Quotesusan.d I would fly to France and get an ablation there since it’s not many hours of flying. EasyJet has fares for 20.99 pounds each way. Thanks Susan, i shall look further into the cost of an ablation in Bordeauxby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Carey, i appreciate your response I don't have private health insurance or funds to cover the costs, also travel would be a problem. I saw an EP down in Dublin who does the ablations, he trained in MCH and is the head man here, but not easy to get his outcomes. I met a nurse who had worked in the ep lab with him, but she wasn't too keen to recommend. Guess I'll keep on aby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Living in Ireland with no private health insurance and limited options to travel. Apologies for mistakenly posting in George's thread, i have opened a new oneby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all, I've noticed that my afib episodes begin after a time of hr repetitively speeding up and slowing down before going irregular. Could this point to sick sinus? Also, as i have no way of getting a top level ablation, after reading Carey's post it sounds as though i would be foolish to go down the local ablation route. I can't tolerate sotolol or flec, so just use metoprololby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all, I've noticed that my afib episodes begin after a time of hr repetitively speeding up and slowing down before going irregular. Could this point to sick sinus? Also, as i have no way of getting a top level ablation, after reading Carey's post it sounds as though i would be foolish to go down the local ablation route. I can't tolerate sotolol or flec, so just use metoprololby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Pompon, sounds like you have similar reaction to my own. Do you have any problems taking flec as pip? What is your regime? Betablocker first then flec at what dosage? P.s. is your shorthand BB meaning betablocker?by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes Carey CHA2DS2-VASc score is 1. Like others in the forum i can feel every heartbeat so am aware of jumps and bumps, and especially afib. I have always been concerned about taking flec as i live at least an hour and a half from hospital, and seem to be very sensitive to medication, hence the trouble with sotalol. Cardio says that if the flec doesn't prevent more episodes he will send meby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Carey No the metoprolol is from previous script. I wouldn't take the two. I did tell the cardio that i respond well to it, but he wrote bisoprolol anyway. I read a few papers on the intermittent use of noacs, and discussed with him about it. After some thought he said he would read one, which i sent him. He doesn't have a protocol to recommend such use, which i accept. My understby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George, those options sound sensible. I think the dose is bidaily, but cant decypher his prescription. I shall get it filled at the chemist tomorrow. I thought i might start with half dose of the betablocker to see how i react, and then add the flec similarly. If one takes flec daily, what happens if you get an afib episode?by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Folks, I was put on sotalol when I had an afib episode after a stress test. I converted after 12 hours. I was prescribed 40mg of sotalol twice daily. The first couple of weeks were okay but then hr went down to low 50s, and sometimes 40s, and I felt unable to function. I tapered off while waiting to see the cardio again. He has stopped the Sotalol, and now wants me to take Flecainide 50 daby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
With a CHADS score of zero, the following is stated: Low risk of thromboembolic event. 1.9% risk of event per year if no coumadin. The adjusted stroke rate was the expected stroke rate per 100 person-years derived from the multivariable model assuming that aspirin was not taken. Does this mean that 19 people out of 1000 afib patients might have a stroke? What is the multivariable model thaby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Folks, I shall do some reading from your links. Point taken Carey, so where could I find those relevent outcomes? I have read in JAMA Cardiology a multi centre study suggesting stroke is most likely to occur within 5 days of an episode. I have also read of the intermittent use of NOAC's for only a period after an episode (2 weeks) and then ceasing same. Does anyone have experienceby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi. Can anyone point me to real number statistics as to how many non afib patients per thousand die of stroke, and how many afib patients per thousand die of the same? Then how many of the afib stroke deaths are in those not taking anticoagulants? I am trying to assess risk, but can't find any statistics to help. Best Johnby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, i have no chance of getting to a top EP, having neither private health insurance nor that amount of savings, so am attempting to make smart choices for my circumstances, hence all the questions. A rock and a hard place are the answers! Start taking the flec too soon and shorten the time until ablation by people with little