxiety and depression. I think that is normal for many of us as we deal with the various symptoms and procedures we have. While the blips during the blanking period can be disturbing....and cause anxiety....they are very common for several months after an ablation during the "blanking period" in which the heart is healing. It can vary with each individuby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have a pacemaker.....result of having bradycardia while requiring medicine for A-Fib. I agree that a pacemaker is not such a bad thing. I only regret that my pacemaker does not allow me to have an MRI...so I am limited to CT scans. However, now there are pacemakers that are compatible with MRIs. One good thing about having the pacemaker is that there is a constant recording of what is "by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
When will the Watchman FLX study be completed....and is it available for people not in the study....with EPs who have experience with it? Just wondering what the status is now. I may have the Watchman in my future. Also....want to say that my User name in this forum was not meant to imply that I am part of the "Just Me Too movement". I chose it to mean that "Just me too has Aby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
You are obviously very symptomatic when you have an a-fib episode with the rapid ventricular response.. I had the same problem. Some people do not experience the rapid heart beat...but a person can STILL be at risk for stroke without this. Just because your pulse is not fast does not mean you are safe from stroke. Those of us who do have a rapid ventricular response usually know when we areby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
You might try looking for an electrophysiologist who is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society and is in a location near you. Try to find an experienced EP who practices in a facility where a lot of ablations are performed. Get an expert opinion in evaluating your individual case......everyone is different. Be glad you did not continue the amiodarone. It is a toxic drug that can affect many othby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had 3 ablations and agree with others' comments that the procedure is not one to be feared if you are in the care of an experienced EP in a facility that does a lot of ablations. Try not to be terrified. It can be a solution to your a-fib.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good answer, Carey! I find your posts to be helpful and well informed....always worth considering.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Find an expert EP who has done many ablations with a high rate of success...using Dr. Natale in Austin as an example. There are other top rated EP in other areas of the country.....Cleveland Clinic ....Salt Lake City, etc. It pays to completely check out the EP who will be doing your ablation. What is considered a successful ablation varyies with different EP.s. I agree with Carey's definby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had nuclear chemical stress tests on two occasions. Because of mobility problems, I cannot do the treadmill. I did not find the nuclear stress tests to be unusually hard or uncomfortable. They do take a while longer generally because of the medicines. I am sure there are others in this forum who cannot take the treadmill test for various reasons....and the nuclear stress test is theby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I, too, am sorry that you have been offended by posts that I and other members of this forum have made. It was certainly not my intent. I am wishing you the best and hope solutions to all your problems will be forthcoming from the doctors that you trust.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Grace 123, I sense a lot of anger in your posts and hope you will realize that most of the people posting here want to "help".... and are not trying to be antagonistic . I've had 3 three ablations in order to maintain NSR and I realize that a-fib and its triggers can affect each individual differently. We can each react to medicines and procedures differently as well.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lance....yes, my sister-in-law who had the Watchman procedure was taking an anticoagulant before the she had the procedure and for a while afterwards...but I am not sure how long she had to take it afterwards. Your doctor will have that information. Now she no longer takes any anti-coagulants at all. The Watchman prevents clots from forming, but it does not stop a-fib. It is a good procedureby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
My neurologist told me that the Eliquis had "dissolved" the clot causing my stroke and thus had prevented a more serious stroke episode resulting in more damage to my brain.. Since my cardiologist already had me taking a lo-dose aspirin each day as well, perhaps that played an important role too. There are so many conflicting opinions in this forum, I suppose that one can "believeby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
In response to previous posts....I have been taking Eliquis for many years at the standard dosage and will continue to take it. The neurologist is the one who told me that my stroke could have been much more severe if I had not been on an anti-coagulant. He said the anti-coagulant probably caused the small clot to dissolve and perhaps "scatter" (like a shower) into smaller particles.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
My cardiologist has had me taking a low dose aspirin in addition to Eliquis for a long time because the two act in different ways. I have never taken any NSAID or other blood thinning agents in many years. Some anti-depressants are also not recommended. While I was taking both Eliquis and low dose aspirin when I had my stroke, the Eliquis certain made a difference in the severity of the strokeby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would certainly try the Watchman procedure rather than a chest surgery. My sister-in-law had the Watchman procedure because she could not take any coagulants. It seems to have worked well for her....although it does not cure the a-fib. My a-fib has been controlled since my 3rd ablation in September of 2014 and I am in NSR now.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all the responses. I saw my GP today and she says that strokes can and do occur while a person is taking an anticoagulant...as was my case. It may not have even been related to atrial fibrillation as I was in normal sinus rhythm the entire time of the event. She says that even small amounts of plaque can form in an artery causing an event such as this. I had a heart cath last yearby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have always been taking 5 MG twice a day...not the lower dose.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am a 79 year old female who recently suffered an ischemic stroke while taking an anticoagulant and a low dose aspirin. Here is some of my history. I've had three ablations for atrial fibrillation, the last one in September of 2014. I have been in normal sinus rhythm since that ablation for more than 99% of the time. I am still in normal sinus rhythm. I do have a lot of premature heartby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sometimes repeat ablations are necessary. It may be that all the "spots" causing the erratic electrical impulses were not found and ablated on the first try...or it may be that new pathways have been created through which the impulses travel. Chances are that you will need to continue your medications until your EP determines if a repeat ablation may be necessary in your particular caby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take Eliquis and have been taking it for several years....no regular testing ever needed and no dietary restrictions. Neither have I experienced any side effects or unusual bleeding. It is more expensive than coumadin...but worth the difference in convenience and perhaps effectiveness. There are other newer anticoagulants that you might take depending on what your EP recommends....Pradaxa, Xaby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, CPaulAK....the initial diagnosis of A-fib causes anxiety in almost everyone. Often it is unexpected as in your case. The positive thing is that there are medicines and procedures that help to control it. Sometimes there can be a process of "trial and error" to find out what works best for you. A-fib can affect each individual in a different way and stress is a common trigger foby JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I hope some folks will read this post and decide to attend the conference. They can register for it now. There will be some outstanding experts speaking about the many aspects of living with a-fib....medicines and procedures. It is well worth traveling to attend.by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM
I think the patches are eczema or hives...not edema. This is probably an allergic reaction to some medicine you are taking...although it could also be caused by being allergic to something else...even a "contact allergy".by JustMeToo - AFIBBERS FORUM