New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 27, 2018 12:52PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 27, 2018 08:09PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 819 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 27, 2018 09:09PM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,102 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 27, 2018 09:42PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Quote
Joe
[getinrhythm.com]
Listen to the experts and you'll have many pertinent questions to ask your specialist at your next consult.
I listened to all 21/2 days of it and found it excellent (maybe i'm a bit nerdy?). One aspect that wasn't covered is genetics, bio-chemical individuality and how to optimize our macro nutrient mix intake and heightened requirements for other nutrients and minerals/balances.
However, i do realize it's too much to ask in 21/2 days.
[www.stopafib.org]
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 27, 2018 09:50PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Quote
wolfpack
Don’t beat yourself up...The key questions to ask are 1) How many complex, left-atrial ablation have you done and 2) how many are successful, meaning total freedom from arrhythmia for one year or longer without continued use of drugs.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 28, 2018 11:12AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 28, 2018 11:25AM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,102 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 28, 2018 12:00PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 28, 2018 04:19PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 46 |
Quote
MikeShue
Doing both at once seems most sensible. I think she was being thorough in laying out the options and perhaps reacting to my less than enthusiastic response to ablation in general. For whatever reason, it's taking me awhile to get comfortable with the idea although all signs are pointing in the direction of an ablation and, if all goes well, that does give me the best chance for a good outcome.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 29, 2018 10:13AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 29, 2018 10:24AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 29, 2018 10:48AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Quote
Pompon
I had my first afib episode nearly three years ago. I had flutter too. My first EP was for a careful approach, proposing to ablate firstly for the right flutter, for the good reasons explained by previous posters.
Had I known what I know now, I would have refused.
As soon as the catheter got inside my heart, afib kicked on.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 29, 2018 10:50AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? August 29, 2018 11:00AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 920 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 09:26AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 09:55AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 10:23AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 18,881 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 11:33AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,342 |
Quote
Lindy
I took this information to my pharmacist for an explanation because I have had 2 spinal surgeries and I have scoliosis. He looked up information on all the anticoagulants, and they all say the same thing. He said if I were to develop a blood clot while on blood thinners, it would be on my spine and possibly cause paralysis.
So, I am not taking blood thinners. However I am taking 2 baby aspirins, eating healthy, and taking supplements with blood thinning properties, hoping I can avoid a stroke.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 12:30PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 12:35PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 02:04PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
Lindy
Thank you for your response. I attended an AFib Patient conference in Dallas, TX last month. There were several doctors that were the best in their field of medicine—AFib. After 3 days of listening to these doctors, I spoke with Dr. Randall Wolf, who invented the Wolf Mini-Maze procedure, which eliminates the need for blood thinners. Hopefully, I will be a good candidate for this procedure. I am in the process of getting my reports to him.
In the meantime, I am taking several natural blood thinners including Nattokinase.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 06:07PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,342 |
Quote
Lindy
Carey, I read that information in the black box warning on the information sheet that came with Eliquis. My back surgery was 2 years ago—I had a lumbar 3 level fusion. My gut instincts tell me not to take the Eliquis, even though I have it.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 03, 2018 10:08PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 1,748 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 07:56AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Quote
jpeters
Thank you for your response. I attended an AFib Patient conference in Dallas, TX last month. There were several doctors that were the best in their field of medicine—AFib. After 3 days of listening to these doctors, I spoke with Dr. Randall Wolf, who invented the Wolf Mini-Maze procedure, which eliminates the need for blood thinners. Hopefully, I will be a good candidate for this procedure. I am in the process of getting my reports to him.
In the meantime, I am taking several natural blood thinners including Nattokinase.
Interesting. Curious how you arrived at the decision to go for the mini-maze vs something simpler. Thanks.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 08:08AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Quote
Elizabeth
Lindy:
The following is taken from the black box, it does say if "you have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures"
Spinal or epidural blood clots (hematoma). People who take ELIQUIS, and have medicine injected into their spinal and epidural area, or have a spinal puncture have a risk of forming a blood clot that can cause long-term or permanent loss of the ability to move (paralysis). Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if:
•a thin tube called an epidural catheter is placed in your back to give you certain medicine
•you take NSAIDs or a medicine to prevent blood from clotting
•you have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures
•you have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine
If you take ELIQUIS and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots or bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness, especially in your legs and feet.
Are you in AF all the tine or do you have episodes from which you convert to NSR?
Liz
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 08:15AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Quote
Carey
Carey, I read that information in the black box warning on the information sheet that came with Eliquis. My back surgery was 2 years ago—I had a lumbar 3 level fusion. My gut instincts tell me not to take the Eliquis, even though I have it.
I think you're misunderstanding the black box warning and taking the aspirin is actually a greater risk, but obviously it's your choice.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 08:31AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Quote
Jackie
Hello Lindy and welcome.
On the clot risk topic... there are several posts on effective, natural blood thinners.... most recently, the one on
Lumbrokinase... a fibrinolytic enzyme that isn't soy-based. Here's the link and at the end, there are other links to
previous reports on natural thinners... and also important, the testing that can be done to document your risk of
hyperviscous blood... so you can manage those markers as well.
Lumbrokinase
[www.afibbers.org]
Then scroll down to these titles that are hyperlinked.
Viscosity Risk Factors
Silent Inflammation
Sticky, thick blood - Risk of Stroke and MI
Clot Risk
Jackie
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 09:43AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,342 |
Quote
Lindy
Please tell me what I am misunderstanding about this:
Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if: “you have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine”.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 10:46AM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,102 |
Quote
Lindy
With Dr. Wolf’s mini-maze procedure, which is minimally invasive, the AFib is gone.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 04, 2018 11:02AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
Lindy
At the AFib Patient conference many people said they have had to have several ablations. I want to get rid of AFib once and for all—no going back for more ablations and still having to take blood thinners. With Dr. Wolf’s mini-maze procedure, which is minimally invasive, the AFib is gone.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 05, 2018 05:47PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 819 |
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 05, 2018 10:25PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 11 |
Quote
Joe
I think Lindy is talking about cox-maze IV?
Dr Wolf did say that it's only done once and if there is afib (or flutter?) afterwards an ablation is the way to resolve it.
It was also mentioned that success rates do vary and depends on the skill of the doctor - as with ablation.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 06, 2018 01:03AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 444 |
Quote
Joe
I think Lindy is talking about cox-maze IV?
Dr Wolf did say that it's only done once and if there is afib (or flutter?) afterwards an ablation is the way to resolve it.
It was also mentioned that success rates do vary and depends on the skill of the doctor - as with ablation.
Re: New to Afib - what should I ask my EP? September 07, 2018 01:53AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 706 |
Quote
Elizabeth
Lindy:
The following is taken from the black box, it does say if "you have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures"
Spinal or epidural blood clots (hematoma). People who take ELIQUIS, and have medicine injected into their spinal and epidural area, or have a spinal puncture have a risk of forming a blood clot that can cause long-term or permanent loss of the ability to move (paralysis). Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if:
•a thin tube called an epidural catheter is placed in your back to give you certain medicine
•you take NSAIDs or a medicine to prevent blood from clotting
•you have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures
•you have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine
If you take ELIQUIS and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots or bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness, especially in your legs and feet.
Are you in AF all the tine or do you have episodes from which you convert to NSR?
Liz