A forum for sharing experiences regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/list.php?9 Fri, 15 May 2026 23:18:49 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 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 Thu, 14 May 2026 21:56:49 +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 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:48:40 +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 Wed, 13 May 2026 13:53:59 +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 Thu, 14 May 2026 12:26:25 +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 Mon, 11 May 2026 16:36:11 +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?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?9,201223,201223#msg-201223 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201223,201223#msg-201223 Mark AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:02:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201200,201200#msg-201200 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201200,201200#msg-201200
I am still analyzing the whirlwind experience. I read Dr. Natale's post procedure notes. Of course, I arrived in the lab in Afib. He did treated several parts of my heart, but was not able to get me into NSR until he isolated my LAA.

I read in a previous thread on here that many EPs do not have the skill to isolate the LAA. So it appears likely that if I had gone to a lesser practitioner, I would have left the hospital still in Afib. So I am wondering what the probabilities of that were.

I now know a good question to ask when you meet prospective EPs would be: "Do you ever isolate the LAA?".

I asked one regional EP how many ablations he did in a month, and when he did not give a clear answer, I crossed him of the prospective list.

As far as how Dr. Natale operates, his clinical notes reveal: A total of 2 minutes of radiofrequency energy lesions were delivered. A total of 199 pulsed field ablations were delivered. Flouro time was 15.6 minutes. (I saw a video where an EP was talking about how important it was to keep flouroscopy times down.)

All this seems to have been accomplished in a little over an hour.]]> nonthumper AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:27:23 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201196,201196#msg-201196 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201196,201196#msg-201196
A simple question that’s probably already been answered for me, but I wanted to make sure about whether or not to stop Eliquis any period of time before my cataract surgery. I did have the LAA ablation and a Watchman placed and I’m pretty sure Dr. Natale had said in the past that if ever one needed to, they could stop for up to seven days, maybe 5. Since I haven’t heard anything from the cataract people and my procedure is in 10 days, I assume it is not necessary. However, I’d like to get my answers from the experts at A-Fibbers because you all know the specific conditions and answers. I trust the information from most people here.

Thank you.]]> Madeline AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:24:35 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201189,201189#msg-201189 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201189,201189#msg-201189 Taytantuc AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:27:51 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201184,201184#msg-201184 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201184,201184#msg-201184
https://www.tctmd.com/news/when-time-comes-stop-oral-anticoagulation-options-and-obstacles

Margaret Fang, MD (University of California, San Francisco) said a study led by one of her mentees, Sachin Shah, MD (University of California, San Francisco), provides some data to help inform the issue. Published in 2019, the analysis estimates the net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation beyond age 75 in patients with AF, showing that the benefits become marginal after age 87 for warfarin and after age 92 for apixaban (Eliquis; Bristol-Myers Squibb).]]> JakeL AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:46:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201176,201176#msg-201176 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201176,201176#msg-201176 medicalxpress.com]]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:10:37 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201175,201175#msg-201175 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201175,201175#msg-201175
[www.medscape.com]]]> sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:45:52 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201167,201167#msg-201167 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201167,201167#msg-201167 Anyone else have this experience, or similar?]]> gbaileytx AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:47:11 +0000