Quotemwcf Apols Steve. Re your Q, my guess is you’re going to be looking at another ablation in the not too distant future. 7.5 years isn’t a bad run but a reoccurrence on that scale is what it is and IMO is hard to ignore/disregard. But at the end of the day it’s obviously your call as to what feels right to/for you. BTW, why did you wait so long before taking the PiP? Good question!by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
All this is very interesting, but...it’s a real thread drift. Anyone interested in weighing in on my original posting? Thank you!!!by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all, Ablation about 7.5 years ago. Lovin’ life til about 4 months ago. PAC-PVC’s, little bits of afib, then one biggie episode lasting on and off about 3 and a half days. Did the pill in the pocket method of Flec and metropolol. Worked after about 2 hours. This was 6 weeks ago. NSR, not even a blip this whole time. Completely off drugs. Back to riding my bike hard daily, taking the protocolby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotedocboss Thanks. My EP is an avid cyclist. I have not ridden in three months. My last ride was before the Tikosyn (a really bad ride), so I have no experience on the bike with the drug. Depending on the information I get at my upcoming appointment, I may try to do a few miles and see how I feel. It should be funny getting on my loaded Propel and puttering along with the folks on their vintagby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotedocboss Thanks for the input. I'm drinking two Virgin Mary cocktails with low sodium V8 every morning. Taking Potassium and Magnesium supplements daily, plus my new meds. Strange for someone who only took the occasional Motrin for low back pain. My appointment with my EP's nurse practitioner is next week. Probably to check vitals, EKG and some blood work to see how I'm doing wby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKen When I had un treated afib, my pulse went form 55 to 180. No watch needed to detect afib. Kind of the way I feel about any device that can detect afib. I know when I’m in it!by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
As an endurance cyclist myself ( who has done his fair share of century rides ) I totally feel for what you are going through. I just went through this myself. My suggestion to you is if you want your old lifestyle back, find out if you are a candidate for an ablation and if you are, have it done. If successful, and most are, you will be back on the bike, drug free in no time. I had an ablaby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all, I can only think of a couple right now, but when it comes to having an ablation I’ve seen people use the abbreviations LAA and PVI ( I am sure there are many more ). Is it possible to get an explanation of some/all the abbreviations in relationship to having an ablation. Thank you so much in advance! Steveby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSam This website has a video of Dr Sabine Ernst of London doing a Magnetic Catheter Ablation. https:/www.aljazeera.com/programmes/thecure/2013/06/201362729546496.html Thank you for the great link! This helps tremendously to show what my ep was talking about. Also gives me great comfort as it says in the video how much more accurate it is and much quicker. Happy my ep doc has these toolsby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa So I read that anxiety can trigger afib... but how much does afib physically trigger anxiety? I've been feeling super moody but it has been in real see-saw sort of way. Like I will feel super anxious one minute then oddly calm in another. I noticed last week, when I had a lot of those 'oddly calm' moments, that when I felt oddly calm I was in NSR. This week I'by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotejpeters that he uses a joystick and something about magnetics rotating around me...I think??? I was so overjoyed that they agreed to do another ablation, I really didn’t care so much to have him explain. Pure curiosity, what is this method - equipment that he mentioned. He may be doing an exorcism. He can do whatever is necessary as long as I stay in nsr without the use ofby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf Never had any side effects - incl. 'hang-overs' - with Flecainide 100mg BID in the 10.5 years I've been taking it. Maybe some tinnitus coming and going but I might have had/have that anyway. I’m just the opposite, makes me tired and it’s hard to focus on anything. It effects my memory too. Oh, and aerobic exercise is super hard. I’m down to 50mg a day now and stillby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your well wishes! Turns out it’s 9 weeks out if I want the same ep doc who did my last one. I certainly do as I was nsr for 7.5 years after his ablation. Think about this...he has had 7.5 years more experience and I am sure the equipment is better now as well. It was explained to me ( not that I really understood it ) that he uses a joystick and something about magnetics rotby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMikeShue Doing both at once seems most sensible. I think she was being thorough in laying out the options and perhaps reacting to my less than enthusiastic response to ablation in general. For whatever reason, it's taking me awhile to get comfortable with the idea although all signs are pointing in the direction of an ablation and, if all goes well, that does give me the best chance fby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Responded, thank you!!!by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