experience. Take too much and maybe blow a fuse. I asked the localby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well Anti-fib that was a nasty experience, to say the least! I live at least an hour from a hospital, which is why i have always been wary of taking the flec. The medical profession can be quite blasé. I think i might start with 50 of flec, after a metoprolol, as i am quite sensitive to medication. @fibrillator it seems flec has become less efficacious for you over time. Is this common experiencby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Okay thanks for all your support. I shall start enzymes and HCl for the stomach, and next afib episode take a metoprolol, wait 30 mins then take 50 mg of flec. Any final comments? Best Wishes and long NSR to ye all.:by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi George, and good to hear your advice. You are an example to us all! Converting in a snow cave has got to be a record, and moreover personal bravery to not let the afib change your lifestyle! I might try enzymes and HCl. The final piece of the puzzle might be dosage: you take 300 without trouble. Some guidelines say 150 for my weight, my prescription says 50! Whats a poor Chicken to do? Regaby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Anti-fib dosage is 50 mg "as required". I took half that in hospital last time i was in ER, under doctors orders with no ill effect, although i was back in sinus by thenby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Carey, i really dont want to go back on the omeprozol However the gerd rebound has been fierce, although some days are fine. I havent yet isolated the triggers. The Afib trigger seems certainly connected to the stomach. I" not sure why it presents at 3 to 4 am!by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Folks, Well i got away without any episodes for over 2 years, but have had 3 in the last 2 months. All started with a fierce full feeling in the stomach, gerd, and much bubbling, at 3 to 4 AM, waking me up. Luckily the heart rate has not been too high or too uncomfortable, so i stayed in bed and got back to sinus after about 9 hours. I have taken Mag for a number of years, and am generally fby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Moral of the story: switch to OpenSource software and get rid of those monopolistic proprietry code operating systems that give rise to such time consuming problems! I feel for you Shannon, as I see it all the time. Apple wont speak to Microsoft and vice versa, they are like two naughty children. Unfortunately such behaviour is reinforced with massive rewards, as guess who is top of the Oxfam reby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Has anyone else read this?by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks John21, interesting article and worth persuing. I tried using a strong magnet (from broken hard-drive) over the heart during my last episode, but can't say it helped or hindered. The latest EP book i am reading shows that af is triggered by a burst of activity simultaneously occuring in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The same way that electrical activity canby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
By the way, what is the antidote for flec if it produces proarrythmia?by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks again for the advice. Written instructions sound like a good idea. I should mention that the latest episode occurred after ectopics reared their ugly heads again. From excellent advice gotten from here I started the magnesium supplementation (Doctors Best) which totally knocked them out. Recently i decided to try good state ionic magnesium liquid (sounds like it should be more easily avaiby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Guys, I will stick to my original plan and go the ambulance route, and add 25mg metoprolol to the mix before the PIP. I tolerated that well one time before. Regards, Johnby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Folks, Last time in A&E i was given Flec 50mg to take to see if i had any adverse reaction to it. At that time the Afib episode had converted back to nsr, and i noticed no effects from the flec. I live an hour and a half away from A&E and am still concerned about taking the Flec when i have another episode. Does it have a different effect on a heart in Afib to when in nsr? I decidby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Shannon, Could you provide a link to the latest Natale stats? I can't seem to track them down. Thanksby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
I use an oximeter which can record heartrate and O2 saturation and then transfer it to computer for display the next day. That way you can easily record numerous sessions instead of relying on just one night out of your life. Pulse Chart The newer version has a wristwatch type readout with a hospital type finger probe - no more taping a bulky unit to the finger! Bluetooth Oximeter I have haby JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George i might follow your lead on that. I just bought this mag 400 to replace DoctorsBest. Hope i did the right thing, as the label states that 2 caps provide 400mg, so its the same as the 200 variety! Ah the power of advertising.by JohnBM - AFIBBERS FORUM