Quotetobherd So if you've had a successful ablation with Dr. Natale, haven't had Afib in over 7 years, no evidence of any Afib or need to do a "touch up" when doing a TEE for the Watchman....are you still considered to be an "Afibber" or a FORMER "Afibber"?? I guess my question is also...if you've had a successful LAA isolation, now have the Watchmby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I took it for about 4 months a couple of years ago but an ablation ended my need for it. Without the ablation, yes, I would have needed it forever. There's no reason to think that if you need an antiarrhythmic drug to control your afib that you will ever be able to discontinue it (unless you switch to some other drug). Drugs do not cure afib, they only suppress it. So once you start any sby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, I do. I found it effective and relatively free of side effects. I was told in advance that it becomes more effective the longer you take it and I found that to be true. Its biggest downside is you have to be hospitalized for 3 days in order to start it. That's because it can widen the QT interval in some people, which is the distance between the Q and T waves in your heart rhythm, wby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Flecainide isn't available in an inhalable form, so I don't think we need to worry about people doing that. It's an interesting idea and I could see why it would work better than a pill. The whole idea of a PIP is to get the full therapeutic dose into your system all at once and ASAP. A pill takes at least 20 minutes to begin entering your system and then it enters in a slow ramp uby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Drug companies include people of all sizes in clinical studies. The dosages chosen come from early studies designed specifically to find the best dosages, which means if they find there's a significant difference in safety or efficacy for a very large vs. a very small person, they'll have to choose multiple dosages for weight ranges. But most drugs do have a dosage that works equally weby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm skeptical that the clot protection provided by DOACs like Eliquis need to be enhanced, or that it's even helpful. Could be harmful. Remember that anticoagulation is always a balance between clot risk and bleed risk. And I wouldn't be so sure that a daily glug of olive oil provides a net positive benefit given the increased calorie intake. How about just replacing all the coby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJayBros For example, how do your carotid arteries look plaque-wise? My carotids are free of plaque but my last TEE did detect mild aortic plaque. And that's why Natale recommended remaining on half-dose Eliquis and why my PCP and local EP agreed with him. You'll find some aortic plaque in most people over 60, so just because you haven't been told it's there doesnby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Go right ahead. Your afib has been locked up in a cage that it can't escape. Drinking alcohol in moderation won't change that.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I drink a similar amount as you and I never changed that during any of my (multiple) blanking periods. I don't think alcohol in moderation has much effect on the healing process, and it's never been a trigger for me.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you! We're definitely okay with Aussie dollars!by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it's extremely common and should be expected. It's perfectly normal, and completely harmless, but it can last a surprisingly long time, sometimes upwards of a year. So don't be alarmed if your HR is still elevated months from now. After the week of lifting restrictions, you can resume all your normal exercise activities unless you have something else going on that limits yoby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm not familiar with the institution. Looking through their staff list, I don't see any names among the electrophysiologists that I recognize. That's not a criticism, just an observation. I'm sure it's a fine institution and they're all fine doctors, but when the distance between choosing "good" vs "the best" is a few hundred miles, I think the cby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There are no contraindications to taking it with afib. I know several people with afib who take it, and I've never heard anyone here or elsewhere voice complaints.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I made that decision 3 years ago and remained on 1/2 dose Eliquis by carefully considered choice. I could have stopped everything but I didn't. I've explained my reasoning before but if you've never seen it let me know and I'll track down one of my posts and link to it or summarize it here. No matter what you decide, I completely agree with your decision to favor Eliquis oby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I think you got a hasty answer from someone who didn't really answer your first question very well. They probably use intracardiac echo (ICE), which is a small ultrasound transducer on the end of a catheter. That does give them 3D imaging from inside the heart, which is the latest imaging technology. It's hard to get a better view. Plus the CT gives them a precise anatomical view of youby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't know of any concerns with that (except maybe the reason Anti-Fib mentioned, but that doesn't apply to you). There actually have been studies of antidepressant use with afib. An example is here. Although the abstract starts off sounding kind of alarming, you need to read the whole thing. Down near the end of the abstract they conclude this: QuoteThis again indicates that anby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d Liz- how much is too much? There's no simple answer to that question. It depends a lot on whether you have impaired kidney function, and whether you're taking potassium-sparing drugs like ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or potassium-sparing diuretics (all very common hypertension/cardiac meds). It also depends on your diet. If you eat a healthy diet you're eating a lot more poby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
In addition to Jackie's comments, I would add that I hope you don't pay much for that stuff. You can get about the same salt and potassium from a small bag of potato chips or a dozen other foods. Some salted nuts and a glass of orange juice would exceed what Liquid IV provides.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many people here and elsewhere have tried all sorts of combinations of supplements to cure their afib, but none have succeeded. I myself obtained partial relief for 2 years using electrolyte supplements (at rather dangerous levels), but I don't know of a single person who has been successful in obtaining what could be called a "cure." I think JayBros' first answer of simply &qby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dizziness is a side effect of verapamil too. Both drugs lower blood pressure, and any drug that lowers BP can cause dizziness in some people, so that's why it's a known side effect for both drugs. But one thing to know about flutter is it's often resistant to rate-limiting drugs. I dealt with it for over two years and there was no drug that could lower my heart rate, which wasby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tikosyn and sotalol are in the same class of antiarrhythmics, and both can cause QT prolongation, but that's less likely to happen with sotalol. Since you were told about the QT rather casually, I don't think it's a big issue and I wouldn't worry about it. Notice that they ordered an ECG a few days later. I'm sure that's to check to make sure it's not an issue.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN "Prescription Use Only." I didn't notice that in my quick reading but I'm curious how they would enforce it. Oh, and I've owned a couple of bioimpedance body fat % gizmos and I think they're pretty much random number generators. I don't think their data even qualifies as "ish."by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for posting this. This is the first I've heard of it (or the company), and I must say it's also the first smart watch I've seen I would actually wear. It looks like a nice watch, not a little computer strapped to your wrist. And it got FDA approval last year on ECG and SpO2 recordings, which is a big plus.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it has happened in the past, and more than twice, but that had nothing to do with the patient's physical activity. It was due to improper placement in the early days of EPs learning how to use the device. When Natale placed your Watchman, and Tom's, he would have tugged on it firmly several times to make sure it couldn't be dislodged before releasing it from the catheter.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d I’m told the watchman can shift with lifting until the scar tissue forms. Was the discharge nurse incorrect? I think one or both of you misunderstood the other. There is no scar tissue involved with the Watchman itself. The only scar tissue would be a small hole at the insertion site in your groin and the puncture in your atrial septum. The insertion site is the only reason you neeby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sure, there are no limits on what you can do once the insertion sites are fully healed. They use large catheters for the Watchman, so if I were you I think I'd give it 10 days before lifting, especially if you lift heavy.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Identifying flutter on a Kardia is difficult and sometimes just impossible, but if the rate is fast and the rhythm is regular it's probably flutter. On the other hand, if Kardia is identifying it as afib then Kardia is usually right. If it's still going tomorrow, go to a local walk-in clinic and see if they can do an ECG for you. Your EP will be able to identify it from that, and thby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yeah, the propranolol should bring the rate down. As long as you can keep it under 100 there's no need to go to a hospital. But if I understood you correctly that you hit rates of 260, you need to go if you get that high again. Anything over 200, actually. I don't think you can pass these episodes off as a passing annoyance. They're going to continue. Like George said, have a chby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
And by the way, great timing on your part! QuoteLast Activity: 02/22/2022 02:22PMby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM