Hi all - thanks so much for your input - I'm reading it all with great interest. I did actually taper down the Flec, even though Dr. Barrett said that I could just stop it cold turkey. That just didn't sound OK to me. I am now 2 full days without Flecainide and doing alright. Feeling a bit like the "old days" when I used to wait for the next Afib attack, knowing it was comiby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi everyone - so I had my ablation 4.5 months ago with Dr. Natale, and have been on Flecainide ever since. Dr. Barrett in NYC told me I could stop taking the Flec in mid-December, when I saw him, but I didn't want to then as I was concerned if there were a problem that it was in the middle of the holidays and it would be too much of a hassle then. I waited until after my birthday (Jan 11)by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the reassuring words and information to clear up what has likely been going on. I haven't really found the higher pulse rate to be disturbing, other than when I lie down on my left side..and ocassionally on my back. Currently I've been taking about 12.5 mg. of Atenolol, and will jump it up to 25 or a little more mg. if it feels too fast or a bit uncomfortable. I'm notby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Also..forgot to mention that I have been cutting down my Flecainide recently too...to get myself completely off of it (as OK'd by Dr. Barrett), and I've had an upset stomach on and off for at least 4-5 days... Just thought I'd put it all out there as any one of these could have something to do with the higher pulse rate. I did just sent in another recording from last night whilby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
That would be great, Shannon - thank you. Enjoy! Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I did think the labs looked very high tech and impressive, but I was not impressed with the hospital itself. The after care wasn't the greatest...not sure if that was your experience too. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
thanks Dennis and Rob - I would think the LifeWatch people would have told me if they saw flutter, so I have to assume it wasn't..but will try Dr. Barrett tomorrow just to be sure. It doesn't feel like anything real noticeable...more like a faster, yet not strong, pulse rate...Just praying it IS just part of the healing process...not sure I could deal with much more in the medical areaby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my ablation on Sept. 5, 2013 with Dr. Natale, and it seemed that it went very well. I have since been using the heart monitor that they send out to you afterwards, to send in recordings at least twice/week - more if there are symptoms. I've been feeling like my heart is a little "off" a number of times (especially in bed) - but the people in the monitoring session always tby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
No - is this something new, McHale? I'm assuming you mean that it's on the main channels, yes? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - I share in the sentiments of what has already been said here. I too stumbled upon this board almost 10 years ago, and soon found it to be a place I could go where others really understood what I was going through. (How many times have we heard someone ask, "Well what does it FEEL like? It is like some palpitations? Because I get those sometimes too.." ARGH!) On this board, wby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just chiming in here to answer your question, McHale. My ablation report was also much shorter than this as well. Maybe half as long, if that. My abalation was in early September at St. Luke's - and I have a feeling it has more to do wiht the hospital than it does with Dr. Natale. I do agree with Shannon that the main thing is that we had the best doctor and we are doing well now, butby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and now, best wishes for a great New Year. I feel like you all are my friends - and ones who really "get it", because we have struggled this same beast together. I am so very grateful for all of the help and support that I have found here on this website. This site is a great gift to all of us, Hans - THANK YOU. And many thanks also to Shanby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hope you get your full report soon, McHale. Would be nice to have that for your records. But at least you have gotten great feedback that things are going well! I'm hoping Dr. Natale comes back to NY in time for my 6 month follow up in March....would prefer he be the one to handle me on all of this. Feeling some more kick ups since starting to taper down the Flec...so I went back to 10by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey McHale - that's great news! You must be very relieved to know things are where they should be...finally - yay! Just curious...why are you talking with Dina versus seeing Dr. Barrett in NYC? I know we both had our ablations in New York, but I was under the impression we needed to continue follow ups with Dr. Barrett since Dr. Natale was now back in Texas.... And did you ask for a 24by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy - I had Afib twice day, every day, for about the last year of so before starting Flec, and was on 150 mg. of Flec twice/day up until my ablation. So I was a heavy duty Afibber, and a heavy duty Flec user, but was still OK getting off of it. Who's doing your ablation, and where"? ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy..I was worried about that too but I went "cold turkey" off of the Flecainide right before my ablation and I was fine...no Afib or blips of any kind. I was relieved I did well, but then Dr. Natale did tell me that I was in Afib when I was in the hospital, waiting to get things going for the procedure...Definitely stressed, at that point, so I wasn't surprised. You should beby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks all...I'm still on the 50 BID, but will stop it after Christmas (didn't want to risk any problem around this time...too much else going on..). i feel like I had a few more skipped beats today, but it could be me being anxious...time will tell. ~ Barb P.S. Shannon - it's been a little over 3 months so far....but that's good tooby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's a little more than 3 months since my ablation with Dr. Natale in NYC..Sept. 5th, to be exact. As he is now back in Texas, I had my follow up with Dr. Barrett. He looked at my recording sent in to LifeWatch, and found no AFib or concerns, other than the ocassional skipped beat kind of thing..so he told me to get off of Flecainide. As I had been taking a high dose of Flecainide (150mg/by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
And I would assume that I am one of the people that needs to stay on Xarelto for now....having had a LAA isolation in September. Kind of scary to hear you say that people like me have a 'serious risk of an embolic stroke",,,,ahhh! According to Dr. Barrett, there are some things they can do if you require an antidote, just not sure how effective that is..? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all again - your support and kind words mean a lot to me. Murray..I'm sorry to hear about your dad's difficulties right now. You are right - it IS hard seeing our loved ones suffer in any way, but I know you are doing all that you can, and he surely feels your love through all of this. Best to you all ~ barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear all went well, Dennis Sounds like all the right things were done and you will be in fine working order in no time! Take it easy and know that you have many friends here who are rooting for you and praying for your quick recovery. Be well ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks so much everyone for your kind words and support. This has indeed been a pretty horrible year...lost our sweet old dog, my much loved Aunt died in the Spring, and then my uncle soon after that, and now Doug. Feeling a bit numb right now...knowing the worst is still to come - but also knowing that there is an end to that too... (I've been a widow once before) I am thankful that Dougby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello my Afib friends ~ I wanted to let you know that my husband, Doug, passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning, after a 5 month struggle with lung cancer. I am glad that I was with him when he took his last breath, and thankful that he could be home with us. We had 25 great years together, and 2 terrific children...now ages 22 and 24. While I knew this didn't have a good prognosiby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, I am very glad I had my ablation with Dr. Natale during his brief stint at St. Luke's. As it turned out, I needed a lot of work in my LAA and he was the best guy to do it. I am very fortunate to have found this Board, as I never would have known the difference and may have gone to the local EP....probably fine if you are a simple, infrequent, afibber that just needs a PVI, but having hby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks again for alerting us to these changes, Shannon. I know you had mentioned that a phone call appt. might be possible with Dr. Natale for those of us already on his calendar for follow ups...OR to go in and talk with Dr. Barrett at St. Lukes. My questions are: What typically takes place in the 2-3 month post ablation follow up, and would it be wiser for me (or any of us) to go in and getby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Hans. Will be eager to hear the reports of what was discussed and what is being considered, etc. ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Hans! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - I think that's the first time I've heard any mention of needing to add Vit. C and E when taking fish oil/Omega-3's. Where can I read more about that? thanks for the explanation of the phytosterols...I actually am already taking some of those, so that's a good thing. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - I can identify with a number of stresses that you've had.... My much loved Aunt died this Spring, and soon afterwards, my Uncle. We had our dog of 13 years put down this summer, and 2 of our cats died too (we had 4). My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, and we have been spending a great deal of time at doctors, and then getting radiation. He will get a CAT or PET scan again inby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for this reminder, Hans. I have to ask what beta-sitersterol is...? Not familiar with that one. And now to go into the kitchen and get my Omega 3's - keep forgetting to take that. I appreciate your guidance ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM