A forum for sharing experiences and treatment options regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/index.php Sun, 24 May 2026 20:35:57 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201452,201452#msg-201452 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201452,201452#msg-201452
I tell you all that to say that probably was what triggered it.

But I am researching HF and HFpEF (heart failure preserved ejection fraction), along with Afib and I see a lot of stuff.

I take a calcium channel blocker (cardizem). I am reading that isn't optimal.

I am reading a LOT about GLP1s. I think Carey posted here an article I just read.

6 months ago my HF doc said he only did that for overweight people but it looks like it could be very heart protective for both HF and Afib. I see him again this next week.

So does anyone who is NOT overweight take them- or have info on that- wrt afib or HF if you deal with that?

I should add- I go to the UofMich. they are having a war with BCBS and I may not be able to see them in a few months unless they iron things out. I have made an HFpEF appointment at Cleveland in August. You can't seen an EP there unless referred by another cardiologist. So the HF is first. (Also made appointment with adult congenital folks but not sure how good they are). Any suggestions on an EP there? I am loosely scheduled for an ablation in the fall / early winter at UM- but won't be able to do that if the insurance stuff isn't figured out.

I also see my adult congenial doc next week. I am just trying to figure out what questions to ask and specifically the GLP-1 thing.]]> bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 24 May 2026 14:53:16 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201448,201448#msg-201448 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201448,201448#msg-201448
Any comments on what this may mean would be appreciated. To me, it seems that there is little to worry about, but???

Many of you may recall my story. Two successful afib ablations, excellent physical condition, 81 years old,1968 Olympic swimmer. Play golf, windsurf, scuba dive, snow ski and regular workouts.]]> Ken AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 24 May 2026 15:40:07 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201444,201444#msg-201444 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201444,201444#msg-201444 hwkmn05 AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 23 May 2026 00:17:53 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201424,201424#msg-201424 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201424,201424#msg-201424
Anyhow, no more Afib episodes, however I started developing 24/7 PACs (at a normal HR). Did Met+Flec for a while then decided to go to Dr. Natale in 2023. All good for 7 months, then bam!, PACs came back. Back on Met+Flec for 2 yrs.

Decided to go back last August. Again, amazing for 7 months...then bam!...but not PACs this time ...oh no, no no...this time a sudden increase to 110 BPM while I was sleeping (I have a sleep monitor so I saw exactly when it happened at 4am)....was at 110bpm all day til a walk with the doggie pushed me to a very scary 215bpm Atrial Flutter episode. Called 911, they injected me twice with Adenosine, did not work, finally Diltiazem did the trick (the 3 injections were not fun at all, literally feels like someone is squeezing your heart and trying to stop it for good). Finally at the hospital they gave me Met+Flec and things calmed down for good and was dismissed next day.

I informed Natale's team, they said he wants me back in Austin (I am in FL).

Now here's the scary part....the other morning I forgot my AM dosage of Met+Flec.....all it took was 6hrs (around 3pm) while I was driving for my heart to start acting up again, and once again I had an Atrial Flutter attack (around 150bpm). Scary as hell, this time I did the pill in the pocket thing, took 150 of flec and 50 of Met (the fast acting one), then sat down at home trying to not freak out and breathe slowly. Anyhow, finally after an hr the meds kicked in, but it felt like 10 hrs.

So now I am freaking out cause I know they will ask me to stop meds a few days before, but clearly my heart is not messing around, all it took was 6hr for it to come back with a vengence. I have my call with them on the 26th and will discuss of course.

Anyhow, that's my story...from AFIB, to PACS, and now to FLUTTER. Anything else left on the menu I haven't tried yet? All I can do is laugh cause the alternative is, literally, crying.

End of my rant...thanks for listening lol.

PS: ChatGPT says that most likely my mitral valve prolapse caused my atria to stretch through the yrs (prior to the repair), which messes up with the electrical system, making my situation tricky. Also apparantly the heart is pretty sneaky at finding new pathways after each ablation, kind of like dog biting its tail. Dr Natale did mention last time that due to my vavle repair, the area where he can intervene is somewhat smaller vs other ppl. Fun!]]> WhyMe AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 22 May 2026 01:28:50 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201417,201417#msg-201417 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201417,201417#msg-201417 PamelaJean AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 21 May 2026 02:54:18 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201411,201411#msg-201411 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201411,201411#msg-201411
What does work for me is when I am in bed, on my side, and have one ear pressed down on my arm. I don't think I am hearing my pulse in my arm, but I think I am hearing something internal in my head.

Years before I had afib, I had an irregular heart beat. And it was a bit alarming to hear how often my heart was skipping beats. At that time, my cardiologist said my heart was actually beating twice in rapid succession, then taking an extra rest to even itself out.

Now that I have had an ablation, the beats are much more regular. I am curious to see if it gets even better after my 3 month follow up.

I really liked that cardiologist, though. He not only was just fascinated by heart function, but he truly had empathy for his patients. He always had a smile on his face when hearing about my life. And none of that contempt that many doctors get when they want to blame all your troubles on your life choices. He understood we are human, and therefore imperfect. He is still practicing, but has moved away.]]> nonthumper AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 17 May 2026 20:38:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201403,201403#msg-201403 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201403,201403#msg-201403
[medicalxpress.com]]]> Dean AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 17 May 2026 12:47:16 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201364,201364#msg-201364 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201364,201364#msg-201364 This week I did an annual physical with my regular doctor and he also did an EKG and my BPM was 105 and he said I have Afib. He put me on Eliquis 2 5mg tabs daily and Metoprolol Succinate 25mg daily. Also, 3 days later I did a follow up with my heart doctor and he also performed an EKG but said it was fine and no issues. However, he said I need to stay on the meds. I found than strange since I've been going to him for 8 years and no problems detected after multi-test.
Here's my issue, I have never had any symptoms and was surprised when he also said I have Afib based on the one EKG by my regular doctor. and need to stay on the meds. I don't have a good feeling about blood thinners after reading about it online. I know the potential for blood clots but still a little uneasy.
Is it possible that the one EKG might be a flute so to speak? I'm just not into taking additional meds.
Thanks]]> justjoe906 AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 18 May 2026 20:59:39 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201363,201363#msg-201363 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201363,201363#msg-201363
[www.medscape.com]]]> sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 16 May 2026 13:16:52 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201356,201356#msg-201356 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201356,201356#msg-201356
Thanks,

Eric]]> EricY AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 24 May 2026 19:52:58 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201352,201352#msg-201352 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201352,201352#msg-201352
[www.medscape.com]]]> sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 24 May 2026 12:40:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201348,201348#msg-201348 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201348,201348#msg-201348
The pacemaker I have came a cell phone transmitter, a “Latitude” from Boston Scientific, that sends the data every night.

It used to be they would call me when I went into afib. Now I’m told because of my pacemaker, and that it’s controlling my heart beat at 98% (I’m assuming they mean the ventricles), that persistent afib is okay.

Well, I’m not okay with that. I had a Pulse ablation about a year and a half ago that went well. It was only after I got tested for my ejection fraction that they discovered I needed a 3 lead pacemaker – the one that just got installed.

On the post-op of the pacemaker surgery, I was told I’d been in afib for 18 days a few months back, and then another time for a few days.

I asked why I wasn’t being told, the Dr. said the fibrillation didn’t reach a high enough threshold. Also, when I was there in the post op, I was told I was in afib. AND since it had only been less that 24 hours I was “eligible” for the cardio version- which they did. That was 3 months ago.

So I have NO idea if I’m in afib or not.

The EP who did the ablation and new pacemaker said there could be “gaps” between where between where it the ablation was done.. Said he could see them if he went in again.

I don’t want to be in persistent afib. But how am I to tell if I should get another ablation if I having frequent episodes and they will not tell me.

Any ideas on how deal with this would be appreciated.]]> acantha AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 14 May 2026 20:29:35 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201341,201341#msg-201341 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201341,201341#msg-201341 Since the ablation I have not gone into afib but I have had something new, when the things happen that used to trigger PAC's and then AFib(swallowing, leaning forward or bloating) I now get a short run of double speed heartbeats (6-7) then resets to NSR, at first i thought this might be the scare tissue healing from the ablation but it's still happening 6 months down the track.
Has anyone else experienced this and is it a sign of future problems.]]> SimonR AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 10 May 2026 20:17:45 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?10,201323,201323#msg-201323 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?10,201323,201323#msg-201323 www.youtube.com]
About the 12.00 min mark gets real interesting. Could it help AF ???
I just asked in the videos comments about helping AF.
Your biological age is not the same as your chronological age — and one specific breath pattern is the most researched tool we have for changing it.
Timestamps:
0:00 - The measurement that predicts biological age better than your blood test
4:23 - Telomeres, telomerase, and the Nobel Prize discovery
10:27 - Heart rate variability explained — the window into your cellular clock
13:26 - Polyvagal Theory: why vagal tone is a master aging regulator
19:28 - Baroreflex resonance: why six breaths per minute is not arbitrary
26:02 - Physiological sigh vs. coherence breathing — two completely different tools
33:13 - The glymphatic system and how breathing changes your nightly brain repair
37:22 - Evening session and the transition to deep restorative sleep
44:24 - What centenarians and Blue Zone populations share at the autonomic level
47:12 - What compounding looks like biologically over ten and twenty years]]> Todd GENERAL HEALTH FORUM Sat, 02 May 2026 23:30:08 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201320,201320#msg-201320 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201320,201320#msg-201320 anneh AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 14 May 2026 16:23:54 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201316,201316#msg-201316 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201316,201316#msg-201316 After reading the success stories about increasing potassium intake I thought I should give it a try. So for the last month I made sure to get about 3500-4000mg of potassium in food and if I don’t reach 4000 by the evening I am supplementing with 448 mg of potassium citrate (1/4 teaspoon powder from NOW). I am happy to say that I did not have any episodes since I started this regimen, but I went for several months without afib before so I can’t say for sure whether it is working yet.
But since I increased potassium intake considerably I thought it would be a good idea to have a blood test. And the result is a bit concerning. My BUN/Creatine ratio increased to 32.3 (reference range: 10.0-28.0). Everything else is normal: BUN 20, creatine 0.62, eGFR 95. The only other abnormality is a slightly elevated MPV of 12.2 (reference range: 9-12). I also want to mention that the increase in potassium did not affect the potassium level at all. It is constant at 4.2 mmol/L for the last five years. Doesn’t that mean that my kidneys are getting rid of excess potassium just fine? But why the high BUN/Creatine ratio?]]> Edda AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 14 May 2026 15:27:55 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201313,201313#msg-201313 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201313,201313#msg-201313 [www.livescience.com]]]> Joe AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 06 May 2026 19:25:57 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201303,201303#msg-201303 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201303,201303#msg-201303
I have a friend who had an ablation for afib a few years back, has since moved, has had some issues and just called me from his new EP appointment (different EP than the ablation). He is being told the original ablation didn’t hold, that he is now in complicated a-flutter, and is being recommended for a pulse field ablation (Affera) with Tikosyn afterwards, possibly long term. He has cardiomyopathy as well.

The Tikosyn caught my attention – why would this be part of the treatment plan right out of the chute and why possibly long term? Does this indicate that the EP is not banking on being able to get rid of the arrhythmia(s)?

Thanks for any thoughts -]]> ClayS AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 01 May 2026 19:29:00 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201301,201301#msg-201301 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201301,201301#msg-201301
My clinical notes show I was treated with 2 minutes of Radiofrequency energy lesions, and 199 pulse field ablation lesions.]]> nonthumper AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:24:58 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201289,201289#msg-201289 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201289,201289#msg-201289 Kselzer AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:03:53 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201287,201287#msg-201287 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201287,201287#msg-201287
As I began to consider an ablation, I found youtube videos by Dr. Kneller. In the end, I decided not to use him for my ablation, but his videos were informative for me, who knew nothing. One of his videos, which I did not watch prior to my procedure, cautioned about the radiation exposure of the fluoroscopy, and cautioned to find a doctor who kept the radiation time to a minimum.

I had Dr. Natale do mine. As I read his clinical notes, I saw he used fluoroscopy on me for 15.6 minutes.

Notes also said:

Radiation dose

Air Kerma(AK): 119mGy
Dose Area Product (DAP): 1421uGy*m^2

That didn't mean anything to me, so I asked my niece who was in nuclear medicine. She said that dose is equivalent to two Ct scans of the head back to back. Previously, when asking her opinions on letting oral surgeons do Ct scans on me, she said one per year of the head would be OK with her.

So in the case of a heart procedure, I can see why I would be expected to tolerate more time. The medical team certainly has incentive to keep the amount of time to a minimum for their own health risk, despite their protective clothing.

