Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 10:45AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,339 |
Quote
jpeters
Anyway, Digoxin works very well restoring heart function quickly.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 10:49AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
mwcf
Different folks = different views. Do your own research and - with your EP's input - make your own choice. (FWIW IMO for me as a vagal AFr = no digoxin thanks.) Personally speaking I'm good with info and opinions provided by Hans, Shannon and Carey (and Jackie, George N, wolfpack and some others here).
Quote
You need an EP. Digoxin is an inappropriate drug for afib.
Your cardiologist is woefully out of date with his training.
Quote
It’s a her, she is young and works for a very large HMO. She is board certified In both cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. I cannot imagine she is prescribing me something that will kill me.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 10:52AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,339 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 10:54AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
The Anti-Fib
Lone Atrial Fibrillation
No such thing
Says who? Yes many Doctors stopped using the term 10-15 years ago, but we still know what the term refers to. It makes the Treatment Protocols simpler for the Doctors and Nurses if there are not multiple categories of AFIB to treat.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 05:01PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,339 |
Quote
jpeters
are completely inappropriate for non-professionals
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 06:23PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
Carey
are completely inappropriate for non-professionals
I'm sorry but I don't share your unquestioning worship of doctors. I've seen doctors kill patients through ignorance and lack of up-to-date training. Seriously, you've never read or heard stories of medical incompetence? You haven't seen the stats? I've seen it first hand. I've even seen doctors kill patients. In fact, I've literally rescued patients from doctors.
Patients who educate themselves and question their doctors are patients who survive and get better.
As for the digoxin that helped you, one more time.... Yes, you had heart failure and that's why digoxin was appropriate for you. It is, however, no longer considered appropriate for the treatment of afib in people who don't have heart failure. Feel free to do some reading of the literature if you doubt that.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 06:39PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 18,881 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 06:57PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 706 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 14, 2018 10:18PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 46 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 12:11AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,339 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 01:21AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
Carey
Yes, you had heart failure and that's why digoxin was appropriate for you.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 03:04AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Quote
Carey
Patients who educate themselves and question their doctors are patients who survive and get better.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 03:53AM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 615 |
The only thing I'd add Steve is this. I've taken Flecainide 100mg BID for 10.5 years during which time I've also always added a small amount of Diltiazem (60mg modified release tablet) with my am dose - as during the day is the time I'm most likely to get my HR up - along with it to offset any (admittedly very small) risk of 1:1 AFlutter being caused by the Flecainide (as it is rarely known to do). As a vagal AFr I decided to go the Diltiazem route rather than the BB route in this regard. This all - I'd add - with the agreement of my doc and EP.Quote
Socalsteve
As a follow up: Just got back from my cardiologist who put me on 100mg of Flecainide twice daily, plus a low dose of metropolol if my heart rate gets too high to be comfortable. He put me on blood thinners ( just in case they want to cardiovert me in the future and also to prepare for another ablation ), set up a zio patch monitor ( so the EP department knows what they are dealing with) and set up a referral to the EP department of my HMO.
Hopefully the flec will calm my heart and I can go on riding my bicycle into the sunset!!! It already feels better than the beta blockers in regards to exercise. We shall see.
Thank you all for your knowledge, experience and passion ( lots of passion ).
Wish me luck!
Steve
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 09:19AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 499 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 10:35AM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,102 |
Quote
Carey
I'm sorry but I don't share your unquestioning worship of doctors. I've seen doctors kill patients through ignorance and lack of up-to-date training.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 10:45AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 10:51AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 46 |
Quote
mwcf
As a follow up: Just got back from my cardiologist who put me on 100mg of Flecainide twice daily, plus a low dose of metropolol if my heart rate gets too high to be comfortable. He put me on blood thinners ( just in case they want to cardiovert me in the future and also to prepare for another ablation ), set up a zio patch monitor ( so the EP department knows what they are dealing with) and set up a referral to the EP department of my HMO.