PM sent, thanks!!!by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
I just got back from my ep doc at my hmo. He says I’m a great candidate for a touch up ablation to the one I had 7.5 years ago. Also, can have the same ep doc who did the last one ( very successfully). Scheduling 4-6 weeks out. I can go that long on the Flecanide until then. Piece of cake! I’m a happy guy!!! Thanks all, Steveby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa I can't say I really notice my afib much. Obviously, I did during the episode that landed me in ER, and there are certainly other times my heart feels rumbly bad. But for the most part I don't really notice it much. As I've mentioned here before, I think I may have many more PACs than Afib... my 30 day event monitor put me at 5 % afib, but when I check my monitorby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSueChef I learned a lot about digoxin when I started a thread. I had heard of this med before as being contraindicated for older patients. Here's the link in case you want to do more reading! Edited to add: Dr. Natale also works out of Scripps, La Jolla (San Diego county)...depending on where you live in SoCal, it might be a better option than Thousand Oaks. I’m off the digoxin,by Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf As a follow up: Just got back from my cardiologist who put me on 100mg of Flecainide twice daily, plus a low dose of metropolol if my heart rate gets too high to be comfortable. He put me on blood thinners ( just in case they want to cardiovert me in the future and also to prepare for another ablation ), set up a zio patch monitor ( so the EP department knows what they are dealing witby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
As a follow up: Just got back from my cardiologist who put me on 100mg of Flecainide twice daily, plus a low dose of metropolol if my heart rate gets too high to be comfortable. He put me on blood thinners ( just in case they want to cardiovert me in the future and also to prepare for another ablation ), set up a zio patch monitor ( so the EP department knows what they are dealing with) and setby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch Bottom line is that I am a cyclist. It’s my passion in every sense of the word and while on metropolol, I cannot enjoy cycling. There has to be other choices. I do think I will need a touch up ablation, but my hmo is making me go the meds route first. They did my ablation 7.5 years ago and I was afib free for the entire time. Same doctor is still there. I will make sure he dby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch Just got off the phone with my regular cardiologist. He told me to stop taking the metropolol and digoxin and he prescribed flecanide 50mg x 2 daily as a start. Also said to take more if I feel an episode. He also ordered a Zio patch and a referral to the EP department of my HMO. I think I’m headed for another ablation. I have no problem with this at all. I actually welcome iby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib Steve: How does the the ER Cardiologist know that the Cardioversion would not last? Do you have a history of ECV's not lasting? No, I’ve never been cardioverted. Not sure. Felt, in many ways, that it was a waste of everyone’s time by me going to the ER. I still cannot believe they sent me home before I converted. Maybe things have changed since the last time I endedby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN Steve, Here is a search on the site for digoxin: < You can start here < 14 years ago, I ended up here about a month or so after I had my first episode, I bought the founder of this stie's book < (it is dated, but still worth a read). Learned digoxin was not indicated for a vagal afibber (which most athletes are & your bending over sounds like a vagalby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Wow! Thanks! I do believe the digoxin was more recommended while I’m having a long term afib episode as opposed to daily usage. The way it was explained was that the metropolol would lower rate and the digoxin will keep me from the rate jumping all over the place and making me more comfortable . I was going from the 70’s to the 130’s during my episode. That's what antiarrhythby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey t strengthens the force of the heart muscle's contractions, helps restore a normal, steady heart rhythm, and improves blood circulation. Digoxin is one of several medications used to treat the symptoms of heart failure. It may also be prescribed if you have atrial fibrillation (a common irregular heart rhythm)." You're quoting old information. None of those effectsby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch Will someone please point me to the area that talks about quantities of Magnesium, Potassiumand Taurine needed. Thank you so much! Steve Everyone’s needs are different. Be sure to get high quality supliments. I uses chelated magnesium and high quality potassium. Not sure about the taurine as I have never used it. For the magnesium I continue to raise the amount I takby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM
Will someone please point me to the area that talks about quantities of Magnesium, Potassiumand Taurine needed. Thank you so much! Steveby Socalsteve - AFIBBERS FORUM