I will have to ask how much fluoroscopy time will be required for my ablation touch-up/watchman placement in two months. Just out of curiosity though. I don't know enough to negotiate on that.]]> nonthumper AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:07:10 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201279,201279#msg-201279 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201279,201279#msg-201279
EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY, APRIL 23 AT 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET

NEW STUDY LINKS GLP-1 MEDICATIONS TO LOWER RISK OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, INDEPENDENT OF WEIGHT LOSS
CHICAGO, IL, APRIL 23, 2026 – A new study analyzing data from more than 13,000 patients found that people using the increasingly popular weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), even after accounting for the medications’ effects on weight loss and overall survival. Researchers presented these findings today at Heart Rhythm 2026.

When AF occurs, the heart beats irregularly and the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications are all increased. More than 40 million people worldwide live with AF, and in the United States alone, approximately 454,000 hospitalizations each year are associated with the condition.i,ii As new uses and benefits of GLP-1-RAs continue to emerge, researchers increasingly wanted to understand whether these therapies could help prevent AF or treat it. GLP-1-RAs are widely prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and also are known to improve cardiovascular health, in part through weight loss. However, it is unclear whether their potential benefits for AF are primarily driven by weight reduction or whether the medications may have additional independent cardiovascular effects.

Researchers conducted a single-center retrospective study of 13,034 patients who initiated GLP-1-RA therapy between January 2020 and May 2024. Researchers identified patients through electronic medical records and used propensity score matching to compare them with similar patients from a cohort of more than 385,000 individuals who had never received GLP-1-RA therapy and had no prior diagnosis of AF.
The study found that patients who took GLP-1-RAs experienced significantly better survival than matched patients in the control group. Researchers also found a significantly lower risk of AF among patients taking GLP-1-RAs. Importantly, the reduction in AF risk remained consistent regardless of weight change. Patients who lost 10% or more of their body weight, those who lost less than 10%, and those who gained weight while taking GLP-1-RAs all experienced a reduced risk of AF compared with matched controls. Among the medications studied, semaglutide showed the strongest association with reduced AF risk compared with liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide.

“As atrial fibrillation continues to affect more patients worldwide, clinicians need new strategies to reduce risk and improve long-term outcomes,” said Kenneth Bilchick, MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia. “These findings suggest GLP-1-RAs may influence heart rhythm through mechanisms beyond weight loss. Understanding those effects could help guide how we approach prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation in the future.”

This study adds to a growing body of research examining the cardiovascular effects of GLP-1-RAs beyond diabetes and weight management. As researchers continue to explore these therapies, future studies will need to evaluate their potential role in AF prevention and management across larger and more diverse patient populations.

Session Details:

“Clinical Electrophysiology: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Reduce Atrial Fibrillation Independently of Effects on Weight Loss and Survival” [Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 2:30 pm CT]
i Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2019;139(10):e56–e528.
ii Calkins H, Reynolds MR, Spector P, Sondhi M, Xu Y, et al. (2009) Treatment of atrial fibrillation with antiarrhythmic drugs or radiofrequency ablation: two systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2 (4): 349-361]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:32:26 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201268,201268#msg-201268 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201268,201268#msg-201268
Liz]]> Elizabeth AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:48:38 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201257,201257#msg-201257 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201257,201257#msg-201257 www.heartrhythmjournal.com]]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:43:45 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201255,201255#msg-201255 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201255,201255#msg-201255 Link to the article]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:49:17 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201254,201254#msg-201254 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201254,201254#msg-201254
[www.medscape.com]]]> sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:40:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201243,201243#msg-201243 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201243,201243#msg-201243 I am 73 and otherwise in good health, I watch my diet , I weigh 140 lbs, I stopped drinking wine , and switched to decaf latte.
I tried questioning my cardiologist about stopping Flecanide and I didn't get an answer .
Has anyone in my situation been given all 3 of these meds? I live in Canada and it's too far to travel to get a second opinion from one of your top EPs, like Dr. Natale.
Thank you in advance.]]> Carlorea AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:51:33 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201239,201239#msg-201239 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201239,201239#msg-201239 www.heartrhythmjournal.com]

Written by Dr Natale

It’s only a summary but a full version is available.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:24:35 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201230,201230#msg-201230 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201230,201230#msg-201230 PamelaJean AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 10 May 2026 14:27:27 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?10,201229,201229#msg-201229 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?10,201229,201229#msg-201229 Mark GENERAL HEALTH FORUM Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:07:49 +0000