Hopefully the flec will calm my heart and I can go on riding my bicycle into the sunset!!! It already feels better than the beta blockers in regards to exercise. We shall see.
Thank you all for your knowledge, experience and passion ( lots of passion ).
Wish me luck!
Steve
The only thing I'd add Steve is this. I've taken Flecainide 100mg BID for 10.5 years during which time I've also always added a small amount of Diltiazem (60mg modified release tablet) with my am dose - as during the day is the time I'm most likely to get my HR up - along with it to offset any (admittedly very small) risk of 1:1 AFlutter being caused by the Flecainide (as it is rarely known to do). As a vagal AFr I decided to go the Diltiazem route rather than the BB route in this regard. This all - I'd add - with the agreement of my doc and EP.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 11:25AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 15, 2018 12:44PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
wolfpack
I still remain optimistic and feel that doctors mean well. I've never encountered malice but I've sure seen people out of their leagues. Sometimes by miles. You've got to take the reins to as much of an extent as possible. No one cares more about your health than you do.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 16, 2018 03:05AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 177 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 16, 2018 10:14AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 46 |
Quote
SueChef
I learned a lot about digoxin when I started a thread. I had heard of this med before as being contraindicated for older patients.
Here's the link in case you want to do more reading!
[www.afibbers.org]
Edited to add: Dr. Natale also works out of Scripps, La Jolla (San Diego county)...depending on where you live in SoCal, it might be a better option than Thousand Oaks.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 16, 2018 10:58AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Looks like the mortality issue is associated with incorrect dosage, incorrect diagnosis, and toxicity (longer than 3 years on digoxin??). It was successful in decreasing heart failure and mortality, etc. when used correctly. It isn't a "cure" for afib (what is ??). Certainly it's important to find a cardiologist who knows what they're doing.Quote
SueChef
I learned a lot about digoxin when I started a thread. I had heard of this med before as being contraindicated for older patients.
Here's the link in case you want to do more reading!
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 17, 2018 04:26PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 23 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 17, 2018 05:10PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
One thing I haven't heard on this board yet is to go local regarding treatment. Same with cancer and any serious ailment. Fortunately, we have the internet to gather information. Not getting a diagnosis until late in the game is all too common, particularly in busy HMO settings. Good luck with your recovery.Quote
Victoria
Doctors may mean well, but they miss the ball sometimes.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 20, 2018 03:39AM |
Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 1,085 |
Quote
jpeters
No knowledgeable cardiologist trained in recent years prescribes digoxin for afib without heart failure.
I was prescribed digoxin by Stanford Health, and restored ejection function from low 20's to 55. Digoxin was just prescribed to the poster. Unlikely the poster is going to get heart failure from taking his prescribed dose.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 20, 2018 08:57AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 18,881 |
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 20, 2018 11:48AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
The Anti-Fib
No knowledgeable cardiologist trained in recent years prescribes digoxin for afib without heart failure.
I was prescribed digoxin by Stanford Health, and restored ejection function from low 20's to 55. Digoxin was just prescribed to the poster. Unlikely the poster is going to get heart failure from taking his prescribed dose.
Why do you assume that the Digoxin helped that much? IMO it may have helped some, but Digoxin did not restore your EF from 20 to 55. Getting back in NSR and lowering your HR did. If Digoxin consistently helped HR with a spectacular recovery like that it would heralded as a "Wonder Drug'' It is known that if some instances slowing down the Heart from uncontrolled AFIB can restore EF in the dramatic fashion that it did for you. I also had undiagnosed AFIB, resulting in TachyCardia induced Cardiomyopathy. I went from 20% to 65-70% after 18 months. I did not take Digoxin! As far as I know, the best Drug for improving Heart Contractibility (EF),is Coreg. The studies only show around a 5% increase in EF, and that is only on certain populations.
Re: Full blown afib episode...I have questions August 20, 2018 03:38PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 1,748 |